Underrated Games With Even More Underrated Soundtracks - Part Five

SuperPhillip Central habitually checks out underrated and overlooked games throughout the year, and every Monday we post music from various video games. So the idea came years ago to combine these idea into one new series of articles: Underrated Games With Even More Underrated Soundtracks! We're now on our fifth installment since beginning some time ago. Part five of this series looks at underrated gems like the recently released Gravity Rush 2, Paper Mario: Color Splash, and a Wii U launch title, Nintendo Land.

To check out past parts of this article series, here are some convenient links for you:

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four

Gravity Rush 2 (PS4)

We begin with a game that if I hadn't already owned it, the soundtrack would have pushed me to do so. That's how fantastic Gravity Rush 2's soundtrack truly is. The music of this very overlooked early 2017 PS4 exclusive is composed by Kohei Tanaka, whose resume is as long as it is impressive. Such composition credits include his work on the PS1 cult classic Alundra, as well as working on anime like a little known title called One Piece. Tanaka-san brings his embarrassment of composition riches to Gravity Rush 2 with a lot of playful themes on top of more rock and jazz focused numbers. Gravity Rush 2 itself is a much improved sequel to the PlayStation Vita original, offering better gameplay and control. If you're looking for a game with lots of charm and personality for your PS4, Gravity Rush 2 is that game.

Title Menu

Storm and Triumph

Fire-Bound Lions

Combat II

Pleasure Quarter

Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)

Speaking of charm and personality, you get that sevenfold with Paper Mario: Color Splash. You also get one of the funniest games on the Wii U and recently released in general. Color Splash is a marked improvement over the base gameplay found in the Nintendo 3DS's less than well received Sticker Star. It brings forth a reason to participate in battles, it offers more direction with its puzzles, and you'll seldom be frustrated as to what you need to do next. Then there's the music, which like Sticker Star is quite catchy and memorable. Color Splash has one of my favorite soundtracks of last year, taking familiar themes and giving them a clever twist, as well as wholly original compositions that stand up to any other pieces in the game. By virtue of releasing near the end of the struggling Wii U's life, Paper Mario: Color Splash didn't receive much fanfare from the gaming community, but don't be mistaken-- the game is well worth checking out if at least not listening to its stellar soundtrack.

Ruddy Road

Cherry Lake

Onstage at Oceanfest

Sunglow Ridge

Chateau Chanterelle 

Nintendo Land (Wii U)

Nintendo Land didn't exactly have the greatest reveal. With a lackluster appearance of gameplay and no fireworks to speak of, Nintendo Land and consequently the Wii U in retrospect were doomed from the start. Nevertheless, Nintendo Land itself is a really entertaining party game with 12 attractions all based around Nintendo franchises, such as Mario, Zelda, Pikmin, and more. Many of these have multiplayer components to them, and they showcase the Wii U's asymmetric gameplay where one player uses the Wii U GamePad while other players use the Wii Remotes. Each side is doing a different gameplay task, hence the term "asymmetric gameplay." If it's still not clear, don't worry. It's hard to explain perfectly, and that's part of the reason why the Wii U itself was hard to market. Regardless, Nintendo Land isn't just special as a party game; its soundtrack is a collection of familiar remixes of Nintendo franchise music.

Main Plaza

Gerudo Valley (The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest)

Mission 10: Battle Kraid (Metroid Blast)

Stage 1 (Mario Chase)

Stage 1 (Animal Crossing: Sweet Day)

Rayman Legends (Multi)

Rayman Legends is a similar game like Rayman 2 before it in the case that Ubisoft just can't help but port it to every system under the sun. The Wii U was the original, and that was ported to the PS4 and Xbox One. Then, the Vita got its own version. Now, the Nintendo Switch is due up for what Ubisoft is calling the "definition edition." Whether or not the version of Rayman Legends is the definitive one or not, what you're going to get is platforming nirvana with a side of charm, humor, and gorgeous art using the Ubi Art game engine. The music is also quite nice, offering a boisterous orchestra to accentuate all the action. Pretty much everything about Rayman Legends is well crafted and makes for an engaging experience, particularly in multiplayer and particularly if you own the Wii U version which delivers some of that asymmetric multiplayer I was talking about in the Nintendo Land blurb.

