Mega Man X2 was released in 1994 by Capcom and is the second game in the Mega Man X sub-franchise. It used the exact same graphics engine from the first installment of the series, but Capcom included an in-cartridge enhancement known as the CX4 Chip to improve semitransparencies and allow for some 3D graphics in the game. Mega Man X3 was the only other game to ever use this chip. This game will be re-released in 2005 as part of the Mega Man X Collection for GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.
| Mega Man X2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Designer(s) | Keiji Inafune |
| Platform(s) | SNES |
| Release | December 16, 1994 (JP) 1994 (NA) |
| Genre(s) | Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Story
Six months after the defeat of Sigma at the hands of X, X has assumed leadership of the Maverick Hunters. Despite Sigma's death, the Maverick Rebellion continues. X has tracked the remaining Mavericks to a Reploid factory, and launches a full assult. But this was not the end of the war.
Three of the Maverick leaders, Serges, Agile, and Violen, form a group called the "X-Hunters" and gain control of Iceland. In the time between Sigma's demise and their sudden uprising, Serges has rebuilt Zero, who had died in the first conflict. The X-Hunters contact the Maverick Hunters and taunt them with Zero's body, which they have split into three pieces, in order to lure out X, hoping to destroy him.
Characters
- X
- Zero
- Dr. Cain
- Dr. Light
- Serges
- Agile
- Violen
- Sigma
Gameplay
Stages
Upgrades
Scattered throughout the stages are powerups used by X to enhance his attributes and obtain a wider range of skills:
- Body Upgrades - Usually found in well-hidden areas, a projection of Dr. Light will give X encouragement and allow him to acquire an upgrade through use of a capsule:
- Legs - From X2 onwards, X has been able to dash without a power-up. This upgrade allows him to dash once while in mid-air.
- Armor - This armor not only halves the damage X takes, it gives him another ability, the Giga Crush. The Giga Crush is an enormous flash of energy that destroys all minor enemies onscreen, and deals hefty damage to bosses. One use empties the entire bar of weapon energy, which only recovers when X sustains injury.
- Helmet - This enhancement to X's helmet gives him the Radar Optics ability, which lets him scan the area for secret paths.
- X-Buster - This upgrade gives X the ability to charge up special weapons, but it also lets him charge his native X-Buster even further. When he glows pink while charging, X can release the energy in two plasma shots, instead of just one. This double-shot ability was used again in Megaman X3.
- Shoryuken - A secret capsule in one of the X-Hunter levels appears if you find all of the enhancement items in the game, and find the location of the capsule with full health. This capsule gives X another move used in Street Fighter, the Shoryuken.
- Health Supplements:
- Heart Tanks - increases the maximum amount of X's life energy, allowing him to survive through more damage; one is found in each stage
- Sub Tanks - allows X to store extra energy which can be used to replenish life energy when it is low; four are found in the entire game
Mavericks
| English name | Japanese name | Copied weapon | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wire Sponge | Wire Hetimarl | Strike Chain | Sonic Slicer |
| Morph Moth | Metamor Mothmeanos | Silk Shot | Speed Burner |
| Flame Stag | Flame Stagger | Speed Burner | Bubble Splash |
| Magna Centipede | Magne Hyakulegger | Magnet Mine | Silk Shot |
| Overdrive Ostrich | Sonic Ostreague | Sonic Slicer | Crystal Hunter |
| Bubble Crab | Bubbly Crablos | Bubble Splash | Spin Wheel |
| Wheel Gator | Wheel Aligates | Spin Wheel | Strike Chain |
| Crystal Snail | Cristar Mymine | Crystal Hunter | Magnet Mine |