Mega Man is one of my favorite franchises in all video game history. Starting out on the NES, the Blue Bomber has moved on to almost every game console since. His older, darker cousin, X has also had his fair share of exposure, and in this remake of the original X game, we get a deeper look into some of the story elements. Read on to find out how this game compares to the original.

MMX got a huge graphics makeover. The sprites are no longer simple 2d drawings, but rather fluid 3d renders that look great (the technique is similar to the one used by New Super Mario Bros.). All of your favorite enemies, characters and bosses have been remade, and so have each stage’s foreground and background. Also new are the anime cutscenes and the anime portraits that are present in each conversation. All of these blend in together to make MHX a huge step in the remake department. The audio has also undergone an overhaul, and each classic track has been remixed to fit in with the newer style. The voice acting is simply excellent, even if some of the voices seem off, you’ll fall in love with them before the game is over. One great thing is the remixing of classic tracks in a metal kinda sound for the Vile portion of the game. All in all, Capcom really gave it all to make MHX a great remake.

The gameplay is basically the same as the original game: you play through a platforming level, defeating weak enemies and mini bosses while collecting powerups on your way to the level’s boss. After defeating the boss, you are granted its weapon, and you repeat this cycle 8 times overall. The big difference in the game is the addition of the Vile Mode. This mode takes a page from games like MMX4 and on which allow you to play as Zero. This time around, however, you play as the evil archenemy of X. The Vile Mode is completely different from the normal X mode, as it features new weapons, new stage layouts, and different enemies all around. Vile Mode is an awesome addition to the already great game. If you consider yourself a Mega Man vet, then this mode is what you’ve been waiting for: a breath of fresh air.

The game took me around 8? hours (I really have no idea) to beat both X and Vile modes. After beating X mode, you unlock a half-hour anime OVA that covers the backstory of the game, and Sigma’s betrayal. The OVA is really a great quality short, and really worth the watch. Once you clear either mode, you also unlock a “Free Play” mode in which you can replay any stage you want with any weapons you want, etc. Also available are Hard versions of both modes. All in all, you’re looking at maybe 15-20 hours of play time if you play through all modes once. It’s actually a good dollar to hour ratio.

Overall, MHX is a great game for both veteran Mega Man Hunters and brand new newbies to the franchise. No matter where you are, MHX is an excellent addition to your library, and is also one of the best remakes I have ever played.