Mysterious Swamps

Babel Tower

Storming the Castle

Enchanted Forest

Luchador

MadWorld (Wii)

MadWorld was quite the interesting game. It was unapologetic in its violence and crude humor, and it was the Wii of all consoles, a platform known for its more family friendly content compared to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Despite this, Platinum Games' MadWorld ended up being a really fun game even with its somewhat repetitive gameplay. That wasn't what players jumped on first, however. No, it was the game's showcase black and white art style which accentuated all the red blood that would pour from enemies. The soundtrack is all original rap and rock music, and damn awesome ones at that. Sure, songs like "come with it" are a bit too vivid and detailed with their violent imagery and wording, but it's all catchy and it all fits the game really well. It says something when I can enjoy a game's soundtrack despite not having a major love for rap music. Whatever the case, MadWorld was an underrated gem in the underrated library of the Wii.

come with it

Survival

ain't that funny

Let's Go!

You Don't Know Me

Mega Man X8 (PS2, PC)

After some stumbles in the Mega Man X franchise with Mega Man X6 and then the failed attempt for the X sub-series to enter 3D with Mega Man X7, it was a greatly pleasant surprise to discover that Mega Man X8 was a winner of a game. Sure, it had its own problems like two of the eight Maverick stages being vehicle-based and not traditional platforming stages, but overall, Mega Man X8 was a good game. Like X7, Mega Man X8 used fully 3D polygonal models instead of 2D sprites, and this was used to nice effect with some levels wrapping around themselves, fully using 3D depth and the like. The soundtrack continues the Mega Man X sub-series' penchant for excellent music. Most of X8 is hard rock, as you can see-- er... hear-- by these examples provided below.

Main Theme

Middle Boss Battle

Booster Forest

Boss Battle

Lumine 2nd

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - Saturday Night Platformin' Party Edition

A Saturday night edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs? Will this segment ever return on an actual Monday like it's supposed to? Well, that's the plan for next week, but this week, E3 sort of threw a wrench into the whole scheme.

Last week we took a listen to some songs from various RPGs. This week we move on to the platforming genre with music featuring famous platforming all-stars like Mario, Sonic, Mega Man X, and more. Just click on the volume name to be taken to the YouTube video featuring the song mentioned.

We start with the intergalactic goodness of Super Mario Galaxy 2. Then, we head to the circus with Wario World. Sonic Advance delivers a catchy special stage theme while Mega Man X8 takes us to Booster Forest. Finally, the unsung Sega platforming star Ristar concludes this platformer-centric edition!

As per usual, check out the VGM Database for all previous VGM volumes featured on SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs. Now, on to this week's music picks!

v1161. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii) - Starship Mario 3

There are three versions of Starship Mario's theme. Starship Mario is the hub of Super Mario Galaxy 2, one of my favorite games of all time. This is one of the few themes from the game that famous Nintendo composer Koji Kondo wrote. It's a song that gets you into the mood to travel to one of the game's countless galaxies and enjoy some fun platforming!

v1162. Wario World (GCN) - Wonky Circus

An oft overlooked entry in the Wario series, Wario World is a Treasure-developed 3D platforming starring everyone's favorite garlic-chomping plumber. The game contains a handful of worlds, each split up into two levels with a boss fight at the end of each. Wario World's soundtrack is particularly catchy, as songs like Wonky Circus definitely prove.

v1163. Sonic Advance (GBA) - Special Stage

The first Sonic the Hedgehog game to hit a Nintendo platform, Sonic Advance was a historic game for its time. I had to do a double take, thinking to myself, "Am I really playing a Sonic game on Nintendo hardware?!" The special stage in Sonic Advance involves collecting rings while moving through a 3D tube. The lack of depth perception made later stages a tad difficult, but who cares when you have this catchy theme to listen to as you do it!

v1164. Mega Man X8 (PS2) - Booster Forest

After the admittedly bad Mega Man X6 and Mega Man X7, it was a breath of fresh air to get an actually good Mega Man X game again. That's exactly what we got with Mega Man X8. Booster Forest, a rockin' theme with a nice guitar riff, comes from Bamboo Pandamonium's stage. The latter part of the stage incorporates an awesome ride armor section, leading to the fight with the robotic panda Maverick afterwards.

v1165. Ristar (GEN) - Round 5-2 - Ice Scream

(Don't mind Tails in this screenshot. This was the only good image I could find of the Ice Scream world.) With temps as hot as they are outside nowadays, thinking about winter is a nice idea. Of course, come actual winter I'll be whining about cold temperatures, snow, and ice, thinking summer is a nice idea instead. I can never be happy apparently! Anyway, Ristar is unlike any other platformer out there, using the character's arms to attack enemies and move through levels. It's a great platformer, too, so definitely check it out if you have the ability to.

