Mega Man X2
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| Mega Man X2 | |
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| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Designer(s) | Tokuro Fujiwara (producer) Keiji Inafune (characters) |
| Platform(s) | SNES |
| Release date |  January 14, 1995 March 3, 1995 March 31, 1995 |
| Genre(s) | Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: K-A (Kids to Adults) |
| Media | 16-megabit cartridge |
Mega Man X2 (ロックマンX2 , Rockman X2) was released in 1995 by Capcom and is the second game in the Mega Man X sub-franchise. It used the same graphics engine from the first installment of the series, but Capcom included an in-cartridge enhancement known as the Cx4 chip to improve semitransparencies and allow for some 3D graphics in the game. Mega Man X3 was the only other game to ever use this chip. Like the first game, it is praised for its soundtrack.
The subtitle Versus X-Hunters is given in the opening story; the Japanese version's full name is Rockman X2: Versus Counter-Hunters.
The game was re-released on January 10, 2006 as part of the Mega Man X Collection for the GameCube and PlayStation 2.
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[edit] Story
Six months and 13 days after defeating Sigma, X assumes leadership of the Maverick Hunters. Despite Sigma's death, the Maverick Rebellion continues. X has tracked the remaining Mavericks to a Reploid factory, and launches a full assault. But this was not the end of the war.
Three of the Maverick leaders, Serges, Agile, and Violen, form a group called the "X-Hunters" ("Counter Hunters" in the Japanese version) and gain control of the North Pole. In the time between Sigma's demise and their sudden uprising, Serges has collected the parts of Zero, who had died in the first conflict (in the Japanese version however, it is stated that Serges ("Sagesse" in that version) didn't salvage Zero's parts but created new ones, but still lacks Zero's original Control Chip). The X-Hunters contact the Maverick Hunters and taunt them with Zero's body, which they have split into three pieces, in order to lure out X, hoping to destroy him.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Gameplay
Mega Man X2 is an action game, where the player is given a selection screen of stages to begin, When selected, the player uses Mega Man X to blast various enemies throughout the level and reach the boss character, where defeating it wins the stage and earns a new weapon to utilize for the player.
[edit] New Features
- This was the first game in the series to have the Mavericks launch their special (desperation attack) and more powerful attack(s) once they were drained of a bit more than half their health. This strategy would follow for all the Mavericks in later games.
- This was the first game of the series that utilized Zero's current design, with shoulder plates and bulkier armor. Zero also uses his trademark weapon, the Z-Saber, for the first time.
[edit] Upgrades
Scattered throughout the stages are powerups used by X to enhance his attributes and obtain a wider range of skills:
- Armor Upgrades - Usually found in well-hidden areas, a projection of Dr. Light will give X encouragement and allow him to acquire an upgrade through use of a capsule:
- Legs - Found at the Desert Base. From X2 onwards, X has been able to dash without a power-up. This upgrade allows him to dash once while in mid-air.
- Armor - Found at the Robot Junkyard. This armor not only halves the damage X takes, it gives him another ability, the Giga Crush. The Giga Crush is an enormous flash of energy that destroys all minor enemies onscreen, and deals moderate damage to bosses (not significantly more than a normal attack). One use empties the entire bar of weapon energy, which only recovers when X sustains injury from projectiles, with less-damaging projectiles filling the gauge more than the stronger ones.
- Helmet - This enhancement to X's helmet, found in Crystal Snail's stage gives him the Item Tracer ability, which lets him scan the area for secret paths. However, this counts as a separate weapon altogether, and you can only fire a few weak X-buster shots between uses.
- X-Buster - Found in Wheel Gator's stage. This upgrade gives X the ability to charge up special weapons, but it also lets him charge his native X-Buster even further. When he glows pink while charging, X can release the energy in two consecutive plasma shots, instead of just one. When fired in this form, X can do additional damage.
