History VideoGame / MegaManX

* PolygonCeiling: ''X7'' added 3D sections and also added Axl. It was so bad that Capcom went back to basics with X8. But by then, the damage had been done and everyone moved on to the ''MegaManZero'' series.

* Mega Man X7 (PS2, PC[[hottip:*:In Korea only]]): Mega Man X's 3-D debut. Debut of Axl.
* Mega Man X8 (PS2, PC)

* Mega Man X5 (PS1, PC): Incorporates a MultipleEnding system into the gameplay. Intended as the [[GrandFinale series finale]], but this never came to pass.

* HoYay: X and Zero are almost infamous for being the biggest source of HoYay in the entire series. Not only are they best friends, but the emotionally-charged climax of ''X5'' contained a lot of heartfelt lines, [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mmx5nomav-50.png especially this one]].
** ''Maverick Hunter X'' makes things a lot worse in the ''Day Of Sigma'' OVA, where X had been chewed out over the hostage incident and Zero comes over to put his hand on X's shoulder in reassurance. Especially since X ''blushes''. And Zero calling X kind and sensitive...
** There's also Zero's HeroicSacrifice for X and the latter's desire for Zero to be the one to kill him should X go rogue. There's also the (optional) reunion cutscene in X6 in which X looks a bit too enthusiastic (to the point of ''blushing'') when he sees Zero alive and well.
** Also in ''Maverick Hunter X'', every Maverick wears Sigma's emblem somewhere on themselves. Flame Mammoth's is ''on his crotch.'' His crotch is ''level with X's buster.'' Flame Mammoth's weakness is ''Storm Tornado.'' Let's just say that MHX's Flame Mammoth single-handedly [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar gets enough crap past the radar]] to fertilize a ''plantation.''
** Also, Dynamo seems very happy to do anything for Sigma. [[BrainBleach Anything...]]

*** Incidentally, after the battle, it's revealed that Shield Sheldon was improperly accused of being a Maverick because, as a bodyguard, he protected a Maverick from the Hunters. The Hunters then decided that, because he was doing his job, he must be a Maverick too. Zero is ''trying'' to apologize for what the Hunters did to Sheldon, who [[DontYouDarePityMe wants none of it]].

* PlatformBattle: A few bosses, most notably the rematch against Serges in ''X2'' (set on floating platforms above a bed of lethal spikes).

** While Repliforce and NI are both sympathetic in one way or another ([[hottip:Repliforce's details:They are framed, and some of its members (especially [[spoiler: Double]]) are actually moles working under Sigma, and it's Magma Dragoon who brought down the Sky Lagoon.]] and [[hottip:NI's details:They were accused Mavericks because they're hard to handle and their DNA datas are unreadable - pretty petty reasons.]]), they do have their own faults ([[hottip:Repliforce's details:They refused to resign in for interrogation and instead they go to their KillSat; they want peace and seclusion out of Earth, it's just that they're breaking the law.]] and [[hottip:NI's details:The Hunters saw through the ruse created by the NI the moment Isoc started calling for Reploids to volunteer to help destroy a "ghost" of Zero gone bad. Not just that, said "ghost" are actually Gate's own creation.]])

*** The Bad Ending storyline actually makes this battle even more poignant: [[spoiler:Compare the canon arguments they have thinking the other is too susceptible to the virus to [[IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight Awakening Zero vowing to destroy X, and X vowing to defeat him and bring back "the real Zero".]]

* ArtEvolution: The appearances of the main characters were [[strike:slightly]] altered in ''X8'' (X's helmet, Zero's ponytail, Alia's [[BuxomIsBetter upgrade of her chest]], and the overall proportions are the most blatant examples). WordOfGod claims that it's to make them look more human.

* Mega Man X (SNES, DOS): [[CaptainObvious The series debut.]] The classic Mega Man gameplay has been considerably expanded upon to be far more action based, not to mention more flexible and fast.

The central character of the franchise is the eponymous Mega Man X, a robot who can think, feel, and make decisions just like a human can, created by the previous series' Dr. Light as his final masterpiece. X was sealed inside a capsule for a couple of decades' ethics testing to make ''certain'' he wouldn't be evil. A scientist by the name of Dr. Cain found X's capsule a century later, and was astounded by this marvel of engineering. He decided to mass-produce a line of robots based on X, naming them "Reploids" in English and "Repliroids" in Japan, and glossing over the fact that he didn't understand all of X's systems. WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong

Well, long story short, some Reploids began developing serious bugs and glitches that caused them to become extremely violent - and in many cases, outright insane, often breaking the [[ThreeLawsOfRobotics First Law of Robotics]] ("A robot must never harm a human being"). The Reploids that malfunctioned and attacked Humans became known as Mavericks ("Irregulars" in Japan), and Dr. Cain and a council created the "Maverick Hunters," a group of advanced Reploids authorized to use force in apprehending these vagabonds.

Not to be confused with ''Game/MegaMan 10'', the 10th game in the original line's series.

* Mega Man X6 (PS1)
* Mega Man X7 (PS2, PC[[hottip:*: In Korea only]]): Mega Man X's 3-D debut. Debut of Axl.

* AbortedArc: Zero's past was all but dropped after ''[[GrandFinale X5]]''. Both in the PostscriptSeason (after ''X6's'' hint at Wily anyway) '''and''' ''MegaManZero''.

