Mega Man X (video game)

Mega Man X, known as Rockman X (ロックマンX) in Japan, and often shortened to MMX, MMX1, or just X1 by fans, is the first game of the Mega Man X series and was released from 1993-95. It was the first spin-off of the classic Mega Man series and made its debut on the Super Famicom/SNES, although it was ported to the PC in 1995, to the Android in 2011 and to the iOS devices in late 2011. It was also ported to Mega Man X Collection on January 10, 2006, then later re-released on Mega Man X Legacy Collection on July 24, 2018 in North America and Europe, and was released two days later in Japan. The game takes place in the early-22nd century (21XX time period), a century after the conclusion of the original series.

Story
It is the year 21XX. While trying to find a fossil record, Dr. Cain, a human scientist, has uncovered a capsule with a robot from the past: Mega Man X. The capsule contained a warning message from Dr. Light, his creator:

WARNING:

''"X" IS THE FIRST OF A NEW GENERATION OF ROBOTS WHICH CONTAIN AN INNOVATIVE NEW FEATURE - THE ABILITY TO THINK, FEEL AND MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS. HOWEVER THIS ABILITY COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. IF "X" WERE TO BREAK THE FIRST RULE OF ROBOTICS, "A ROBOT MUST NEVER HARM A HUMAN BEING", THE RESULTS WOULD BE DISASTROUS AND I FEAR THAT NO FORCE ON EARTH COULD STOP HIM.''

''APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE WE CAN SAFELY CONFIRM HIS RELIABILITY. UNFORTUNATELY I WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE THAT DAY, NOR DO I HAVE ANYONE TO CARRY ON MY WORK. THEREFORE, I HAVE DECIDED TO SEAL HIM IN THIS CAPSULE, WHICH WILL TEST HIS INTERNAL SYSTEMS UNTIL HIS RELIABILITY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB THE CAPSULE UNTIL THAT TIME.''

''"X" POSSESSES GREAT RISKS AS WELL AS GREAT POSSIBILITIES. I CAN ONLY HOPE FOR THE BEST.''


 * SEPTEMBER 18, 20XX
 * T.LIGHT

X's design interested Cain, and he analyzed Dr. Light's notes. Months later, Cain was able to create robots similar to X, called Reploids, and they began to be mass-produced around the world. For unknown reasons, some Reploids began to act strange and attacked humans, being labeled Mavericks. To counter any possible threat, the Maverick Hunters were formed. Sigma, an advanced Reploid, was assigned to be their leader. X also became a member of the Maverick Hunters. Time passes and the Maverick Hunters are able to keep peace, but one day Sigma himself became a Maverick, being joined by other Maverick Hunters to start a war against humanity. Although X was by nature a pacifist, he had to do something, so he joined the new leader of the Maverick Hunters, Zero, to stop the ambitions of Sigma and the Mavericks.

X joined the fight on the highway, where he was defeated by a powerful Maverick, Vile, in a Ride Armor. Fortunately X was saved by Zero, who forced Vile to flee before ordering X to continue fighting Sigma's rebellion while he performed reconnaissance. X then fought all eight Mavericks, defeating them and growing stronger along the way.

Once they were all defeated, Zero informed X that he had located Sigma's hideout and that they were going to storm it. Upon infiltrating the levitating island fortress, the pair were confronted by Vile once more. Zero planned to take on Vile alone, but was caught in a trap, allowing Vile to defeat X as well. However, Zero broke out of his cage and sacrificed himself to destroy Vile's Ride Armor, levelling the playing field and allowing X to make a comeback to victory. X approached Zero's body, listening to his final words before he passed away.

X continued through Sigma's hideout until he finally confronted the Maverick leader himself. He destroyed his guard dog Velguarder before fighting him personally, destroying both of his powerful battle bodies and putting an end to his rebellion. X then retreated to a nearby cliffside to watch the fall of Sigma's flying fortress, pondering the nature of peace and war.

