Mega Man X: Difference between revisions

Do not confuse this series with ''[[Mega Man 10]]'', the tenth game in the original line's series (which came out well after ''Mega Man X'' did).

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'''Games In The Series'''

* Mega Man Xtreme (GBC): A [[Game Boy Color]] spinoff, semi-port of Mega Man X1.

* Mega Man X3 (SNES, [[PS 1]], Saturn, PC): First game where Zero is playable. A port was released for the [[PlayStation]] and [[Sega Saturn]], including cd-quality music, a save feature and anime cutscenes, but [[No Export for You|only in Japan]] prior to its PC port and its inclusion in X Collection. Like X2, it also used a microchip in the SNES version for 3-D effects (the [[PS 1]] and Saturn ports just used their native 3D for the effects).

* Mega Man X5 ([[PS 1]], PC): Incorporates a [[Multiple Endings]] system into the gameplay. Intended as the [[Grand Finale|series finale]], but this never came to pass.

* Mega Man Xtreme 2 (GBC)

* Mega Man X7 ([[PlayStation 2]], PC<ref>In Korea only</ref>): Mega Man X's 3-D debut. Debut of Axl. Known for the [[Polygon Ceiling|severe clunkiness of its 3-D segments]].

* Mega Man X8 ([[PlayStation 2]], PC): The actual series finale. Abandoned the 3-D elements in favor of a 2.5D platforming approach.

* [[All There in the Manual]]: The developers decided to resolve all the plotholes and [[Canon Discontinuity]] problems with the ''[[Mega Man Zero]] Official Complete Works'' that was for the aforementioned [[Sequel Series]]. [[Your Mileage May Vary]] if they succeeded or not.

* [[All Your Base Are Belong to Us]]: The opening of ''X3'' has X and Zero's home base besieged by Dr. Doppler's Mavericks.

* [[An Ice Person]]: Chill Penguin, Blizzard Buffalo, Frost Walrus, [[Guns N' Roses|Duff]] [[Stealth Pun|McWhalen,]] [[Awesome McCoolname|Blizzard Wolfang,]] Avalanche Yeti.

* [[Anime Theme Song]]: "''Makenai Ai ga Kitto Aru''" ("We've Definitely Got a Love that Won't Lose"), "Monkey", "Moon Light"/"The Answer", "CODE CRUSH", "WILD FANG", and "Don't Wanna Be" for ''X4'', ''X5'', ''X6'', ''X7'', ''X8'', and ''Maverick Hunter X'' respectively.

** X6 gets a special mention as he's brought back as a zombie...er, [[Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot|Robot Zombie?]]

** Zero's in the running as well.

* [[Background Boss]]: Rangda Bangda and Sigma's second forms in both ''X1'' and ''X5''; Giant Mechaniloid CF-0 in ''X2''; Maoh the Giant in ''X3''; the first encounter against Egregion in ''X4'', Illumina in ''X6''; Yadokari and Sigma's second form in ''X7''; the second Crabz-Y encounter in ''X8''.

* [[Badass Automaton]]: All other Mega Men in the franchise start as utility mechs and average humans, then [[Take a Level In Badass|get upgraded into the heroes they become.]] X and his crew, however, [[Born Winner|are badass warriors right off the workbench.]]

{{quote|'''Alia:''' You can't jump across spiny area!}}

* [[Blob Monster]]: The infamous Yellow Devil from the classic series comes back in ''X5'''s fortress bosses, now black-colored and named Shadow Devil.

** While generally overlooked, Magma Dragoon is probably the biggest example of this trope in the franchise. To wit, he causes a civil war and very nearly [[The End of the World as We Know It]] ''just so he could fight the protagonists!''

** More than a few Reploids in ''X5'' seem more interested in fighting the protagonists than they are about doing something to help save the world. Many of them (especially Duff McWhalen and Grizzly Slash) say that they've been infected by the Virus and want to [[Suicide by Cop|fight the heroes]] and [[Face Death with Dignity|die with dignity]]. Some, like Squid Adler, do actually give X and Zero what they need, only for the Virus to choose that moment to take over their minds and force them to fight.