* ArtEvolution: The appearances of the main characters were [[strike: slightly]] altered in ''X8'' (X's helmet, Zero's ponytail, Alia's upgrade of her chest, and the overall proportions are the most blatant examples). WordOfGod claims that it's to make them look more human.

** [[spoiler: Zero]] when he is found in the cave by the Maverick Hunters.

* BigBad: Sigma. [[spoiler: Albeit only 4/5ths of the time. ''X6'', ''X8'', and ''Command Mission'' are the notable exceptions.]]
** [[spoiler: ''X5'' might count, with the whole Dr. Wily thing...]]
* [[spoiler: BiggerBad: Dr. Wily. Sigma may be directly responsible for most of the problems in the series,but it was Dr. Wily who created Zero in the first place, thus giving Sigma the Maverick virus.]]

* BigSleep: Iris' death scene in X4.
* BlackBox: X And Zero. Being made by Dr Light [[spoiler:and Dr. Wily, respectively,]] their technology is not fully understood and they are difficult to repair. This leads to the imperfection in Reploids that was the main cause of them going Maverick, (before the virus) as well as other minor plot points, such as the {{Nerf}}ed Falcon Armor that was repaired imperfectly by Alia, or the mysterious resurrections/repairing of X and Zero from their state at the end of X5. In Zero's case, it leads to (somewhat supported by the [[AllThereInTheManual Sourcebooks]]) EpilepticTrees about (maybe) Serges and (more overtly) Isoc being actually [[spoiler:Dr. Wily]] himself.

-->'''Zero:''' Shield Sheldon...Too bad about your previous life.[[hottip:*: Sorry about what happened before...]]
-->'''Shield Sheldon:''' Don't be. I was new as a bodyguard. That's all.[[hottip:*: It's not your fault. I was inexperienced and foolish at the time, unused to my job as a bodyguard. It was no excuse.]]
-->'''Zero:''' Maverick Hunters are supposed to be able to tell a Maverick from a Reploid. Our officers are not good enough...They could cost us everything.[[hottip:*: We're supposed to be able to tell a Maverick from a normal Reploid, and we failed in that duty. We failed you, and it cost you everything.]]
-->'''Shield Sheldon:''' Reploids all over the world have been needing you. I was useless as a bodyguard...And was useless to everyone else. When I accepted that fact, I accepted my fate. However, there turned out to be someone who needs me. He has given me one more chance. And therefore, I am going to fulfill my mission as a bodyguard now. I'll protect him, even if it means that I have to sacrifice my life. Come on, Zero![[hottip:*: Maverick Hunters have always been needed to protect Reploids. I wasn't any good as a bodyguard, couldn't even protect the people I was supposed to. Once I knew that I was useless, I knew there was no point in resisting any further. But now, there's someone that needs me, someone that I can protect. I'm going to perform the duty I failed at before, even if doing so means I'll die! Come on, Zero!]]

** More than a few Reploids in ''X5'' seem more interested in fighting the protagonists than they are about doing something to help save the world. Many of them (especially Duff [=McWhalen=] and Grizzly Slash) say that they've been infected by the Virus and want to fight the heroes and die with dignity. Some like Squid Adler do actually give X and Zero what they need, only for the Virus to choose that moment to take over their minds and force them to fight.
*** Each X5 boss seems to have different reasons for fighting, and oddly enough, the reasons can change depending on which plan to stop the ColonyDrop is active. [[spoiler: And if the colony has already been destroyed/crashed, some bosses will already have been seized by the virus.]]

* BoobsOfSteel: Puns aside, Layer and Iris are fairly well endowed for reploids. The strength part is not too emphasized though, but in case of Layer, it does make a good contrast with her melee attacks, compared to Alia's and Palette's long-ranged attacks.

** During X4, we learn that before the events of the first game, [[spoiler: Sigma had smashed Zero's head crystal, thus transferring the Maverick Virus.]] At the end of X8, [[spoiler: Lumine smashes Axl's head crystal]].
* BonusFeatureFailure: In ''X8'', the navigators Alia, Palette, and Layer are unlockable as playable characters. They are basically clones of X, Axl, and Zero, respectively; however due to GameplayAndStoryIntegration, Alia cannot get X's capsule upgrades, Palette cannot copy enemies, and Layer gets a nice aversion by only being unable to use the Zero Armor. You also have to purchase all of X, Axl, and Zero's purchasable upgrades a second time in order to access them on Alia, Palette, and Layer. Additionally, using even one of them when running a stage will forbid you from choosing a navigator for that stage. LevelGrinding the Navigators at least gives you something to do on your NewGamePlus, and fully powering them up changes, of all things, the Capcom logo screen, which is pretty cool.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: What the effect [[TheVirus the Maverick Virus]] seems to have on Reploids. Their personalities are often altered and they become violent and homicidal, sometimes to the extent that they lose all sense of themselves and go insane. Most also join Sigma's forces after infection, though whether it's forced or willing depends on the Maverick.

* CallingYourAttacks: Zero with his Command Arts; bonus points for calling them mostly in their Japanese names. Especially of note would be ''X8'', where X, Axl, and several of the bosses join in the act as well, with X [[GratuitousEnglish always doing it in English]] for good measure. Magma Dragoon, an otherwise normal boss in ''X4'' also does this with ''StreetFighter''-based attacks.

