Admittedly this concept isn't exactly new in the realm of videogames world (we've seen it dozens of times), but the implantation of the spotlights - the way in which you have to avoid them and find your way through the stage - is put together in a way that encourages constant thinking and constant physical reaction. Successfully navigating them allows you to continue unscathed while running into one unleashes a horde of angered Reploids hell-bent on taking you out. In the Underground Logistics Bases known as Pitch Black, for example, there are a slew of spotlights scattered throughout the level to help illuminate your pathway. It's an easy and totally acceptable gameplay method and one that should have been used in 2003 to begin with.Ĭlick+For+More+Images This new tweak to the design means that the stages in X8 are a lot more fun too, and in several respects, can be rather intelligent. Thankfully the transition from one plane to another is pretty seamless and isn't the bothersome chore that switches in X7 were. In keeping with the 3D ideal from the last game, however, there are a still a couple of areas that throw in a few pseudo-3D Viewtiful Joe-like pathways. In Mega Man X8 that problem is no longer an issue as the forward movement and 3/4 perspectives have been removed in favor of old-school 2D side-scrolling. In X7, the poorly-positioned camera and bizarre enemy placement would often leave your characters vulnerable for attack from foes you couldn't even see. That said, the most important change this year is the improvement to the camera system. Of course there are still a few snags that keep it from being on the same level as the classic Super NES and early PSOne versions, but even so, this effort makes enough improvements to almost erase the bad memory that is X7. Luckily Capcom learned from its mistakes and has gone back to the drawing board with Mega Man X8 - an obviously improved and thoroughly more playable mix of 2D and 3D that series fans should really enjoy. So while it's true that the game was heavy on the 3D and had its own fair share of cel-shaded polygonal action, the spotty camera work and clunky control didn't seem to be worth it.

Though it certainly deserved some credit for trying to push the Blue Bomber into the modern age, the development team's heart just didn't seem to be in it.

As a longtime fan of the Mega Man franchise, I couldn't help but feel disappointed with last year's poorly realized Mega Man X7.

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