All-Star Franchises, Underrated Entries - Part Two

If you've been around SuperPhillip Central for a little while (it's still okay if you haven't, so no harm done), then you know that I like talking about underrated and overlooked games. I've done various series on the subject. However, most of the time, the games mentioned in these articles are from wholly new or overlooked franchises themselves.

There are also a multitude of series that I can think of that have one, two, or a handful of games in it that aren't viewed as highly as the others, whether just or not.

These ideas are where the concept of All-Star Franchises, Underrated Entries comes from, and since part one, I've come up with six more underrated entries to big-time franchises, some bigger than others.

The Legend of Zelda - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)

The black sheep of The Legend of Zelda franchise (I'm not counting the CDi titles that aren't official entries in the series), Zelda II: The Adventure of Link remains the most radically different game in the series, with its main gameplay as a 2D action-platformer. The game is known for its brutal difficulty, extreme deviation of the standard Zelda formula (at the time it was just viewed as a natural evolution of the NES original), and sometimes obtuse puzzles. While it was indeed a big change for the Zelda series and one not seen again in a future installment, I'd personally love to see a return to this formula, as it did a lot that was novel to the Zelda franchise. Of course, that opinion isn't the most popular one with Zelda fans, and understandably so!

Mega Man X - Mega Man X8 (PS2)

After what I consider the worst in the Mega Man X mainline games, Mega Man X7, I wasn't very hopeful for the sequel. While Mega Man X7 did try something new-- wholly 3D environments-- it didn't execute them well enough to make most players form a positive opinion about the game. Mega Man X8 went back to the 2D roots of the pre-X7 games in the series. However, it kept the 3D models of characters, enemies, and environments and threw in an excellent half of a dimension, creating a 2.5D Mega Man X experience. Mega Man X8 isn't perfect. Two of the levels aren't traditional platforming engagements, but all in all, X8 is a highly competent installment that is also highly underrated.

Castlevania - Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate (3DS)

Stated as being all beauty and little substance by some, others as shallow and fragmented, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate has seen a lot of abuse from fans and critics. As someone who greatly enjoyed Symphony of the Night and its similarly styled games, it was a nice breath of fresh air to get a different kind of Castlevania game. While the world was indeed a bit fragmented, it was a lot of fun exploring the world of Mirror of Fate, finding secret areas, battling fierce bosses, and following along with the story. Yes, the game is relatively easy, and it doesn't reach the same levels of greatness as the DS trilogy, but Mirror of Fate remains to me an engaging entry that I believe some were too harsh on for it not being just another Symphony of the Night clone, whether my thoughts have merit or not.

Batman - Batman: Arkham Origins - Blackgate (3DS, Vita)

Moving from one Metroidvania to another, former Retro Studios staff shifted focus and wanted to work on different projects than what Nintendo was offering. Thus, some once-Retro Studios employed staff founded Armature Studio, which had its first project being a Metroid game in Batman's clothing. The developers at Armature successfully brought a myriad of features found in the console versions of the Arkham series, such as the ability to grapple, glide, use gadgets, and participate in the same reflex-driven combat the series was known for. Outside of a heavy reliance on using Detective Mode to identify destructible walls and other points of interest, as well as a hard-to-understand map, Batman: Arkham Origins - Blackgate is a mostly well designed game and an excellent first finished project from Armature Studio.

