Mega Man ZX
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| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Release date(s) |  July 6, 2006
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| Genre(s) | Side Scroller, Metroidvania |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | CERO: A (All Ages) ESRB: E (Everyone) |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS |
Mega Man ZX (ロックマンゼクス Rokkuman Zekusu?, Rockman ZX) is a spin-off of the long running Mega Man video game series from Capcom for the Nintendo DS. Mega Man ZX is side-scrolling platformer like Mega Man, Mega Man X, and Mega Man Zero, and features an art style similar to Mega Man Zero (with art design done by Toru Nakayama). The "Z" and "X" in the title refer to Biometals Z and X. The game contains voice acting (although majorly cut from the English version) and many animated sequences. As a first for the Mega Man series, the game features both a male and female protagonist. Preorders of Japanese version of the game came packaged with a DVD containing trailers and gameplay footage of Mega Man ZX, and a teaser trailer for the upcoming Mega Man game, Mega Man Star Force.
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[edit] Storyline
The game takes place on a technologically advanced world. Humans and Reploids now coexist peacefully. Humans began to develop machine bodies for themselves and gain the power of Reploids, and in turn Reploids developed finite lifespans. Eventually this led to the erasure of the boundary between humans and Reploids.
In time, the humanoids of earth (who were once humans and Reploids) managed to revive some of the former nations of Earth. However, preventing further prosperity like the days of old, incidents around the world began where some of the machine life forms became Maverick, making some areas dangerous, and soon this activity obstructed exchange between nations.
The nations became divided into areas designated as Innerpeace (インナー Innā?, Inner in the Japanese version), where it was safe for humanoids to live, and the Outlands (アウター Autā?, Outer in the Japanese version) where the dangerous Mavericks appeared. Great developments were made due to the efforts of the corporation Slither Inc. (セルパン・カンパニー Serupan Kanpanī?, Serpent Company in the Japanese version), which possesses technology unearthed from historic ruins in the Outlands. Peaceful life is maintained by receiving the technology offered by Slither Inc. in the central areas of cities.
In the frontier regions where the crisis management of countries still doesn't reach, damage from attacks by Mavericks (general term for Reploids and Mechaniloids that threaten the peace) still occur. The humanoids in these areas developed the self-defense organization known as The Guardians (ガーディアン Gādian?, The Guards in the Japanese version, although the katakana are literally "guardian") They defend the frontier regions and investigate the cause of the Maverick element.
Slither Inc. uses the technology developed from historic ruin finds essentially as a lifeline for the cities, providing goods to its people such as energy resources. It is not necessarily a bad thing that the company has more or less grasped the lifeline of the cities, at least for the people in those cities. Slither Inc.'s president is named Serpent (セルパン Serupan?). Serpent is considered a wonderful humanoid who raised the company on his own by excavating the ancient technology sleeping in the Outlands. Furthermore, he has arranged a Mechaniloid army in his company, and is said to have repeatedly saved countries from Maverick attacks in the past.
On the other hand, the Guardians in the frontier regions are considered to be unassociated private ventures. They make the "Guardian HQ," a gigantic flying ship, their headquarters, and they take people on a volunteer basis to not only defend the frontier areas but also investigate the Maverick source. The original leader of the Guardians disappeared during the investigation of an Outlands area, and command has been taken over by the young girl named Prairie (プレリー Purerī?).
The two teenaged protagonists, a male named Vent (ヴァン Van?) and a female named Aile (エール Ēru?), have lost their parents due to Maverick attacks. Another character, Giro, full name Girouette (ジルウェ Jiruwe?), is Vent and Aile's senior, and carries out his own business, Giro Express (Girouette Express in the Japanese version) which sends anything, from letters to weapons, to anywhere, regardless of its legality. He receives a request from Prairie to transport the Biometals (ライブメタル Raibu Metaru?, Live Metals in the Japanese version) Model X (モデルＸ Moderu Ekkusu?) and Model Z (モデルＺ Moderu Zetto?), which are based on Mega Man X and Zero. Biometal is a substance discovered in places, such as ruins, that contains information about past events. They carry the battle experience and memories of beings from the past.
Later, Models X and Z are used by the characters. Vent and Aile use the Biometal Model X to take a form similar to Mega Man X. Their battle experience from times past provides them with attacks such as the Double Charge Shot. Giro uses the Biometal Model Z and takes a form similar to Zero. There is actually very little known about Model Z other than the fact that it utilizes a Z-Saber-like weapon. Only Vent and Aile are playable, and Giro is a supporting character. While players are not able to use Model Z, they have access to Model ZX, a fusion of Model X and Model Z with some capabilities from each.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Gameplay
The game contains elements from the Mega Man X series and the Mega Man Zero series. Players select a mission at a computer out of a list (with no mugshot of the boss character, similar to Mega Man Zero). The player has free exploration of the game world during and between missions, and they must find the specified area themselves. The player may also find computer chips to complete the game database, and Life Ups, which can be compared to the Heart Tanks from the Mega Man X series. Bosses all have their own individual weak points where the Biometal they're using is stored; hitting it deals more damage than normal, but it also decreases your ranking level at the end of the battle (ranging from 1 being the worst and 4 being the best). This also determines the level of the Biometal which they receive afterwords. But even if the level is low, the Biometals can be upgraded with Energy Crystals later. Bosses will eventually be resurrected and can be fought again, to increase the level of the Biometal.
[edit] Comparisons to Metroid and Castlevania
Due to the non-linear 2D platforming and the contigious map this entry into the Mega Man series has drawn a lot of comparisons to the Metroid series and more recent 2D Castlevanias, often with a fair amount of praise for the change. However, a common complaint is how the game gives the player little to no direction towards reaching his or her missions, thus resulting in blindly exploring the overworld map while looking for the requisite destination.
