is a fictional character and the main protagonist of Capcom's Mega Man X video game series. First introduced in the 1993 Super NES video game Mega Man X, X is a highly advanced Robot, an anthropomorphic android, and member of the Maverick Hunters, a special police force tasked with defending humans and Reploids from criminal Reploids known as Mavericks. X has made additional appearances in the Mega Man franchise, including printed adaptations of the series, the original video animation (OVA) The Day of Sigma, which explores his early days as a Hunter, as a supporting character in the Mega Man Zero and Mega Man ZX video game series, which star his Hunter comrade Zero. Outside of the franchise, X has also appeared in multiple crossover video game series.
Keiji Inafune and artist Hayato Kaji created X as a contrasting successor to the original Mega Man, wielding a similar weapon called the and possessing the ability to take enemies' weapons. However, he was given darker characterization and multiple sets of armor that enhance his abilities, as well as the alternative which enhances all his powers, also retaining it in crossover games as part of his strongest techniques. X has been voiced by multiple actors in the Japanese and English versions of the franchise.
Critics have generally praised X, with game journalists often finding him a worthy successor to Mega Man because of his unique traits and complex characterization as a tragic hero who hates violence. His partnership with Zero was also praised due to their different yet complementary skills. However, X was noted as being less popular than Zero, and his English voice actors have often been criticized as not fitting his characterization.
Appearances In the Mega Man X series In the original Mega Man X, X was created by Dr. Light in the year 20XX and was the template on which all non-Light-model androids, known as Reploids, were based. Light named him X after the variable "x" which, in algebraic terms, represents limitless possibility, similar to X's advanced systems. Light died before X's diagnostics were complete; 100 years later, X was discovered in his capsule by another scientist, Dr. Cain, who attempted to emulate X's technology and created the first mass-produced Reploids based on his design. Sigma, the leader of the Maverick Hunters, enlisted X to combat the Reploids, but he later became a Maverick himself and led a revolt. In order to stop Sigma, X teamed up with Zero, one of the last remaining Hunters. In the remake Mega Man Maverick Hunter X, an original video animation (OVA) titled The Day of Sigma retells these events before the game begins. In the game, X is defeated by the Maverick Vile but is rescued by Zero. X then faces multiple Mavericks and reaches Sigma after finally defeating Vile with Zero's aid. After defeating Sigma, X continues searching for Mavericks to maintain peace.
X appears as a boss in Maverick Hunter X if the player unlocks Vile, which ends with Zero rescuing him. In their next encounter, X once again appears as a boss alongside Zero, which ends with the former incapacitating Vile, forcing him to flee.
X becomes a high ranking Hunter in the sequels Mega Man X2, where he continues his search for Mavericks; and in Mega Man X3, where a virus created by Sigma infects Reploids. In his ending from Mega Man X4, after a battle with the Repliforce military, X's constant struggles in defeating new Mavericks cause him to fear that he himself may be becoming a Maverick. In Mega Man X5, X can appear as a boss in the final stages if the player uses Zero, believing that he might be turning into a Maverick due to Sigma's virus. In Mega Man X6, X continues facing Reploids that have become Mavericks as a result of a virus. In Mega Man X7, he becomes reluctant to continue his missions until he realizes that allowing Red Alert's forces to continue unchecked will result in more casualties. In Mega Man X8, X is playable alongside Zero and Axl, who are shocked to discover that all Reploids will become copies of Sigma in the future, leading to fear that the war will never end.
X also appears in the spin-offs Mega Man Xtreme, where he fights Mavericks alongside the computer genius Middy, and Mega Man Xtreme 2, where he fights against the "Soul Eraser" Berkana, who plans to resurrect a growing army of undead Mavericks from the past. In Mega Man X: Command Mission, X leads a resistance team to defeat the minions of the Rebellion Army. The mobile game Mega Man X Dive also features X as a playable character.
X reprises his role from the first game in three manga by Iwamoto Yoshihiro and the prequel Irregular Hunter Rockman X by Ikehara Shigeto. Yoshihiro wrote an alternative ending to Mega Man X5 where the now awakened Maverick Zero kills X; however, a guilt-driven Zero revives X with his own remains to continue their mission to kill Sigma. A Brazilian comic was also written where the cast often breaks the fourth wall. Although X's characterization in Yoshihiro's manga is commonly sensitive, in the adaptation of Mega Man X4, he awakens a sadistic side when wearing the Ultimate Armor.
