Mega Man X2

Mega Man X2, known as Rockman X2 (ロックマンX2) in Japan, and often shortened to MMX2, or just X2 by fans, is the second game in the Mega Man X series and was released for the Super Famicom/Super Nintendo in 1994. The game featured the same graphics as the first game, but was enhanced thanks to the use of the "Cx4" graphics chip (installed in the cartridge). The chip allowed for "semi-transparencies" and 3D effects. It was later re-released on Mega Man X Collection in 2006, then later re-released on Mega Man X Legacy Collection in 2018.

Story
It had been six months since the destruction of Sigma and his Maverick rebellion, but the Mavericks weren't completely eliminated in the prior conflict, and their remnants still sought chaos. A large group of Mavericks was located in an abandoned production factory, and the Maverick Hunters were mobilized, under X's command, to shut them down.

However, after X stopped the last Mavericks, a brand new Maverick uprising began, this time led by a trio identifying themselves as the X-Hunters: Serges, Agile, and Violen. As X fought the eight Mavericks, the X-Hunters revealed that they had reconstructed Zero's body into three pieces; however, they required his control chip in order to activate him, which was in the possession of Dr. Cain. The X-Hunters then challenged X to a series of duels over Zero's parts to see who would get to resurrect him.

Depending on the player's actions, X may or may not have gathered the three parts of Zero by the time he infiltrated the X-Hunters' base in the Arctic. There he destroyed Violen, Serges, and finally Agile, the last of whom revealed that they had resurrected Sigma as well. After going deeper into the base, X heard Sigma's voice challenging him to face him.

X pursued Sigma to the Central Computer, finally confronting him again. If the player failed to collect Zero's parts, they faced the Maverick-reconstructed Zero in battle - however, if they were successful, then Zero instead appeared reconstructed by Dr. Cain to aid X. Sigma then fled deeper into the base, with Zero telling X to chase Sigma while he destroyed the Central Computer. X destroyed Sigma's body in battle, revealing his true form as the Sigma Virus for the first time, but overcame it as well. The Sigma Virus dissipated, the Central Computer detonated, and X and Zero reunited by the sea. Peace was restored - but for how long?

Bosses


Opening Stage boss:
 * Gigantic Mechaniloid CF-0

Stage Select Screen bosses:

X-Hunters:
 * Agile
 * Serges
 * Violen

X-Hunter Stages bosses:
 * Neo Violen
 * Serges Tank
 * Agile Flyer
 * Rematch against the eight bosses

Central Computer bosses:
 * Zero
 * Neo Sigma
 * Sigma Virus

Armor Parts

 * Head Parts: In Crystal Snail's stage. X gains the Item Tracer, which sends out a cursor that identifies secret passages and items. Interestingly, although the Item Tracer has an unlimited number of uses, it still displays a Weapon Energy gauge.
 * Body Parts: In Morph Moth's stage. Incoming damage is reduced by 50%, and X gains the Giga Crush attack. Its Weapon Energy gauge only fills when X is hit by enemy projectiles, and it is only usable with a full gauge. It deals considerable damage to all enemies on screen. Unlike X's other Special Weapons, it doesn't refill after completing a stage.
 * Arm Parts: In Wheel Gator's stage. X gains a fourth X-Buster charge level. At the third level, X can fire two separate Charge Shots; the first is a level two charge shot, while the second is a level one. At the fourth level, the two shots are both level two. It also allows X to charge Special Weapons.
 * Foot Parts: In Overdrive Ostrich's stage. Allows X to dash in midair - however, he cannot utilize both an air dash and a dash jump in the same airtime.

Secrets

 * Shoryuken - A fiery uppercut attack that deals obscene damage, even to bosses. It is obtainable via a secret room in X-Hunter Stage 3, accessed through a hallway that is extremely difficult to navigate due to the excessive amounts of spikes.


 * In Bubble Crab, Crystal Snail, and Overdrive Ostrich's stages, there are hidden rooms that are entirely empty. If Silk Shot is charged up, it will attract a large amount of either weapon or energy refills. What kind the player gets depends on the room, but it is a useful way to fill Sub Tanks. Bubble Crab's stage is the most convenient for this, as the room is near the entrance, just below the gate that the Sea Canthller opens. The Helmet Part's Item Tracer can also locate these rooms.

