Customer Reviews

Mega Man X7

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Mega Man X7(2003). The seventh game in a seven part series.

Ever since Megaman X4 was released back in 1997, hardcore fans of the series were impatiently waiting for Capcom to follow up on its impressive streak of solid MMX games, I being one of those fans. It took them nearly four long years to finally make MMX5, and when they did, it received nothing but mixed reviews. While it still stayed tried and true to the classic 2D formula, there were a few changes that ended up bringing the game down, such as the lack of anime-cutscenes and a guiding feature that hindered more than helped the game. Despite these quibbles however, I felt that this game was needlessly bashed by other hardcore fans, so I stood up for it. Afterall it was still a fun game and it stuck tried and true to the classic gameplay. Same thing for MMX6, only this one got even more criticism by the die-hard fans. I personally thought X6 was a reasonable game, though the story was bad, but once again, it delivered in challenging old-school gameplay. As a hardcore fan who is open to most games, I am willing to defend X5 and X6 to the end. However, the same cannot be said about the new entry, X7. Read on and see why the negatives outweigh the positives:

POSITIVES

-For the most part, THE GRAPHICS HERE ARE PRETTY GOOD. Bringing the game to the PS2 was an advantage here because it allowed the environments to be brought fully into the 3D realm with lots of detail. Not only the environments, but also the characters were animated fairly well too.
-Contrary to the last couple of X games, X7 ACTUALLY SPORTS AN EXCELLENT ROCK SOUNDTRACK. Nothing real memorable, but the tunes do stay true to the earlier games.
-I like the option of BEING ABLE TO SWITCH BETWEEN TWO CHARACTERS AT ANYTIME DURING A LEVEL. This helps when a certain part of a level is too difficult with one character, but the one has an easier time.
-Though most of the voice acting isn't necessarily great, I thought that the voices for Zero and Signas were excellent. If you pay close attention, you can tell that the voice for Signas is the same as the voice of Alucard from Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night.
-And on the bright side, X certainly doesn't sound like a girl like he did in X4.
-Certain enemies you encounter will bring up old memories of the first few MMX games.

NEGATIVES

-Here is where the X7 comes crashing down: WHEN A MMX GAME IS NO LONGER CLASSIC 2D, THEN A MMX GAME HAS LOST ITS "SOUL". What I mean is, by moving the game to 3D, the game loses its feel that most people have come to love. I'm not against making 3D games at all, quite the opposite in fact. It's just that the MMX series was meant to be classic sidescroller gaming, and by taking that away, the MMX games are reduced to nothing more than a generic 3D shooter that already looks like so many other games. Besides, we already have a 3D MM series, and that's none other than Mega Man Legends. I appreciate Capcom for trying to add a little bit of new to the formula, but this has really gone too far.
-Also, without the classic 2D formula, the level designs become drab, without excitement.
-While there were some places where the camera switched to 2D sideview, in both modes THE CONTROLS ARE VERY SLUGGISH. This is probably what turned me off the most about X7. Remember how X and Zero had smooth controls in all the past games? Well, its mostly gone now. Having sluggish controls is a big nono when it comes to these games because the games are all about fast action, and the game becomes no fun to play when your controls aren't very responsive.
-Unresponsive controls means the game is going to be very difficult to play, and not in a good way.
-A MMX GAME WHERE YOU HAVE TO UNLOCK X, THE _MAIN_ CHARACTER?? Utter Blasphemy.
-What's the point of Axl? He may be an easy character to use, but he's just plain annoying. I cringe everytime he speaks.
-Remember how in X6 how they thankfully gave you the option of listening or not listening to Alia's advice? WELL THEY SOMEHOW MESSED THAT UP HERE TOO! Everytime you get to certain points (which is like every few feet) Alia will whine at you to listen to her advice. This is almost as annoying as when you were FORCED to listen to her in X5.
-Also, the dialogue moves very slowly and you are forced to sit through everything.
-The story has gone so far off track that it's become difficult to follow. So Zero is still around even after X6 where he (*SPOILER ALERT*) put himself into a capsule pod to awaken in the future where the MM Zero games take place? His presence in X7 completely negates those two games, AND THEY ARE VERY GOOD MM GAMES TOO, unlike this one here.
-Don't get me started on the bosses. It's been stated before but Capcom really has run out of ideas for bosses. An onion?? I won't even touch that one.
-The gameplay can become very unbalanced at times. While Zero can storm levels, it's nearly impossible to use him on most bosses in the game, even the easy ones.
-WHAT'S THE POINT IN PUTTING SIGMA IN THE GAME?? Is there some sort of rule where Sigma has to be the final boss in every X game, regardless of how he does/doesn't tie in to the plot? He hasn't been an important storyline element at all since X5, where he was a BIG part of the plot. I just wish Capcom would surprise us a little in that area.

