Mega Man X4- Not Quite Perfect

[@Pensive_Scarlet]

"My fate is *sealed.* I have nnnnno choice." - General, the best one

[@ExploDjinn]

My favorite's either that or Sigma's, "Prepare to become space dust".

[@similaritiesendhere]

The Nova Strike is basically a Psycho Crusher, making it the 3rd Street Fighter inspired move in the X series.

[@Pegas105]

The story I heard about MM8, and you can throw in X4, is that Capcom hired Americans who were living in Japan, therefore fluent in Japanese, to do the dubbing for the games, so Capcom USA did have to go through localizing and hire translation teams.

[@superharpuia]

Mega Man X4 to me is a masterpiece and a great beginning to the PS1 X trilogy. The game has amazing stages with fun set pieces, a great armor with one of the best arm parts in the series, fun bosses (Especially with just the buster), The first game with Zero's fun saber combat, and this is where the plot thread where X tells Zero to kill him if he ever turns into a maverick (He was originally gonna be the Villian in Zero 1, but when Keiji Inafune found out about X6 and that making X a Villian doesn't fit his character at all, they decided to make Copy X the villian in Zero 1 instead). The only problems I have with the game is that the weapons are too weak in terms of power and the only ones I use is the soul body and rising fire. The rest of them are either too weak or not useful enough to bother using. The other is both a good and a bad thing which is the voice acting. It's so bad that it's laughable and it ruins scenes that the players are supposed to take seriously like Iris's death, X telling Zero to kill him if he ever turns into a maverick, and Sigma's fight against Zero. However, It's hilarious and it gives a lot of material to those who make KZbin poops or in my case, use them as a joke in a game review. The soundtrack in my opinion is one of the blandest in the entire franchise and it's one of my least favorite soundtracks in the series along with Mega Man II (GB) and Mega Man 5. The songs sound so forgettable and the sound font most of the songs have is pretty annoying. The only songs I like in this game is X's opening theme and both of Frost Walrus's themes. My main problem with the game is the story because hot damn is it a complete mess. When I eventually re-review the classic and X series, I'll go into more detail on why the plot is a dumpster fire. To sum it up briefly, the repli-force are idiots because the entire game could've been avoided if they just put down their weapons for questioning. They also should've removed Sigma completely because he doesn't add anything to the story and all he does is make it worse. That and the game should've been about the repli-force getting into conflict with the Mavericks just for wanting their independence and having different beliefs then they do. I'm not gonna go into more detail because like you said, I could do a whole Mega Man timeline series or video explaining why the plot is so bad, but I'll just stop it there. Note: I don't usually talk about the graphics for 2D Retro games because I've always felt that they speak for themselves which is a good thing. My opinion on X4's graphics is that it looks amazing and it's really colorful with great sprite work. If I talk about the graphics in a 2D game, then that means they look terrible or soulless. I do think it's mandatory to talk about graphics in a 3D retro game tho because I have to compare to games of today and see if it holds well.

[@ExploDjinn]

Lucas Gilbertson, the VA for Zero in X8 and Command Mission, redubbed some of the scenes from this game and they sound pretty good. Makes me want a remake more than I already do.

[@KamisamanoOtaku]

