Well, we're finally done with the classic Mega Man games, it sure did take a while. Now I want to go through the music of the Mega Man X games, as they're just as important as with the classic games, if not even moreso. I've kinda realized that not grouping the classic games was probably not the best idea, so I'll be doing that with the X games. I'll start by going over the SNES entries, then the PS1 entries, and then the PS2 games. Like the series itself, I find that Mega Man X is a bit more uneven than the classic games in terms of music. Its high points are some of the highest in the series, and its low points are some of the deepest. The first three entries are the perfect example of that.
Mega Man X: I've been critical of the bias some Mega Man fans seem to have towards the more rock-heavy soundtracks, but I'll cut them some slack with this one. Mega Man X's soundtrack is pretty much just a rock album pasted onto an SNES soundchip and it is absolutely incredible. Damn near every track is a banger, the instrumentation sounds fantastic, like the game itself this is a soundtrack that truly lives up to all the hype it gets.
Title
What a fantastic title theme, a simple but head-banging rock piece that immediately sets the tone for the game ahead.
4/5 Stars
Password
This password theme was the first piece of music Toshihiko Horiyama made for a game, and it seemed to impress Capcom so much that he's been a company mainstay ever since. It's not hard to see why either. His quirky blend of adrenaline-pumping energy and subtle melancholy is on full display, and compared to the often short and repetitious password themes, MMX's password theme is surprisingly long boasting a calming extended chorus.
3/5 Stars
Opening Stage
With Mega Man X, we have the introduction of the opening stage. While many future entries in several other series (7, & Bass, X5-X7, Zero 2, ZX) would all boast fantastic opening stage themes, I still don't think anything has really topped this first, it's just too good. It's such a badass and rocking piece with an incredibly iconic melody, some stellar percussion, and a triumphant chorus.
5/5 Stars
Vile Intro
While definitely memorable, this is a pretty short loop meant to generate tension whenever a bad guy shows up. It does its job but it's obviously gonna be the weakest track in the game.
2/5 Stars
Vile
While similarly a bit repetitive (and slightly worse than its remix in X5), the Vile theme in this game is still really tense and anxiety-inducing thanks to its relentless pace, earwormy melody, and expertly-utilized high-pitched notes.
4/5 Stars
Enter Zero
Zero's first theme is still definitely one of his best. That riff is just so cool and iconic, it really gives off the vibe that Zero has gotten everything covered.
4/5 Stars
Variable X
And here we have X's theme, and it may just be the definitive Mega Man X theme for me. It perfectly captures X's inner conflict between his need to fight and his desire for pacifism. Once again, the more emotional version in X5 (we'll get there) is even better, but this more upbeat initial version is still one of the best tracks in the game.
5/5 Stars
Stage Select
Solid stage select theme. It's definitely got a nice rock energy to it, but it's still a bit on the short side especially compared to the later ones in the series.
3/5 Stars
Launch Octopus
It always brings me joy to hear orchestra hits in an SNES game, and Launch Octopus is filled to the brim with them. It has a bit of build-up to that incredible guitar solo in the second half, but the groovy bass and punchy orchestra hits keep the track enjoyable to listen to throughout.
4/5 Stars
Chill Penguin
Even in the X series, the ice levels have some very chill tracks. Chill Penguin's theme is easily the slowest in the game, but the intro with the arpeggios and chords is fantastic, and the main melody is absolutely beautiful. It's a nice breather track in an otherwise heavy soundtrack.
5/5 Stars
Flame Mammoth
Flame Mammoth's theme is probably the weakest one because of how weak and sparse the verse is, but that shredding guitar in the second half, especially in the solo, more than makes up for it.
4/5 Stars
Boomer Kuwanger
Surprise Yuko Takehara track! It should not come as much of a surprise that this is one of my favorite pieces in the game, Takehara's punchy and deliberate style works so well for rock anthems. I can't understate how godlike the chorus is, it feels like the type of melody the audience at a concert would burst out singing.
5/5 Stars
Sting Chameleon
I really warmed up to Sting Chameleon's theme over time. I originally found it a bit unremarkable, but now I can't get over just how god. damn. groovy it is! The main melody is so smooth, everything flows together really nicely, and the perfectly-timed orchestra hit at the end of the chorus ends the track on a high note. Criminally underrated track that holds up reall well.
5/5 Stars
Spark Mandrill
Yo, this song is really good! This is easily one of the most popular songs in the game thanks to that TerminalMontage animation, but it really is that just. It's just constant shredding guitar from the word go, culminating in quite possibly the best solo in a game with incredible solos.
