Mega Man X (1993)
In Mega Man X, players take control of Dr. Light's creation X, navigating a series of perilous stages filled with enemies and hazards. Armed with the versatile X-Buster and a variety of upgrades, X must overcome obstacles and foes to thwart Sigma's nefarious plans. With wall-scaling abilities, rideable mechs, and hidden power-ups, players must strategize and adapt to succeed. As X progresses, he unlocks new abilities and uncovers secrets that enhance his combat prowess. Special thanks to GamePhobias for pulling together most of the information below. Please note that this review only contains information about the SNES version of the game released in 1993.
- Release date: 12-17-1993
- Developer: Rozner Labs Software Group & Capcom
- Publisher: Nintendo, Capcom, Playtronic, & Hyundai
- Platforms: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
Triggers for this game
Animals & Wildlife
Arachnids
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The first Sigma Lair boss is a giant mechanical spider vulnerable to Shotgun Ice. It also spits out little mechanical spiders.
- Can't be avoided
Birds
Eagle-like animal, penguin-like animal, other minor enemies
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The boss Storm Eagle is designed after an eagle. Chill Penguin is designed after a penguin. Some minor enemies resemble birds.
- Can't be avoided
Cats
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Before the final boss fight there is a canine/feline robot that the Player Character is required to defeat. Sigma uses a canine mecha in the final fight.
- Can't be avoided
Dogs
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Before the final boss fight there is a canine/feline robot that the Player Character is required to defeat. Sigma uses a canine mecha in the final fight.
- Can't be avoided
Insects
Hornets, stag beetle
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The helicopters in the first level appear to be large blue hornets. Many robot enemies are designed to look and move like insects. Boomer Kuwanger, one of the stage bosses, is designed after a stag beetle (his name comes from a failure to translate the original Japanese name).
- Can't be avoided
Misc. Animals & Critters
Octopus, robot fish, bats, armadillos, lizards
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Launch Octopus’s level is underwater and most of the enemies are robotic fish of some variety. Launch Octopus is, himself, an octopus. These enemies reappear in Sigma's Fortress. It is not possible to drown. Many enemy robots are designed to look like rabbits, bats, and other rodents or rodent-like creatures. Armored Armadillo is an Armadillo, which is not a rodent, though his face appears mouselike. Sting Chameleon is modeled after a chameleon. There are several common enemy robots that resemble turtle and lizard like.
- Can't be avoided
Rodents
Rabbits
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Many enemy robots are designed to look like rabbits, bats, and other rodents or rodent-like creatures. Armored Armadillo is an Armadillo, which is not a rodent, though his face appears mouselike.
- Can't be avoided
Snakes
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There are two sea serpent mid-boss enemies in Launch Octopus's level. One of these enemies is optional.
- Is avoidable
- Can't be avoided
Crime
Explosions & Bombs
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Every character dies with an explosion, some more grand than others. In addition, there are pipes/fuel containers in Storm Eagle’s stage that can be destroyed. One set needs to be to get the Helmet upgrade.
- Can't be avoided
- Can't be avoided
Guns & Shooting
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X has an arm-cannon and many enemies also use guns or arm canons themselves.
- Can't be avoided
Misc. Crime
Weapons
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The Electric Spark weapon, by both the player and Spark Mandrill, causes purple electrical damage. Armor Armadillo, in particular, is vulnerable to the weapon and will show his “skeleton” when hit with the weapon, and his armor will break off. This effect only happens the first time he is hit with the attack. Sigma’s “pet” breathes fire. Sigma’s final form has a large fire breath attack. In addition to the guns and weapons employed by X, enemies wield a variety of weapons including woodcutting axes, mining picks, and laser tools. Sigma attacks you with a green lightsaber in his first form.
- Can't be avoided
Murder
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The plot of the game starts with a mass murder of humans by robots that have recently gained free will and are using it poorly (the Mavericks) and X’s journey involves killing all of them (twice) on his way to stop and destroy their leader Sigma. All of these robots are now sentient.
- Can't be avoided
Death & Loss
Death of Friend
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Zero sacrifices himself to save X at the midpoint of Sigma's Fortress's first level.
- Can't be avoided
Death of Parent
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Dr. Light, X’s creator, is dead by the time the story begins, but he has left a number of holographic terminals by which he improves X’s capabilities.
- Can't be avoided
Suicide
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Zero knowingly overloads his power core to self-destruct and destroy Vile’s armored carrier, saving X.
