History VideoGame / MegaManX7

The [[VideoGameLongRunners seventh entry]] in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, ''Mega Man X7'' was the series' first appearance on the [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames sixth console generation]] (Platform/{{PlayStation 2}} and [[UsefulNotes/WindowsGames PC]][[labelnote:*]][[NoExportForYou in Korea]][[/labelnote]]) and its first and only attempt at true 3D gameplay. This game is also notable for introducing [[KidHero Axl]], a third playable protagonist.

The [[VideoGameLongRunners seventh entry]] in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, ''Mega Man X7'' was the series' first appearance on the [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames sixth console generation]] (UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 2}} and [[UsefulNotes/WindowsGames PC]][[labelnote:*]][[NoExportForYou in Korea]][[/labelnote]]) and its first and only attempt at true 3D gameplay. This game is also notable for introducing [[KidHero Axl]], a third playable protagonist.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading:
** And goodness gracious, does this game love to bombard you with loading screens! While it's not as bad as ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', it comes pretty close as it loads for just about every section of a level, and these loading time aren't short either.
** Now that the game's a part of ''[[CompilationRerelease Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2]]'', this is now largely averted. While the game still bombards you with loading screens between each section, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O96HT_wwLhc#t=27m9s they're thankfully MUCH shorter than they were before.]]

* NewGamePlus: After beating the game, you can keep all of the Power-Up Chips you get from the Reploids you rescue and power-ups into a new round. X is also playable from the start, and all the armor parts previously collected.
* NostalgiaLevel: Zero's part of the intro stage is the same highway X traveled through in ''VideoGame/MegaManX1''.
* PermanentlyMissableContent: The rescuable Reploids can die by anything, and they can't be brought back, so if one of them had a chip you needed, it's gone for good. This is similar to how the Nightmare viruses could infect rescuable Reploids in ''X6''.
* PowerCopying: No duh, considering the series, but Axl uses it in a different way with the ability to change into various {{mooks}} and using their unique abilities to fight through the stage and find hidden Heart Tanks/E-Tanks/Armor Capsules.

* Zero's Gokumonken technique completely and utterly nullifies the second Sigma phase's super-fast charging punch attack that would normally knock you on your ass or into the BottomlessPit below. There isn't a sound effect or any indicator whatsoever that this works, and it's usually a move intended for [[DeflectorShields blocking projectiles.]]

** Almost everything is tutorialized to an absurd degree, to the point where the ''stage select'' gets a tutorial.

* AerithAndBob: The names of the rescuable Reploids in this game are so ''normal'' that it's jarring. In a series where the focus is on characters named X, Zero, and Sigma, these Reploids have names like ''Tony'', ''Bruce'', and ''Tim''.
* AllThereInTheManual: The game's soundtrack released with a Japanese-only prologue story called "Golden Days" (''Ōgon no Hibi''), which explains the opening FMV cutscene where Axl assassinates the two Reploids. Would you have known that the mission was to recover a mysterious Sigma Virus-like program, that the Reploids names are Cedar and Aluce, and that it's what got Sigma to get in contact with Red Alert in the first place? Probably not.

* CameraScrew: 3D games are infamous for this, and this game doesn't help. It gets stuck behind walls, generates blind jumps for what should be basic platforming, and makes it difficult to get your bearings. Snipe Anteator's stage does this on purpose, as you can flip the camera to travel along the ceiling.

* Splash Warfly. Axl and X earn [[MakingASplash Splash]] [[BubbleGun Laser]] from him, and Zero earns [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice Suiretsusen]] (plus Zero's [[BladeOnAStick D-Glaive]]).

* Vanishing Gungaroo. Axl and X earn [[HavingABlast Explosion]] (plus Axl's [[{{BFG}} G-Launcher]]) from him , and Zero earns [[SwordBeam Hadangeki]].

* Tornado Tonion. Axl and X earn [[ShockAndAwe Volt]] [[BlowYouAway Tornado]] from him (plus Axl's RayGun), and Zereo earns [[{{Shoryuken}} Raijinshou]].

