Mega Man X3, also called MEGA MAN X³, is a 1995 video game created by Minakuchi Engineering and released by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was first sold in Japan on December 1, 1995, and later in North America and PAL regions in 1996. This game is the third in the Mega Man X series and the last one made for the SNES. The story takes place in a futuristic world where humans and intelligent robots called "Reploids" live together. Some Reploids commit crimes and are called "Mavericks." After defeating the Maverick leader Sigma twice, the heroes X and Zero must fight a Reploid scientist named Dr. Doppler and his group of Maverick followers.
In Mega Man X3, players move through eight levels in any order, collecting power-ups and obtaining special weapons from each level’s boss. This game is the first in the series where Zero can be played as a character, though only in limited ways, alongside X. Like the previous game, Mega Man X2, X3 uses the "Cx4" chip to create some 3D effects and transparent visuals.
A 32-bit version of Mega Man X3 was released on the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and Microsoft Windows in several countries. This version was included in the North American Mega Man X Collection in 2006. A version for the 3DO console was planned but canceled because the console did not succeed. The game was also made available on Japanese mobile phones in 2010. Critics praised the game for adding new upgrades to X’s abilities and introducing Zero as a playable character. However, some reviewers noted that the game, especially the 32-bit version, did not improve the series enough. The SNES version of Mega Man X3 was released on the Wii U Virtual Console in 2014 and later re-released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One as part of the Mega Man X Legacy Collection in 2018.
Gameplay
Mega Man X3 uses gameplay similar to Mega Man X and Mega Man X2, which builds on the gameplay from earlier Mega Man games. Players control the main character, X, and complete eight stages that can be chosen in any order. Each stage includes obstacles, traps, and enemy robots to fight. At the end of each stage, players face a Maverick boss. Defeating a boss gives players a new special weapon. Each boss is weak to one specific weapon, so players can choose the order of stages to use these weaknesses effectively. X keeps abilities from previous games, such as running, jumping, dashing, climbing walls, and using his chargeable "X-Buster" arm cannon and special weapons. Players can improve X's abilities by collecting armor parts (head, body, legs, and X-Buster) found in capsules during levels. Capsules also contain special chips that add new abilities, but X can only use one chip at a time.
Like earlier Mega Man X games, players can find power-ups such as "Heart Tanks" to increase maximum health and "Sub-Tanks" to store energy for later use. Powerful "Ride Armor" vehicles, which can be used in some stages, return as well. Items hidden in levels let players summon these vehicles anytime. Mega Man X3 is the first game in the series to allow players to control X's ally, Zero. However, Zero's abilities are more limited than in later games. Zero can replace X during most stages, but he cannot collect armor parts or power-ups, cannot fight mid-stage or end-stage bosses (except for one exception that gives X a secret weapon), and cannot be used again if defeated.
Plot
The story of Mega Man X3 takes place in the 22nd century (the year "21XX"). After Mega Man X2, humans live together with intelligent robots called "Reploids" (replicant androids). Because Reploids have free will, some of them are more likely to do bad things and are called "Mavericks." Dr. Cain, who created the Reploids, forms a military group called the "Maverick Hunters" to stop Mavericks. Even though Mega Man X and Zero successfully stopped a Maverick leader named Sigma from trying to destroy humans twice, Maverick activity continues. Later, the threat from Mavericks is stopped because of technology developed by Reploid scientist Dr. Doppler, which prevents Mavericks from acting violently. The reformed Mavericks create a perfect society near their new teacher, called "Dopple Town." However, problems return when the former Mavericks suddenly change back and begin causing trouble again, even attacking the Maverick Hunters' headquarters. Dr. Doppler is blamed, and X and Zero are sent to stop the new threat.
After X and Zero defeat Doppler and the group that follows him, Doppler realizes the harm he has caused. He explains that Sigma is still alive as a computer virus and that Doppler was taken over to help Sigma create a new body. X finds Sigma and fights him in a difficult battle. Sigma, in its pure form, tries to infect and control X. When X is trapped, two possible outcomes occur. In one ending, Zero uses Doppler's true antivirus software and uploads it onto his sword. He saves X just in time, causing Sigma to explode and destroying the lab as they escape. However, if Zero is hurt during the game, Doppler instead uses his own body as the antivirus and gives his life to stop Sigma.
Development and release
By the time production started, Keiji Inafune, an important person in the Mega Man series, had changed jobs from being an artist to working as a director, producer, and writer. Beginning with Mega Man X2, Inafune wanted to use a computer virus as a story idea, which he thought was more interesting than having a real villain. Inafune also helped create toys and trading cards based on the game. Even though the game’s story, character designs, and artwork were made by Capcom, most of the actual game design was done by Minakuchi Engineering, a company that had previously created many Mega Man games for the Game Boy and the Mega Drive. Inafune said he felt strong worry about letting other people handle the game’s development. The only characters Inafune designed for the game were X, Zero, and Vile. Inafune felt very protective of Zero because he helped create the character for the first Mega Man X game. Other characters, bosses, and enemies were designed by artists Hayato Kaji, Tatsuya Yoshikawa, Shinsuke Komaki, and Kazushi Itou. Mega Man X3 looks similar to its two earlier games and uses the same SNES Cx4 chip from Mega Man X2. This chip helps create simple 3D effects like rotating, growing, and shrinking wireframe objects.
