Mega Man X8

Mega Man X8
Developer(s)	Capcom Production Studio 1
Publisher(s)	Capcom/Taito Corporation Japan
Designer(s)	Eiro Shirahama
Artist(s)	Tatsuya Yoshikawa
Writer(s)	Makoto Ikehara Kohsuke Nasu
Composer(s)	Yuko Komiyama Naoto Tanaka Shinya Okada
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	PlayStation 2 NA December 7, 2004[1] EU February 11, 2005[2] JP March 10, 2005[3] Windows JP March 10, 2005[3] EU September 21, 2005[4]
Genre(s)	Action, platform
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	CERO: Free ESRB: E (Everyone) PEGI: 7+
Media/distribution	1 DVD (PlayStation 2), 2 CD-ROMs (PC)
System requirements PC: 1.0 GHz CPU, 128 MB RAM, DirectX 8.1 compatible 64 MB video card, 8x CD drive

Mega Man X8, known as Rockman X8 (ロックマンX8^?) in Japan, is a video game developed by Capcom for the PlayStation 2 (PS2) console. It is the eighth game in the Mega Man X series and the most recently released game in that series. It was first released in North America on December 7, 2004. The PS2 version, as well as a PC iteration, were released in Japan and Europe the following year.

The plot of Mega Man X8 focuses on the abduction of a next-generation "Reploid" from the construction site of a space elevator, and the subsequent pursuit of his captors. During the course of game play the motivations of these captors comes into focus, and it is up to the heroes, led by Mega Man X, to stop them. The gameplay of Mega Man X8 is similar to the other games in the series, in which the player must complete a series of stages. Defeating their bosses will earn that player character its special weapon.

Although Mega Man X8 uses 3D graphics like Mega Man X7, the development team chose not to opt for 3D gameplay. The game was met with a mixed critical reception.

Plot

See also: List of Mega Man X characters

The story is set during the late 21XX. The Reploid rebellions across the past years continue, seemingly with no possible solution. To escape these troubles, mankind has begun the next generation of research and development by constructing an orbital elevator able to take equipment and handwork to the moon which they seek to colonize. This operation is labeled as the "Jakob Project", with the orbital elevator bearing its name, and a Reploid named Lumine is placed in charge of the project. As another part of the project, an advanced generation of Reploids is dispatched to the moon surface in order to work on the project. These New Generation Reploids are able to use DNA data to change their shapes. They are the perfect workers because they can change their shape according to a task, and have subroutines built in to prevent them from going Maverick. (In Mega Man X7, it was revealed that Axl is the first of his kind, a prototype next-generation Reploid.)

Everything seems to be running smoothly until Vile, who has apparently been resurrected from his earlier defeat in Mega Man X3, kidnaps Lumine for unknown reasons. It becomes the Maverick Hunters' mission to rescue him. However, what the Hunters do not know is that Sigma has returned. Contained on every single copy chip in these robots is Sigma's own DNA, meaning that the next-generation 'Maverick-Proof' reploids are in fact able to go Maverick. Sigma seeks to remove the "old generation" and repopulate it with his "children". When Sigma is defeated in his palace, Lumine steps in to take the entire operation over and kill the Maverick Hunters. Lumine gloats to the Hunters that, in order for evolution to take its course, he and his fellow new-generation Reploids must destroy both humans and "obsolete" Reploids. After a massive struggle, Lumine is defeated. When Axl walks up to Lumine's body, however, he is shocked as a tentacle springs from it and damages the crystal on his head. As the three different characters ride back down the Jakob Elevator, Zero wonders if he no longer has to fight now that Sigma is dead for good, while X ponders Lumine's words on evolution. Axl is unconscious, but his shattered crystal can be seen glowing with a tiny fragment of a crystal shard.

Gameplay

Gameplay in Mega Man X8 is similar to previous Mega Man X games. After an introductory stage, Mega Man X8 presents the player with a choice of 8 stages, with a Maverick robot serving as the stage boss. After defeating the 8 bosses, a series of fortress stages open up for the player to complete in linear progression until the final boss is defeated. This general format is the template of all X series games. X, Axl, and Zero have character-specific attributes to assist them in navigating the terrain and defeating enemies:

• Axl has the ability to fire his gun in any direction, hover and glide horizontally for short distances, and stick in place on a wall as long as he is firing. He also has a 'Copy Shot' which allows him to assimilate the DNA of certain enemy reploids and take their forms and abilities for a short time. By defeating bosses, Axl gains new types of guns which have unlimited ammo.
• X can find and equip individual body parts, obtained from capsules hidden by Dr. Light. He can equip any combination of previously obtained armors to a "Neutral Armor," a new addition to this game. As X defeats bosses, he gets special weapons which have a limited supply of ammo, just as in previous games in the series. Unlike X7, X can only fire his shot in a straight line.
• Zero uses many different short range weapons and is the only character that can double-jump, but in this game Zero moves slower than X with armor - what was never been in any other series. He learns new attack techniques by defeating bosses, some of which change depending on which weapon he has equipped.

Development

Mega Man X8 was developed by Capcom Production Studio 1. The game's direct predecessor, Mega Man X7, was the first entry in the Mega Man X series to feature full 3D graphics, as well as 3D gameplay. However, as stated by Capcom producer and original Mega Man illustrator Keiji Inafune, the development team chose not to pursue 3D gameplay for Mega Man X8 simply because of its graphical style.^[3] Inafune himself was not involved in the production of Mega Man X8, although the game's art designers did consult with him before changing the overall style of the characters.^[3] The game's main illustrator, Tatsuya Yoshikawa, was responsible for designing the protagonists, the Maverick bosses, and the newer ancillary cast. Yoshikawa took into account what the characters may resemble if they were toys, and even imitated the joints of Revoltech figures.^[3]

The musical score for Mega Man X8 was co-composed by Yuko Komiyama, Naoto Tanaka, and Shinya Okada. The 51-song Rockman X8 Original Soundtrack was released in Japan on April 13, 2005 by Suleputer. The Japanese opening theme is "Wild Fang" by Janne Da Arc. However, it was not included in the soundtrack and was even omitted on the game's localization in English.