- Shouryuuken (Dragon Punch) - A secret capsule is in the 3rd of the X-Hunter levels where the player comes upon an area with 2 ladders, the one leading above which is out of jumping height will take the player, perilously, to the secret capsule. The player must have all of the enhancement items in the game (code 8441, 2136, 4421), and find the location of the capsule with full health. This capsule gives X another move used in Street Fighter, the Shouryuuken. Like the Hadouken Fireball in Mega Man X, this attack can destroy nearly every Maverick in one blow.
- Health Supplements:
- Heart Tanks - Increases the maximum amount of X's life energy, allowing him to take more damage. One is located in each of the initial eight stages.
- Sub-Tanks - These tanks are hidden in four of the eight Maverick stages. These allow X to collect and store any Life Energy capsules he picks up when his health is full, and restore any lost health when in a pinch.
- Zero's Parts:- While not upgrades per se, these are integral to the story, and determine what happens in Sigma's fortress. If all are collected, the real Zero will dispatch a black-colored fake copy (with his new Z-Saber). If not, the player will fight the real Zero (who is under Sigma's control).
- This also determines what happens at the end credits. If you collect all of Zero's parts, he will show up and make the "Thanks For Playing" message appear. If not, Black Zero will show up and make the same message appear.
[edit] Mavericks
| English name | Japanese name | Form | Stage | Copied weapon | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overdrive Ostrich | Sonic Ostreague | Ostrich | Desert Base | Sonic Slicer | Crystal Hunter |
| Wire Sponge | Wire Hetimarl | Sponge | Weather Control | Strike Chain | Sonic Slicer |
| Crystal Snail | Cristar Mymine | Snail | Energen Crystal | Crystal Hunter | Magnet Mine |
| Flame Stag | Flame Stagger | Stag | Volcanic Zone | Speed Burner | Bubble Splash |
| Magna Centipede | Magne Hyakulegger | Centipede | Central Computer | Magnet Mine | Silk Shot |
| Morph Moth | Metamor Mothmeanos | Moth | Robot Junkyard | Silk Shot | Speed Burner |
| Bubble Crab | Bubbly Crablos | Crab | Deep Sea Base | Bubble Splash | Spin Wheel |
| Wheel Gator | Wheel Alligates | Alligator | Dinosaur Tank | Spin Wheel | Strike Chain |
[edit] Sub-Bosses
- CF-0
A mass-produced robot X fights in the reploid factory. The CF-0s are enormous and strike with their mace-like arms and spiked feet. However, despite its size, several shots in the head with the X-Buster would take it down in seconds.
- Sea Canthiller
This gigantic fish roams the deep seas of Bubble Crab's area. It chugs along at a snail's pace, firing torpedoes, dropping mines and scanning the depths with a searchlight. If X is caught by the beam, it'll start to sweep the area with a laser cannon. Destroying it is optional, but required if a player wishes to face the X-Hunter if he resides in the X-Hunters' room. Using the charged-up Sonic Slicer or a Giga Crush will easily eliminate this enemy.
- Old Robot and Paraloid S-38
Two of these lurk in the graveyard-like junkyard that Morph Moth controls. The Old Robot lurches around the screen, occasionally spitting a piece of trash. Only its stomach can be damaged by the player. The paraloid possesses the old robot, and will appear once the old robot is destroyed. After a few seconds, it will summon another robot to possess. It can only be destroyed between the robots it summons. Bubble Splash will easily destroy the paraloid and the old robot.
- Chop Register
This 3D sword is the first guardian of Magna Centipede's stage. It swings itself around to deflect shots, then pursues the player and either slices or thrusts. Only its blue handle can be damaged, which is hard to hit when the sword is swinging. The Bubble Splash, the Silk Shot, and the Magnet Mines seem to defeat it quickly, and the Giga Crush destroys it instantly.
- Raider (Radar) Killer
A Reploid in ambush that engages the player after a long hall of falling bricks in Magna Centipede's stage. If X doesn't avoid the scanner displays in the falling brick area, this guardian absorbs the data and becomes stronger, with 3 possible levels of difficulty. The only weapons which are consistently effective are the X-Buster, the Spin Wheel and the Speed Burner.