An excellent video, and I don't even recall any specific points where I disagree with ExploDjinn. Well, other than him thinking that the original Mega Man X is better than X4. ;) Since engagement is good for his channel and since he asked, I'll share my thoughts on the matter. Again, Mega Man X4 is my favorite of the series: I first experienced this game on the Sega Saturn, and later the Mega Man X Collection for the Nintendo GameCube. The former was borrowed from a friend, and the latter I had to sell due to a combination of financial and personal reasons. When I get my act together, the Mega Man X Legacy Collection (both the first and second) are on my video game wish list but... well... that ain't happening anytime soon. Before I go into detail, understand that, when I play through Mega Man X4, I play it x4 (that is, four times). First I run through it as regular X, then as regular Zero, then X with the Ultimate Armor, and finally Zero with his black armor... but if I only can run through it once, it is as Zero with that sick black armor. I prefer Zero to X (both in terms of story, gameplay, and aesthetic) to _that_ much. I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. Mega Man X4 was NOT my first Mega Man X game, let alone my Mega Man game. I only add this so that it is clear that my enjoyment of the game is NOT because it was my first of the subseries or the overall series. The original Mega Man X is currently my second favorite Mega Man X game. Of course, that could all be down to personal enjoyment, but I'll now explain myself. *Again, most of it was explained in the video.* Pardon the pun, but I think I'll just zero in on the thing that this game does well (but with room for improvement) that almost every other Mega Man game either ignores completely or also does with mixed results: multiple playable characters. We began the overall franchise with a named duo (Rock and Roll), and games with multiple protagonists that had at least some differences in how they played had been a thing in video games for *years* by the time Mega Man X was being worked on. I don't just mean fringe titles either: see Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES). Maybe the idea never occurred to anyone at Capcom. Maybe it was a lack of resources; either in making the game or in the games and/or game consoles themselves, but even a minor tweak seems really, really doable for a classic Mega Man game. Instead, Mega Man Powered-Up is the only one to really, really do it right, with some okay attempts by other titles yet back to just Mega Man in Mega Man 11. =/ If it doesn't seem fair to hold Mega Man X to such a standard... well, we disagree. Adding a jump-and-slash character to the jump-and-shoot gameplay may not be obvious, but like I said, we saw it elsewhere. Finally getting to Mega Man X4, the game isn't perfect. There are many areas where it clearly could have been better, and where it clearly only ties or even falls short of the standards established by the original Mega Man X... but they gave us that second, playable character. With a style of gameplay that was the right blend of familiar and novel. I actually like the approach of Mega Man X6 with respect to how you have X focused on the buster and Zero the saber, but each has their own less impressive version of the other weapon. If this all still sounds crazy... I dunno, maybe try 20XX. I know there's a sequel called 30XX, but 20XX is the one I've been playing over and over again for the last year or two. The game is a Mega Man X inspired (but legally distinct!) indie rogue like action/platformer. You've got Nina, who plays a lot like X, and Ace, who plays a lot like Zero. Besides the 8 weapons you can get from bosses, there are four alternate main weapons for each of them (buster variants for Nina, different melee weapons for Ace). There are also four sets up armor, each divided into four pieces. You can mix and match the pieces, though a full set has a bonus ability. Oh, and they work for both Nina and Ace. And the other two characters. The game doesn't stop as Nina and Ace: there are two characters that are unlockable in the console versions of the game, or DLC if you're like me and have the game on Steam. While they can still gain boss weapons and use the same armors as the other two, they also have their own things. There is a bit more too it, but I've probably said enough as is. My main point is that I wish Capcom, besides actually giving us a Mega Man X9, would learn the lessons that the devs of 20XX learned.

[@ExploDjinn]

While I do like it when some of the other entries gave us other character options, I always liked how X4 did it best. And I have played 20XX, though I only beat it once with Nina. Been thinking about picking up that again for Switch, and maybe giving 30XX a go at some point as well. I remember having fun with the first one, and feeling like I still had a lot to learn.

[@KamisamanoOtaku]