* CharacterSelectForcing: ''X6'' was horrible about this; choosing the wrong armor set made the game very hard in the fortress. A variant also existed in ''X8'', where most of the main stages required the X/Axl team to collect all or most of the items hidden throughout - effectively benching the most popular character in the series!

* ChekhovsBoomerang: Axl's Copy ability. In ''X7'', it's revealed to be [[spoiler:part of Sigma's ExcusePlot in the game.]] Then, in ''X8'', [[spoiler:Axl is revealed to be a prototype to the New Generation Reploids, with everyone in the line apparently having the same ability. Again, it comprises the plot of the BigBad in the game.]] Then it comes back again in ''Command Mission'' [[spoiler:with final boss Redips and his officers in the far east Hunter division being the products of secretly restarted copy chip manufacturing.]]

* ContinuityNod: ''X5'' is chock full of these. There's also a prime example in X6, where the plot is driven by the BigBad [[spoiler: getting infected by the TheVirus from Zero's piece that he took in the crash site of the ColonyDrop.]]

*** Given that X5 was meant to be the lead-in to ''MegaManZero'' this might also refer to [[spoiler: Neo Arcadia, albeit with a name change.]]
** After [[spoiler: Gate]] is defeated in X6, X sees [[spoiler:Isoc's]] lifeless body, which Alia says is similar to the Erasure phenomenon from Xtreme 2.
** X8 contains some of these. Sigma makes reference to [[spoiler:Zero's virus infecting him in their first battle]] and the colony virus is brought up by X.

* DarkSide: Sigma's XanatosGambit in ''X5'' entails mixing a Virus set in a [[ColonyDrop falling Colony]] with the Sigma Virus, which he spread across the Earth [[NiceJobBreakingItHero with a little help from X and Zero by blowing up his dummy body, which was full of the virus.]] Supposedly, the two Viruses will merge, making a new more potent virus to make [[spoiler: Zero evil.]]
** If you fail to stop the colony, [[spoiler: it works.]]
* DarkerAndEdgier: Naturally, YourMileageMayVary, but in general the early entries in this series are an excellent example of [[TropesAreTools this trope being used well]], without dumping on the original series.
** X2 for example shows a very violent way to kill a maverick,if you kill Wire Sponge using his weakness the poor dude gets sliced in half.

* DegradedBoss: A Boss that has been degraded so much, he was turned into a {{mook}} (EliteMook, but still)! And [[spoiler:he's ''[[BigBad Sigma]]'' of the previous games! See BossRush above.]]
* DiscOneFinalBoss: The X-Hunters, Dr. Doppler, General, Dynamo, Gate, Epsilon, [[spoiler:and, ironically, Sigma himself in ''X8'', not once, but TWICE!]] Capcom is in love with this trope.

** It's tricky but far from impossible in ''X1'' to beat Storm Eagle first (without the ability to dash against his wind) so long as you know where and when to start running. The reward, Storm Tornado, rips through stages like nothing.
* DistaffCounterpart: In ''X8'', Alia, Layer and Pallette are counterparts to X, Zero and Axl, respectively.
** Concerning the {{Easter Egg}}s below, they can be {{Joke Character}}s, too, since none of them can play each of their [[DistaffCounterpart Spear Counterpart]]'s armor. Though they do have access to all of the upgrade chips.

** Zero is the one who really takes it on the chin here; in several of the games, he puts away his Z-Saber after each attack or combo, and you can't move till he does this. (You also can't move till his ''ponytail finishes falling.'') The PS2 X games fix this by having him keep the saber out at all times, which looks silly but makes practical sense. In [[MegaManZero his own series]], Zero has a much smoother combat system that never pins him down.
** Much like Bass from ''Mega Man & Bass'', Axl in X8 can fire to multiple directions, but he can't run while doing so.

** When obtaining the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Zero/Black Armor]] in ''X5'' Dr. Light, of all people, was the one who gave it to Zero! And that he (Light) made it just for him (Zero)?!

*** In the Japanese version, Light talk about about releasing the power that sleeps in Zero.
** In the same game (but a different capsule) Zero asks Dr. Light if the latter knew who created him (strangely enough, Zero was talking to what may just be a recording). Dr. Light claims he does not know; whether he's hiding the truth from Zero, or he genuinely doesn't know, tortured many a mind to no end.
** [[http://d.hatena.ne.jp/video/niconico/sm3562051 The conversation between Dr. Light and Zero (starting at around 5:50) is more or less the same here in the Japanese version]], [[AvertedTrope one of the part where the translation is decent]].

---> "Unknown to X, his destiny has already been decided. To save mankind, he must destroy Zero. But only time will tell, when and why..." - Megaman X3 Ending
---> "In his memory he knows his destiny is fixed to do battle with Zero. And beyond this point, what will they see?" - Rockman X3 ending.
** In ''X5'', Squid Adler/Volt Kraken talks about how X killed Octopardo. Yes, it was a tragedy what happened to poor- wait, who's Octopardo? Turns out he's referring to Launch Octopus, using a mistransliteration of his Japanese name: Launcher Octopuld.
* DubNameChange: Most of the Mavericks (Icy Penguigo to Chill Penguin, Storm Eagleed to Storm Eagle, etc). The name of the rogue Maverick from the first, third and eighth games got his name changed from VAVA (which would be pronounced roughly like "Boba", as in Boba Fett, who he is an {{Expy}} of, in Japanese) to Vile (in fact, the reason they couldn't just call him "Boba" outright was because of trademark issues, so they had to spell it VAVA).
** And in fact, the term "Maverick." They were called "Irregulars" in Japan, though this is probably because the noun "irregular" in English refers to non-conventional or private military forces of the type usually employed by governments (which might be a good description of the organization to which the ''heroes'' belong), something wholly unlike what the Japanese name was supposed to mean.
* DummiedOut: X8 might have been planned to have X, Zero, and Axl to be Navigators like their Distaff Counterpart. In the 2nd PC CD of it, you could find a folder of Japanese Voice Actors' sound data, including the main character's voice as Navigators(!). The idea seemed to be scrapped out because it would involve further scripting and scenarios. It's amusing to find that Axl feels very, very bored to have his job as a Navigator in his line.