* Soldier Stonekong, hiding in a forest. Axl and X earn [[DishingOutDirt Gaea]] [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe Shield]] from him, and Zero earns [[DeflectorShields Gokumonken]].
* Vanishing Gungaroo, controlling a military base. Axl and X earn [[HavingABlast Explosion]] (plus Axl's [[{{BFG}} G-Launcher]]) from him , and Zero earns [[SwordBeam Hadangeki]].
* Splash Warfly, leading a battleship fleet. Axl and X earn [[MakingASplash Splash]] [[BubbleGun Laser]] from him, and Zero earns [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice Suiretsusen]] (plus Zero's [[BladeOnAStick D-Glaive]]).
* Tornado Tonion, hijacking a radio tower. Axl and X earn [[ShockAndAwe Volt]] [[BlowYouAway Tornado]] from him (plus Axl's RayGun), and Zereo earns [[{{Shoryuken}} Raijinshou]].
* Ride Boarski, bombing a highway. Axl and X earn [[SpikedWheels Moving Wheel]] from him, and Zero earns [[DeadlyDisc Zankourin]].
* Flame Hyenard, hijacking a geothermal plant. Axl and X earn [[GrenadeLauncher Circle Blaze]] (plus Axl's [[GunsAkimbo Double Bullets]]) from him, and Zero earns [[GroundPunch Bakuenjin]].
* Wind Crowrang, patrolling in an airship. Axl and X earn [[RazorWind Wind Cutter]] from him, and Zero earns [[BattleBoomerang Souenbu]] (plus Zero's [[DualWielding V-Hanger]]).
* Snipe Anteator, hiding in a digital maze. Axl and X earn [[HomingProjectile Sniper Missile]] from him, and Zero earns [[EnergyBow Hieijin]].

The [[VideoGameLongRunners seventh entry]] in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, ''Mega Man X7'' was the series' first appearance on the [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames sixth console generation]] (UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 2}} and [[UsefulNotes/WindowsGames PC]][[labelnote:*]][[NoExportForYou in Korea]][[/labelnote]]) and its first and only attempt at true 3D gameplay. This game is also notable for introducing [[KidHero Axl]], a third playable protagonist in the series.

The Maverick bosses of ''Mega Man X7'' are:
* Soldier Stonekong, gives the [[DishingOutDirt Gaea]] [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe Shield]] to Axl and X, and the [[DeflectorShields Gokum]][[CounterAttack onken]] to Zero
* Vanishing Gungaroo, gives the [[HavingABlast Explosion]] to Axl (+ [[{{BFG}} G-Launcher]]) and X, and the [[SwordBeam Hadangeki]] to Zero
* Splash Warfly, gives the [[MakingASplash Splash]] [[BubbleGun Laser]] to Axl and X, and the [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice Suiretsusen]] (+ [[BladeOnAStick D-Glaive]]) to Zero
* Tornado Tonion, gives the [[ShockAndAwe Volt]] [[BlowYouAway Tornado]] to Axl (+ {{Ray Gun}}) and X, and the [[{{Shoryuken}} Raijinshou]] to Zero
* Ride Boarski, gives the [[SpikedWheels Moving Wheel]] to Axl and X, and the [[DeadlyDisc Zankourin]] to Zero
* Flame Hyenard, gives the [[GrenadeLauncher Circle Blaze]] to Axl (+ [[GunsAkimbo Double Bullets]]) and X, and the [[GroundPunch Bakuenjin]] to Zero
* Wind Crowrang, gives the [[BattleBoomerang Wind Cutter]] to Axl and X, and the [[RazorWind Souenbu]] (+ V-[[DualWielding Hanger]]) to Zero
* Snipe Anteator, gives the [[HomingProjectile Sniper Missile]] to Axl and X, and the [[EnergyBow Hieijin]] to Zero

One of the members of Red Alert, the mysterious Axl, notices Red Alert becoming increasingly cutthroat and jumps ship. He is pursued by Mechaniloids, causing so much chaos that Zero arrests him. Red is not happy about this, and challenges the Maverick Hunters to a contest over custody of Axl. Releasing their captured Mavericks and Mechaniloids, Red proposes that whoever destroys the most Mavericks -- including each other -- gets to keep Axl. Axl feels responsible for the chaos, and [[TagalongKid tags along with Zero]] to help him out in the conflict.

->''"In any case, I want Axl back. Now, don't you worry. I know he won't come back easily. So how about this? Like you, we are hunters. We've trashed our share of Mavericks. So how about a duel? A duel to determine who the real Maverick Hunters are. I'm sure you won't mind if we use the Mavericks that we've captured so far. So, the last one standing wins! If we lose, we'll surrender Axl to you. And if we win? Well... We'll leave that to your imagination!"''