5/5 Stars
Storm Eagle
Storm Eagle's theme is also very iconic, and is one of the first tracks that comes to mind when I think of Mega Man X. It's got this superheroic feel to it that perfectly encapsulates the vibe of the series, though unlike other MMX tracks, I think the verse outclasses the chorus this time.
5/5 Stars
Armored Armadillo
Armored Armadillo is one of those tracks that you don't fully appreciate until you hear it in-game. It's already one of the most energetic and adrenaline-pumping tracks in the soundtrack, but when coupled with the chaotic minecart sections in the actual game, you get absolute bliss. And when that last guitar solo comes in, mwah, perfection.
5/5 Stars
Boss Intro
Yeah, there isn't much to this one. Like the Vile Intro, it's really just there to hype you up for the boss with some orchestra hits.
2/5 Stars
Boss
Another very iconic track. That downward scale is already pretty iconic, but the wild arpeggios and more dramatic second half is what really elevates the track.
4/5 Stars
Get A Weapon
Unfortunately, unlike the password theme, the weapon get theme is still pretty meh. It's got some punchy bass, but not much more in terms of catchy melodies.
2/5 Stars
Stage Select - Sigma
I actually prefer this over the first stage select, it's a lot more memorable to. The orchestra hits, menacing arpeggios, and darker vibe really sells the threat of Sigma to the player.
3/5 Stars
Sigma Stage 1
Not too dissimilar from MM7's Entrance, the first Sigma Stage theme substitutes the usual energetic rock you'd get from an endgame track with a more dramatic and atmospheric vibe. The bass is obviously the star of the show, but that powerfully climactic chorus only heightens the mood. Considering that this is the longest, hardest, and darkest part of the game, such a bleak-sounding piece makes total sense.
5/5 Stars
Sigma Stage 2
Here it is, my favorite track in Mega Man X and one of my favorite endgame tracks in the series. With Zero (seemingly) dead and X forced to step up, Sigma Stage 2 gives off a sense of solemn determination, with an incredibly dramatic and climactic main melody, and a chill-inducing reprisal of X's theme.
5/5 Stars
Sigma Stage 3
After two incredible tracks, this theme is... fine? It's pretty dinky sounding with those weird "pew pew" noises, but it still has a decently groovy riff carrying it along.
3/5 Stars
Sigma Stage 4
Another ambient piece made to hype you up for the final confrontation with Sigma, and it gets very repetitive fast.
2/5 Stars
Sigma 1st
Sigma has a ton of incredible themes and Sigma 1st is a great start. It's a bit on the short side, but it makes up for that with its sheer energy and sense of chaos. It's just nonstop, relentless thrash and I love it.
5/5 Stars
Sigma 2nd
The second Sigma theme is a slower orchestral track, and it's pretty good too. While I do generally prefer the rock of the rest of the soundtrack, this track does a good job at feeling menacing and threatening.
3/5 Stars
Dr Light
Dr Light's theme is another very important MMX track, it's very healing and fits Dr Light's role as a mentor in these games. That being said, once again, the X5 remix is still a lot better and more emotionally impactful.
4/5 Stars
Ending
X1's ending theme is pretty good, even if I don't have too much to say about it. It's very melancholy
and fits X's mood at the end of the game, even if some of the instrumentation doesn't fully work for me.
3/5 Stars
Cast Roll
Out of the multiple ending themes in X1, I think the cast roll is the best. It feels like a comforting farewell after such an intense adventure, and the main melody is very catchy.
4/5 Stars
Staff Roll
The staff roll is a fun jazzy piece, but once again I don't have too much to say about it beyond it just being pleasant to listen to.
3/5 Stars
Mega Man X2: While X1 was a perfectly executed rock album with great instrumentation and complex melodies, X2's soundtrack sounds... really limp by comparison. It's populated with dinky-sounding instruments (especially the guitars, my goodness) and some incredibly short loops, making for probably the weakest X soundtrack on a compositional level. There are some good tracks and very solid basslines, and I'll give credit accordingly, but it's hard not to feel really underwhelmed coming off the heels of X1.
Opening/Laboratory
Mega Man X2's opening theme is quite fun. It's super upbeat and energetic, but its short length and repetitive nature can make it sound a bit grating after a while, and I have no idea why it's also used as the laboratory theme.
