4/5 ★ – Jrdotan's review of Mega Man X.

Mega Man X is to Mega Man what Ocarina of Time is to Zelda. that moment when most people stopped, mouths open, staring at the screen after finishing the game, with about one thought going at their heads: "this was peak." It's often considered one of the finest games ever made and for good reason. Mega Man X was released in the early era of the SNES, at a time when the classic Megaman games were in a period of stagnation. 4-6 had little to no innovation in the formula. For its first title on the SNES, Capcom wanted to shake things up by introducing new elements and expanding Mega man beyond its original design. You no longer start the game with full health, Instead, you begin at your weakest and must collect heart pieces hidden throughout stages to increase your maximum health. The game also introduced more secrets within the levels, like Sub Tanks, a new version of e-tanks. Unlike traditional e-tanks, Sub Tanks are permanent capsules that you can refill by collecting health pickups when at full health. Once filled, they function like e-tanks and can fully restore your health. In addition, hidden capsules grant X armor parts, each with a unique ability, such as the ability to charge special weapons. The game also added new movement mechanics, such as wall climbing and dashinh. Both of which opened up new opportunities for level design. These were fantastic additions and used well throughout the game. However, the dash ability was tied to an optional armor upgrade, which limited its integration. Since players might not obtain the dash right away, level designers had to account for both possibilities (that you may or may not have it). When it comes to level design, most stages are decent. They may not all be particularly memorable, but they are decent enough, similar to Mega Man 4. One great addition is the way some stages change based on the order you complete them. For example, defeating Chill Penguin first will freeze the lava in Flame Mammoth’s stage, making it easier to navigate. These types of changes add replayability and credibility to the experience. What gives Mega Man X a distinct identity is its strong emphasis on the run n gun aspect. The game clearly took inspiration from the original Mega man, focusing more on combat than platforming. Enemy design is the one thing they did pretty well, they are aggressive, reactive, and often feature expressive animations. Some enemies dodge your shots or laugh when they hit you. This creates a much better combat experience than most of the past titles. The fortress stages are where it truly is tho, the mechanics are truly tested, and to great effect. These are arguably some of the best endgame stages in the entire franchise. Enemies are thoughtfully placed to encourage strategic weapon usage. The fortress has a cool pacing, and the design flows well with the game’s mechanics. Capcom also looked at megaman 1 for this and refined the boss refight concept. Instead of cramming all the bosses into one level like in earlier titles, it did like megaman 1, they are distributed across the Sigma stages, which makes the encounters more integrated, less tedious, and creatively varied. If theres one thing that may be criticized is that the fortresses lack themes, so their atmosphere doesnt feel as opressive as you initially would thought. Bosses themselves are generally solid. The Mavericks have well-designed patterns, more elaborate moves, and are more enjoyable to fight than in previous games. However, some bosses still rely on simple going back and forth. This game also introduced what fans often refer to as “Spark Mandrill Syndrome” which we all know by know. basically, when a boss can be completely stun-locked by its weakness, rendering the fight meaningless. it sucks, we all now that. Where the bosses really shine is in the Sigma Fortress levels. Beyond the traditional refights, many of the new boss battles are unique and memorable, making good use of X’s full moveset. The iconic totem face boss, for instance, became so memorable that it returned in future titles as a callback to this game. The weapon set is also excellent. Admittedly, Storm Tornado is extremely overpowered and can tear through enemies with ease, but most of the other weapons are solid and have practical uses in both combat and level design. The developers clearly envisioned them as different playstyles rather than just boss weaknesses. a fantastic design choice that deserves praise, specially when compared to some earlier games. At the time, no other Mega Man game felt as inspired as Mega Man X. It was a true evolution of the franchise, showing clear signs that the series was heading in the right direction, it absolutely deserves its legendary reputation amongst the fans. With great enemy designs, decent stages, a strong endgame, the first truly enjoyable boss fights, a fantastic weapon set, and unforgettable music that still holds up decades later, Mega Man X rightfully stands as one of the best entries in the entire series. Rank- 8/10