Sonic the Hedgehog - Sonic Triple Trouble (GG)

Underrated due to its existence on an underperforming handheld, Sega's Game Gear, Sonic Triple Trouble was the sole Game Gear entry that one could mistake for a Genesis title. While other Sonic the Hedgehog games on the portable were pretty much ports of the Blue Blur's games on the Sega Master System, Triple Trouble was a new game with gameplay more in line to what the Genesis offered. The game allowed for players to take on the role of either Sonic or Tails, each with their own move set and abilities, making the otherwise short and easy game have more longevity. Plus, like any notable Sonic the Hedgehog game, there still stands the value of playing through Triple Trouble more than once. It certainly is fun to do so, much like it is with the Genesis Sonic the Hedgehog games. It is just a shame that the game released on the Game Gear, where so few got to experience it. By the time it released in some Sonic collections, Sonic Triple Trouble was a mere footnote in the Blue Blur's illustrious history.

Yoshi - Yoshi's New Island (3DS)

The original Super Nintendo Yoshi's Island is a tough act to follow. Goodness knows that Nintendo has tried, albeit with farmed-out sequels. While neither Yoshi's Island DS or Yoshi's New Island reach the heights of the SNES original, both are worthwhile games to pick up and play. I will be focusing on the Nintendo 3DS's Yoshi's New Island. The game at first seemed like a paint-by-numbers Yoshi's Island game, but as I played further into it, I became impressed by the level designs and clever hidden secrets. There is a lot to like with Yoshi's New Island, and for anyone who thinks the game is too easy, try collecting 100% of the items in each level (a process made less irritating by allowing the player to gather all three collectibles in different trips to a level rather than all at the same go). Then, try the bonus levels, featuring some of the most difficult platforming challenges a Yoshi game has ever seen. Case in point: Yoshi's New Island got unfair flak for its presentation that made many pass over it despite its enjoyable gameplay.

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - Of Mice and Mega Men Edition

Can you believe that it is the last week of August already? Unbelievable how time flies. Regardless, SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs chugs along for a brand-new week of video game sounds. On this week's edition we have music from The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse, Mega Man X8, and Kirby's Dream Land 3. If your preparations are ready, let's get to the music.

v181. Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (DS) - Crossing Over the Hill

We start out with a terrific tactical RPG series in Final Fantasy Tactics. This is the third all-new installment of the series, not counting ports -- it's the second to arrive on a Nintendo handheld. The tales of the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance series are much less serious than the original FFT. The stories revolve around more whimsical plot points and are a lot more lighthearted. Crossing Over the Hill has a dapper feeling to it, perfect for a new adventure through the world of Ivalice. My favorite part occurs at 0:45 and concludes at 1:09. Hitoshi Sakimoto does a fantastic job once again.

v182. The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse (SNES, GBA) - Dark Forest

A mysterious theme for a mysterious wooded area, Dark Forest is the second world of one of Mickey Mouse's most cherished platforming escapades, The Magical Quest. The game was originally available on the Super Nintendo with the main gameplay feature being that Disney's well-known mouse could change into different costumes, each with their own special ability. The game and its two sequels would be ported to the Game Boy Advance; the third game that never released outside of Japan would finally be available for Westerners to play.

v183. Breath of Fire III (PS1, PSP) - Life's a Beach

An upbeat tempo and theme for a port side town in Breath of Fire III, Life's a Beach is certainly peppy and spunky in spirit. It's hard not to get a smile on your face listening to this tune. Breath of Fire is most certainly a series that I would love to see Capcom revisit. However, my opinion of that company has lowered over the years, and they just don't seem that interested in their past successes. Later this week I have planned an article that summarizes my thoughts on Capcom in their current form. I hope you will look forward to that.

v184. Mega Man X8 (PS2) - VS 8Boss

The boss theme of Mega Man X8, the final game in the X series before it, like Mega Man in general, was put on hiatus. This fast-paced rocking theme definitely gets the thumbs twitching, adrenaline pulsating through the body, and the toes tapping. After a failed experiment, in many eyes, to put Mega Man X into 3D, the developers behind X8 decided to go back to the tried and true 2D. Well, technically, 2 1/2D. The end result was a fabulous effort which is one of the more unique X games in the series. It is without a doubt a better product than X6 and X7 before it, but that wasn't that difficult of a task to achieve. For when a boss in X8 is extremely low in health and goes into desperation mode, check out this theme.

v185. Kirby's Dream Land 3 (SNES) - Ripple Field 2

Kirby's Dream Land 3 is a cute, adorable and colorful game with a pretty pastel art style. It's really a gorgeous game, truth be told. The music is simply what you'd expect from a Kirby game -- catchy melodies, mostly uptempo tunes, and themes that put a big, old stupid grin on your face, as evident by this theme, Ripple Field 2. What makes Kirby games so appealing to me is that each one usually tries something new, even if the adjustment to the gameplay is minimal. It makes for a series that I can't help but appreciate. Happy 20th anniversary, Kirby.