** Again in ''X2'' and ''X3'', Sigma's OneWingedAngel, a [[TheVirus Virus]], seems insignificant at first (the battle is fought inside a computer, falsely justifying the form), until it was revealed one game later as [[spoiler:Sigma's "true" form.]]
** [[spoiler:Zero also has one in ''Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters'', in Bass' ending, in which he's shown in a blueprint.]]

* ElementalRockPaperScissors: Per the previous series, everyone's weak to something, you just have to figure out ''what''.

* EnergyBeing: [[TheVirus The Sigma Virus']] true form is this, and it is actually the precursor to the Cyber Elves from the [[MegaManZero Zero series]]. Another example seems to be Dr. Light, as revealed by his ability to hold conversations, heal X and edit his memories even outside of his capsule. Of course, he probably was only able to so because {{Cyberspace}} had partially merged with the ordinary world thanks to the Zero Virus' influence.
* EvasiveFightThreadEpisode: ''X5''

** He has the spinning slash since X4, after you beat Split Mushroom. It has been one of his staple of techniques through this and ''Zero'' series.

** According to mega Man X Official Complete Works, Inafune himself made the decision after he finished the design for the main character, deciding people would not relate him to Mega Man because he looked too different. So he had someone else design the main character, and instead presented his design as the "side character".

*** Well, not entirely. Zero seems to evoke Proto Man in his early appearance (both are red, have powerful buster, being {{Big Brother Mentor}}s to Mega Man/X, and voiced by [[RyotaroOkiayu the same person]]), and in Command Mission, his Hyper Mode resembles Bass with Treble Boost equipped. Axl, especially in X8, pretty much evokes Bass as well, with the color black, having multidirectional spammable attacks, being very mobile compared to others and being {{Blood Knight}}s.

* FakeUltimateHero: Subversion: [[spoiler:The current Steel Massimo]] wasn't the real hero of the same name, but he does grow to be one as the story progressed.

** ClimaxBoss: Built up by ''four games''' worth of storyline? Check. Very awesome boss battle theme? Check. Supposed to ''end the series''? Check. [[spoiler:Mega Man X vs. Zero]] is the right way to go. [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot Tweak a few more things in the storyline]], and it would even be more awesome. The battle was even reused for the future series (spoilered because said battles will spoil the original mentioned above): [[spoiler: Copy-X vs. Zero (''twice!'')]] for ''MegaManZero'', and [[spoiler:[=MegaMen=] X vs. Z]] in ''MegaManZX''.
*** The Bad Ending storyline actually makes this battle even more poignant: [[spoiler: Compare the canon arguments they have thinking the other is too susceptible to the virus to [[IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight Awakening Zero vowing to destroy X, and X vowing to defeat him and bring back "the real Zero".]]

** In the latter, in a MatrixRainingCode background, regardless of the weapon equipped on the characters, they will always use the following: X has a WaveMotionGun, Zero's LaserBlade [[{{BFS}} grows BIG]] and Axl combines TriggerHappy, GunsAkimbo ''and'' BeamSpam.
* FireIceLightning: Some of the games have Mavericks who use these-
** ''X'': Flame Mammoth (fire), Chill [[EverythingsBetterWithPenguins Penguin]] (ice) and Spark Mandrill (lightning). Interestingly enough, Fire beat Ice which beat Lightning, completely opposite of what happened in the original Game/MegaMan.
** ''X4'': Magma [[InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons Dragoon]] (fire), Frost Walrus (ice) and Web [[GiantSpider Spider]] (lightning)
** ''X5'': Matt[[TyrannosaurusRex rex]] (fire), Duff [=McWhalen=] (ice) and [[EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods Squid]] Adler (lightning)
** ''X8'': Burn Rooster (fire), Avalanche Yeti (ice) and Gigabolt [[ElectricJellyfish Man-O-War]] (lightning). Here, lightning beat ice which beat fire.

* {{Flanderization}}: Especially because ExecutiveMeddling forced the series to go beyond the creator's planned ending, X5. [[hottip:With a minor twist...:Except Inafune actually had no involvement with X5. He left his position as Mega Man X executive producer simply leaving his team to finish the series. He should have expected Capcom to keep wanting sequels.]]

** Infinity Mijinion from X6 is even worse. [[MeaningfulName It's reflected on his name]] - [[MesACrowd he can make copies of himself indefinitely]], to the point of ''filling the entire screen with his clones.''

