Mega Man X3 (SNES, Wii U VC) Retro Review

Our second review of the month is another Super Nintendo classic. This time we're taking a look at Mega Man X3. A PlayStation version later came out, and it was the version used in the Mega Man X Collection compilation from the sixth generation of game consoles. Regardless, if you're looking for a cool Mega Man-related review, X(3) marks the spot.

Mech-a no mistake-- Mega Man X3 is one awesome ride!

For the first time ever, Nintendo's classic digital games library known as the Virtual Console has Mega Man X3 available on it. It's of importance to note that this is solely the Wii U Virtual Console being referred to. Regardless, if you've been waiting to finally play the Super Nintendo version of Mega Man X3 and do so in a legal manner that didn't require paying at minimum $100 for a used copy, then this Virtual Console release is the right one for you. It doesn't hurt that Mega Man X3 is a damn good 2D action game.

It is a futuristic age intelligent robots known as Reploids coexist with humans. At least, that is the wish of their creator, Dr. Cain. When a Reploid's free will causes it to become chaotic and unfriendly, it is known as becoming a "Maverick." Dr. Doppler is famous for coming up with the technology to neutralize Mavericks and turn them back to their calm selves. The reformed Reploids created a utopia of sorts known as Doppler Town. However, they returned to their Maverick state, growing violent, and even attacking the Hunter base where X, Zero, and Dr. Cain reside. The blame is put on Dr. Doppler, so X and Zero head out to hold Doppler accountable.

There's no roll, but there's plenty of
rock going on here in Tunnel Rhino's stage.

If you've played at least one classic Mega Man game or the any Mega Man X title out there, you're familiar with how the structure of the game works. You're eventually let loose to choose from one of eight levels. These can be played in any order. Each level ends with a battle against a boss. A defeated boss will grant X with their special weapon. This special weapon can be used on a certain other Maverick boss to make the battle much easier. Finding out which boss is weak to which special weapon is a challenge on its own. There's trial and error involved with this route, but that is the way of these old school Mega Man games.

Three against one? Such unfair
odds... for these enemies!

For the first time in series history, players can switch to Zero. However, this is incredibly limited, specifically as if Zero loses all of his health or absentmindedly falls into a pit or row of spikes, he can no longer be utilized. This lasts for the entire play-through, too. It wouldn't be until subsequent sequels that Zero would be a full-time character to play as.

Mega Man X3 has plenty of replay value, moreso than the two games that preceded it. Of course, there's still eight heart tanks that extend X's life gauge and four sub-tanks which act as a reserve of health if X's life gets too low. Nonetheless, Mega Man X3 brings even more optional content to partake in.

Take to Mavericks in all sorts of places.
It's a jungle out there, after all!

For instance, X can go about collecting four different robot armors within the game. At specific call-in points in various levels, X can pilot one of the four mechs. One is your typical offensive armor with nothing really else that makes it special, while the Frog armor is terrific in water, not so much on land.

Mechwarrior has nothing on Mega Man X.

Fans of the Mega Man X series know that X can get armor upgrades through finding Dr. Light's hidden capsules that were stowed away in secret locations, just waiting for X to find them. This piece of Mega Man X tradition continues, offering upgrades to X's helmet, arms, legs, and body. However, there's also for the first and only time in the series, red capsules, of which there are four in the game. Unlike the traditional blue capsules, players must decide with of the four upgraded abilities they want. Once they get one of these special abilities, all of the other red capsules are rendered useless and put offline. If you ever wanted to dash twice in midair, there's an app-- er-- capsule for that.

As you upgrade X's armor,
X's appearance changes as well.

Mega Man X3 also changes up the final stages on players depending on whether new antagonists Bit and Byte were defeated or not when X came across them in two of the eight Robot Master levels. If they were, then their boss fight where they combine into one mechanical creation is replaced by another boss. The same goes with Vile. He won't be the final challenge of the second Dr. Doppler stage if players enter his lair, defeat him with a particular special weapon, and successfully flee from the area before it explodes. Instead, a new boss will take his place.

Despite the added replay value of Mega Man X3, you are still going to deal with a rather short yet sweet game. A first run through the game might last no more than three hours. Now, that would definitely be a bum deal if it weren't for how fun it is to replay X3. It just isn't X3 that is engaging to go through time and again; it's generally how the Mega Man series works in general.

Like a shotgun blast to the face!

Mega Man X3 sports incredibly clean and detailed spritework and backgrounds. It can be way too easy to speed through levels, missing the details, so sometimes just stopping to proverbially smell the roses is awesome to do. That way the backgrounds and their many pieces of eye candy can be better appreciated. The music of Mega Man X3 is indeed catchy, focusing more on rock than anything else. It is, however, decidedly weaker than its two predecessors.

I said "Dam."

Overall, Mega Man X3 delivers plenty of excellent twitch-based action-platforming and intense battles. Sure, way too many of the bosses rely on running into walls, but it doesn't adversely affect the Maverick encounters too badly. The amount of replay value exceeds that of Mega Man X and X2, allowing multiple runs through the game to be as different as the player prefers. The addition of a playable Zero is nice, but his inclusion is far too limited to be 100% excited about. Regardless, Mega Man X3 is a successful 2D action game, and it's a wonderful ending to the Super Nintendo trilogy of X games.

[SPC Says: 9.0/10]