While I do give Capcom props for trying to add new dimensions to the MMX series, it proved to be a vain attempt to get a new audience, and it ended up only making everyone yawn. Since it's a bad game overall, I'm giving it only 2 stars. 1 star is too low though because I only reserve that for absolutely terrible games. X7 is still somewhat playable. It's just not my cup of tea, and that's saying alot because I'm actually a lot more open to newer MM games than most of the diehard fans are. They will continue to put down X5 and X6 needlessly, but I believe X7 is where the low point really is. Once the game has lost all the aspects of the MMX series, it's over. X7 unfortunately demonstrates that fact. I hate to say it, but this is where Capcom should call it quits. IF YOU ARE A NEW FAN, AVOID. OTHERWISE THIS GAME IS A WEEKEND RENTAL AT BEST.

An onion being a maverick? what happened to the boss selection screens we used to see where there were bosses we were scared to face first because they looked bad? None of these bosses looked threatening and the weakest looking are actually the hardest...(the kangaroo boss.) Capcom should've kept it 2D and axel has no purpose. The ability to switch between characters takes away from the challenge and megaman sounds like doug funnie. Avoid!

Mega Man X7 continues the Mega Man X series slide into ruin. It tries to improve upon the formula and that certainly isn't the best idea. A new character is introduced but that can't save Mega Man X7 at all.

The 3-D graphics aren't that bad at all in this game. Surprisingly their pretty good. We get to watch a 3D anime scene at the start and it's pretty cool. But that's about as far as eye-candy goes. Without a doubt more animations and such could've been put into the graphics.

I can't say much for the sound. A lot of it is pretty bad and while it hits the action notes, it just doesn't work. The voices (in english anyway) are very horrible. The sound effects are cool though, but that doesn't mean the sound is all that great.

The gameplay almost saves this game and actually gets it the two stars it deserves. The gameplay is simple, just like always. When you select to go to a level you now get to choose two of three characters. Either X, Zero or the new character Axl. You're allowed to switch between the two characters as you like. As you might have guessed, Zero is the strongest of the three and he uses a Z-Saber (Think of a lightsaber from Star Wars if this is your first Mega Man X game). Axl is a new character who has the ability to float in the air if need be for a short while (like Peach in Super Mario Brothers 2).

While the gameplay is good it is quite a difficult game, like many other Mega Man X games it takes time to get used to.

The story actually focuses around Zero and Axl. There really is no real plot in Mega Man X7, it's the same old select between eight bosses until you get to that final encounter. Short game as always.

It's about time a Mega Man game came to the PS2 but I certainly woudln't recommend you get this one. Pass this up, it isn't even better than Mega Man X6.

Just as a plain action game to play as a diversion, Megaman X7 is fair but not outstanding. There are better games that I could recommend to someone who is not especially concerned with any of the Megaman series; and yet there are certainly worse games out there. Now I don't mean to sound harsh or overly critical but I AM CONCERNED WITH THE VARIOUS MEGAMAN SERIES and the X series may be my favorite. I've been playing Megaman games since the first one came out in the U.S. back in the late 80's when I was a child. I bought the first X game when I got my first job-a paper route-as a boy in 1993 and I PERSONALLY OWN EVERY GAME IN THE SERIES. I'll probably keep buying them as long as they are made.

My favorite game in the X series is Megaman X4. Back in 1997 when I was 14, I rented it, beat it with both X and Zero, then bought it when I saved up enough money! What I love about the game is that it deals with the issue of reploid-human inequality better than the other games, it is the most mature of the X games with some blood, violence, and mild profanity, and it features dramatic anime scenes. I know the game is not without flaw but it is my favorite for those reasons.

Obviously I waited a long time for the sequel to X4. X5 was not released until 2001! After several years of eager anticipation I expected more than X5 delivered and the series never seemed to get all the way back on track since then. X6 was better than X5, mainly because you weren't FORCED to listen to Alia's lame advice, and X7 is better in some way's than X6. It's nice to see that they're willing to try something new with the new semi-3D format. But although I'm not opposed to a 3D Megaman game I think mabey it should be left to the Legends/Dash series.

In Megaman X8 it would be nice to see a RETURN to the 2D format, anime scenes, a more mature tone-(let's face it, those of us who've been playing since the first X game are not little kids anymore)-and a return to a COHERENT STORYLINE! I'd also like to see an END to introducing irrelevant characters like Axl and an end to Sigma!

I won't even get into how Zero's appearance in X7 contradicts X6. Just PLEASE get the story back on track!

Thanks for reading my review. If you agree at all, please vote for it.

I have been a fan of Capcom's Megaman series since the first game on the original NES. The colorful environments, stimulating music, and inventive character design kept me interested even into recent years. After Megaman X4 however, Capcom has been getting sloppy with the series. The translation and overall production of X5 and X6 took a nose-dive, the music wasn't as inspired, and the level setup/enemy design was poor. Sadly, Megaman X7 is even worse than those two games. The updated 3D graphics give the game a fresh facelift, but the hit detection, boss design, and story is just a garbled mess. The camera in the full 3D areas often obstructs the player's view, some of the minor enemies take way too many hits to defeat, and there isn't even a sound effect when you pick up items. In short, the whole production simply feels glitchy and incomplete. The new character Axl is no redeeming factor either...he's a whiny brat who is meant to appeal to today's overconfident youth. If a good Megaman game is what you want, get Megaman X4 for PS1 or one of the Megaman Zero games for Gameboy Advance instead.

