Introduced in 1993, the
Mega Man X series was meant to be the edgier, more “mature” version of
Mega Man. The series takes place sometime in the near future and follows the exploits of Mega Man X, a more advanced version of the little blue star of the NES series. The story places X in the middle of a war between an anti-human movement led by a rogue robot named Sigma and the pro-human forces. In addition to adding a slightly more involved plot (which seems to grow in complex absurdity with each passing game), the series also introduced more complicated mechanics, numerous upgrades and new playable characters, like the saber-wielding Zero, to the traditional
Mega Man formula of defeating enemy robots and acquiring their powers.
Any downsides found in the Collection are ones that had appeared in the original releases. As far as quality, the games are a mixed bag, ranging from the really good (X, X-2) to the really bad (X-6). As seems to be the case with the Mega Man series in general (X or otherwise), the quality begins to decrease with each increasing number tag. While this was a problem with the Anniversary Collection, it also offered more quality titles. Still, considering how difficult these games are to get a hold of otherwise, the collection is still worth a play through if you’re a fan.
A few extras are included, though the number is considerably less than those found in the Anniversary Collection. Other than the requisite art gallery, the compilation also includes Mega Man Battle & Chase as an unlockable bonus. The concept, which is basically Mario Kart with a Mega Man spin, is a quirky, but fun addition – especially since this is the first time the game has been released in the US.