Wii Shop Description
''Fresh from defeating Sigma and his Mavericks, Mega Man X tracks down the remaining rogue Reploids to an abandoned factory where they are continuing their rebellion. While Mega Man X is kept busy by eight new Mavericks, a new threat plots to resurrect a secret weapon that is all too familiar.''

''Guide Mega Man X through eight stages in his search to destroy the remaining Mavericks, gain their powers and uncover the secret entity guiding them all. Also, pilot powerful new vehicles like the mobile attack cycle. With help from the good Dr. Light, discover incredible new abilities hidden in capsules buried throughout the world. Only then will X will be ready to face his destiny as a Maverick Hunter.''

Trivia

 * This game had an extensive script localization. Many of the lines linking Serges with Dr. Wily were removed, and all mention of X was changed to "Mega Man" (seemingly to push the notion of X being the original Mega Man). In the Japanese version, only three characters ever referred to X as "Rockman X". These were Dr. Cain, Sigma, and Serges.
 * This game was the first one to feature a Giga Attack: a unique powerful strike whose energy comes from damage previously received by the player. Despite debuting this kind of technique, the Giga Crush's capability to damage the whole screen was only seen again after three games, through the Falcon Armor.
 * Although Zero doesn't become fully playable until two games later, he also uses his first Giga Attack in this game, the Earth Gaizer, if X fights him in the last stage.
 * This is one of the few cases in the entire Mega Man series, and the only one in the X Series, where the final battle takes place in an earlier stage (see Magna Centipede).
 * Therefore, even if the player selects X-Hunter's Base, they will be teleported into Magna Centipede's stage, which is not fully accessible anymore since Sigma replaces Chop Register. It is interesting to note that in the original Japanese script, Sigma asks X to meet him in the Central Computer after the rematch with the Eight Mavericks, whereas in the English version this conversation does not occur.


 * This is the first game to give the players hints about Zero's past, instead of revolving mostly around X like the first one.


 * This is the first time in the series where one of the final boss' forms does not have a health bar (although the Sigma Virus makes up for it by changing colors). This was later repeated in Mega Man ZX Advent with Master Albert's Mechaniloid form.


 * The map in the stage select screen will have changes reflecting the defeat of certain bosses. For example, the lava from Flame Stag's volcano base will cool down and harden and Wheel Gator's tank will be trashed after his defeat. Also, after defeating the bosses again in the North Pole base, selecting it on the stage select screen will show that it's been destroyed.
 * The coordinate the X-Hunters' base is at the location 00. However, in current coordinate system this is at south-west of Africa. This may imply that the coordinate sytem is different with our world's. Actually, in other games the coordinate is much more ambiguous.


 * The sequence of stars at the ending is similar to that of Mega Man 7's ending.


 * It is speculated that Serges, the so-called leader of the X-Hunters, was actually a reincarnation of Dr. Albert W. Wily, who had his artificial intelligence placed inside the Reploid body of Serges, which would explain how he was familiar with Zero's design. However, Capcom has never given any official word on this.


 * Unlike Mega Man X6 which also features Zero's revival, the U.S. and Japanese promo art does not show Zero, making his resurrection unexpected.


 * Awkwardly, the "Get Weapon" theme of this game was never included in the Rockman X Soundtrack CD.


 * If the game is finished with absolutely none of the four armor pieces equipped, Zero makes additional appearances throughout the ending credits.


 * This was the only X game not to be released on the PC until the release of the Mega Man X Legacy Collection.


 * Assuming that the player recovers Zero's parts and the Shoryuken, X can use the Shoryuken in the room just before the confrontation with Sigma, and if X lands in the middle of the room, he will fall straight through when Zero punches the hole in the floor. If the player doesn't exit Zero's dialogue while falling and lets Neo Sigma's dialogue override his, they will regain control the instant Sigma's pre-fight dialogue box closes. If the player performs a Shoryuken while Sigma's health bar fills, they'll become invincible to his attacks until they perform another Shoryuken or defeat him and advance to his viral form.


 * In the opening stage, X is seen riding on a Ride Chaser alongside another Maverick Hunter, who is shot down in the beginning of the stage. Referred to as "Green Biker Dude", he has become a popular subject in the fandom.
 * If the player enters the password 8377-8113-6822-7652 while holding the Down, Left, R, Jump, and Shot buttons (the last button making the selection), the player will start in the second X-Hunter Stage with all the upgrades, Sub-Tanks and the Shoryuken.
 * Sigma's first phase battle theme in this game was later remixed with his second phase theme in Mega Man X6 and also the theme for Ultron Omega in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.