** If you fail to stop the colony, {{spoiler|it works.}}

* [[Darker and Edgier]]: Naturally, [[Your Mileage May Vary]], but in general, the early entries in this series are an excellent example of [[Tropes Are Tools|this trope being used well]], without dumping on the original series.

* [[Deadly Euphemism]]: "Retirement".

* [[Degraded Boss]]: A Boss that has been degraded so much, he was turned into a [[Mook]] (an [[Elite Mook]], but still)! And {{spoiler|he's ''[[Big Bad|Sigma]]'' of the previous games! See [[Boss Rush]] above.}}

* [[Double Knockout]]: Happens to {{spoiler|X and Zero.}}

* [[Doppleganger Attack]]: From ''X4'' onwards, there would be a Boss that specializes in creating at least one copy of himself, whether or not his Boss Weapon was based on this ability.

** When obtaining the [[Infinity+1 Sword|Zero/Black Armor]] in ''X5''; Dr. Light, of all people, was the one who gave it to Zero! And he (Light) made it just for him (Zero)?!

*** Light specifically states that he couldn't make a compatible armor, but he could boost Zero's power.

* [[Dub Name Change]]: Most of the Mavericks (Icy Penguigo to Chill Penguin, Storm Eagleed to Storm Eagle, etc). The name of the rogue Maverick from the first, third, and eighth games got his name changed from VAVA (which would be pronounced roughly like "Boba", as in Boba Fett, who he is an [[Expy]] of, in Japanese) to Vile (in fact, the reason they couldn't just call him "Boba" outright was because of trademark issues, so they had to spell it VAVA).

** And in fact, the term "Maverick." They were called "Irregulars" in Japan, though this is probably because the noun "irregular" in English refers to non-conventional or private military forces of the type usually employed by governments (which might be a good description of the organization to which the ''heroes'' belong), something wholly unlike what the Japanese name was supposed to mean.

* [[Dying as Yourself]]: {{spoiler|Iris}} in ''X4''. Many of the bosses in ''X5'' that are infected by [[The Virus]] also challenge X/Zero for this reason.

* [[Early-Bird Cameo]]: Zero's [[Infinity+1 Sword|special armor]] can be seen as early as ''X2'', in the canon ending, even, although it officially debuts in ''X4''. Some of Zero's signature attacks also debut in the same game {{spoiler|in the ''other'' ending, although there's little difference}}, before becoming officially playable himself, also in ''X4''.

** The PSP [[Enhanced Remake]] removed this by skipping the rigged fight.

* [[Enemy Chatter]]: Starting from X4.

* [[Evasive Fight Thread Episode]]: ''X5''.

* [[Everything Is Better With Penguins]]: Chill Penguin from ''X''.

* [[Everything's Better with Chickens]]: Burn Rooster from ''X8''.

* [[Everything's Better with Monkeys]]: Spark Mandrill from ''X'' and Soldier Stonekong from ''X7''.

** He has the spinning slash since X4, after you beat Split Mushroom. It has been one of his staple techniques through this and the ''Zero'' series.

* [[Everything's Squishier with Cephalopods]]: Launch Octopus from ''X'' and Squid Adler from ''X5''. Though they are anything but squishy...

*** Actually, giant pandas ''are'' ursine, as was discovered through genetic research several decades ago. However, he is still an interesting case in that, when people think of [[Everything's Worse with Bears|bears making things worse]], pandas aren't exactly the first bears they think of (though in real life, they can still do some damage when angry).

* [[Everything's Worse with Bees]]: Blast Hornet of ''X3''.

** Apart from the obvious example (X is based on the original Mega Man), there's also {{spoiler|Lumine's}} [[One-Winged Angel]], which, in terms of production dates, is preceded by {{spoiler|Copy X's own [[One-Winged Angel]] from ''[[Mega Man Zero]]'' as well as Colonel Redips' [[God-Emperor]] form from ''Command Mission''.}}

** Zero is pretty much entirely Bass. Note that this does ''not'' make Axl Proto Man.

*** The Bad Ending storyline actually makes this battle even more poignant: {{spoiler|Compare the canon arguments they have thinking the other is too susceptible to the virus to [["I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight|Awakening Zero vowing to destroy X, and X vowing to defeat him and bring back "the real Zero"]].}}

* [[Final Boss Preview]]

** In the latter, in a [[Matrix Raining Code]] background, regardless of the weapon equipped on the characters, they will always use the following: X has a [[Wave Motion Gun]], Zero's [[Laser Blade]] [[BFS|grows BIG]], and Axl combines [[Trigger Happy]], [[Guns Akimbo]], ''and'' [[Beam Spam]].

