Mega Man X4, first released in Japan as Rockman X4 (ロックマンX4), is a 1997 platform game created and sold by Capcom. It is the fourth game in the Mega Man X series and the second game in the series to appear on the Sega Saturn and PlayStation. Both versions were released at the same time in Japan in 1997. A version for North America came later, while Europe received only the PlayStation version in 1997. Players can choose between two robot characters, X and Zero, at the start of the game. X uses an arm cannon, and Zero uses an energy blade.
The Mega Man X series takes place in the 22nd century in a world with humans and smart robots called "Reploids." These robots are labeled as "Mavericks" if they commit crimes. Two Maverick Hunters, X and Zero, fight against a group of Reploids called the "Repliforce," who are trying to gain independence by waging war against humans. Capcom wanted to explore the game series on new technology, but making the two main characters unique was challenging. Xebec created the animated scenes in the game.
Mega Man X4 received mostly positive reviews. Critics liked the option to play as either X or Zero, which many thought added new ideas to the game's style, which had become less exciting. However, the game was criticized for not having enough new features and for the poor quality of its English voice acting. The game was also released on Windows worldwide in 1998 and 1999 and on Japanese mobile phones in 2011 and 2012. It was included in collections for PlayStation 2 and GameCube in 2006, on PlayStation Network in 2014, and on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One as part of Mega Man X Legacy Collection in 2018.
Gameplay
The gameplay in Mega Man X4 is similar to earlier games in the Mega Man X series. Players face a series of action and platforming levels. They can complete these levels in any order they choose. In each level, players must avoid obstacles like falling debris and spikes, and destroy enemy robots to reach the end. Some levels include rideable vehicles, such as hover bikes called Ride Chasers and large machines called Ride Armors. Players can increase their character’s maximum health by collecting a "Heart Tank" in each of the eight stages. Two "Sub Tanks" are also available. These tanks can be filled with life energy and used to restore health at any time.
A new feature in Mega Man X4 is the ability to play through the game as either X or Zero. While Zero could be played in Mega Man X3, he only acted as a backup for X. In this game, players cannot switch between X and Zero during a playthrough. Both characters complete the same stages, but they play differently and face different challenges based on the terrain. X uses the "X-Buster," a plasma cannon on his arm, to attack enemies from a distance. He can charge the weapon to fire stronger shots. Each boss defeated while playing as X gives the player a new weapon, which has limited ammunition. Some stages hide capsules containing armor upgrades that greatly improve X’s abilities.
Zero focuses on close combat, using a "Z-Saber" sword. Unlike X, Zero does not receive weapons from bosses (except for his Giga Attack). Instead, he learns special techniques, such as the "Hienkyaku" air-dash and "Kuuenbu" double-jump, which do not require ammunition. However, Zero cannot upgrade any parts of his body in this game.
Plot
Mega Man X4 is set in an unknown year during the 22nd century (21XX), where humans live together with intelligent machines called "Reploids." A new group called the "Repliforce" has been created to help the Maverick Hunters, but the relationship between humans and Repliforce is uncertain. Repliforce is a military group led by a large Reploid General and his leader, Colonel. The story changes slightly depending on whether the player controls X or Zero.
At the beginning of the game, the Sky Lagoon, a huge floating city, is attacked by a Maverick and crashes into the city below, killing many humans and Reploids. At the crash site, Zero saves Iris, Colonel’s kind sister, who is unharmed. X and Zero then meet Colonel, who is suspicious of their presence, and try to take him to Maverick Hunter HQ for questioning. Colonel denies that Repliforce was involved in the attack and refuses to surrender because of his pride. This leads Repliforce to begin a movement to gain independence from humans and create a separate nation for Reploids.
At Maverick Hunter HQ, X meets a new Hunter named Double, while Zero reunites with Iris. X and Zero are assigned to fight eight Mavericks who support Repliforce. One of these Mavericks, Magma Dragoon, admits he caused the Sky Lagoon attack to fight X and Zero, but suggests he was working for someone else. After defeating all eight Mavericks, X and Zero are sent to a spaceport where Colonel is guarding Repliforce’s launch into space. Colonel dies during the battle. X and Zero then enter Repliforce’s space station, called the Final Weapon. X fights Double, who is revealed to be a spy for Repliforce, while Zero battles Iris, who is torn between her brother’s goals and her feelings for Zero. Zero defeats Iris, which causes him to feel deep sadness and confusion.
Later, the villain Sigma admits he caused the Sky Lagoon crash and sent Dragoon and Double to start a conflict between the Maverick Hunters and Repliforce. In Zero’s story, Sigma reminds him of a past battle when Sigma led the Maverick Hunters and when Zero, as a Maverick, passed the Maverick Virus to Sigma. Sigma is eventually destroyed but reveals he activated the Final Weapon. The General sacrifices himself to destroy the weapon, allowing X and Zero to escape and return to Earth. As they leave, X asks Zero to promise to kill him if he ever becomes a Maverick, but Zero does not respond. Zero is deeply troubled by his inability to save any Repliforce members, especially Iris.
Development and release
At first, the Mega Man X3 team did not plan to make a sequel. However, Capcom's leaders wanted to test the X series on new technology. The team aimed to make Zero different from X by designing him as a warrior similar to a samurai who uses a Z-Saber instead of shooting. To gain approval for making Zero playable, developers gave him special moves inspired by the Street Fighter game series, as he did not have X's powers. Capcom faced challenges with creating many backgrounds, but they were happy with the results. There were twice as many animation designs for characters to create. Because of the large amount of data needed for player characters, developers used a special data compression method and split stages into two sections. Designing X's armor was difficult because the character's appearance changed based on which parts the player obtained first.
