Mega Man X came at just the right time. The original franchise was a big hit, but Capcom took things too far. They released five sequels to it on the Nintendo Entertainment System, and in a matter of just a few years. Gamers were fatigued, and that was reflected in the sales of each subsequent release. Mega Man was going out of style in a big way, and with the release of the Super Nintendo console Capcom had to step up their game in a serious way. That’s why they created Mega Man X. This was edgier, and more mature than the original series. While it follows the basic formula this release introduced some fantastic new mechanics. Initially I assumed this would be a one-off, but the ending screen made it crystal clear that Capcom was far from done. This is where Mega Man X2 comes in to play. It was released just one year later, and further expanded on the ideas of the last release. Unfortunately it’s not quite as good as the first.
X2 starts us off just six months after the defeat of Sigma. Mavericks are still causing problems for humanity, and it’s up to Mega Man X to stop them once again. Here we’re introduced to a new set of villains known as the X-hunters. This group consists of three super powered mavericks; Agile, Serges, and Violen. They have collected the body parts of Zero, and use it to lure him to battle. As you may be able to guess Sigma is once again the mastermind (Capcom’s scenario writers rarely try anything new) but the general story is still pretty interesting in my opinion. X2 picks up right where its predecessor left off. You take control of Mega Man X who is armed with his trusty arm cannon that by default shoots pellet shaped bursts. By holding down the Y button you can charge it for a more powerful burst. The game is a side scrolling action platformer in typical fashion, but Mega Man can dash and slide down walls which makes him more agile than your typical protagonist. You’re forced to play through one initial stage, but after that you can choose the order in which you want to tackle the eight main stages. This element is a staple of the franchise.
In typical fashion each of the eight stages is based on a different Maverick. The level design has been upgraded a few notches since the last entry. Now we have a bigger emphasis on platforming as opposed to pure action. This change isn’t necessarily for the better, but it’s also not worse. It’s just different. X features a life bar on the left hand side of the screen and a weapon meter as well. While the standard buster gun has unlimited ammunition every other one is limited in energy. A different Maverick boss awaits at the end of the primary stages, and upon defeating them you’re granted use of their main weapon. What’s particularly interesting about this set up is the fact that each Maverick is weak against the weapon of another. You’re free to tackle them in any order that you choose, but after the first you can make things much easier for yourself by only targeting the boss that’s weak against the weapon you just received.
Capcom mixed this mechanic up a by incorporating the X-hunters into the stages. After you complete a few levels they begin to appear on select map. This places them smack dab into the basic levels, but in rooms that are well hidden. Just like your common mavericks they are also each weak against a specific of X’s sub-weapons. I really liked this inclusion in the game. These encounters are entirely optional, but you’ll need to defeat the X-hunters to retrieve Zero’s parts. Should you collect all of these the last leg of the game is a bit different allowing for multiple endings. The X-hunters are some of the best maverick designs in the series, but the basic boss characters are a little weak in my opinion. Like with the last game the primary mavericks are based off of animals, but Capcom made some poor choices for this entry.
The worst example is Wire Sponge. A sea sponge, really? You also have other ‘classics’ such as Overdrive Ostrich and Morph Moth. The developers had the entire spectrum of the animal kingdom to choose from, and they made some weird decisions in my opinion. On the other hand Bubble Crab is one of my most favorite mavericks in the entire franchise. The others such as Wheel Gator, Crystal Snail, and Flame Stag are largely forgettable in my opinion. The weapons gained from the bosses are also a bit uninteresting for the most part. These include the Spin Wheel, Speed Burner, Silk Shot, Magnet Mine, Crystal Hunter, and Sonic Slicer. These are all heavily derivative from the past installments. One the other hand I really liked the Bubble Splash and Strike Chain. The former shoots a burst of bubbles in an unusual trajectory, and the latter functions a lot like the hookshot from the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past which is very cool.
There’s no simple way to put this; Mega Man X2 is one of the very best looking games available on the Super Nintendo. Capcom used the same engine from the previous game, but with some noticeable upgrades via chips in the cartridge itself. The very first boss you encounter can’t even fit on the single screen, and the rotations on his arms are incredible by 16-bit standards. Wheel Gator’s stage takes place atop a moving machine, and the parallax scrolling is incredible and the rate changes as you move. The bosses themselves feature an incredible amount of animation. They all look wonderful. Extra points to Crystal Snail who has some of the best rotation effects of that generation. There’s even some fantastic wire frame 3D effects. There’s less slowdown than in the original Mega Man X, and everything is very impressive. The soundtrack on the other hand is a bit of a downgrade. Everything sounds well enough, but this is a franchise known for its music. I really like that Capcom went with brand new music for just about everything. Even the maverick introduction screen music after selecting a stage has been changed. My favorite theme is definitely Bubble Crab’s; it’s one of my overall favorites across the franchise. The soundtrack is great, but not quite as good as in the last title. Still, this is one that I regularly listen to.
Mega Man X is a tough act to follow. No one would expect Capcom to try and re-invent the wheel yet again so soon. Mega Man X2 is very similar to the last incarnation, but the changes are welcome. Unfortunately the main game simply isn’t as memorable. That’s not to say it’s not fun, because it is, but it doesn’t quite stack up. The graphics have seen a hefty upgrade, but the soundtrack isn’t as good. Mega Man X2 is still one of the best games in the franchise, and dare I say, on the entire system. It’s really that good.