@@ExploDjinn I think X4 has the best *execution* of having multiple, selectable characters for a Mega Man X game (that I've played). There are things from later games I prefer _conceptually_ but which weren't done well in those later games, or where other aspects of the game soured the experience (see X6). From what I've heard about (but not played myself), X8 handles things reasonably well. If something I say after this has a question mark with it, I don't know if I read/remember the mechanic correctly. It sounds like Axl was developed to be even more distinct from X. You get to pick two characters to play as in the Stage (swapping between them, with a team up attack as well?). You get to pick who you want as a navigator (and different navigators have different benefits). Oh, and Axl, X, and Zero are all available from the start of the game, with the navigators are available as unlockable characters (though they play just like one of X, Zero, or Axl?). What I don't know is if the pool of permanent power ups (like boss weapons and Heart Tanks) is shared by your characters, or if they aren't *but* you're able to fully power up all three characters? If the game insists on the characters NOT sharing such power-ups, then you may as well be unable to switch and yeah, the X4 approach is how to do that: even though the Stages are the same, the way X and Zero play means an X run and Zero run will still feel different, but in a (mostly) enjoyable manner. :) As for 20XX, I definitely encourage you to give it another go, unless you hate rogue likes. An acquaintance of mine and I were discussing the game, and was surprised at a lot of the stuff I told him, because he just played it until he managed to finish a single run through. *Significant gameplay spoilers ahead:* Besides not exploring what the other characters can do, my acquaintance had no idea the Powers (the boss weapons) all had secondary effects. For example, the Boomerang Blade can collect drops other than Augments or Soul Chips. The Quint Laser can knock over vending machines, letting you collect their contents without paying! As for the Unlockable (DLC on PC) characters, Hawk is basically a Belmont (Castlevania) character turned into a Mega Man X character. Her primary weapon (the Siphon) is a whip that refills her Weapon Energy. She also starts with one Power, the Protorifle (fires your basic "energy bullet"; is there so the Energy Siphon always has something it can fuel). If there is a way to gain an Augment (Shop, crate drop, etc.) in a Stage, it may give you access to one of four Powers unique to Hawk. Sometimes, one of these Powers replaces the usual Boss Power that you can get after beating a boss. Hawk can still only have eight total powers at a time, so if you always take the Power presented after beating a boss you'll eventually have to drop one to take your final Power (the Protorifle is intentionally lacking so it is an easy decision to drop it). If you get some of Hawk's unique Powers from in-Stage drops, as well, you'll have to pick and choose what you keep. Draco is Primary Weapon specialist; instead of one Primary Weapon and eight boss Powers, he can collect eight Primary Weapons but only one Boss Power. You can drop that Power to pick up a different one, assuming you encounter another one (bosses don't always leave behind a power after beating them; more on that soon). Draco's OTHER gameplay tweak is that he can charge Primary Weapons, and he charges by not attacking but can store up to two charges at a time. Just hold Up while firing a Primary Weapon to use the charged version. Besides being able to acquire any Primary Weapon EXCEPT the N-Buster, A-Saber, or the Siphon (Nina, Ace, and Hawk's Primary Weapons), he can get any of their alternate Primary Weapons in addition to his own extra Primary Weapons. Which still probably doesn't sound great until you find out that Draco's own weapons come with powerful bonus effects when charged. The two default Primary Weapons he begins with - Unstoppable Force (a hammer) and the Volt Edge (boomerang) - give him a Dragon Punch that acts as an extra jump and the ability to stun enemies for a few seconds, respectively. The additional Primary Weapons can still fire a charged shot so long as they could normally be charged; they just use Draco's controls (hold UP while firing) and lack any additional bonus effects. Barring the RNG messing with you, *Draco is probably the easiest to use character.* Anyway, apologies for gushing, but 20XX has done a lot well that the X series either never did, didn't do well, or did well but it ain't like we've seen a new X game recently.

[@garvensman]

I like X4 quite a bit. It’s not my favorite (X3 is) but it’s really solid. The gameplay is incredibly sharp. The sharpest I think it had been up until that point. I actually think X is more mobile than he gets credit for. Sure he doesn’t have Zero’s double jump and full mobility, but his hover is underutilized, and a great option in many scenarios, especially with the ultimate armor giving you a longer hover. The story is great, but I also thought Repliforce just refusing to talk to the hunters and go to war over and insult was VERY thin. It’s also a great touch that some bosses are Sigma’s and some Repliforce. Having Dragoon essentially be Akuma, and simply motivated to face X and Zero is also a great touch. I don’t hate the voice acting, except for X. I don’t like his squeaky voice, and we have to listen to it all game sadly. However, Zero vs Sigma is so hype, that not even weird voice acting could ruin any of it for me. My biggest gripe are the graphics. I can’t quite place my finger on it entirely, but I’ve never liked it. I felt the same way about Mega Man 7. Was it just that I preferred the older graphical styles of X1-X3 or MM1-6? Partially perhaps, but the games feel too zoomed in, and my dislike of pre-rendered backgrounds is probably the biggest offender. The music IS different, but very well done as you said. I love how even the opening stage has a different theme based on who you pick. X’s theme is one of my favorite game tracks of all time, and it always gave me a sense of remorse, sadness and apprehension, much like how X feels about fighting. Zero’s theme feels much more high energy, and “gung-ho,” which is also appropriate. I agree about the ultimate armor, it really needed an in game way to unlock it just like all the secrets before it, but it’s tons of fun to be super OP in a Mega Man title, essentially right out the gate if you get it at Web Spider.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