Bosses


Opening Stage boss:
 * Vile (in Ride Armor)

Stage Select Screen bosses:

Sigma Stage 1:


 * Vile
 * Boomer Kuwanger (rematch)
 * Bospider

Sigma Stage 2:
 * Chill Penguin (rematch)
 * Storm Eagle (rematch)
 * Rangda Bangda

Sigma Stage 3:
 * Armored Armadillo (rematch)
 * Sting Chameleon (rematch)
 * Spark Mandrill (rematch)
 * Launch Octopus (rematch)
 * Flame Mammoth (rematch)
 * D-Rex

Sigma Stage 4:
 * Velguarder
 * Sigma

Armor Parts


X can find four Light Capsules throughout the game's stages. They were hidden by Dr. Light to help X fight for peace, should the case ever arise. They are usually hidden, but the Leg Capsule, which is required to nab the rest of the capsules, is in plain sight and impossible to avoid receiving (using a password to obtain Chill Penguin's weapon early can bypass this).


 * Foot Parts - In Chill Penguin's stage. Allows X to Dash along the ground. He can chain this into a dash-jump, using the momentum to carry himself farther through the air. It also allow him to destroy certain blocks by wall-kicking off of them.
 * Body Parts - In Sting Chameleon's stage. Reduces all damage received by 50%.
 * Arm Parts - In Flame Mammoth's stage. X can charge up to a third charge level. This powerful Charge Shot is composed of many smaller projectiles, and also briefly creates a splash behind X when fired. He also gains the ability to charge the Special Weapons obtained from defeated Mavericks. If the player does not obtain it in Flame Mammoth's stage, Zero will give X his Z-Buster before his death in Sigma Stage 1, which functions identically (except in the remake Maverick Hunter X).


 * Head Parts - In Storm Eagle's stage. Allows X to break certain blocks by jumping, effectively headbutting them. Additionally, X is protected from the falling rocks in the cave segment of Sting Chameleon's stage.

Secrets

 * Hadoken - A powerful fireball X throws from both hands. There are several requirements to obtain it. First, X must already have every other upgrade in the game. It can then be found in Armored Armadillo's stage by collecting the large Life Energy pickup on the cliff above the boss room and jumping into the pit to restart the stage three times. On the fourth trip, the Light Capsule containing the Hadoken will be in the place of the Life Energy pickup.

Other media
The storyline of Mega Man X was adapted into manga form by Shigeto Ikehara in Irregular Hunter Rockman X, and was adapted again by Iwamoto Yoshihiro and published by Kodansha's Comic BomBom (also called "Bom Bom Comics") in Rockman X. Unlike Shigeto Ikehara's adaptation, Iwamoto Yoshihiro's adaptation was much darker in comparison. And this would continue for the rest of the manga adaptations with themes such as death, blood, cursing, serious emotions, vaguely sexual overtones and religious symbolism.

Elements of the game made their way into the Mega Man series from Archie Comics prior to it going on indefinite hiatus. The backup story with Mega Man #34 and #35, "The X Factor" was an adaptation of "The Journal of Dr. Cain" and seemed to be leading into the events of the game, and continuing in an original story entitled "Dawn of X" that further teased at an adaption of Mega Man X.

Rockman X The Novel: Irregulars Report was a retelling of the events of Mega Man X written by Todoroki Tsubasa and illustrated by Yoshihiro Iwamoto.

Wii Shop Description
''Hundreds of years after his death, Dr. Light's final creation is discovered. Released from his capsule by Dr. Cain, "X" is born into the world of the future where robot rebellions are a thing of the past. But when Dr. Cain tries to implement Dr. Light's designs into a new series of Reploids, something goes horribly wrong. Now, the future lies on the brink of destruction and X must use all of his newfound powers and abilities to hunt down the maverick Reploids and their leader, Sigma, before the human race is wiped from the planet!''

Trivia

 * The first boss (Vile in his Ride Armor) is the smallest opening stage boss in the series. Other opening stage bosses are often huge, taking up half the screen in many cases.


 * In Mega Man X Collection, when the Hadouken is used, X does not shout Hadouken! like in the SNES version.


 * This game was the first one in the Mega Man franchise to show a preview of the boss' level on the stage select screen.