Rockman X8 Original Soundtrack (1:15:56)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Theme Of "RockmanX8""
2.	"Noah's Park"
3.	"Intrusion Crabz-Y"
4.	"VS Maverick"
5.	"Troia Bass~Passage"
6.	"Troia Bass~Forwarding"
7.	"Primrose"
8.	"Pitch Black~Sneaking"
9.	"Pitch Black~Discovery"
10.	"Dynasty"
11.	"Inferno~Descending"
12.	"Inferno~Going up"
13.	"Central White"
14.	"Metal Valley~Evade"
15.	"Metal Valley~Overheat"
16.	"Booster Forest"
17.	"Booster Forest~Ride Armor "CYCLOPS""
18.	"VS Boss Demo"
19.	"VS 8Boss"
20.	"Angry 8Boss"
21.	"Jakob"
22.	"VS VAVA"
23.	"Gateway"
24.	"Gateway~Escape"
25.	"VS CopySigma"
26.	"Sigma Palace"
27.	"VS Sigma Demo"
28.	"VS Sigma"
29.	"VS Lumin~The first form"
30.	"VS Lumin Demo"
31.	"VS Lumin~The second form"
32.	"Paradise Lost"
33.	"Intermission"
34.	"Dr.Light's Capsule"
35.	"Title"
36.	"Hunter Base~Going to the front"
37.	"Hunter Base~Doubt"
38.	"Hunter Base~Wickedness"
39.	"Stage Start"
40.	"Stage Clear"
41.	"Weapon Get!"
42.	"Result!"
43.	"Menu"
44.	"Save&Load"
45.	"Option"
46.	"Demo~Deepening mystery"
47.	"Demo~Sorrow"
48.	"Demo~Perplexity"
49.	"Demo~Advancement"
50.	"Demo~With the Hunter Base"
51.	"Ending"

A PC version of Mega Man X8 was released in Asia, Europe, and as a download from GameStop in North America.^[5] This version can run in windowed mode, in addition to full screen, and includes mouse and keyboard features, although it does support using a controller. The PC version also features several languages, which can be changed from the main menu or after starting a new game. All of the music and cutscene dialogue is encoded in Ogg Vorbis format.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	70%[6]
Review scores
Publication	Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly	6.7 out of 10[7]
Famitsu	30 out of 40[8]
G4	[9]
Game Informer	8.3 out of 10[10]
GameSpot	6.3 out of 10[11]
GameSpy	[12]
IGN	7.3 out of 10[13]

Mega Man X8 received a mixed reception. It was generally praised for returning to a more classic style of Mega Man gameplay and removing the criticized gameplay elements of Mega Man X7. On the other hand, X8 was most criticized for its level design, which often made the game extremely frustrating to play. Critics also derided the story, remarking that it "dabbles in a lot of nonsensical anime-style ramblings about things that are of little importance to the actual game."^[11]

According to Famitsu, Mega Man X8 was the tenth best-selling game in Japan during its week of release at 14,927 units.^[14] A total of 35,546 units were sold in the region by the end of 2005.^[15]

References

1. ^ Surette, Tim (December 7, 2004). "Viewtiful Joe 2, Mega Man X8 double-team PS2". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/megamanx8/news.html?sid=6114591&mode=all. Retrieved 2010-06-25. 
2. ^ Dunham, Jeremy (January 10, 2005). "Capcom's European Plans". IGN. http://ps2.ign.com/articles/578/578636p1.html. Retrieved 2010-06-25. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Mega Man X: Official Complete Works. Udon Entertainment. January 6, 2010. pp. 69–77. ISBN 978-1-89737-680-5. 
4. ^ "Mega Man X8" (in German). Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.de/dp/B000ALLMSS/. Retrieved 2011-07-29. 
5. ^ "Buy Mega Man X8 - PC". GameStop. http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=62432#ExpandedInfo. Retrieved 2010-06-28. 
6. ^ "Mega Man X8 for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/920754-mega-man-x8/index.html. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
7. ^ "Reviews: Mega Man X8". Electronic Gaming Monthly (187): p. 134. January 2005. 
8. ^ Freund, Josh (March 2, 2005). "News - Latest Famitsu scores - Meteos gets a 38/40!". GamesAreFun. http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=4451. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
9. ^ Smith, D.F. (October 30, 2006). "Mega Man X8 for PlayStation 2 - Reviews". G4. http://g4tv.com/games/ps2/25558/mega-man-x8/review/. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
10. ^ "Reviews: Mega Man X8". Game Informer (141): p. 124. March 2005. 
11. ^ ^{a b} GameSpot review
12. ^ Theobald, Phil (December 6, 2004). "Reviews: Mega Man X8". GameSpy. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/mega-man-x8/571187p1.html. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
13. ^ Dunham, Jeremy (December 2, 2004). "Mega Man X8 - PlayStation 2 Review". IGN. http://ps2.ign.com/articles/570/570047p1.html. Retrieved 2010-06-23. 
14. ^ Freund, Josh (March 17, 2005). "News - Japan: Weekly hardware & software sales for March 7–13". GamesAreFun. http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=4579. Retrieved 2010-06-20. 
15. ^ "2005年テレビゲームソフト売り上げTOP500". Geimin.net. http://geimin.net/da/db/2005_ne_fa/index.php. Retrieved 2010-06-20. 

External links

• Official website (Japanese)