Megaman X4
Developer: Capcom
Genre: 2D platformer
Release date: 1997
Consoles: Playstation, PC (Rockman X4)


I present you Megaman X4; King of the X series


For today, I decided to write a special review, of a game that is very special to me. Megaman X4 is one of those typical games that "blew my mind" so to say. before X4 was brought out, I had played ALL megaman games, and except the gb ones, I finished them all. With the exception of one megaman game (6), I liked them all. The story about megaman kept on increasing. More characters were added, more plot came into it. Until suddenly, everything changed. Megaman was no more. He was replaced with X. I could not believe it! My special game had been ended?! But no. It had been continued, but on a next level. The X series are about how megaman had been upgraded for reasons unknown, and how he handles himself in the future. In the future, again he has to fight, and he doubts the meaning of his existance more and more. With his best friend Zero restored in X2, and with his archenemy Sigma defeated in X3, we begin with the very FIRST playstation version of the Megaman X games. I hope you will like this review as much as I liked playing the game


After the victory on the evil reploid (humanoide robot) Sigma, X and Zero have finally been granted a little peace. Without to much danger from Mavericks (reploids gone insane), the humans and reploids have managed to build new cities. Alongside the Maverick hunters, there has been another army of reploids started; Repliforce. The two coexist peacefully, until one day....


Thats more or less the introduction story I make out of the start of the game. Unlike previous Megaman X games, this time you can either play with Megaman X, OR, with Zero. Yes, you can get to play with that damn awesome red guy with the lasersword (Z-sabre). Basically, you have two characters, almost a simular introduction, but a completely different story. And thats exactly what makes this game in particular so great.

For those of you who have never played any megaman games before (Zulus; you are excused), I shall give a quick explanation of the system megaman uses. There are always 8 robots that you must destroy, for one reason or another. By defeating these robots, you are granted a new weapon (for X), or a new battlemove (for zero). You can use these weapons and moves to defeat other bosses more easily. So key to victory is a proper order of gameplay. Also, the X games are in complete 2d.

Up to what I have told you now, it could just be a robotic version of the classic Rayman, right? Wrong. One thing that IMMEDIATLY caught my attention was the intro. It was pure, 100% megaman X anime. Yes, Anime. X4 starts with an intro of multiple shots of the X anime, combined with a pretty catchy tune. Which is something I also instantly noticed; the themes. It seems capcom decided to improve on the themes of the levels greatly for the PSX X games. Unlike some megaman games, where you eventually just want to throw your console out the window simply because the tunes are annoying, the X4 themes are incredibly catchy, and it is unlikely for anyone to turn them down.


Now again, thats all nice and dandy, but what makes this game even more special? The easy answer is; the story. In previous X games, there was a decent plotline, but it wasnt told very properly. However, in X4 you are really caught up in the story, regardless of who you play with; X or Zero.
Yes, I am aware I said both have different stories. And both stories *are* great. We get to see how X feels about his existance. How he comes to doubt himself. And Zero... Well, we discover that he too, has his doubts. But even more, we find out about his existance and, for the first time, how he is related to the Sigma virus (through a very, VERY awesome flashback).


Part of the flashback I mentioned. Here, we see Sigma in his maverick hunter days.
An omenous day for the world...

Well, I have rambled about the story long enough now. The gameplay, how is it? Well, it is extremely good. The characters respond perfectly, and there are no realy problems that I have noticed with it. X fanatics will be thrilled to play with Zero by the way, because unlike X he is a melee fighter, and requires some practice to be masterfull with. So this will require skill more than ever.


Truth be told, I was quite sceptic about Megaman X4. I was worried that it would eventually result in games like Megaman6 (a terrible game). And even though with later games such as X5,6 and 7, that WERE terrible, X4 was not. No, X4 is the best one I have played in the entire series (and yes, again I played them all). The reason I like X4 more than the others, is that I can clearly see how much effort was put in this game. Not to mention they took the trouble of adding scenes from the manga as well. We get to see an intense plotline, more story than ever before, and pretty awesome bosses that do require skill to beat.


One of the bosses, Magma Dragoon, requires a load of skills to defeat!

In previous X games, there were certain secrets one could obtain; the Ha-Dou-Ken (X1), and the Sho-Ryu-Ken (X2). I think fans were disappointed that there was no such thing in X3, so capcom decided to add Dragoon. His moves are a tribute to the Streetfighter characters Ryu, Ken, and Akuma. I guess you need to fight him to understand, though I believe the picture provided above says enough.

Megaman X4 is a must-have for any megaman fanatic. The only thing I dont like about this game, is the fact that X's voiceover well.....it sucks. Its a small kids voice (or so it reminds me of). See, whenever a character is nearly dead, both Zero and X say a line. Zero will say "Its not over yet!" with a pretty strong determination in it, while X says "Time to get serious". Try putting your kid brother on helium and make him say that. Same effect, and quite annoying.

Other than that, Capcom created one jewel of a game. Its a buyer, not a renter. And once you finish the game with one character....try it with the other. An easy 7 hours of gameplay (well for me, for both characters...a novice will take longer).

Graphics - 7.5/10
Originality - 7/10
Story - 9/10
Gameplay - 9/10
Music - 8/10

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overall rating - 8/10


This review was thought up, and written by Michel van der Linden. Nothing of this review may be copied, published, or sold without the author's agreeing. Internet plagiarism is against international laws. The creator of this article reserves the right to remove, edit, or copy this to the location of his liking if he decides to do so.