3/5 Stars
Password
Well, we're back to the bad password themes again. X2's password theme feels like it's trying to be groovy, but the awkward guitar sounds and jittery tempo just make it sound like a bit of a clusterfuck.
1/5 Stars
Opening Stage
It's impossible for an X game to have a bad opening stage theme, and X2 is no exception. It's not as heavy as X1's, but between the exciting chord progression that kicks off the song and the dramatic and catchy melody, it still leaves a solid impact even if the guitars are... ehhhhhh.
4/5 Stars
Another Boss 1
An incredible short and repetitive guitar loop meant to hype up the boss. There really isn't much to say here.
1/5 Stars
Another Boss 2
Ehh, this one's mixed. The frantic bass is nice... but it doesn't really mesh well with the percussion. I like the orchestra hits... but the guitar sounds really limp. This will be a problem with a lot of X2's tracks.
2/5 Stars
Demo
Another fairly ambient track. I feel like it should sound better than it does, but the dinky instrumentation keeps holding it back.
2/5 Stars
Stage Select 1
Have I stated how much I hate X2's guitars yet? This could've been a really rocking stage select if it just didn't sound so off.
2/5 Stars
Wire Sponge
I've rambled about how uneven X2's instrumentation is, but I'll give it some credit. The synths and bass are X2's strong point, and they really shine in Wire Sponge's theme. The laid-back and melancholic melody sounds really good, the jazzy breakdown by the end is very impressive, and the bass is super punchy and snappy.
4/5 Stars
Morph Moth
Morph Moth's theme has a pretty unremarkable melody, but the erratic percussion and the way it interacts with all the other instruments really carries the track, even if the guitar-heavy second half still sounds pretty weak.
3/5 Stars
Flame Stag
This is the one guitar-heavy X2 track that I actually really like. It's a very fun thrash metal piece with a frenetic pace, a catchy melody, and more pitched-down guitars fitting the heavier feel. However, it's still pretty short, and I can't help but wonder how good this track would've been if it had X1's instruments.
4/5 Stars
Magna Centipede
This is a pretty all-over-the-place track. It's bursting with energy and I love the epic middle section, but the guitar solo at the end is a bit of a mess.
3/5 Stars
Overdrive Ostrich
Overdrive Ostrich's theme is a definitive SNES track in my book. Guitars be damned, that main synth melody is such an energetic bop that has a really iconic sound to it.
4/5 Stars
Bubble Crab
Bubble Crab's theme is easily one of the best tracks in the game, and not just because it's completely lacking in guitars. It has such an elegant and gentle feel to it befitting the underwater setting while still having an energetic bassline, and the stellar chord progressions and smooth synth melody are both so memorable. Even if the X5 remix is once again superior, the X2 original holds up incredibly well.
5/5 Stars
Wheel Gator
Man, I really wish those guitars sound better. The first half of Wheel Gator's theme is so good, with a groovy blues feel with a lot of momentum. However, once those wimpy and whiny guitars come in for the second half, all that momentum is immediately lost. Oh yeah, and this track is also like 30 seconds long, how fun.
3/5 Stars
Crystal Snail
Crystal Snail has easily the best basslines in the game, it's so dynamic and plays off the cozy chimes incredibly well. There's a bit of DKC3 in the bass progression, it sounds really good. While Crystal Snail is pretty heavy on guitars, they actually work pretty well towards the slower, more ethereal vibe the track is going for.
4/5 Stars
Boss 1
Another short loop meant to hype up the boss. It's ridiculously brisk and the guitar bend at the end sounds so hilariously bad.
1/5 Stars
Boss 2
As for the boss theme, it's fine. It's really short and lacking in any sort of intensity, but the frenetic bassline makes up for that somewhat.
3/5 Stars
Get A Weapon
Another meh weapon upgrade theme. Solid melody, but the guitars really bring it down a bit.
2/5 Stars
Stage Select 2
Once again, the second stage select theme is better than the first. With tense orchestra hits and a menacing bluesy melody, it does a solid job at making Sigma feel like a big threat.
3/5 Stars
X-Hunter Stage 1
Easily the best track in X2, barring its disappointingly short length. It bursts out of the gate with incredibly energetic drums and bass, and packs in a super epic and intense synth solo, using the guitars sparingly for extra impact. It's a very well-balanced and climactic piece.