[edit] Biometals
Vent and Aile use the M.E.G.A. System (Meta-Encapsulated Granule Awareness SYSTEM), or the R.O.C.K. System (Rebirth Of Crystallised Knowledge SYSTEM) in the Japanese version, to activate the Biometals and transform into a form similar to what the Biometal was based off of. Anyone who uses the M.E.G.A. System is called a "Mega Man". Likewise, anyone who uses the R.O.C.K. System is called a "Rockman". Rockmen typically hold out a Biometal in front of them and cry out "R.O.C.K. On!" to activate the Biometal. This process is called Megamerging in the English version, although the characters still say "Rock On" because the game did not get an English vocal dub.
The player initially begins with only Model X, but upon obtaining Model Z, Model X is used to fuse with the other Biometals. This is called Double R.O.C.K. On in the Japanese version, and Double Megamerge in the English version. At this point, Model X can no longer be used alone for the rest of the game until it is unlocked by completing the game with both characters. Biometals of the Four Guardians from the Mega Man Zero series are found throughout the game, and these are the only Biometals that can be upgraded with Energy Crystals. These four Biometals uses the touch screen in various ways. A seventh Biometal is available after completing the game and fulfilling certain requirements.
The Overdrive Invoke System (or O.I.S.) can be activated on the Biometals of the Four Guardians, giving special abilities to the player. Model HX, FX, and LX will give the player elemental attributes to some of their attacks(similar to the elemental chips from the Mega Man Zero series), while Model PX gives the player the ability to dash through enemies. By charging their weapons, the four Biometals are also able to perform attacks similar to the Four Guardians. For example, Model HX can summon a hurricane and Model PX can throw a large shuriken. However, O.I.S. consumes Weapon Energy.
Players can also revert back to Humanoid form at any time. Although Vent/Aile cannot attack, dash, or wall-climb without a Biometal, they have some abilities that are impossible to do with a Biometal. Vent/Aile is able to crouch and crawl, fitting through tight spaces otherwise impossible. They will float to the surface of water instead of sink, some NPC characters will be too afraid to speak to Vent/Aile when they are using a Biometal, and enemies will not become hostile in certain areas.
- Model X is known as the "Blue Mega Man." It is the first Biometal obtained, giving Vent/Aile the X-Buster and one ability from the Mega Man X games. The X-Buster can charge up a double shot, similar to the Buster upgrade from Mega Man X2. Model X is lost early in the game upon receiving Model Z, but can be used again after completing the game as Vent and Aile in Normal or Hard mode.
- Model Z is known as the "Red Mega Man." It is not used by Vent and Aile, but only by Giro early in the game. Model Z looks very similar to Zero from the Mega Man Zero series, but has a visor in place of a helmet. Model Z has only the Z-Saber for a weapon, and is slightly curved. Vent/Aile later obtains Model Z but combines it with Model X, forming Model ZX.
- Model ZX is known as the "Ultimate Mega Man." The result of combining Model Z and Model X, It looks similar to Zero from the Mega Man Zero games, and has a gameplay experience similar to them, with both a Buster and Saber available to the player.
- Model HX is the "Mega Man of Wind." It is a form that resembles Harpuia, with many of his abilities. Vent/Aile are able to air dash both vertically and horizontally, hover, and use Harpuia's double saber "Nitouryuu". The touch screen displays the location of the Biometal in Pseudoroids, the weak spot. It also displays the health of enemies. Model HX has the Thunder element.
- Model FX is the "Mega Man of Fire." It is a form with Fefnir's abilities. Vent/Aile uses two "Knuckle Busters", busters that resemble Fefnir's buster cannons, Sodom and Gommorah. Similar to Fefnir, Vent/Aile is able to shoot directly up. They also have the ability to create shockwaves on the ground, similar to Fefnir's Earthquake attack. The touch screen displays FX's special ability, "Buster Edit." The player can draw on the touch screen a path for which the buster shots from either buster will follow. Upgrading FX will allow the player to draw longer paths. Model FX has the Fire element.
- Model LX is the "Mega Man of Water." It has the form of Leviathan. Using a Halberd for a weapon, Model LX lets Vent/Aile swim and dash freely in water. The touch-screen displays a map of the surrounding area. A Cyber-Elf icon appears on the map to highlight any nearby items. Model LX has the Ice element.
- Model PX is the "Mega Man of Shadow." A form with Phantom's abilities, it uses kunai for weapons. PX can also latch onto ceilings and other objects such as poles and platforms. A radar is displayed on the touch screen, highlighting enemies and showing passageways that may be hidden. Model PX is also able to see farther in the dark. Model PX has no elemental attributes.
- Model OX is a special Biometal that is available after completing certain tasks. Vent/Aile will look like a duplicate of Omega Zero, the final boss of Mega Man Zero 3. Model OX has many abilities similar to Omega Zero, executed with certain button commands while in Overdrive and it has infinite Weapon Energy.
- Model W (Model V in the Japanese version) is the original Biometal, formed from the pieces of the core of the Ragnarok Space Station that Dr. Weil (Dr. Vile in the Japanese version) fused with, which was destroyed at the end of Mega Man Zero 4. The original Guardian commander studied these pieces and developed the other 6 Biometals to stop Model W. A small fragment was later found by Serpent 10 years prior to the game, triggering the Maverick outbreaks. It is used only by Serpent at end of the game.
[edit] Reviews
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[edit] Reference
- ^ Play.com (UK) : Mega Man ZX : Nintendo DS. Play.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
[edit] External links
- Capcom's official Rockman ZX page.
- Capcom's official Megaman ZX page. (English)
- ITmedia Rockman ZX article.
- Perfect Memories R.O.C.K. System article.
- Atomic Fire Article 1
- Atomic Fire Article 2