The game was first sold in Japan on December 1, 1995, then in North America in January 1996, and in Europe on May 15, 1996. Versions for the Sega Saturn and PlayStation were released in Japan on April 26, 1996, and in Europe on March 1997. Capcom said it was giving these versions to a USA company to sell in North America, but they were never released there. A version for Windows was released in Japan in 1997 and in North America and Europe in 1998. These versions added new animated scenes, rearranged music, and different sound effects compared to the original SNES version. A version for the 3DO was planned in Japan in 1996 but was never made. The Japanese PlayStation version of Mega Man X3 was later sold as part of Sony’s budget game collection. The PlayStation version was included in Mega Man X Collection, released for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube in North America in early 2006. Mega Man X3 was also released on mobile phones in Japan in July 2010. The SNES version was added to the Wii U Virtual Console in North America on August 28, 2014, in Japan on October 8, 2014, and in PAL regions on November 6, 2014. It was later released again for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One as part of Mega Man X Legacy Collection, which came out worldwide on July 24, 2018, and in Japan on July 26, 2018.
The game’s music was created by Kinuyo Yamashita, a freelancer. Even though Minakuchi Engineering is listed in the soundtrack album, Yamashita worked for them as a freelancer, not as an employee. The Japanese 32-bit versions of the game include two J-pop songs by Kotono Shibuya: the opening theme “One More Time” and the ending theme “I’m Believer.” Both the SNES and 32-bit versions of the music were included on the second disc of the Capcom Music Generation: Rockman X1 ~ X6 soundtrack, released by Suleputer in 2003.
Reception
Press reception for Mega Man X3 was mostly positive. Reviewers praised the game's well-tested gameplay, graphics, controls, and the ability to play as Zero. Mike Weigand of GamePro was generally pleased with the game. Though he noted it added little new to the franchise, he appreciated the increased difficulty, smooth controls, and new special effects. Weigand summarized, "It may feel familiar to experienced players, but anyone who hasn't played a 16-bit game in the series will discover Mega magic." GameFan reviewer Dave Halverson was equally impressed by the "speed, variety, special effects, and power-ups," calling it "a fitting 16-bit finale to a great series." IGN also described Mega Man X3 as "a solid send-off for the 16-bit era," ranking it the 67th-best SNES game of all time in a 2011 list. Two of Electronic Gaming Monthly's reviewers believed the game improved on X2 with larger levels and many secrets, while the other two noted its similarity to earlier games in the series.
Some critics felt Mega Man X3 was too similar to past Mega Man games. Super Play writer Jonathan Davies said the game was very similar to Mega Man X2, questioning whether "Capcom are cashing in on their loyal fans." All but one of the four reviewers for Electronic Gaming Monthly criticized the game for being too similar to other Mega Man titles, with one writing: "I am so tired of Mega Man that I have dreams of the blue-clothed hero showing up at my house and forcing me to play more of his repeated titles. This latest release is just like all the rest." Similarly, 1UP.com writer Jeremy Parish noted the game had little difference from past releases, calling it "more of the same, but with a design style that made every level feel slow and poorly planned." GameSpot editors Christian Nutt and Justin Speer pointed out that the number of power-ups and bonuses overshadowed the gameplay, with the addition of Zero as a limited playable character offering little benefit.
Port versions of the game received more negative feedback than the SNES version. Computer Games Magazine contributor Nathan Smith criticized the late Windows release, saying it had "too many outdated console features" and required "great patience, simple skills, and basic intelligence to enjoy." Saturn Power called Mega Man X3 the worst Saturn title available. Matt Yeo of Sega Saturn Magazine had mixed comments about the SNES version but called the UK Saturn version "a disappointment" due to its lack of innovation and "questionable" quality of anime cutscenes. Halverson liked the use of redbook audio in the 32-bit version, though he found the music unmemorable. Both Yeo and Halverson disliked the letterbox borders in the Saturn version, which made the screen smaller. In 2018, Complex listed the game as #73 on its "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time" list.
The North American and European SNES versions of Mega Man X3 are very rare because only a small number were produced and the game was released during a time when the console was losing popularity. Despite higher-than-expected orders for SNES games, Capcom reduced the number of 16-bit titles shipped in the fall 1995 release period due to supply and demand. To make the game profitable despite its limited production, Capcom priced it higher than any previous Mega Man title. Recently, Mega Man X3 cartridges have sold for high prices on collector and auction sites like eBay. Though the game introduced Zero as a playable character, the team noted little difference between him and X, leading to a redesign in the next game, Mega Man X4, where Zero became a swordsman instead of a gunner like X.