LogFAQs > #986269188

8) Crystal Snail (X2)

Cool use of theming in this level with the crystals that break and slide down the hallway shafts, and it has a cool miniboss too. Super cool looking level. Fuck that huge jump for the heart container though, that sucks ass.

7) Chill Penguin (X)

An easy to overlook stage that I think is surprisingly good if you break it down. The outdoor snowy sections are good, I like the indoor section with the wheel guys that fall down on you as you climb upwards, I like the long hallway that you can dash through after getting the boots for the first time that just offers a good opportunity to learn how to use them. Each section of the stage feels well constructed and not lame.

6) Flame Mammoth (X)

The biggest tragedy of X1 is that this stage is way more fun and cool if you play and beat it BEFORE you do Chill Penguin's stage, which is a stupid thing to do and nobody should do it. In general MMX1 is just a more fun game if you don't do Penguin first, in my opinion - the dash boots break the game and the stages are more fun without them sometimes. This is a prime example! When this stage isn't frozen over and actually has, you know, FLAME, it's good! I like the conveyor belt rooms and I like the section at the end with all the mace guys. Feels like an actual Mega Man game.

5) Boomer Kuwanger (X)

An actually good stage. I love how the whole thing is vertical and has you feel like you're climbing to the top the whole time. The first section with the mace guys is actually pretty damn tricky and so is the next bit with the bouncy traps and stuff. The elevator segment is pretty easy but fun. I do think the section outside overstays its welcome and gets repetitive, but that's my only complaint. Just a really cool level.

4) Armored Armadillo (X)

The 'mine cart' platforms that you can ride crazy fast are really the reason this level kicks ass. Most of it is pretty easy and I don't like that the second digger guy is ONLY a puzzle for how to kill him quick enough to get the heart container, feels like wasted real estate, but yeah, doing flying jumps off those fast platforms kick ass. This stage has a kinetic energy that X3 can only DREAM of.

3) Spark Mandrill (X)

Probably the best overall level in X1 I think, although again, it's better if you do it BEFORE you beat Storm Eagle, the version of the stage you get afterwards is just worse, in my opinion. The blackout effect gets old after a while even if it's a cool idea - better to have the electrified floors and a non-handicapped miniboss that can actually kick your ass. I really like the dark hallways with the guys that fly by super fast and light it up briefly, it's just a really cool effect. This level is well paced and always has something to shoot at and just feels like a good Mega Man level overall.

2) Magna Centipede (X2)

It's all about this level's gimmicks, but they're really cool gimmicks! I love the guy at the end that gets more of your powers the more times the scanner caught you, he's way more fun to fight if you sandbag and let him get powered up so that he has actual AI. The sliding blocks are cool too and actually feel dangerous. I like the sections that are kinda like pseudo-stealth where you can get caught and have things shoot at you. The hologram sword is cool too. There aren't that many normal enemies in this level, yet it feels meaty and long and that final part of the stage where the security sirens are going off and everything's falling apart feels very earned.

1) Wheel Gator (X2)

It's tough to pick a favorite level because, to be honest, none of them are truly spectacular in my opinion - I think the Mega Man X games are largely pretty easy and their stages are too easy to just not engage with at all. This level has, I think, the most complete package, and you're forced to engage with it - no climbing around and jumping over all the enemies. Each room feels pretty thoughtfully made and the power armor segment features a nice little change of pace in the middle. The DINOSAUR TANK theme is just extremely cool too; the whole level has an urgency and sense of speed and pacing to it that no other level in the series really has, for some reason. It just feels well designed and consistently fun to play and that's enough to earn my top spot.

STAGES

1) Wheel Gator (X2)
2) Magna Centipede (X2)
3) Spark Mandrill (X)
4) Armored Armadillo (X)
5) Boomer Kuwanger (X)
6) Flame Mammoth (X)
7) Chill Penguin (X)
8) Crystal Snail (X2)
9) Wire Sponge (X2)
10) Morph Moth (X2)
11) Flame Stag (X2)
12) Launch Octopus (X)
13) Storm Eagle (X)
14) Bubble Crab (X2)
15) Sting Chameleon (X)
16) Overdrive Ostrich (X2)
17) Volt Catfish (X3)
18) Toxic Seahorse (X3)
19) Neon Tiger (X3)
20) Gravity Beetle (X3)
21) Blizzard Buffalo (X3)
22) Tunnel Rhino (X3)
23) Blast Hornet (X3)
24) Crush Crawfish (X3)