Mega Man ZX

"A excellent start for a new MM series."

Mega Man is one of the most popular video game icons known throughout the world. With a series that has sequel after sequel after sequel, how could you not have heard of him? The newest installment, dubbed Mega Man ZX is a fresh new take on the classic run 'n gun platformer that is sure to please fans new and old.

Graphics: 7

For a Nintendo DS title Mega Man ZX looks nice, yet it's nothing you haven't seen before on GBA. The graphic style is a lot like Mega Man Zero and its sequels. The backgrounds are very colorful and detailed and the characters and enemies all look good. However, if Nintendo was able to pull off Super Mario 64 on the DS, Capcom could've tried a bit harder with this one.

Sound: 9

Mega Man games are not truly complete without a solid soundtrack to back them up. ZX has some very nice tunes to set the atmosphere of the game. The music has a techno/synth feel to it which fits in nicely with the environments you will explore throughout the game.

Story: 8

Without giving too much away for those who haven't played, the story starts out as the hero(be it a male or female depending on which character is chosen at the start of the game) is carrying out a delivery. Your character as well is his/her boss is attacked by a group of Maverick robots who are after your package. As you set out to complete your goal, you meet the Guardians and eventually join them on a quest to save the country from an insidious plot. Using mysterious stones called Biometals, your character becomes the next Mega Man and inherits a multitude of various powers.

Gameplay: 8

Mega Man ZX is a game that takes things from past games in the series and blends them in with new elements. For one, instead of set stages, the entire game is interconnected into one large overworld. The biometal system allows you to take different forms, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. For once, Mega Man is actually human and the biometals are what give him (or her) power. There are still 8 main bosses you must defeat in order to obtain new abilities, and the game is challenging. as all MM games should be. Missions which can be completed in almost any order is how you progress. Many of them move the story along, and others are side quests in which you can do for money or rare items.

Mega Man ZX is one game I think that fans and newbs alike will enjoy as it provides side-scrolling shoot 'em up fun with a few new twists.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/25/06