The [[VideoGameLongRunners seventh entry]] in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, ''Mega Man X7'' was the series' first appearance on the [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames sixth console generation]] (UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 2}} and [[UsefulNotes/WindowsGames PC]][[labelnote:*]][[NoExportForYou in Korea]][[/labelnote]]) and its first and only attempt at true 3D gameplay, which achieved middling results at best. This game is also notable for introducing [[KidHero Axl]], a third protagonist in the series who was a bit of a [[TheScrappy Scrappy]] until [[VideoGame/MegaManX8 the next game]] [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap came along]].

The earth has finally recovered from [[VideoGame/MegaManX5 the Eurasia crisis]], and things have returned to somewhat normal. However, X retires from the front lines of the Maverick Hunters, as he tries to find a truly peaceful solution to the Maverick problem. This power vacuum allows Maverick crime to rise, leading to a new vigilante syndicate called Red Alert forming to pick up the Hunters' slack. Then one of the members of Red Alert, a mysterious Reploid named Axl, notices Red Alert becoming concerningly cutthroat and abandons the organization. He is pursued by Mechaniloids, causing so much chaos that Zero must arrest him.

Red, the leader of Red Alert, is not happy about this, and challenges the Maverick Hunters to a contest over custody of Axl. Releasing their captured Mavericks and Mechaniloids, Red proposes that whoever destroys the most Mavericks -- including each other's forces -- gets to keep Axl. Axl feels responsible for the chaos, and [[TagalongKid tags along with Zero]] to help him out in the conflict.

The Mavericks of ''Mega Man X7'' are:

* VideoGame3DLeap: This is the first 3D ''Mega Man X'' game. At least it has this credit.

The game follows the usual formula of its predecessors as players complete a series of stages and defeat the bosses to gain their special attacks. In an attempted to bring the ''Mega Man X'' series into 3D, ''Mega Man X7'' combines the series' 2D run-and-gun gameplay with a 3D third-person shooter and changing between the two gameplay styles at key points of the game. In addition to gaining the bosses' abilities, players can rescue injured Reploids scattered throughout the stages. Like in the previous game, some of them can be found easily in some stages, while others may require scouring through every corner of a stage...and must do so very quickly in this game as [[EverythingTryingToKillYou anything]] -- enemy fire and stage hazards alike -- [[OneHitPointWonder will kill them in one hit]]. Rescuing some of the injured Reploids may reward players with extra lives, Life or Weapon Ups, or a Power-Up Chip that can augment the Maverick Hunter's abilities. This game also introduced the ability to bring two Maverick Hunters as a team and swap between the two during gameplay, however, only Zero and Axl are available and if any of two team members are defeated, the player loses a life [[LazyBackup regardless of their partner's condition]].

* AllThereInTheManual: The game's soundtrack released with a Japan-only prologue story called "Golden Days" (''Ōgon no Hibi''), which explains the opening FMV cutscene where Axl assassinates the two Reploids. Would you have known that the mission was to recover a mysterious Sigma Virus-like program, that the Reploids names are Cedar and Aluce, and that it's what got Sigma to get in contact with Red Alert in the first place? Probably not.

The [[VideoGameLongRunners seventh entry]] in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, ''Mega Man X7'' was the series' first appearance on the [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames sixth console generation]] (UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 2}} and [[UsefulNotes/WindowsGames PC]][[labelnote:*]][[NoExportForYou in Korea]][[/labelnote]]) and its first and only attempt at true 3D gameplay, which achieved [[PolygonCeiling middling results at best]]. This game is also notable for introducing [[KidHero Axl]], a third protagonist in the series who was a bit of a [[TheScrappy Scrappy]] until [[VideoGame/MegaManX8 the next game]] [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap came along]].

* PolygonCeiling: This game is a good example on how NOT to do a VideoGame3DLeap. Gameplay is very slow, there is not enough feedback (your characters will not flinch when hit), and [[EnsembleDarkhorse Zero]]'s attacks are very hard to aim in 3D.