5/5 Stars
X-Hunter Stage 2
Man, it's almost hard to go back to the X2 original after spending so much time listening to the phenomenal X6 remix. I like that it's a lot slower and heavier, and the melody is still fantastic, but it's also like 30 seconds and the guitars bring it down a bit.
4/5 Stars
Zero
Zero's theme in X2 is incredibly epic and badass... in terms of its composition. The instrumentation once again really brings it down, but it still captures Zero pretty well and really fits the boss fight.
4/5 Stars
Sigma 1st
Once again, Sigma's first boss theme is fantastic. It's super fast and chaotic, and stands right alongside Sigma 1st from X1. No wonder X6 squeezed both of them into a single remix.
4/5 Stars
Sigma 2nd
And once again, Sigma's second boss theme is slower and more orchestral. It's fine, not quite as memorable as the X1 theme, but it's still pretty dramatic and the cymbal clashes add some extra spice to the whole thing.
3/5 Stars
Dr Light
Dr Light's theme in X2 sounds like a slower and more laid-back version of the opening theme, and yeah, it fits quite well. It's not as ethereal as the X1 Dr Light theme, but it's got a nice comforting vibe.
3/5 Stars
Ending
X2's ending theme is once again held back by the instruments, but the sheer creativity of its composition manages to make up for it. It sounds like a sparse, tense original piece, but as the song goes on, you slowly start to realize that it's a slower remix of X-Hunter Stage 2. Very cool twist.
3/5 Stars
Staff Roll
This is a pretty good staff roll theme. The upbeat and cheery lead synth melody that kicks off the track sounds really nice and comfy.
4/5 Stars
Mega Man X3: Mega Man X3 is arguably the most polarizing soundtrack in all of Mega Man, and for good reason. The original SNES soundtrack is very heavy on the overdrive guitar, and while some like how gritty it sounds, others find it cheap-sounding and ear-grating. However, we also got a PS1 release with a redbook audio soundtrack, which is equally divisive. Some find it insulting to the original's rock vibes, while others find it way more pleasing to the ears. How do I feel about it?
Team PS1, all the way. I genuinely don't understand how people seem to love the SNES score so much, it's so grating and every guitar note has the same exact sound. Is it just because it's rock? Are people really that biased? Personally, I'm a sucker for that synthy redbook audio sound so the PS1 soundtrack is a feast for my ears, even if the soundtrack as a whole still suffers from some short loops. So, I'm going to focus my reviews on the PS1 versions of each track though I'll bring up the SNES one if needed.
One More Time
With the PS1, Mega Man games would begin to get multiple opening and
ending themes, one for Japan and one for everywhere else. The JP openings are basically lyrical anime OPs, while the others are usually instrumentals by the soundtrack's lead composer. The first opening we'd get would be for X3's PS1 release, and it's a solid showcase of what to expect from these JP opening themes. It's an upbeat and fun j-pop track with energetic vocals from Kotono Shibuya and a very catchy chorus. It's not my favorite of the JP openings, but it's a very good first showing from Capcom.
4/5 Stars
Intro Stage
While probably the weakest of the SNES era opening stage themes, X3's intro stage is still pretty solid, with a catchy melody and a sick guitar solo that actually got translated to the PS1 version quite well.
4/5 Stars
Zero's Theme
Due to being vastly overshadowed by the many other themes Zero has had over the years, I tend to forget how much a bop his X3 theme is, especially the PS1 version with its groovy saxophone solo.
4/5 Stars
Stage Select 1
The SNES version of this track is one of the most annoying tracks in the franchise due to its short, ear-grating loop. The PS1 version is certainly more pleasant to listen to, but it's still comedically short and annoying.
1/5 Stars
Stage Select 2
The second stage theme is pretty muted and ambient. It's once again really short and there isn't too much to it, but it's less annoying than the first stage theme so that's something.
2/5 Stars
Blizzard Buffalo
I'm putting my foot down on this one, the PS1 version of Blizzard Buffalo is objectively better. The icey synths and wind sound effects complement this track's haunting and isolating melody so incredibly well, it makes for one of the most atmospheric X tracks.
5/5 Stars
Toxic Seahorse
Toxic Seahorse's theme is fantastic, it's such a hard-hitting banger that sounds really heavy even in the PS1 version. It shouldn't be much of a surprise that Shusaku Uchiyama of RE and MM8 fame did this remix, he absolutely nailed the tense vibes this track needed.
5/5 Stars
Tunnel Rhino
I love how spacey and echoey Tunnel Rhino's theme sounds in the PS1 version. That repeated phrase that permeates through the track is surprisingly catchy, and I love that weird "bwee" sound that plays throughout the track.