- Savor Moon R
This orb is frozen in place in Crystal Snail's stage. It does not attack on its own, but it sends a floating weapon out (and another when it is almost dead) that shoots lasers. The lasers reflect all over the room and are tricky to dodge. Spin Wheel seems to be the only effective weapon due to the fact that it will repeatedly cause damage if it connects.
Its name seems to be a pun on the "Sailor Moon R" anime series.
[edit] X-Hunter Diversions
[edit] Agile
In Mega Man X2, Agile was an integral part of the X-Hunters, an organization that planned to unify Zero's broken parts and use him for their own twisted purposes. He and his two comrades, Serges and Violen, challenged X to collect Zero's parts.
Agile, like many of the foes X faces, is arrogant, probably too much so. It's commonly believed that Agile is the leader of the X-Hunters, but his position is described as "Captain" while Serges is described as the actual leader. It would seem that he is in charge of the militaristic branch of the plans, such as strategies, while Serges holds the technical knowledge. He asks Serges how the plan is proceeding, as if he were in a position of leadership. Although he is greatly involved in the plan for the Unification, Serges is the forerunner of it.
When Agile is first confronted, he fights using a Beam Sabre, and as his name implies, he's very fast, zipping back and forth across the room faster than X can dash. During the second fight with him, he appears manning a large capsule at the top of a room with spikes on the floor, firing projectiles of all sorts.
In Mega Man Zero 2 Agile can be seen when a certain attack is used by Phoenix Magnion in the "destroy P.R." mission in the power room area, along with Vile, Bit and Colonel.
[edit] Serges
In Mega Man X2, Serges was an integral part of the X-Hunters, an organization that planned to unify Zero's broken parts and use him for their own twisted purposes. He and his two comrades, Violen and Agile, challenged X to collect Zero's parts, but were defeated. Serges fell at the hands of X.
Serges seems to be the brains of the Unification of Zero, and reportedly holds it together with his leadership. His brain is said to be of an even higher ability than Sigma's. Agile asks him how the plan is proceeding, and Serges has the technical knowledge. He also seems most connected with the project, being the only one who names it "the prophecy" when he's defeated by X. Many believe he is somehow connected to Dr. Wily from the Classic series to the point of actually being him in a robotic body.
Strangely enough, Serges' cloak can harm X if he touches it.
Serges makes a second appearance in Mega Man Xtreme, piloting the same tank-like machine that he used in X2. This "Serges", however, was nothing more than a computer program based on the late X-Hunter's abilities.
[edit] Violen
In Mega Man X2, Violen was part of the X-Hunters, an organization that planned to reconstruct Zero and use him for their own twisted purposes. When they saw that X was getting too close, they decided to challenge him, using Zero's parts as bait. He and his two comrades, Serges and Agile, challenged X to collect Zero's parts, but were defeated. Violen fell at the hands of X.
Violen is the largest and most brutal of the X-Hunters, and it seems his thought circuit may be broken. He seems a little below average intelligence, and not as much in the technical side of the unification as Serges was. Interestingly enough, he is the only character who referred to it as the unification.
Violen's name is derived from the word "violent", clearly indicating his nature. He's a very violent and brutal fighter when encountered, swinging a huge morning star around wildly and wanting nothing more than to crush X to pieces.
[edit] Remakes
- Until Mega Man X Collection was released, X2 was one of the most elusive games in the series to collect, since it was only released on the SNES and not on any other platform, not even PC. Although the SNES version of Mega Man X3 is also rare, three other versions of the game were released for the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and PC.
- A remake, Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X2, according to the Mega Man Network, and Gamespy, was in production for the PSP. However, it appears to have been stalled due to poor Japanese sales of "Maverick Hunter X" based on a video interview with Inafune on Planet Mega Man.
[edit] External links
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