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With the advent of the SNES, the Mega Man series would inevitably leap from the flailing and ailing NES to the more powerful 16-bit console. But with that leap came a necessary evolution. As technology grew, it was decided that Mega Man, too, should advance. Mega Man X was released in 1993 as a more mature branch to the franchise. Although the basic gameplay was similar (eight different bosses to fight were placed in front of you with weapons to knab, and the beloved platforming and bot-busting elements remained intact), Mega Man X took a leap ahead with not only far crisper graphics and sound, and with the ability to pick up physical add-ons to improve his skills and endurance, but a deeper storyline involving Reploids ("replicate androids") with free will choosing their own destinies, rather than those hoped for by their creators. After discovering a capsule containing the stowed-away robot X, Dr. Cain tries to build his own Reploid, which takes many months. But within a year, Reploids soon become commonplace as production becomes mechanized and they can be easily created. But many Reploids chose to rebel against society with harmful effects; as a result, they are deemed "Mavericks", headed by one called Sigma. New Reploids, called Maverick Hunters, are sent out to subdue them. The battle is brutal, with only two survivors from the Hunters: X, as well as fellow Hunter, Zero. Mega Man X not only introduces free will to robots, but also emotions: X often feels remorse for being a part of the rise of robotics in the world and for having to constantly fight while opposed to violence. These are elements not explored in the original Mega Man series, but they, along with the more polished appearance of the game itself, helped to solidify the X series' success.
Mega Man X was ported to the PC a year after its SNES release and to mobile phones in 2007, but most notably, it was brought to iOS in 2011. This version was criticized not only for less-intuitive controls but also because you had to pay extra if you wanted weapon or armor upgrades, unlike the original where they were simply found if you looked in the right places. An extra challenge mode was provided in this port, but it is still inferior to the original SNES version.
Check out our Mega Man X review for a more in-depth look!
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Mega Man X was such a success that a sequel was bound to follow. The gameplay is basically the same, involving eight new Mavericks summoned by the surviving viral spirit of Sigma. (Mavericks, by the way, generally are based off animalia. Examples in Mega Man X2 include Wheel Gator, Magna Centipede, and Flame Stag.) This time around, Sigma has compiled three Mavericks to form the X-Hunters, whose sole purpose is to defeat X, all the while attempting to overtake the North Pole as a step toward world dominance for the Mavericks. They use Zero's dead shell to lure X to their lair, though if the player works hard and locates Zero's parts before this point, the real Zero will come to the rescue. Mega Man X2 is also notable as being the first game to use the Cx4 chip, a graphics chip capable of producing manipulable wireframe images; the design team was advised to use this chip to the fullest, although wireframe usage still seems limited here.
Check out our Mega Man X2 review for a more in-depth look!
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Mega Man X3, like its predecessors, follows the traditional series' pattern of throwing eight Mavericks your way in a rock-paper-scissors scenario; as always, you'll need to determine which weapon will work best against which opponent. In this installment, a new scientist named Dr. Doppler has somehow calmed the Maverick insurgence, and the now pacified Reploids form their own "Dopple Town", a utopian city to live in peace. And all is well... until something goes haywire and the Reploids turn Maverick again, causing more havoc to the human populace. The gameplay is more or less the same as in earlier games, although the addition of different types of Riding Armors is a good touch. Perhaps most importantly to some is the ability to play as Zero for the first time, albeit fairly briefly; his green saber is now the stuff of legend! Mega Man X3 is also the only other game to use the Cx4 chip for wireframe graphics, though it was again widely used throughout the game. Mega Man X3 was ported to the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and PC in 1996; these versions included improved audio and animated cutscenes throughout.
Check out our Mega Man X3 (SNES) review for a more in-depth look!
Also check out our Mega Man X3 (PlayStation) review for a more in-depth look!
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