First the Street Fighter/VS. series drops in quality, then the sequel to Devil May Cry turns out to be a dud, and now Megaman X7...what's going on, Capcom?

PEOPLE,
this game is NOT out yet. I hesitated to post here since I didn't want to say anything UNTIL the game is released, but I'm sick of you going "THIS GAME WILL BE GREAT" when you should be reviewing it AS A PRODUCT AND THE FACT THAT YOU'VE PLAYED IT. Geez. Don't waste your time reviewing something you have no experience with.

Moral of this: it's called a CUSTOMER REVIEW for a reason, NOT a CUSTOMER PREVIEW.

Well the series that was ruined by the PSX has now come to the PS2, and it's still s**t. X7 has bad voice actors, weird new gameplay, and doesn't even have X as a playable character for half the game. It starts out as Zero and you gain a new character, Axl, as a playable character. X isn't even able to be played as until halfway through the game because he's whining (through his whining voice actor)about not wanting to fight ROBOTS! How pathetic is that. Well that's ok because the new character isn't that great to play as and Zero is slow with his slashes making it an all around hard and slow game. It gets really boring after a bit which is odd for an X game, and the 3D/2D thing gets a bit annoying. It's worth the buy if you like the X series but this IS NOT the game to introduce you to Mega Man.

I know they called the game Mega Man X, but they put too much emphasis on X. Those special weapons that you acquire get wasted quick and are not effective when they are the boss' weakness. I love the armors that X has throughout the series, but I have to say, the armor in this game looks like the one from the first one with minor changes for looks and the abilities suck. Zero and Axl can go through the levels, but going through the bosses are going to make you pull your hair out if you have any. Then the voice acting is horrible that you wish you didn't play the game. Overall, if you're a fan, it's going to make you go WTF. Capcom got lazy and didn't think about their loyal fans.

If you're either a huge fan of the Megaman series or just need to blow a weekend playing your PS2, this is the game for you. Otherwise, steer clear.

++Visuals: 6/10++
I know they were going for something new here, combining a 2D side-scroller with a 3D platformer. But, playing through X7, I truly felt that they didn't try all that hard. For example, they didn't even animate the cutscenes. I mean, come on, people, this is 2003. Other than that, though, the levels themselves are pleasant to look at with a wide range of color schemes and a little imagination to boot. Plus, who ever had a difficult time looking at X? Fangirl coming through...

++Handling: 6/10++
The game isn't severely crippled by the camera controls or angles, but it certainly isn't enhanced either - keeping in mind that, as I said, X7 was an experimental mix and the cameras were bound to be awkward. Taking that into account, I have to at least give it credit for _trying_. That doesn't mean I forgive all the lethal blind-spot moments, however. Be forewarned that X7 isn't a glitch-free walk in the park.

++Replay Value: 4/10++
It was semi-decent the first time around, but I probably wouldn't invest another 15 hours in it, largely due to the UNIMAGINABLE irritation I experienced for every time the leftmost pixel of my character's arm got nudged by the rightmost pixel of an enemy, pushing me off an edge as well as paralyzing me momentarily, and then causing me to start the ENTIRE level over. Sorry, X, but I've gotta be fair.

++Overall Rating: 5/10++
As I said, X7 is decent - good for kicks and giggles - but not the best in the series or even the best I've played in the last few months. The characters are stock, the voice acting is typically laughable, the plotline is non-existant, and the controls' and visuals' positive points are hardly a saving grace...If anything, I recommend Megaman X4 in X7's place; it's personally one of my all-time favorites, and incidentally largely follows the same lines as X7, though it's better produced...AND the cut-scenes are animated. Imagine that.

I confess, I love everything Megaman and Megaman X is my favorite game ever but I HATE this game. My first issue with this game is that I hate the new art style. It has taken away all the dark, dismal and cool look that made the originals great and replaced it with a kiddy cartoony look that makes you feel like you're playing a power rangers game. The graphics are awful and the characters have no facial animations. The annoying alia dialogue is impossible to skip and all options automatically select NO, meaning you have to actually pay attention in order not to hear a useless comment 6 times. The cutscenes are just a bunch of stills too! (Come on Capcom! it's PS2 it can handle animation!) The voice acting and music are both wretched giving you further incentive to use this game as a Frisbee and don't even get me started on the story. The worst problem of all though is the play control and the horrible 3D platforming. I died in this game more often due to it's lack of depth perception than anything else. The new character, Axl is stupid, annoying, and useless and his copy shot is worthless. Zero moves like he has rusty joints and falls over whenever he gets hit, he's also useless against the final boss so if you use him you will never beat Sigma. You have to unlock X which makes no sense and he is the only half decent character in the game. Did I mention his buster upgrade does NOTHING?!!! If you ever see this game, smash it into a million pieces.