I did not know I could use the lightning web that way. I wish Capcom had given us a nice commemorative game manual with the Legacy Collection.

[@ExploDjinn]

That's one of those things that I know, but I have no idea how I know. Maybe it was a guide, maybe intuition, maybe I figured it out by accident.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

@@ExploDjinn 👍

[@bezoticallyyours83]

As far as repliforce being bad or not, I guess a decent comparison would be the place you work at having a lot of great people, but there's bound to be at least one shady or assholish co-worker you wish would go away.

[@ExploDjinn]

While I get that, it just strikes me as a weird presentation, given that they try to make you empathize with them and then immediately turn around and tell you about what jerks some of them are. The way the General comes off as pompous and cold didn't help either.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

@@ExploDjinn but...he has No choice. :p

[@mohdadeeb1829]

You know why a lot of players prefer to play as Zero over X despite Zero game being harder. Because Zero makes the game... a game. Not just merely a 'tank damage and run' . Someone told me that my rating for 5.5 is too harsh. But keep in mind that this score is not universal. If I wasn't scoring Mega Man games, it would be 7-8 game. The quality slant is much more steeper when talking about Mega Man but not games in General. Even X7 is somewhere between 3-4.

[@ExploDjinn]

For game scores, different numbers mean different things to different people. Unless someone knows you and your criteria, chances are they'll probably disagree with you. While I'd rate X4 higher, I'd say as long as you feel that you're consistent with your standards, I wouldn't let it bother you.

[@jaimeholguin6708]

X4 is my 2nd favorite game from the X series. One of the best things about megaman is revisiting levels and using boss weapons on enemies. The biggest flaw on x4 was boss weapons dont do damage to most enemies in the game...

[@mohdadeeb1829]

You did just talked about my biggest grudge against this game. But it bears repetition. X4 is way way too easy. You can tank damage and run and you will be refilled or die and respawn in a checkpoint that are dropped like candy. Bosses on the other hand... they are phenomenal! With the exception of General and maybe Iris. If this game was harder. And genuinely harder unlike X6, I would've given it a 7 or maybe even an 8. I really don't want to point to story because... it's just a platformer. Why would they have any complex stories?

[@ExploDjinn]

Sometimes you need to make your own difficulty in games, like how Pokémon is designed for children, but people do challenges like Nuzlockes. As for why add story, people play games for different reasons. For me, gameplay is king, but if a series happens to have a good plot and lore, I find myself getting a lot more attached to it. Just as long as it doesn't grind the pacing to a halt.

[@josh7559]

Are the arm parts REALLY that hard to get to? I mean, the checkpoint is super close, and the enemies on the way to it are pretty easily dispatched, so even if you have trouble with the jump, you don't lose much progress by failing it.

[@ExploDjinn]

I'd argue that infinite tries doesn't make something any easier, but the short walk at least makes it more tolerable, yes.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

Anywho, good analysis

[@bezoticallyyours83]

I'm not as big a fan of the x games as I am of the classic and zeros. They feel slower and clunkier. Still, 1 and 4 are tied in my top 10. I can't decide which one I like more. X1 has better music, but X4 has better stages, but X1 has better weapons, but X4 has save slots. But, but, but... I beat X4 with Zero first, I'm still doing X's run.

[@SapphireLibra3]

My thoughts on whether or not I think the story is deep can be summed up in one phrase, and I will die on this hill. Repliforce did nothing wrong.

[@gjergjaurelius9798]

Not prefect? X4 is the best in the series!