Mega Man X
Best SNES Franchises
Another 16-bit platforming franchise that spawned off another, Mega Man X was a more serious, no-nonsense action-platformer that was a spin-off of none other than the Mega Man games from the NES. The series took a bold new direction for Mega Man’s debut on the Super Nintendo, offering intense action, new moves to make X a much more mobile and capable robot (or Reploid in this case), and a darker story.
Mega Man X saw multiple changes to the standard Mega Man formula. For one, players could return to past stages to nab missing collectables like health-increasing Heart Tanks, health-restoring Energy Tanks, and discover move-enabling capsules left behind by Dr. Light. Not only were these helpful in battle in a pinch, but also a great way to expand the longevity and replay value of the game for completionists.
X also featured Mavericks to battle instead of Robot Masters. Instead of humanoid bosses like Elec Man or Top Man, X generally battled animal-themed bosses like Launch Octopus and Storm Eagle, for example.
The Mega Man X series would see three games released on the SNES, and like the Donkey Kong Country series, each one would release pretty much on an annual basis. The series would switch over primarily to the PlayStation from X4 onwards. X7 would experiment (decidedly poorly) with full 3D gameplay, while Mega Man X8 returned to a more 2.5D focus. While Mega Man X as a series isn’t one that is as consistent as the classic Mega Man games, its highs are some of the best in Mega Man series history.