===

What started with Final Fantasy ended with Kirby. However, that isn't all we've heard of from Final Fantasy. In fact, next week is a special Final Fantasy edition of the VGMs. Five themes from various Final Fantasy games will be displayed and showcased. Just like with my Capcom article, I hope you look forward to next week's edition of the VGMs as well. Have a great week, everybody.

Games I Liked, Others Didn't - Mega Mania Edition

If there's one series I can't get enough of, it would have to be the Mega Man franchise. This is why we're taking a special look at several less-than-loved-the-world-over titles in the series with this installment of Games I Liked, Others Didn't-- Mega Mania Edition! We have five well-known entries in the Mega Man universe that I happen to like. However, there's a sector of [wrong] people who dislike these aforementioned titles. Let's find out why!

Mega Man 8 (PS, SAT)

Jump, jump, slide, slide. What's not to love about these difficult yet fun levels? Mega Man 8 may have had poor Japanese voice acting, but it held a lot of charm with it. It was cool hearing the robot masters speak in battle, and the soundtrack was impressive as well. Of course, the 32-bit visuals didn't do much to detract from the experience either. I enjoyed the variety as well. One level you'd be playing typical Mega Man run and gun action while the next you'd be riding atop Rush, blasting enemies in the sky. The addition of hidden bolts in the game's levels added longevity-- more so than any Mega Man before it. In short, Mega Man 8 is a severely underrated installment to the Mega Man series, and I hope Capcom returns to this style.


Mega Man 7 (SNES)

Or even this style for Dr. Light's sake! The 16-bit visuals were vibrant and colorful, the soundtrack was as infectious as the NES tunes, and game had a lot of fun challenge. Some didn't like how big Mega Man was in comparison to the NES games, but I happened to love the change of pace. There were B-E-A-T letters to collect, secret power-ups for Mega Man to obtain, for the first time ever, a shop where Mega could buy special goods with collected bolts, and some of the most ingenious and fair level design since Mega Man 4. This is just another case of haters gonna hate, it's the sensational Mega Man 7.


Mega Man Network Transmission (GCN)

Now this game I can understand why there's some hatred for it. It was damn difficult to beat! Not only did Mega Man take a lot of damage each hit, but there's the matter with the chip gauge. You see, at the start of each level a gauge would be full, allowing Mega Man to select five chips from a random selection of chips. The problem is that this gauge would then refill so slowly that you'd be waiting minutes for the opportunity to choose new chips. This means that if you got bad chips, you were out of luck until the next time the gauge filled. Apart from that (certain items and chips would make the gauge fill faster), the cel-shaded visuals were gorgeous, the soundtrack was catchy, and the game was fun overall.


Mega Man X: Command Mission (PS2, GCN)

Some think Mega Man, or his future self X, should stay in the realm of action-platforming. Mega Man X: Command Mission showcases Mega Man X in his first and one and only endeavor into the world of role-playing. The turn-based action was fun if not derivative of other titles, and the story was engaging enough to follow through to the very end. Who didn't like the awesome cast of characters that would join your party? Sure, the game was pretty linear, and it isn't too innovative, but Mega Man X: Command Mission is a competent RPG even without the Mega Man name attached to it.


Mega Man X8 (PS2, PC)

After the abysmal showing that was Mega Man X7, I had much trepidation to try out its sequel. Reading up that it would return X to his 2D roots, I opted to pick the game up, and I'm glad that I did. Yes, spikes are thrown around in the game's levels like sugar to children, and there's two dud vehicle levels, but overall Mega Man X8 is a successful game. Being able to switch between two heroes added a new dynamic to the game (even though it was present in X7), the 2 1/2D levels were tremendous, the music was a step in the right direction, and the bosses were as challenging as I was expecting. Those with a bad taste in their mouths after X6 and X7 should definitely check out Mega Man X8.