4/5 Stars
Volt Catfish
Volt Catfish's theme is another really catchy piece with a great sense of momentum, from that banging verse, to the wild guitar solo in the pre-chorus, to the haunting chorus that sounds straight out of X4. And of course, this was a remix done by X4's composer Toshihiko Horiyama.
5/5 Stars
Crush Crawfish
Crush Crawfish is a bit shorter than some of the other tracks (which is already saying something), but the groovy verse and synth solo by the end still makes for a fun track. It's interesting how so many X3 tracks have such similar sounding guitar solos.
4/5 Stars
Neon Tiger
Neon Tiger's theme is probably the least remarkable X3 theme regardless of the version. I like the heavy background tracks used in the PS1 version which help the track feel more jungly, but the actual melody isn't anything too special.
3/5 Stars
Gravity Beetle
Gravity Beetle is the one track where I can actually tolerate the SNES version, mostly because the melody is just that good. It's ridiculously catchy and badass-sounding, and the chorus is incredible. That being said, I still think the PS1 version blows the original out of the water for its jazzier feel, the fantastic percussion and bass, and just how much grander the chorus feels.
5/5 Stars
Blast Hornet
Yoshino Aoki of Battle Network fame did two remixes, and hers made a lot more changes to the original that I'm actually a bit split on. I'm not a huge fan of Blast Hornet's new opening, it's a bit too loud and overwhelming, but the new guitar solo Aoki added at the end is fantastic. So overall a mixed bag.
3/5 Stars
Dr Doppler Stages 1-2
Dr Doppler 1 is the other Aoki remix and once again I'm a bit split. On one hand, I think it starts wonderfully. The trumpets in the opening, the driving background track, the fantastic bass, it all gives the track a great sense of energy. However, it feels a bit too light-hearted compared to the SNES version, particularly with how plucky the lead instruments are. It's still a fantastic track and I'd take the PS1 version any day for simply sounding good, but I can admittedly see why SNES purists might not like this rendition.
4/5 Stars
Dr Doppler Stage 3
The other Dr Doppler stage theme is a lot less complex and fun than the first, it's a bit more repetitive, but it does create a pretty good ambience and I like the tense background synths.
3/5 Stars
Boss Battle
This is a pretty meh boss theme. Once again, it's really short and repetitive regardless of the version, and the looping feels pretty clumsy.
2/5 Stars
Dr Doppler Boss Battle
Dr Doppler's boss theme is an improvement over the first. It's a lot more dynamic and interesting, but it's still pretty short and repetitive. That being said, don't think I didn't notice those X4 synths in the PS1 remix...
2/5 Stars
Vile Stage
I love the Vile Stage theme, it's such a head-banger and sounds incredible in the PS1 version. The main melody is super groovy, and the softer synths that pop up in the pre-chorus give the track so much tension and gravitas, not to mention the spacier synths in the climax that sound straight out of Mario Galaxy.
5/5 Stars
Sigma 1st
Man, three boss themes this time?! Okay, the first Sigma boss theme is solid, certainly catchier and more fun than the previous two boss themes. The synths used do sound a little goofy in the PS1 version, but the incessant overdrive guitar makes the SNES version sound just as silly so I can't complain much.
3/5 Stars
Sigma 2nd
Kaiser Sigma's boss theme is certainly the most memorable boss theme in the game. It has this intense, militaristic vibe to it that gets conveyed really well in the PS1 version thanks to the booming percussion and clanking metal in the background.
4/5 Stars
Sigma 3rd
The music for the lava chase at the end of X3 is decently tense and ambient, but it's definitely not really meant to be listened to on its own or for more than like fifteen seconds.
2/5 Stars
Ending Theme
Despite still being a remix, the addition of pianos and synths, transform a solid ending theme on the SNES into pure 90s bliss. I absolutely adore the PS1 version of this track, it sounds so good.
4/5 Stars
Staff Roll
The staff roll theme is just as good if not even better on the PS1, blowing the original completely out of the water. This version is way more energetic and upbeat, mostly being carried by ridiculously groovy acoustic guitar which lends the track a fun tropical vibe.
5/5 Stars
Believe
X3's JP ending theme is pretty great too. It's a really groovy track with a fantastic catchy chorus... that admittedly kinda reminds me of Simple & Clean from Kingdom Hearts? Not complaining though.
4/5 Stars
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