* GameplayAndStoryIntegration: Being infected by TheVirus in ''X5'' causes X to constantly take damage for a time. [[spoiler: Zero becomes invulnerable.]]
** Convoluted example in the same game: At the start, the players have to choose which character to use for the first level: either X or Zero. Choosing one will have a bonus in that character's abilities ([[ContinuityNod the Force/Fourth Armor]] or the Z-buster, respectively). The other bonus will not be available for the rest of the game, on account of being severely damaged by Sigma prior to the first Boss battle.
** And again in ''X5'': fail to stop the ColonyDrop, [[spoiler: Zero will "awaken", and will be unavailable for the rest of the game.]]

** Another {{Gamebreaker}} from the same game: [[InfinityPlusOneSword Zero Armor]] + [[spoiler:Sigma's]] {{BFS}} = instant Guard breaks plus instant kill to most enemies (Bosses are also taken down easily). Of course, they can be used together.
** The C-Sword from ''X5''. It gives Zero a double jump and an incredibly powerful spinning slash. Zero already tears bosses to pieces in ''X5''. You do the math. To make it even more powerful, you get it from Grizzly Slash/Crescent Grizzly, the weakest boss in the game. What's funny is that getting it actually makes Grizzly ''marginally'' harder in the BossRush, as it replaces your jumping slash and he's immune to his own power. Of course, by this point you'll have the power he's weak against, so it balances out.

* GratuitousEnglish: The original Japanese names of the Mavericks. ''X6'' and beyond used these for all translations, leading to such oddities as Metal Shark Player (?), Vanishing Gungaroo and Tornado Tonion (no, we don't know what a Tonion is either. But the boss is a giant onion).
** "Tonion" is an attempted {{Woolseyism}} on "Debunion" (debu/"fat" and onion). Vanishing Gungaroo's name is a portmanteau of "gun" and "kangaroo". In general, many Mavericks' Japanese names are a ''corruption'' of the English name for whatever animal they resemble - Wheel Gator's Japanese name is Wheel Alligates, for instance. It's just that in ''X6'' they stopped changing them to make sense for the English version.

** And in the cases of Boomer Kuwanger and Infinity Mijinion, the names are only partially in English - leaving English speakers baffled as to what a "Kuwanger" is.

** UnrealisticBlackHole: The weapons X get from them.
* GravityScrew: Cyber Peacock's stage in ''X4'', Dark Dizzy's stage in ''X5'' and Gravity Antonion's stage in ''X8''.

** The power weakness order can be a GuideDangIt, especially to the uninitiated. Each boss is weak to a certain power, but there is hardly any hint as to ''what'' power. If you've played previous installments, there's a bit of logic to it -- wind blows out fire, fire tends to burn plants or melt ice, etc. -- but you're otherwise playing a guessing game. Moreover, the game usually has a preset pattern which allows you to defeat every boss with the least amount of trouble, not to mention taking advantage of the weaknesses of any the special bosses along the way. Again, there's not a hint on what this is. The games do tend to lean towards MonstrosityEqualsWeakness, but this isn't a universal truth.

* TheGwenStacy: Iris' death in ''X4''. [[spoiler: Zero's final memory before he apparently dies in ''X5'' is of her face, to which he apologizes.]]

** In X5, [[spoiler:X vs Zero - No matter what character you use and Zero's condition (being Maverick or not), your fight will end in a draw.]]

* HeroesPreferSwords: Subverted - [[TheHero X]] prefers ArmCannon. It's [[TheLancer Zero]] who prefer swords.
** X actually acquire a LaserBlade [[spoiler:(specifically, Zero's)]] in X6, but he can't use it as versatile as Zero does. His armors in the game amplify its powers, though.

*** X from ''X8'' onwards is also [[FinalFantasyVII Cloud Strife]]. X pre-''X8'' coincidentally happens to be [[BigBad Sepiroth]]'s "remnant", ''Kadaj''. And LateToThePunchline time, before he was Kadaj, he happens to be [[{{Bleach}} Renji Abarai]]
*** Zero is [[{{Bleach}} Byakuya Kuchiki]] (And since we mentionned a SquareEnix protagonist for X, [[KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Terra]] too).

* HijackedByGanon: Sigma is incredibly good at this: the X-Hunters in ''X2'', Dr. Doppler in ''X3'', the Repliforce in ''X4'' (although this was {{Lampshaded}} by one of the bosses), Gate in ''X6'', and the Red Alert Syndicate in ''X7''. Surprisingly this doesn't happen in ''X5'' [[spoiler:and ''X8'']]; [[spoiler:''X5'' has Sigma possibly acting out a plan made by Wily, which could mean he was Hijacked By Wily]] and [[spoiler:in ''X8'' Sigma is Hijacked By Lumine.]]
** [[spoiler: Sigma refers to Wily as his partner in X5, so it's likely that the two were working as equals.]]

* TheImmune: Played with. Most Reploids will become the chaotic, rampaging Mavericks upon TheVirus' infection. But X, with his Suffering Circuit inside him, will instead get hurt upon infection, as the circuit's trying to prevent him from being rampaging and genocidal. The seemingly immune is Zero, and he even becomes stronger the more the virus infects him, as shown in the gameplay. It has to do with Zero being [[spoiler:not only the original source of the virus itself, but he is actually made to be able to use it as a power source.]]