* [[Fire, Ice, Lightning]]: Some of the games have Mavericks who use these;

** In X5, {{spoiler|X vs Zero -- No matter what character you use and Zero's condition (being Maverick or not), your fight will end in a draw.}}

* [[Heart Container]]: Heart Tanks.

** X actually acquires a [[Laser Blade]] {{spoiler|(specifically, Zero's)}} in X6, but he can't use it as well as Zero does. His armors in the game amplify its powers, though.

* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]: In the original game, Zero sacrifices himself in the first game to destroy the [[Hopeless Boss Fight]] and give X his [[BFG]] if he doesn't have it already. Zero clung to the back of the mech, where there were no weapons, no way for the arms to reach him, and Vile's exposed head is in front of him. The manga adaptation of this scene shows X ''trying'' to attack Vile's exposed body, but stopped by a force field. The SNES version has X paralyzed after being over powered by Vile, and the PSP remake has Vile grab X while the latter is distracted seeing a downed Zero. However the effect is lessened when you realize neither game explains why ''shooting Vile'' isn't an option. The PSP version even shows that it wouldn't be too difficult for Zero to aim just a little higher.

* [[Kill All Humans]]: Suddenly Reploids, thanks to their advanced programming that allows them to enjoy a personality, can malfunction and end up wanting to exterminate and not care about humans, aptly named Mavericks. Thanks to the circuit that makes X "worry" about the value of humans and Reploids not being perfect in other Reploids, and thus extremely vulnerable to the virus, which exploits the cracks.

** This is also at times implied to be an inherent part of the Reploid's free will: Just as a human can freely choose the [[Dark Side]], Reploids can do the same. The flaw simply makes them more vulnerable to physical and external influences on their behavior.

** Though this wouldn't be the first time, {{spoiler|Sigma (finally!!)}} has been stated to have been killed at the end of the last released game. The next game, chronologically, as well as the [[Mega Man Zero|next series]], somewhat proves this, {{spoiler|since he doesn't appear in them at all}}.

** ''X5'' supposedly has this happen to {{spoiler|Zero}} as well, to ''end the series''. Of course, [[Capcom]] [[Executive Meddling|didn't make it stick]]...

* [[More Dakka]]: Axl in ''X8'', where he got multiple arsenals from the bosses. One of them, in particular, is the [[Kill It with Ice|Ice]] [[Gatling Good|Gatling.]] [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Very cool, isn't it?]]

* [[More Hero Than Thou]]: In ''X5'', in order to stop the [[Colony Drop]], one of the heroes has to maneuver a shuttle into crashing into it. Zero volunteered himself, as he stated that, whether or not he (Zero) survives the crash, the world is still in danger, and X is needed more than he is.

* [[Multiple Endings]]: Subversion in ''X2'' and ''X3''. {{spoiler|Gathering all of Zero's parts}} and {{spoiler|keeping the same character alive}}, respectively, definitely changes things in the final battles, but they only slightly affect the ending. Played straight in later games, though.

* [[Multipurpose Tongue]]: Sting Chameleon from X1 is all about this trope. He uses his tongue as his primary attack, and can hang from the ceiling to rain damaging spikes down from the ceiling.

* [[Nintendo Hard]]: ''X6'', thanks to the endless array of instant [[Spikes of Doom|death spikes]].

** Combined with ''every other'' instant-kill trap, utilized in the most sadistic way possible.

* [[No Endor Holocaust]]: Averted in X6; just because you {{spoiler|blew up the space colony doesn't solve the problem of the ''debris'' crashing and causing havoc.}}

* [[No-Holds-Barred Beatdown]]: Played with in {{spoiler|Maverick Zero and Sigma's}} battle in ''X4'''s flashback cutscene. It seems like {{spoiler|Sigma}} is controlling the fight, but {{spoiler|Zero}} just keeps getting up, laughing, and finally winning a [[Single-Stroke Battle]], ''fist to Beam Saber'', and then turns the tables completely. {{spoiler|Zero}} is only beaten when his head crystal glows, causing him a headache, and then {{spoiler|Sigma}} punches it, making his opponent unconscious.