That concludes another installment of Games I Liked, Others Didn't. What do you think about these five Mega Man games? Like them? Hate them? Indifferent on them? Let me know in the comments section!

Games I Liked, Others Didn't Redux

You know how it is... People gush over a certain game while you finally play the game and think it's garbage. We're going to focus on the vice versa with this article. A long while ago I listed some games that aren't exactly the queens of their respective balls. Many critics disliked the games I selected, but I happened to find them entertaining. You can find that article here. This is part two of that with five new games that weren't media darlings that good old SuperPhillip happened to enjoy.

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (360)

When a new Banjo-Kazooie is announced, what do you expect? Tight and robust platforming, expansive worlds, note and jiggy collecting? Well, two out of three ain't bad at least. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts was a great departure from what fans enjoyed from previous bear and bird games. This time the focus was on constructing and driving elaborate vehicles through multiple challenges and worlds. Would I have liked to have had Banjo and Kazooie starring in an HD platformer exclusively? You bet, but this game is still a blast to play. Building the right vehicle for the given situation, jetting across the sky, and revisiting old friends made this installment a fantastic adventure!


Perfect Dark Zero (360)

For the longest time there was no multiplayer game better than Perfect Dark Zero on the 360. Halo 3 bumped PDZ off many gamers' lists, but it still remains number one in my heart. Well, at least until the Perfect Dark remake hits Xbox Live Arcade! While possessing a weak story with dreadful voice acting, the single-player campaign was a lot of fun with its objective-based mission structure. You completed a series of objectives in missions such as sabotaging communications or securing all hostages. Multiplayer was the coup de grace with gigantic maps with hidden passages, single or team-based gameplay, and loads of weaponry. Add in a kickass soundtrack, and you have a package that I cannot resist.


Geist (GCN)

Let's continue with the first-person shooter theme here with Geist, a supernatural shooter starring a specter that can infiltrate other people's bodies. By scaring a host into a state of panic or fear, our hero can possess their body be it a scientist, soldier, or CEO. The game was awfully linear with only one way to properly scare a given individual. That said, it was like a puzzle seeing what combination of possessed objects would and would not scare a person into submission. The multiplayer as well was fantastic with multiple maps, possession-based gameplay, and several intelligent bots to shoot down. If you're looking for an FPS that tries its hand at innovation yet stumbles a little, check out Geist for the Nintendo Gamecube.


Mega Man X8 (PS2)

After the botched experiment in 3D that was Mega Man X7, Capcom opted to go back to X's roots with 2D gameplay. Well, 2-1/2D gameplay. What culminated was some twitchy, awesome platforming action and some terrific presentation. X8 is easily the best X game since X4 and free style motocross. The formula remained the same after so many years. Eight mavericks each with their own weakness and strength. Eight stages ranging from volatile volcanoes to cyberspace. There were countless hidden goodies from armor-boosting capsules, health-increasing heart tanks, new weapons, a new monetary system to purchase new moves and abilities, and a fabulous soundtrack to get your heart pumping to. For unrivaled X action on the PlayStation 2, try Mega Man X8.


Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (Wii, PS2)

The first Sonic Riders focused on air as the main gameplay mechanic. Zero Gravity on the other hand, focused on gravity as the title would suggest. This was your atypical racer where pulling off tricks and grinds would fill your gravity meter allowing you to make sharper turns with ease. A lot of critics hated this idea, but I happened to enjoy it and the game in general. The tracks were many and well-designed, there were secret characters such as Ulala and Billy Hatcher, and the difficulty eased you into the game before pulling out all the stops. For an unconventional racer overlooked or ragged on by many, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity is top-tier in my book.


Have you any games that you adore that other people give you grief about liking? Let us know in the comments section!

Mega Man X8 (PS2) Retro Review

We're continuing our Mega Man X weekend with a retro review based on one of the games mentioned in our Rank Up! segment. It's the final game in the X anthology, Mega Man X8. How well does it hold up compared to the rest of the series?

Is Eight Enough?

Mega Man X has had it hard over the years. He's been in three essentially mediocre games in Mega Man X5, X6, and the failure to bring X into three-dimensions with Mega Man X7. Mega Man X8 does incorporate three-dimensional elements, but for the most part the title returns to its roots and for the most part succeeds. This is the Mega Man X game that fans have been waiting for.