- Can't be avoided
Gore
Animal Violence
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Launch Octopus’s level is underwater and most of the enemies are robotic fish of some variety. Launch Octopus is, himself, an octopus. These enemies reappear in Sigma's Fortress. It is not possible to drown.
- Can't be avoided
Blood
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As Zero dies, he has blood or a blood-like substance leaking from the corner of his mouth.
- Can't be avoided
Hate & Discrimination
Fantasy Racism
The series is set against a backdrop of racism and violence between humans and Reploids, or sentient robots.
- Can't be avoided
Horror Themes
Demons & Devils
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The Sigma Virus, the malevolent computer program that causes the havoc of the entire series, shares many similarities to demons.
- Can't be avoided
Ghosts & Hauntings
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Sigma’s disembodied “spirit” or consciousness taunts you after the credits, setting up the sequels.
- Can't be avoided
Jump Scares
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In the dark parts of Spark Mandril's stage, enemies will come flying out of the darkness very quickly at X.
- Can't be avoided
Mental Health
Misc. Mental Health
Existentialism
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X’s internal monologue at the end of the game depicts a deep existential despair.
- Can't be avoided
Non-Sexual Abuse & Violence
- Can't be avoided
Mutilation
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In the first level, Zero blows the arm off of Vile’s (Purple Maverick)’s armored carrier. Vile himself is unharmed. It is possible to cut off all but 2 of Launch Octopus’s arms and Flame Mammoth’s trunk with the Boomerang Cutter weapon. Using Electric Spark on Armor Armadillo will electrocute him and remove his armor. When Zero sacrifices himself, it appears that his bottom half is gone while he delivers his final words to X.
- Can't be avoided
Phobias
Acrophobia
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Because the game is a platformer, there are jumps over high gaps in basically every level.
- Can't be avoided
Arachnophobia
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The first Sigma Lair boss is a giant mechanical spider vulnerable to Shotgun Ice. It also spits out little mechanical spiders.
- Can't be avoided
Automatonophobia
Dolls, robot enemies
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A number of the minor enemies resemble dolls. The helicopters in the first level appear to be large blue hornets. Many robot enemies are designed to look and move like insects.
- Can't be avoided
Hemophobia
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As Zero dies, he has blood or a blood-like substance leaking from the corner of his mouth.
- Can't be avoided
Melissophobia
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The helicopters in the first level appear to be large blue hornets. Many robot enemies are designed to look and move like insects.
- Can't be avoided
Misc. Phobias
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Fire -- Several enemies attack with fire, and Flame Mammoth's level heavily features fire and lava. The lava can be cooled by defeating Chill Penguin before going to the level, resulting in walkable surfaces. Flame Mammoth, as his name implies, uses a lot of fire based attacks; if one of the patches of oil he throws ignites, a large fire erupts. This is comparatively rare. Hitting Chill Penguin with Fire Wave causes Chill Penguin to entirely catch fire during the damage animation. Sigma’s “pet” breathes fire. Sigma’s final form has a large fire breath attack.
- Can't be avoided
Nyctophobia
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In Spark Mandrill’s stage certain parts of the stage will go dark, making the pits very difficult but not wholly impossible to see. Enemies are, apparently, luminescent, because they cannot hide in this darkness. There are some that come at you quickly in this part.
- Can't be avoided
Ommetaphobia
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The boss of Sigma's Lair's second floor is a giant face and X must attack and destroy the face’s eyes and nose to defeat the boss.
- Can't be avoided
Thalassophobia
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Launch Octopus’s level is underwater and most of the enemies are robotic fish of some variety. Launch Octopus is, himself, an octopus. These enemies reappear in Sigma's Fortress. It is not possible to drown.
- Can't be avoided
Trypanophobia
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A number of enemies and level hazards include sharp spikes.
- Can't be avoided
Physical Health & Body Issues
Misc. Physical Health & Body Issues
Sigma Virus
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The Sigma Virus, the malevolent computer program that causes the havoc of the entire series, shares many similarities to demons.
- Can't be avoided
- Can't be avoided
Traumatic Events
Accidents
Crashes: planes, vehicles
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The starting level has several crashed and damaged vehicles. The Player Character causes a plane to crash after defeating Storm Eagle. The crash itself is not shown, however the aftermath is. The Player Character is not inside the plane when it crashes.
- Can't be avoided
Mass Casualty Event
ShowHide potential spoilers or triggers
The plot of the game starts with a mass murder of humans by robots that have recently gained free will and are using it poorly (the Mavericks) and X’s journey involves killing all of them (twice) on his way to stop and destroy their leader Sigma. All of these robots are now sentient.
- Can't be avoided
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