* [[One Hundred Percent Completion]]: Collecting all the items in ''X8'' and upgrading the three{{spoiler|/later six}} playable characters, which even has a percentage counter for each character. Fully upgrading (100%) each of the {{spoiler|male}} characters is the only way to obtain his [[Infinity+1 Sword|infinity plus one armor]] without the use of codes.

* [[One-Man Army]]: In ''X7'', Zero comes close to literally being one, after X retires, until at least he was joined by the "volunteer" Axl.

** This is played with, since the Mavericks always seem to rely on a mere 8 bosses, suggesting that both sides deploy forces against each other beyond what we see.

* [[One-Winged Angel]]: Sigma abuses the hell out of this trope.

** {{spoiler|Lumine in ''X8'' not only grows angel wings, but the background suddenly becomes cloudy and sunny... despite your fighting on the ''moon''}}.

* [[The Other Darrin]]: Considering his expanded role in future series, Zero has had the most voice actors in the series at 4 (5 if one counts his ''Zero'' voice actor, since there was no English audio). X and Sigma won't be left behind either, having 3 actors each.

* [[Outside the Box Tactic]]: While many bosses have [[Logical Weakness]]es, the Launch Octopus has one of these - the boomerang attack can cut off its tentacles and prevent it from using its homing attack.

* [[OVA]]: ''Day of Sigma'', available after finishing the first game's remake. It's a prequel to events in the series; however, it [[retcon]]s certain aspects of the series canon (eg. Sigma's motivations, Dr. Cain's death [he was shown/mentioned in games up to ''X4''; especially in ''X2'', where {{spoiler|it was he who rebuilt Zero from the parts X stole from the X-Hunters}}], etc.).

* [[Playing the Victim Card]]: Some of the bosses do this to you. {{spoiler|They're not necessarily wrong, either.}}

* [[Playing with Fire]]: Flame Mammoth, Flame Stag, Magma Dragoon, Mattrex, Blaze Heatnix, Flame Hyenard, Burn Rooster, from X1-X2, X4-X8 respectively. Strangely, ''X3'' is the only game without a fire-themed maverick.

* [[Post Script Season]]: ''X5'' was meant to cap off the series and segue into the ''Zero'' series, but stuff happened and Capcom threw together four more installments that didn't really involve Inafune's input.

* [[Power Armor]]: The [[Mini-Mecha]] mentioned above, complete with a separate health reservoir, speed dash, and titan punches. ''X3'' introduced a few variants, including one with [[Spikes of Doom]] and an anphibious one with [[Super Not-Drowning Skills]].

* [[Schrodinger's Player Character]]: In ''X4'', Zero and X have a identical yet separate storyline. X never shows up in Zero's story, while Zero only appears once in X's story, when he's flying to Earth after destroying the [[Kill Sat|Final Weapon.]]

* [[Screaming Warrior]]: The title character in later entries into the series (in particular, those with voiced pre-boss dialogue). Reaches [[Large Ham]] territory introducing the Sigma fight in ''Maverick Hunter X.''

** Arguably, in a related case, {{spoiler|Zero himself was a [[Sealed Evil in a Can|sealed evil]], with the Maverick Hunters temporarily containing him in the lab he woke up in, right before the above events came to pass}}.

* [[Secret AI Moves]]: ''X5'' is pretty bad about this. When you end up challenging either X or Zero, the character gets moves you cannot (or no longer can) use. X can use several powers from the previous game, which he can use a lot better than he ever could in that game, while Zero gets a huge upgrade to his ranged attack abilities. The latter might have been excusable if {{spoiler|only Maverick Zero could do it (instead he he's just cheaper and gets a one-hit kill attack on top)}}, but Zero can use these powers regardless of the circumstance.

* [[Strictly Formula]]: If there's some new Reploids introduced, chance are they're evil or just want to backstab people. Most of the time, [[Hijacked by Ganon|Sigma is behind all of these]].