Other appearances X appears in the sequel series Mega Man Zero. In the first game, the scientist Ciel creates an X replica that goes out of control and tries to kill Zero. In the game's ending, the real X appears and, weary of fighting, asks Zero to take his place on the battlefield. In Mega Man Zero 2, X's body is destroyed by the antagonistic Elpizo, but his mind remains active until he fades away in Mega Man Zero 3 after protecting Zero from Omega. In the final sequel, Mega Man ZX, X appears as a biometal called Model X created by Ciel, which the protagonists can use to obtain the Reploid's power.
X appeared in the Mega Man episode "Mega X", where he follows the Mavericks Vile and Spark Mandrill, who ally with Dr. Wily, through time to the present and teams up with Mega Man to stop them from obtaining Lightanium for Sigma. In Dead Rising, Frank West can unlock and wear an X outfit, and can use it as part of his hyper combo in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars. In Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, X appears as a DLC costume for Frank and Zero and makes a cameo appearance in Zero's ending. X appears in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as part of Mega Man's Final Smash, and Mii Gunners can access X's armor through paid DLC in both games. X appears with Zero in Project X Zone and its sequel. X is a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite and Puzzle Fighter with his Command Mission design as an alternate skin. X also appears in the digital card game Teppen.
X makes guest appearances in the Mega Man comic series in stories set shortly before the events of Mega Man X and as part of the "Worlds Unite" crossover event. Writers noted that, prior to his introduction, many fans sent them messages expressing a desire to see X portrayed as a darker character. They decided not to start with the Command Mission incarnation, which depicted X as more of a leader.
Creation and development Original concept
When the NES began to be overshadowed by its successor, the Super NES, Capcom designer Keiji Inafune embraced the improved graphics engine and developed a darker plot and character design compared to the original Mega Man franchise. Inafune felt that the original title character was too wholesome and that his successor should have an "edge". To this end, he created two new characters for the new "X" series being developed: the main character, X, and his partner, Zero. Inafune's protégé, Hayato Kaji, credited as "Rippa H.K", illustrated the protagonist X, but struggled with the initial design. It had a wider palette of colors available on the Super NES as compared to the NES.
Inafune originally created the character Zero to be the game's main, playable protagonist. Fearing a negative reaction from fans, Zero was ultimately reduced to a role secondary to X. Inafune noted that in early sketches, X and Zero were too similar, so Capcom aimed to make their silhouettes contrast one another in order to make the merchandise easier to distinguish. Early illustrations of X made him look like a "cold-blooded killer", which led artists to soften his features in later games. Although there is some misconception regarding X's name since he is referred to as "Mega Man X" or "Rockman X" in some sources released before 2001, Inafune claimed that "X" is his true name.
Inafune and Kaji worked simultaneously on various designs for X with different pieces of armor attached. The ideas for the armor parts arose in conjunction with the rise in popularity of role-playing video games. Inafune felt that Mega Man had always represented a classic action game formula where the hero earns his defeated enemies' abilities, and the armor parts were added to supplement this concept. Although X initially wields only one weapon, the , each armor upgrade in subsequent games enhances its power. In regards to his personality, artist Keisuke Mizuno found him complex and challenging, as the first game emphasizes the fact that X was created by Dr. Light to form peace between Reploids and humans, which puts pressure on him.
Since the series' beginning, Capcom artist Haruki Suetsugu had been impressed by the handling of the relationship between X and Zero. From his point of view, X was a character who often made mistakes in combat and constantly tried to improve. As a result, Suetsugu felt that he could relate with X, who was written to be a "B class" Hunter in contrast to Zero being the superior "Special A" rank. Suetsugu replaced Inafune as designer starting with the fourth game; nevertheless, he regretted some of his illustrations, as X lacked the appeal that Zero originally had.
Development and designs
Hitoshi Ariga designed X's secret for the fourth title of the game, available only after inputting a cheat code, and for a corresponding Japanese Bandai action figure under the term "Mega Armor". He was given four days to complete the design, and after finishing the design for the in-game parts, his supervisor told him to start over. After tinkering with the X3 Mega Armor parts, he noticed that attaching them in specific ways made them look like an airplane, which gave him the ideas he needed to complete the project, resulting in a special technique called where X dashes like a plane. Ariga recalled creating the armor as a difficult yet fun task, and he revealed that Zero was intended to have a similar set of armor which did not get released at the time. Artist Ryuji Higurashi designed X's new for X5, wanting it to resemble a bird with a beak-shaped chest piece, wings coming out of the back, and a talon-like arm cannon. Suetsugu designed the Gaea Armor, which was meant to resemble Sanagiman from the Inazuman manga series. In Mega Man X6, Suetsugu aimed to make the Blade and Shadow Armors look stylish. Another armor based on the Ultimate's design was made for X to wear in Mega Man X Legacy Collections "X Challenges" mode. The three main characters were revised for Mega Man X8 as Yoshikawa wanted to give them more unique features to contrast their personalities.