Mega Man X7, which came out on the PlayStation 2 in 2003, put a fresh new twist on the Mega Man series. It was 2D-3D hybrid, with the gamer controlling X, Zero, and new character Axl as they fought through various levels chock full of foes and machine mayhem. Unfortunately, though the idea was great, the execution was less than ideal.
In Mega Man X7, the protagonist navigates different stages with their own bosses and difficulties. The addition of Axl, a character from a Mega Man X7 prototype, was one of the main issues of the plot, adding the image of revolution and youth to the classic dynamic. The character turn of his enemies into add-on ones gave another strategy aspect to the game. But the real issue was the way that the shift to 3D play upset the flow fans had in the previous games. The camera shots, the feedback to the controls, and the integration of 2D and 3D gameplay didn't quite strike the right harmony.
Features Revamped of Mega Man X7
Despite the flaws, Mega Man X7 introduced a lineup of features that were astounding, if they didn't always deliver:New Playable Character – Axl: Axl was brought into the game to add depth and a new factor to the game. He was a significant component of the story since he could replicate enemy skills and he possessed a complicated history. The story didn't benefit the game, however, since the mechanics combined with Axl were at best divorced.
Hybrid of 2D and 3D Gameplay: Mega Man X7 was among the first games to provide users with the choice of switching between 2D and 3D levels. In theory, this was a great idea to introduce classic Mega Man gaming into the modern era. In reality, though, the 2D levels were slow, and the 3D levels featured slow controls, and the game was infuriating.
Character Switching Between Levels: Switching between X, Zero, and Axl from one level to the next did add some variety. The feature, while interesting, wasn't something that could be used to any large extent due to the level structure and design.
Cinematic Storytelling: The developers did attempt their best to enhance the plot of Mega Man X7 by using CG cutscenes in an effort to further the story. This was a commendable effort that could not even tempt fans who were more in need of rich gameplay rather than distracting cutscenes.
Boss Fights and Power-Ups: As would be expected from a Mega Man game, Mega Man X7 had plenty of boss fights with various strategies. But to everyone else, the bosses themselves were not very interesting, and the power-up process—being there as it was—wasn't as satisfying as in other games.
Gameplay Mechanics and Criticism
Essentially a Mega Man game at its core, something just was not right about it. That Axl added an interesting dynamic to the Mega Man X7 prototype character cannot be argued, but the game was saddled by lousy controls and intrusive camera angles. The series' fans were accustomed to lightning-fast, action-oriented gameplay, but the 3D elements made it uncomfortable.The infamous auto-aiming of the game was not assisting. It had the characters simply auto-lock onto enemies, taking away the skill and finesse of fighting. This created repetitive same-old-same-old battles that did not provide the excitement that Mega Man games were known for. Combined with that were the 3D sections, which, while giving a more interactive experience, had no clumsy and imprecise controls.
The Verdict
While Mega Man X7 did feature a couple of new concepts and new ideas, in the end it was a superior experiment that went wrong rather than an effective sequel to the series. The character Axl was a completely new after-game world for Mega Man X7, and the attempt made to try and mix 2D and 3D play was ambitious at best. But the clumsy management of both those features, as well as the poorly designed levels and camera glitch issues, made the game infuriating to play.In retrospect, Mega Man X7 was a transitional game—a game that tried too hard to get beyond what made Mega Man so good. It did not live up to the level of its forebears, and while it was not the end of the Mega Man X franchise (thanks, Mega Man X8), it was a trough.
Was it worth the gamble? Not really. But to Mega Man X fans, it's still a bit of history—a doozy of an experiment that didn't ruin the good name of the blue bomber, but certainly cleared the way for some much-needed retooling in future games.