** It then becomes a plot twist when {{spoiler|it turns out in ''X8'' that Sigma is ''not'' the [[Big Bad]] and the [[Final Boss]] of the game.}}

** Given that [[Straw Man Has a Point]] (above), maybe not...

* [[Super Prototype]]: Both X and Zero, but (arguably) subverted with Axl, who is a prototype to the New Generation Reploids.

* [[Sword Lines]]: Everytime the Z-Saber is swung, it creates these.

* [[Sword Sparks]]: In [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXj3Fs0A-gk&feature=related this video,] where Colonel and Zero fight, their [[Laser Blade]]s create electric sparks.

* [[Tagalong Kid]]: Axl in ''X7''. Neither Zero nor the rest of the Hunters want to send him out into battle, but he insisted, seeing the game's crisis was started over him. Later, ''X8'' and ''Command Mission'' depict him as having "grown up", becoming an accepted member of the Hunters.

* [[Take Up My Sword]]: In X1, if the player hasn't acquired the upgraded Arm Cannon before entering Sigma's fortress, X receives ''Zero's'' arm cannon after defeating Vile. In said game, it doesn't make any difference from getting the real Arm Cannon from the capsule, but in ''Maverick Hunter X'', Zero's Buster gives off a huge Red single hit blast charge shot instead of the one from the capsule <ref>it has the original Pink swirly multi-hit Charge shot.</ref>

* [[Theme Naming]]: the main three characters of the series (X, Zero and Sigma) are all named after symbols from various "alphabets" (zero's a number, but you know what I mean).

** The name X represents the infinite possibility as stated by his creator, Thomas Light. He even has a theme song that is named [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUBQOmnU8bM Variable X].

** Zero's name is a reference to the number, which is unique among numbers. Like X, Zero represents limitless potential, just in a different way.

* [[This Cannot Be!]]: Several villains are quite fond of using this trope when they're defeated, such as Vile in Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X when he is defeated by X in Sigma Stage 1 and he screams "Noooo... I can't lose to X...!" before exploding.

{{quote|'''Sigma''': (being defeated) Impossible! You couldn't... destroy... old world... new age... Hrrgh! Argh! [[Big No|NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo!!!!!]] (then he blows up) }}

* [[This Is a Drill]]: In ''Maverick Hunter X'', the remake of the first game, Spark Mandrill gets a drill for a right hand as a pun on his name.

* [[Video Game Remake]]: ''Maverick Hunter X'' to ''X1'', which serves as a [[Continuity Reboot]].

* [[Villain by Default]]: All of the villains in this series (and also ''[[Mega Man ZX|ZX]]'' series) are called Mavericks, ranging from the virus-infected ones, wrongly-accused ones or just the plain criminals with free will.

** Inverted with Dr. Wily. Remember his [[Mega Man (video game)|prior characterization?]] [[Inverted Trope|He's much]], ''[[Inverted Trope|much]]'' [[Inverted Trope|more sinister]].

** Applied to Sigma in ''X6'', where he is a ''zombie'' in that game and has ''[[Giant Space Flea From Nowhere|absolutely nothing]]'' to do with the plot, and in ''X8'', where he's just an [[Unwitting Pawn]] for the game's real [[Big Bad]], Lumine.

* [[You Can't Fight Fate]]: No matter what happens in ''X5'', {{spoiler|Zero and Mega Man X will always have their destined battle.}}

** However, Zero is still more or less the master of [[Screw Destiny]], since {{spoiler|Dr. Wily programmed him to be a weapon of mass destruction; technically, Zero is one, but he doesn't use his abilities for the evil purposes Wily wanted him to.}}

* [[You're Insane!]]: ''Maverick Hunter X'' has the titular Azure Hunter pointing out that Sigma has completely lost it to his subordinates. None of them deny it, but rather believe that Sigma, despite his insanity, [[Mechanical Evolution|has a good point]], and people would rather ignore it than deal with the implications.

{{quote|'''Sigma''': Our potential is limitless!

'''X''': You think you have potential?! You're insane, Sigma! }}

* [[Zeerust]]: The first game's pre-title intro is done as a computer read-out on X's data and Dr. Light's warning about his abilities, prefaced by a boot-up sequence. Despite the OS being as advanced as 2114 (with RAM to match: all told, the system's packing ''40,960 terabytes'' of memory) asides from the blue typeface it's a clear knockoff of DOS.