Overview
Not to be confused with Mega Man 10 , Mega Man X introduced players to new mechanics such as dashing, wall-jumping, and finding hidden upgrades throughout the levels, something which would carry on and become an essential part of each X game to follow. It was originally released in 1993 by Capcom, later ported to the PC in 1995, as well as being remade in 2005 for the PSP under the name Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X. The remake featured enhanced 3D character models and backgrounds, remixed music, re-tuned level designs, and the ability to play as series villain Vile. This game was also included in the Mega Man X Collection for the Nintendo Gamecube and PlayStation 2. The lead designers were both Tokuro Fujiwara (Producer) and Keiji Inafune (Characters) and the head composer was Setsuo Yamamoto.
Gameplay
The opening highway stageUnlike the core Mega Man series, the X games are much faster and more detailed. From the moment you press start, the game has you wall jumping for your life up onto destroyed highways crawling with angry Mavericks, only for you to end up fighting a meched up Vile, who, for the first time in the franchise, is a boss that you cannot defeat. While a lot is different, the structure of the game is similar to its namesake: fight eight bosses in any order, exploiting their weaknesses to defeat them more easily; make your way through Sigma's lair; and finally fight the final boss, Sigma. Of course, keeping with the precedent set by the previous evil mastermind Dr. Wily, Sigma narrowly escapes death, to return again in the next installment. The levels consist of Mega Man X running, dashing, jumping, and wall-kicking frantically to avoid many difficult obstacles and to find hidden Upgrade Capsules. There are four capsules hidden throughout the game's eight stages, with each one containing one of four body parts: arm, leg, torso, and head. Once X collects all four of them, he is basically an unstoppable badass (assuming the player has the skill). Once X reaches the end of a level, he will be confronted by a boss robot that he must fight with everything he has to defeat, and take his weapon. It is worth noting that the bosses in this game are much more intelligent than those found in the classic Mega Man series, changing up their attack patterns as they take more damage.
Upgrades
Throughout the game, if X is lucky, he may stumble upon one of the aforementioned large blue capsules that when approached will show him a hologram of Dr. Light, his long-dead creator. Depending on which capsule X finds, Light will brief him on what the upgrade does and then give him the pleasure of stepping into the capsule. Here is a list of all the upgrades and the area that they are in.
Speed Boots
These will give X the ability to dash.
Location - Chill Penguin's lair
Upgrade CapsuleNote: Unlike the other upgrades, this is in the direct path of the level, and X is unable to proceed without it.
Body Armor
Decreases the damage X takes by half.
Location - Sting Chameleon's lair
Helmet
Allows X to destroy certain blocks by headbutting them.
Location - Storm Eagle's lair
Charge
Allows X to charge one stage higher to shoot a super-charged blast that can go through enemies. This also lets X charge up weapons he has received from the bosses, giving him a bunch of new attacks.
Location - Flame Mammoth's lair. If this is missed, it is received automatically in the first Sigma stage.
Special/Secret
X hitting Sigma with a HadoukenIf you have played Street Fighter then you will recognize this one. It is the Hadouken move. You fire large blue blasts out of your hands, which kills bosses in one hit. It is performed by simply performing the famed quarter-circle motion that you would do in any Street Fighter game. The move can only be used while X is at full health.
Location - Armored Armadillo's lair at the end of the level before you enter the boss hallway.
Kill yourself three times, and then climb up onto the ledge above where the boss door is. A Gi-clad Dr. Light will congratulate you and you will get the upgrade.
Bosses (Maverick Reploids)
Chill Penguin- Height: 5.34 ft
- Weight: 237 lbs
- Attacks: Shotgun Ice, Sliding
- Weakness: Fire Wave
Storm Eagle- Height: 8.20 ft
- Weight: 275 lbs
- Attacks: Storm Tornado, Diving
- Weakness: Chameleon Sting
Flame Mammoth- Height: 10.5 ft
- Weight: 719 lbs
- Attacks: Fire Wave, Oiling, Jump Press
- Weakness: Storm Tornado (Boomerang Cutter can cut of his trunk, preventing him from using certain attacks)
- Height: 10.0 ft
- Weight: 646 lbs
- Attacks: Electric Spark, Dash Punch
- Weakness: Shotgun Ice
Armored Armadillo- Height: 6.36 ft
- Weight: 510 lbs
- Attacks: Rolling Shield, Guarding
- Weakness: Electric Spark
Launch Octopus- Height: 7.80 ft
- Weight: 348 lbs
- Attacks: Homing Torpedo, Energy Drain
- Weakness: Rolling Shield (Boomerang Cutter can also cut off his tentacles, preventing him from using certain attacks)
Boomer Kuwanger- Height: 7.93 ft
- Weight: 206 lbs
- Attacks: Boomerang Cutter, Dead Lift
- Weakness: Homing Torpedo
Sting Chameleon- Height: 5.80 ft
- Weight: 169 lbs
- Attacks: Chameleon Sting, Iron Tongue
- Weakness: Boomerang Cutter
PC Version Differences
- Music has much lower fidelity than the SNES version.
- Many enemies appear to have more health
Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X (PSP)
Mega Man: Maverick Hunter XMain Article: Maverick Hunter X
- Fully remade 2.5D graphics
- Anime FMV sequences
- Voice acting
- Remade script
- Features a 20 minute OVA: "The Day of Sigma."
- New playable character: Vile
- New difficulty settings
- New music
- Slightly restructured levels
- Ability to save; no passwords
- Energy tank, heart, and power-up stations rearranged
Soundtrack
Cover ArtIn 2005 Capcom released a 5-disc box set called Capcom Music Generation Rockman X1~6. It contains the original music of Mega Man X through Mega Man X6 as well as some unused tracks. Mega Man X tracks cover half of the first disc and the tracks are listed as followed:
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