Mega Man X8 begins looking upon the Orbital Elevator-- a colossal creation linking the Earth to the Moon to allow humans to populate the lunar landscape. When one of the elevator cars blasts off of the track and to the Earth below, X goes to investigate. What follows is an introduction to copy chip technology and Lumine, the leader of the Jakob Project-- the project to concoct the Orbital Elevator.

Hello there, big guy.

The first stage, Noah's Park (har-har), drops players into a heavily-forested area in the role of Mega Man X as he tracks down a nearby Maverick signal. Players switch between X, Zero, and Axl automatically within the various sections of the level all culminating to a boss fight with a giant clawed Maverick. Following the battle, the reploid that just won't die, Vile, blasts into the scene showing that he has Lumine in his possession. But as Jack Bauer would shout, who is he working for?

Mega Man X8 does not stray from the traditional Mega Man formula which in this case is a good thing. Players choose from one of eight levels all featuring various obstacles, different locales, and one of eight bosses to take out. X can take out a boss in any order, but the easiest way to beat a boss is to use a weapon it's weak against. A new weapon is learned by all three Maverick Hunters, X, Zero, and Axl at the conclusion of a stage.

Some stages incorporate a 2 1/2-D aesthetic to them.

What sets apart X8 from other series installments is the ability to choose two of the three Maverick Hunters at the beginning of each level. X is the most balanced and can gain armor enhancements in each of the preliminary stages including Noah's Park. This is different from previous X titles as usually the intro stage cannot be played over again. Zero is a close-combat fella as his only means of attacking is with his impressive saber skills. Zero can also perform a double jump for enhanced aerial acrobatics. Finally, Axl rounds out the team with his rapid-fire capabilities, the ability to copy and take the form of a number of enemies, and the ability to hover for a short period of time. When a special AT gauge is filled by attacking enemies and taking damage, a press of the R2 trigger while an enemy is in close vicinity will unleash a double attack. Where the two chosen hunters will combine strengths and pound the foe with an impressive flurry of destructive energy. Additionally, a new addition to the series, Rare Metals, are hidden in almost all of the levels. Finding one will allow players to buy a new item from the R&D (Research and Development). These items include extra health, combo abilities, and much more. Items are purchased with colored metals found in plentiful supply from enemies and scattered around in levels.

The presentation of X8 is top-notch. Full voice work performed by The Ocean Group is included, and no character sounds unbearable unlike X7. There's beautiful cutscenes throughout the game. Levels are wonderfully modeled, detailed, and full of paths to explore and secrets to find. X7 was full 3-D levels for the most part, but X8 is all 2-D with 3-D elements much like another one of Capcom's projects, Viewtiful Joe. Levels end with a boss fight and an intro full of dialogue for each boss.

Chicks dig giant robots.

Everything isn't perfect with X8, however. There are some very odd level design choices. The developers appear to like spikes a lot, and some are in unfair locations such as falling down a chute only to find no floor to break your fall but a pit of spikes. Burn Rooster's stage and one of the final levels are shining examples of this. Plus this serves the game with a difficulty that some players might not find fair. Also, two of the levels are not even designed in the traditional sense. These two are Gigabolt Man-O-War and Avalanche Yeti's stages. These are levels where you are in 3-D space and follow along a forced path blasting foes and dodging chasms. These could have preferably been traditional platforming levels like the others in the game.

There's numerous difficulty modes for X-- each with their own challenges. Hard mode players will see X8's story completely unlike easy mode challengers. By completing the game players unlock new items to be purchased in the R&D menu such as new armor for the three Maverick Hunters and even the ability to play as their navigators. Cool stuff.

Zero is one of the three main characters to choose from.

Overall, Mega Man X8 is one of the best entries into the Mega Man franchise in years. X9 is a possibility with the end's hinting, so hopefully eight isn't enough for the Mega Man X franchise. While some might feel the game is too cheap, the most true Mega Man X fan will most certainly be appeased by Capcom's latest offering.

[SuperPhillip Says: 8.0/10] - Fittingly enough, X8 gets an 8 out of ten.