Mega Man X3

"A pretty nice, rare, and valuable game"

I know that I'm just the person that every megaman fan wants to hear a review from. The reason being since I own every version of rockman X3 (megaman X3) except the saturn version (which I have played before) I will be able to give an idea of what the psx version is like compared to the pc, snes, and saturn versions. Well let’s check the facts.

Loading: Loading is what gives the pc, snes, and saturn versions an advantage over the psx version. As you all know the snes version has no loading at all while the saturn's loading times are hardly noticeable and as long as you have at least a 24x CD-ROM in your computer same thing there. While the psx version is NOWHERE NEAR extremely slow it still doesn't load quite as fast as megaman 8 or X4 on the psx. But before I go to the next category I want everyone to understand that the psx version of rockman X3 is BEARLY slower than 8 or X4 on the psx but just not as fast as the pc, snes, or saturn versions of X3.

Graphics: The only system that has a possibility of an advantage in this category is the pc, depending on your video card. Yep the graphics remains unchanged from the snes version and the psx is able to do just fine with out the C4 chip.

Animation: Animation is good but the fmv sequences aren't as crisp as the pc or saturn versions. Because the psx doesn't have as much video-ram as a saturn or common pc it can't show as many frames per second. Personally I think it's mainly because it was capcom's first shot at a megaman game for psx because 8 and X4 looked a-bit better.

Cinemas / FMV / Anime Sequences: Some of you may have heard that the psx version of rockman X3 has no fmv sequences from saturn reviewers, well let me tell you that the cd they played must have a ton of scratches on it because this is nowhere near true. Every psx version of rockman X3 has the same fmv sequences even the re-released version.

Sound: I'm not going to count the psx version down for this since all the cd versions have the terrible remixed tracks of the original snes version. Anyone who played the snes version knows its music was bad enough and now with the remixed music some of the tracks that did sound good in the snes version now sound terrible as well. (nothing can beat the music in X and X2)

Sound Effects: You will not believe this almost all the sound effects even the sound of the x-buster and the boss explosions have been remixed in all the cd versions. (Could these people have left anything alone without remixing it?)

Plot: In the peaceful city of Doppler town all is well when suddenly a plague of mavericks attacks Dr.Doppler's laboratory and infects all who inhabits there with the sigma virus. Dr. Doppler being infected by the virus sends mavericks out to destroy the maverick hunter headquarters. X and zero receive an emergency call telling them that the headquarters is under attack, X and zero rush to the sean.

Game play: The game play is exactly the same as the past two X games with the exception of 4 extra capsule chips which each increase only one aspect of X unless you can find the special 5th capsule which enhances all of X's aspects. Sorry hadu-ken and dragon-punch fans but there are no more fatal one hit boss moves, but cheer up because you can get zero's saber which kills in two hits.

Control: I haven't played a megaman game yet that has had bad control so with X3 being no exception the same goes for it.

Challenge: I have to admit this is the hardest X game even with X5 being out however it is not the hardest megaman game (rockman & forte). If this is your first time playing a megaman game it would be a good idea to collect all the sub-tanks but for those who are megaman fans a couple of tries and you'll be at sigma in no time.

Replay Value: With the terrible music you may only want to play this game every once in a while. But it's a good game none the least.

Pros
-Zero is a playable character
-Intro and ending fmv
-Challenging bosses
-A ps2 will speed up the loading times to match the saturn and pc versions.

Cons
-Zero can't fight bosses
-loading is not as fast as other psx megaman games
-Weird Japanese boss names

Overall: Rockman X3 is a satisfying game for any megaman fan with ok loading times and ok fmv sequences the only thing that might run a person away is the music excluding the intro and ending music.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/18/01, Updated 09/18/01