The earth has finally recovered from [[VideoGame/MegaManX5 the Eurasia crisis]], and things have returned to somewhat normal. However, X retires from the front lines of the Maverick Hunters, as he tries to find a truly peaceful solution to the Maverick problem. This power vacuum allows Maverick crime to rise, leading to a new vigilante syndicate called Red Alert forming to pick up the Hunters' slack. Then one of the members of Red Alert, a mysterious Reploid named Axl, notices Red Alert becoming more and more violent and abandons the organization. He is pursued by Mechaniloids, causing so much chaos that Zero must arrest him.

The earth has finally recovered from [[VideoGame/MegaManX5 the Eurasia crisis]], and things have returned to somewhat normal. However, X retires from the front lines of the Maverick Hunters, as he tries to find a truly peaceful solution to the Maverick problem. This power vacuum allows Maverick crime to rise, leading to a new vigilante syndicate called Red Alert forming to pick up the Hunters' slack. Then one of the members of Red Alert, a mysterious Reploid named Axl, suddenly flees the organization. He runs into Zero, who takes him into custody.

* Wind Crowrang, gives the [[BattleBoomerang Wind Cutter]] to Axl and X, and the [[RazorWind Souenbu]] (+ [[KnifeNut V]]-[[DualWielding Hanger]]) to Zero

The [[VideoGameLongRunners seventh entry]] in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, ''Mega Man X7'' was the series' first appearance on the [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames sixth console generation]] (UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 2}} and [[UsefulNotes/WindowsGames PC]][[labelnote:*]][[NoExportForYou in Korea]][[/labelnote]]) and its first and only attempt at true 3D gameplay, which achieved [[PolygonCeiling middling results at best]]. This game is also notable for introducing [[KidHero Axl]], a third protagonist in the series who was a bit of a [[TheScrappy Scrappy]] until the [[VideoGame/MegaManX8 next game]] [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap came along]].

The Earth has finally recovered from the Eurasia crisis, and things have returned to somewhat normal. However, X retires from the front lines of the Maverick Hunters, as he tries to find a truly peaceful solution to the Maverick problem. This power vacuum allows Maverick crime to rise, leading to a new vigilante syndicate called Red Alert forming to pick up the Hunters' slack. Then one of the members of Red Alert, a mysterious Reploid named Axl, suddenly flees the organization. He runs into Zero, who takes him into custody.

* TenMinuteRetirement: At the beginning of the game, only Zero and Axl are playable. X has given up Maverick Hunting and gone full pacifist. [[spoiler:After you rescue 64 reploids or beat all eight Mavericks, X changes his mind.]]

* AerithAndBob: The names of the rescuable Reploids in this game are so ''normal'' that it's jarring. In a series where the focus is on characters named X, Zero, and Sigma, these Reploids have names like ''Tony'', ''Bruce'', and ''Tim.''

** Rescued reploids stay saved, even if you fail to complete a level.

** This game returns to the norm of ''X4'' and previous games of allowing X to equip armor parts the moment he picks them up, as opposed to only being able to equip the entire set at once.

* BigFun: Tornado Tonion seemed to be this, due to his obsession with dancing and always trying to impress Axl and Zero with it before giving up and fighting them.

* CounterAttack: Zero stands his ground while using the Gokumonken and will not move. If any enemy walks close to him, he responds with a [[{{BFS}} slow oversized overhand chop.]]

* EarnYourFun: The games entire design is built around this idea. In order to make the characters move, attack or damage even reasonably, the player is forced to grind through the levels and rescue every last reploid possible to get upgrades (while praying that [[PermanentlyMissableContent none of them get killed]]). This also applies to unlocking X, which requires either rescuing a certain number of reploids or beating all 8 of the bosses.
* {{Fauxshadowing}}: For some reason, Zero's ending foreshadows the original script for ''VideoGame/MegaManZero1'', where [[spoiler:X was the BigBad instead of a copy]], even though the latter game was released the '''PREVIOUS''' year. Though considering that [[spoiler:Copy X, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin being a copy of X]], would look identical to the original X (even taking the Zero series' ArtShift into account), the ending still works as foreshadowing for Copy X.]] X's dialogue with Snipe Anteator [[spoiler: implies the same thing, as Snipe Anteator asks if he intends to build a utopia over the graves of rebels, which is exactly what Copy X tries in the first Zero game.]]
* GuideDangIt: Go into the options menu and turn Auto-fire ON. Now, [[ScratchDamage Axl's pistols]] are auto-fire instead of [[ButtonMashing manual]]. You're welcome.