Instead of designing artwork as he had before, Keiji Inafune focused on being a producer and helped create the game's storyline, a role he described as "only slightly less than it was for X1." The writing team decided to make Repliforce villains less clearly evil than Sigma, avoiding a strict good-versus-evil theme. Since the main story involved Reploids fighting each other, Capcom avoided including human characters, calling the game "Robots and The Future." Inafune left character design to other artists who had worked on previous Mega Man X games. Artist Haruki Suetsugu did not design characters for this game as he did later, but he drew illustrations for promotion. An unknown author created X's secret "Ultimate Armor," which appeared in the game after using a cheat code and as a Japanese Bandai action figure. Suetsugu noted that while Zero looked appealing, his designs made X seem less prominent. He also mentioned that the story of the heroine Iris was very intense. Suetsugu spent four days creating the initial design for the armor. After adjusting the armor parts, he noticed that attaching them in certain ways made it look like an airplane. He described creating the armor as very challenging but enjoyable. Zero was meant to have his own Ultimate Armor, but the team did not complete it.
The FMV cutscenes in Mega Man X4 were made by Xebec, a subsidiary of IG Port. The game's music was composed by Toshihiko Horiyama. The score includes the opening theme "Makenai Ai ga Kitto aru" and the closing theme "One More Chance," both performed by Yukie Nakama. All music from the game was collected in the Capcom Music Generation: Rockman X1 ~ X6 soundtrack, released by Suleputer in 2003. The theme songs were also included in the Rockman Theme Song Collection, published by Suleputer in 2002.
Mega Man X4 was originally planned for the Sega Saturn only, with a June 1997 release date. However, the game was delayed and released on multiple platforms. Both versions were released in Japan on August 1, 1997. The Japanese Saturn version's cover art shows Zero standing alone in a dark setting. Inafune said this idea seemed strange, but some fans still wanted it. A "Special Limited Pack" edition of the game included the Ultimate Armor X action figure.
The American version of Mega Man X4 for the PlayStation was initially not allowed by Sony Computer Entertainment America, likely because they avoided 2D games. After discussions, Capcom convinced Sony to release the game. A Capcom representative said the delay happened because the game was "lost in Sony's backlog of games waiting for approval." The PlayStation version was released in North America on August 1, 1997, while the Saturn version came out the following week. Customers who preordered the game received a Mega Man X4-themed T-shirt. Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Capcom's European distributor, did not release the Saturn version in Europe but released the PlayStation version there on October 13, 1997. The game was later released for Windows in Japan in 1998 and again in 1999 by MediaKite Distribution. A mobile version focused on X was released on December 1, 2011, and a version focused on Zero was released on January 5, 2012.
Reception and legacy
Reviews for the PlayStation and Saturn versions of Mega Man X4 were mostly positive. Critics liked the choice to play as X or Zero, saying the different ways each character played the same levels made the game more fun to replay. However, many critics also said the 2D side-scrolling gameplay felt outdated even before the game was released. GamePro and Next Generation gave mixed reviews, saying the game did not bring new ideas to the series. GamePro said the gameplay was similar to the original Mega Man for the NES, just bigger and louder. Next Generation suggested players might prefer buying Mega Man X3 instead because it was cheaper and similar. A different GamePro critic praised the PlayStation version, calling it an impressive 32-bit debut and a must-have for action gamers. GameSpot said the game kept a 2D style, which was bold but old-fashioned, and noted the graphics were better than earlier games.
Many critics also liked the controls, large bosses, and challenging levels. John Ricciardi of Electronic Gaming Monthly said the levels were too easy but still called the overall experience positive. Electronic Gaming Monthly ranked the console versions of Mega Man X4 at number 78 on its "100 Best Games of All Time" list in 1997. The magazine said the game improved on X3 with better graphics, balanced gameplay, and a strong story with animated scenes. It also named Mega Man X4 a runner-up for "Side-Scrolling Game of the Year," losing to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
The Windows version of the game received lower scores. Tom Price of Computer Gaming World said the game might only interest fans of Mega Man and platformers who already owned the console versions. Computer Games Magazine said it was better than X3 but did not show major improvements.
Reviewers praised the different stories for X and Zero, which added replay value. However, many criticized X’s voice acting, calling it too childish for his character. Critics also said the scene where Zero shouts, “What am I fighting for?!” while holding Iris’ body had poor voice acting.
Famitsu reported that the PlayStation version sold 197,385 copies in Japan in 1997, making it the 61st best-selling game in the region that year. Capcom re-released the PlayStation version in 2002, confirming sales of at least 350,000 units. The game was also re-released in cheaper versions in Japan, including PlayStation the Best, PSone Books, and Sega Saturn Collection.
Despite criticism for using the same 2D side-scrolling gameplay for over a decade, Capcom continued with this style for two more games, X5 and X6. These games, along with earlier ones, were included in the North American Mega Man X Collection for GameCube and PlayStation 2 in 2006. A mobile version of X4 was released in Japan for au and DoCoMo customers. Versions featuring X and Zero as playable characters were released in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The game was also added to the PlayStation Network for PlayStation 3, Vita, and Portable as part of the PSOne Classics line in 2014. Finally, Mega Man X4 was included in the Mega Man X Legacy Collection, released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One.