Though the original Mega Man series would continue across multiple platforms to come, Capcom celebrated the jump to 16-bits with the advent of Mega Man X (Rockman X in Japan). Set 100 years in the future, this updated take on the classic showcased improved visuals and sound, and it introduced a host of new abilities. X, as he’s called in this series, could dash along the ground (and in the air!), wall climb, and unlock permanent armor upgrades that granted special abilities such as increased speed and firepower. Thanks to these enhancements—and the ability to increase the size of X’s life meter—Mega Man X is widely considered to be a very accessible entry into the franchise for gamers.
Despite all this, X almost wasn’t the star of his own game. The original intent was for Zero to be the main playable protagonist. However, the studio decided to lead with X and reduce Zero’s role to a secondary support character. The series also diverted from the original in boss nomenclature. Gone were the “Man” suffixes on each boss in favor of unique names befitting the animal-like Reploids (replicate androids) that ruled each stage.