* HitboxDissonance: The collision of the X Buster's fully charged shots are suspect at best, as they're capable of going through some objects that they really have no business going through. The stand-out example is the blue platforms in the Professor battle, as Axl's G-Launcher and even more bizarrely a partly charged shot from the very same X Buster are not capable of going through them the same way fully charged shots are.

* InterfaceSpoiler: The fact that you need to select the characters in your two-person team (complete with an overly-detailed tutorial from Alia) despite there being only 2 characters available is a dead giveaway that X will [[TenMinuteRetirement come out of retirement at some point in the game.]]

* LastLousyPoint: The reploid in Flame Hyenard's stage, Leon, is among the most difficult reploids to rescue. This is entirely due to his positioning, under a bomb that will kill him very quickly near some ring lasers that you have to pass by. If they hit you, you'll get knocked down far too long to save the reploid. The only ways to rescue him reliably are to use Axl's roll move (which grants temporary invincibility) to cut through the ring lasers, exploit Triple Invincible (a chip effect that triples the time your MercyInvincibility is active,) or to know that reploids despawn when offscreen, but the time bombs in the stage will still permanently explode, meaning you can trigger the time bombs and then immediately run away to despawn Leon before they explode. A lesser specific example is Edie in Soldier Stonekong's stage, who is essentially wedged in a spike pit. It's not impossible to get him without dying, but it's a hassle. In general, any reploid who dies easily or is in an obscure/obtuse place. At least Leon doesn't have any sort of part, so it's no huge loss if he gets blown up.
* LazyBackup: ''X7'' has a team mechanic, where you choose two Hunters and can switch between them without leaving the stage. However, as soon as one of them is defeated, you lose a life and have to start over. Where did the other Hunter go?

* LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading: And goodness gracious, does this game love to bombard you with loading screens! While it's not as bad as ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', it comes pretty close as it loads for just about every section of a level, and these loading time aren't short either.
** Now that the game's a part of ''[[CompilationRerelease Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2]]'', this is now largely averted. While the game still bombards you with loading screens between each section, [[https://youtu.be/O96HT_wwLhc?t=1629 they're thankfully MUCH shorter than they were before]].

* PolygonCeiling: This game is a good example on how NOT to do a {{Video Game 3D Leap}}. Gameplay is very slow, there is not enough feedback (your characters will not flinch when hit), and [[EnsembleDarkhorse Zero]]'s attacks are very hard to aim in 3D.

* SomeDexterityRequired: Handling the X Buster is weird. Unlike literally any other Mega Man game ever, a shot isn't fired when you press the button, but instead when you let go of it. This isn't so bad, but a more significant problem is that X is not capable of firing while landing from a jump, and any attempt to do so will result in him just doing nothing, making him a bit more a headache to handle than Axl in that respect.

* UnderratedAndOverleveled: Played with. X has never risen above a B rank hunter, but with his absence from the Maverick Hunters causes such a power vacuum a rival organization has caught up to them. At the same time, the B rank had less to do with him being unskilled, and more to do with his hesitation in some situations and his wanting to resolve the Maverick problem without fighting.

* ViewersAreGoldfish: Alia returns and explains to the player how upgrade chips work every time for each individual chip.

->''"I never imagined our little friend would end up in your hands, but in any case, I want Axl back. Now, don't you worry. I know he won't come back easily. So how about this? Like you, we are hunters. We've trashed our share of Mavericks. So how about a duel? A duel to determine who the real Maverick Hunters are. I'm sure you won't mind if we use the Mavericks that we've captured so far. So, the last one standing wins! If we lose, we'll surrender Axl to you. And if we win? Well... We'll leave that to your imagination!"''

Eventually, it's revealed that Axl fled Red Alert once he noticed his comrades were becoming more twisted by the day. As it turns out, Sigma, using the alias "The Professor" has [[HijackedByGanon corrupted Red Alert]] in his efforts to get Axl and his unique DNA copy ability. Additionally, X is inspired to come out of retirement and help fight the Mavericks once more.

* CoversAlwaysLie: At least the US cover does. Zero and Axl are prominent on the Japanese cover with X as a barely visible background character. On the US cover, the X artwork is front and center with Zero and Axl barely visible behind him.