* InstrumentalThemeTune: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUBQOmnU8bM Variable X]], the theme that symbolizes [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmQO3_XmBZ4 X's growth]] and Zero's trust in him, it was that at first, but later the theme became more attached to dramatic scenes mostly involving [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrUkKspZgXw Zero's death or any sacrifice he makes for X]]. That said, the theme still follows both warriors, zig zagging to which one it truly represents, leading to the conclusion it belongs to both of them.

* JokeCharacter: [[spoiler:[[MegaMan CutMan]], 8-bit in graphics, music and appearance]] is a BonusBoss in ''X8''. His sprite animation may be a ShoutOut to VideoGame/PaperMario.

* JudgeJuryAndExecutioner[=/=]KnightTemplar: The Maverick Hunters were forced into this trope more often than not due to both extreme circumstances and the complete unwillingness of their targets to cooperate. Needless to say X was very unhappy about this fact.

* JustThinkOfThePotential: Dr. Light, seeing that [[LetXBeTheUnknown the "X" stands for a variable that represents unlimited potentials,]] and thus, a connotation of danger, averts this trope by sealing him in a 30-year morality testing to assure that he'll doing what's right (or [[RetCon alternately]], because TheWorldIsNotReady to accept him as a living, sapient being on par with humans). Dr. Cain, on the other hand...

** [[spoiler:Lumine also does the same way to Axl, with a tentacle-like appendage from his body.]]
* {{Leeroy Jenkins}}: "Stay back X! [[CurbStompBattle I'll take him on!"]]

* LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards: Zero and X respectively, in a way. Zero as a prominent Z-saber user is stronger than X at first, but when X is fully upgraded with [[MegaManning the weapons from bosses]] as well as {{Powered Armor}}s, X becomes an all-powerful warrior in its own right.

* LostForever: In ''X6'', there are reploids scattered throughout the levels waiting around to be rescued. God help you if a nightmare virus infects one of them because they will be lost forever, taking the items they give with them.

** Also the shuttle can in fact fail to destroy the colony even if you do gather all the parts. Conversely, you can fire the cannon right off the bat and it has actually a decent chance of destroying the colony.

* TheMole: [[spoiler:[[MeaningfulName Double]]]] in ''X4''. There's also Shadow [[spoiler: and later Spider, who turns out to be the BigBad in disguise]] from ''Command Mission''.

* MoreDakka: ''Command Mission'''s Ultimate Armor. The normally pacifist X packs a chest laser, machine guns on both hands and a missile launcher strapped to his back, not to mention double the attack power.

* MultipleEndings: Subversion in ''X2'' and ''X3''. [[spoiler:Gathering all of Zero's parts]] and [[spoiler:keeping the same character alive]], respectively, definitely change things in the final battles, but they only slightly affect the ending. Played straight in later games, though.
* MultipurposeTongue: Sting Chameleon from X1 is all about this trope. He uses his tongue as his primary attack, and can hang from the roof of the ceiling to rain damaging spikes down from the ceiling.
* MutuallyExclusivePowerups: In ''X3'', in addition of the PoweredArmor, you can get an upgrade chip from the capsule that will upgrade one of the part. Once you select one (by accepting Dr. Light's offer to add the chip to the respective part), you can't have the others, but you can still get the other armor parts. [[spoiler:However, there's a secret way to get all of them at once, and with a nice touch of gold color!]]

* NewGamePlus: ''Xtreme 1'' and ''2'' allowed this, particularly with the latter's parts system. ''X8'', which features the most item collection in the series, lets you cut loose with all your prizes - indeed, it's the only way to unlock each character's [[InfinityPlusOneSword special]] [[GameBreaker armor]].
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: The 1st part of the XanatosGambit in ''X5'', [[spoiler: where Sigma baits X and Zero into fighting and defeating him at the '''beginning of the game''', spreading TheVirus all over the Earth]]. One should know that it's a trap, since your {{archenemy}} wouldn't have let himself get beaten ''that'' easily.

*** Although, it could be that [[spoiler: Sigma as a Maverick]] would be preferable to [[spoiler: Zero ''remaining'' a Maverick.]]

* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Played with in [[spoiler: Maverick Zero and Sigma's]] battle in ''X4'''s flashback cutscene. It seems like [[spoiler: Sigma]] is controlling the fight, but [[spoiler: Zero]] just keeps getting up, laughing, and finally winning a SingleStrokeBattle, ''fist to Beam Saber'', and then turns the tables completely. [[spoiler:Zero]] is only beaten when his head crystal glows, causing him headache, and then [[spoiler:Sigma]] punches it, making his opponent unconscious.

** Also from ''X8'', regardless of how much energy the players still have, the FinalBoss' [[TitleDrop Paradise Lost]] attack will ''always'' result in instant death if the timer runs out.

** In fact, most of the legwork of the Maverick Hunters seem to rely only on X, Zero and (later) Axl. It's only in TheMovie ''Day of Sigma'' that other Maverick Hunters are actually shown fighting (and, even then, just briefly).

** [[spoiler:Lumine in ''X8'' not only grows angel wings, but the background suddenly becomes cloudy and sunny...despite your fighting on the ''moon'']].

* {{OVA}}: ''Day of Sigma'', available after finishing the first game's remake. It's a prequel to events in the series, however, it {{retcon}}s certain aspects of the series canon (eg. Sigma's motivations, Dr. Cain's death [he was shown/mentioned in games up to ''X4''; especially in ''X2'', where [[spoiler:it was he who rebuilt Zero from the parts X stole from the X-Hunters]]], etc.).

