Mega Man X

"Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power?"

Coming up with ideas for video a game hero can make for some pretty interesting results. Look at Mario. The dude can double his size by eating wild mushrooms, magically create fireballs with his fists, and stomp on enemies with his plumber shoes. Link has a musical instrument that can control time, and possesses an artifact that basically makes him unstoppable. The heroes of the Final Fantasy series come with all sorts of fancy weapons and spells that can be used to wreak havoc on their hapless foes. Kirby devours his enemies whole and absorbs their powers. Viewtiful Joe can slow down and speed up time, allowing him to beat his adversaries into a bloody pulp in style. All of these characters have their own unique power or gimmick that makes them stand out. However, the Mega Man series proves that all you need is a good, simple gun to make a long-lasting mark in the memories of gamers everywhere.

Welcome to the future, a place where humanity is on its way to hell. The Reploids have created for mass production, a new generation of robots with ability to think freely and make judgments. But as with any typical futuristic science fiction story, something terrible happens that turns the robots against their creators. While the majority of the machines working perfectly, a few have gone maverick, attacking humans and causing mass destruction. Scientists developed a task force of highly capable robots called the Maverick Hunters, led by the robot Sigma. This elite group of mechanical marvels was trusted to ensure the safety of humanity…until they went maverick too. Armed with incredibly powerful weapons and technology, these beings have the potential to rid the Earth of their human oppressors. It's now left up to X, the one of the few robots left untainted, to save the day. With the fate of humanity left in his metal hands, he begins his quest for salvation.

When the game starts off, X will travel through a decrepit city, facing down legions of mavericks as he progresses. He'll only have a X-Buster, a basic laser cannon echoing the design of old Mega Man weapons. While this nifty little piece of mass destruction can do some damage, it's still too ineffective for X's needs. As he travels around from area to area, he'll have to fight against the elite Maverick Hunters. Should he succeed, he'll be able to acquire their weapons and adapt them to his own basic weapon, thus increasing his arsenal for even more devastation. You'll be acquainted with new spins on old favorites like the Shotgun Ice, Boomerang Cutter, and the Homing Torpedoes, each weapon having it's own distinct abilities and uses. Using the shoulder buttons on the controller, you can toggle among the weapons at will, a vast improvement over the classic pause menu setup of old. Not only are they fun to experiment with, but certain weapons also have a distinct advantage over the other Hunters you'll be facing. Thus X's quest continues, until he's wiped out every rogue Reploid in his path.

Yet despite all these nifty new weapons, this version of the late Mega Man is essentially useless. Sure, X can run, jump, and shoot like his predecessors, but those skills don't quite measure up to what he'll need to get the job done this time around. He'll wage war against various battlefields, blasting his way through massive robots and mechanized attack squads. Yet early on, you'll find that he seems just a little too outpaced, takes a little too much damage, and can't jump quite far enough to do anything meaningful. Thankfully, there are quite a few upgrades strewn throughout the game. He'll be able to get a updates for his armor, allowing him to move faster, bolster his defenses, and break through walls to gain access to secret areas. On top of that, he can obtain upgrades for his life meter, just in case he takes on more than he can handle. With so many new additions to be found and exploited, this rendition of the Blue Bomber looks better than ever.

However, it's not just the upgrades that make the new Mega Man shine. When the series made the jump to the SNES, its hero got a fresh face thanks to the system's graphical capabilities. X possesses more realism than any of his predecessors could hope to attain. His armor is colorful and shiny, practically gleaming on the battlefield. His face has been contorted from a pair of big eyes and a goofy grin into a serious, homicidal scowl. The levels have some awesome designs as well. Mega Man veterans will be treated to old stage themes, raining from the likes of snowy ice tundra, massive assembly lines, colorful coral reefs, lush forests, and a few other neat locales. Leaves blowing in the wind, churning hot lava pits, and the smooth and sharp attack animations are just some of the little things that add to the game's allure. On top of that, the game offers a wonderfully executed soundtrack filled to the brim with emotion-driven music. You can almost feel the adrenaline surging when that boss fight theme starts off, or the melancholy atmosphere of a desolate city crumbling into nothing. It's this kind of stuff that makes for one of the finest presentations on the SNES.

Put Super Mario World away and give Street Fighter II a rest. Instead, spend some time with that other awesome hero that so many have forgotten about. Simply put, this game rocks. Its story is a nice departure from the standard Dr. Wily world domination plot. It has plenty of intriguing new foes and powerful new weapons and features. Though this game may not be quite as challenging as the Mega Man games of old, it's still has more than enough fun and challenge to keep you coming back for more mayhem. Thanks to abilities of the SNES, Mega Man has never looked nor sounded better. In the end, it's the ideal game for any gaming collection, the epitome of a game done right. Mega Man X stands tall and proud among its contemporaries, a beacon of quality gaming that shines brightly for all who seek it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/07/05, Updated 09/12/06