* PantheraAwesome: Neon Tiger from ''X3'', Slash Beast from ''X4'' and Wild Jango from ''Command Mission''.

** Also Repliforce, considering they're dubbed "the strongest army on Earth" and they want to seclude themselves off of humans to create their own society...

--> '''Cyber Peacock''': His potential...is limitless?! ''Not possible.''

* PlayingTheVictimCard: Some of the bosses do this to you. [[spoiler: They're not necessarily wrong, either.]]

* PolygonCeiling: ''X7'' added 3D sections and also added Axl. It was so bad Capcom went back to basics with X8. But by then the damage had been done and everyone moved on to the ''MegaManZero'' series.
* PostScriptSeason: ''X5'' was meant to cap off the series and segue into the ''Zero'' series but stuff happened and Capcom threw together four more installments that didn't really involve Inafune's input.
* PowerArmor: The MiniMecha mentioned above, complete with a separate health reservoir, speed dash and titan punches. ''X3'' introduced a few variants, including one with SpikesOfDoom and an anphibious one with SuperNotDrowningSkills.

* PutOnABus: Axl's copy-chip powers were meant to herald a new age of Reploids, so much so that an entire line had been manufactured. Cut to the ''Zero'' series and there's not a single mention of either Axl's eventual fate or the technology itself.

* RankInflation: ''X5'' goes for a B, A, SA, GA, PA, and MH ranking scales. ''X6'' goes D, C, B, A, SA, GA, PA, UH.

* RoboFamily: X is considered to be a 'brother' to Mega Man considering that he was also made by Doctor Light and carries on his legacy.

* SecretAIMoves: Any time you fight [[spoiler: Zero]], he'll start using moves he most certainly did ''not'' have when using him, such as [[spoiler:his signature buster-buster-SwordBeam combo from ''X2'']] before he was playable. [[spoiler: X]] is guilty too. Regardless of whether or not you obtained the [[spoiler:[[InfinityPlusOneSword Ultimate Armor]]]], he'll use it. He also uses moves from the previous installment in the series, which do not carry over from game to game.

* SchrodingersPlayerCharacter: In ''X4'', Zero and X have a identical yet separate storyline. X never shows up in Zero's story, while Zero only appears once in X's story, when he's flying into Earth after destroying the [[KillSat Final Weapon.]]

** [[spoiler:Zero's capsule sealed TheVirus.]] He was infected by it during his fight with Sigma, having his armor breached during the battle. He is still the only carrier of it besides Sigma though.
** Arguably, in a related case, [[spoiler:Zero himself was a [[SealedEvilInACan sealed evil]], with the Maverick Hunters temporarily containing him in the lab he woke up in, right before the above events came to pass]].

* ShadesOfConflict: The games can vary tremendously. In the first through third games, you are the heroically trying to put down a murderous revolution mostly caused by an army of infected reploids, the fourth game you're a bit more trigger happy dealing with wrongfully accused people doing everything in their power to justify your need to take them down, and the games just more ambiguous from there.

* ShoulderCannon: Vile/Vava

** Also in X5, Dark Dizzy/Necrobat, a vampire bat with [[TimeStandsStill the ability to stop time]] is apparently based on [[JoJosBizarreAdventure Dio Brando.]] [[MemeticMutation ZA WARUDO!]]

* SpeedEchoes: Whenever X/Zero dashes, they leave a trail of holograms of themselves. This is carried over to ''Zero'' and ''ZX'' series.

* SwordSparks: In [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXj3Fs0A-gk&feature=related this video,]] where Colonel and Zero fights, their {{Laser Blade}}s creates electric sparks.
* {{Synchronization}}: In the spinoff, ''Mega Man Xtreme'', characters ''Techno'' and ''Middy'' share the same CPU despite being in different bodies.
* TagalongKid: Axl in ''X7''. Neither Zero nor the rest of the Hunters want to send him out into battle, but he insisted, seeing the game's crisis was started over him. Later, ''X8'' and ''Command Mission'' depict him as having "grown up", becomming an accepted member of the Hunters.

* TheVirus: Dr. Wily's virus, that acts as a HatePlague on Reploids, removing their inhibitions and turning them violent. It became one entity with Sigma after Zero passed it to him, making his true form an essentially immortal EnergyBeing. It also doubles in function as a power source for Zero, which "purifies his body", bringing to surface his [[SuperpoweredEvilSide "true self"]]. WordOfGod states also that Dr. Wily himself was brought back by the virus, which could mean that his conciousness is carried in it, explaining how he could contact Sigma.

* PromotedToUnlockable: Zero in ''X3''.

* SwissArmyWeapon: X basically ''is'' one of these. Zero's Z-saber is a more literal version, sort of...

** While Repliforce and NI are both sympathetic in one way or another ([[hottip:Repliforce's details:They are framed, and some of its members (especially [[spoiler:Double]]) are actually moles working under Sigma, and it's Magma Dragoon who brought down the Sky Lagoon.]] and [[hottip:NI's details:They were accused Mavericks because they're hard to handle and their DNA datas are unreadable - pretty petty reasons.]]), they do have their own faults ([[hottip:Repliforce's details:They refused to resign in for interrogation and instead they go to their KillSat; they want peace and seclusion out of Earth, it's just that they're breaking the law.]] and [[hottip:NI's details:The Hunters saw through the ruse created by the NI the moment Isoc started calling for Reploids to volunteer to help destroy a "ghost" of Zero gone bad. Not just that, said "ghost" are actually Gate's own creation.]])

* PlayingTheVictimCard: Some of the bosses do this to you.

* LimitBreak: Giga Attacks.

* PhysicalGod: Arguably, but X is hinted to be one. Limitless Potential, anyone?

** Even the term "Maverick" isn't safe; originally used to describe out-of-control reploids (mostly viral infected, though the viral infection wasn't realized until the third game), then it became a warped political tool to refer to any designated target starting with the Repliforce (though the Repliforce's [[IdiotBall complete idiocy]] in handling the situation that got them declared Maverick in the first place would have necessitated their disbanding anyway) that escalated to the point it became a convenient tool to refer to anyone that needed disposing of, even non-harmful Reploids trying to stay alive during an energy crisis like in the Sero series.

* Mega Man X8 (PS2, PC[[hottip:*: In Korea only]])

** Even the term "Maverick" isn't safe; initially referred to a Reploid who attacked and killed humans as a result of Wily's Maverick virus, but starting with X4 the meaning started to become warped as a political tool, usually with the purpose of sending the Maverick Hunters after the designated targets. The distortion of its meaning remains long into the Zero series, where the Resistance are (mostly) law-abiding Reploids just trying to keep themselves operational amidst an energy crisis.

-->'''Zero:''' Shield Sheldon...Too bad about your previous life.
-->'''Shield Sheldon:''' Don't be. I was new as a bodyguard. That's all.
-->'''Zero:''' Maverick Hunters are supposed to be able to tell a Maverick from a Reploid. Our officers are not good enough...They could cost us everything.
-->'''Shield Sheldon:''' Reploids all over the world have been needing you. I was useless as a bodyguard...And was useless to everyone else. When I accepted that fact, I accepted my fate. However, there turned out to be someone who needs me. He has given me one more chance. And therefore, I am going to fulfill my mission as a bodyguard now. I'll protect him, even if it means that I have to sacrifice my life. Come on, Zero!

* Mega Man X3 (SNES, PS1, Saturn, PC): First game where Zero is playable. A port was released for the PlayStation and SegaSaturn, including cd-quality music, a save feature and anime cutscenes, but only in Japan prior to its inclusion in X Collection. Like X2, it also used a microchip in the SNES version for 3-D effects (the PS1 and Saturn ports just used their native 3D for the effects).

* Mega Man X5 (PS1, PC): Incorporates a MultipleEnding system into the gameplay. Intended as the series finale, but this never came to pass.

* Mega Man X Command Mission (PS2, GC)

* Mega Man X:
* Mega Man X2 (SNES): Also notable for usage of a special microchip, which allowed for 3-D wireframe effects.

* Mega Man X4 (PS1, Saturn): Mega Man X's official Playstation and Saturn debut. First game where Zero is ''fully'' playable.
* Mega Man X5 (PS1): Incorporates a MultipleEnding system into the gameplay. Intended as the series finale, but this never came to pass.

* Mega Man X7 (PS2): Mega Man X's 3-D debut.
* Mega Man X8 (PS2)

* Mega Man Maverick Hunter X (PSP): An updated remake of the original game. It was intended to be part of a line of remakes of the whole series, but poor sales put a stop to this.

** And in fact, the term "Maverick." They were called "Irregulars" in Japan.

* ArtEvolution: The appearances of the main characters were [[strike: slightly]] altered in ''X8'' (X's helmet, Zero's ponytail, Alia's upgrade of her chest, and the overall proportions are the most blatant examples). WordOfGod claims that it's to make them look more human. YourMileageMayVary. [[UncannyValley Heavily.]]

* BlackBox: X And Zero. Being made by Dr Light [[spoiler:and Dr. Wily, respectively,]] their technology is not fully understood and they are difficult to repair. This leads to the imperfection in Reploids that was the main cause of they going Maverick,(before the virus) as well as other minor plot points, such as the {{Nerf}}ed Falcon Armor that was repaired imperfectly by Alia, or the mysterious resurrections/repairing of X and Zero from their state at the end of X5. In Zero's case, it leads to (somewhat supported by the [[AllThereInTheManual Sourcebooks]]) EpilepticTrees about (maybe) Serges and (more overtly) Isoc being actually [[spoiler:Dr. Wily]] himself.

* AwesomeButImpractical: A lot of X's helmet upgrades tend to fall under this. Aside from the [[GameBreaker secret armor upgrades]], The SNES ones, and their Gameboy {{Expies}}, aren't much use once you memorize where they'd be useful. Play style or character preference does the same to most of the PS1 ones as many reduce weapon energy usage (which Zero nor the Ultimate Armor really need), the Shadow Armor speeds up sword attacks, and the Gaea Armor has ''no stated function at all''. Aversions are X4 (game play is set up so weapons are still useful), X7 (attracts power ups from further away), and X8 (a weaponized form of X1's part and a quick charge, though the Nova Strike makes weapons useless again).

* DarkerAndEdgier: Naturally, YourMileageMayVary, but in general the early entries in this series are an excellent example of [[TropesAreTools this trope being used well]], without dumping on the original series.

* StopHelpingMe: Alia.

* StopHelpingMe: Alia ''constantly'' interrupts you in ''X5'' to give you tips that are almost always CaptainObvious statements. It thankfully became optional in ''X6''