Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection (NSP, XCI) ROM + v1.0.4 Update + DLC

The game received positive reviews from critics, who praised its gameplay and level design but were divided about its high difficulty level. A sequel, Mega Man ZX Advent, was released the following year, in 2007. The game was later re-released in February 2020 as part of the Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows.

GAMEPLAY

This game contains elements from both the Mega Man X series and the Mega Man Zero series. The players are on a 2-dimensional overlay map with sprites where they engage enemies to finish their mission. Missions are selected from a list, and displayed on a computer. The player can freely explore the game world during and between missions, and they must find the specified area themselves.

During the game, the player can use Vent or Aile to transform into different forms using Bio-Metals whose appearance and abilities are based on X, Zero, and the Four Guardians from the Mega Man Zero series, the latter four where their abilities can be used to solve puzzles and obtain special items found in the stage and also use the Nintendo DS Dual-Screen feature for an additional ability as well. The Model X form is only available at the beginning of the game until Model ZX is acquired, but with a New Game Plus it will be available for the entire game.

Additionally, Omega from Mega Man Zero 3 appears as a hidden boss, alongside four “Mutos Reploids” from both Zero 3 (Blazin’ Flizard, Childre Inarabitta, Hellbat Schilt, and Deathtanz Mantisk) and Mega Man Zero 4, (Pegasolta Eclair, Sol Titanium, Fenri Lunaedge, and Noble Mandrago) who all each occupy a hidden room which is only accessed by inserting the GBA cartridge of either game into the Nintendo DS or Nintendo DS Lite GBA slot. After defeating all eight Mutos Reploids, and Omega himself, the player will be able to acquire a hidden item, which will later enable the player to play as Omega after beating the game once and talking to one of the NPCs.

For the Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection release, the gameplay received some minor updates, where the previous dual-screen features were placed in a small support screen which is positioned based on the setting the player chooses, and the feature for unlocking the Mutos Reploids is now performed by a new Link Mode located in the main menu when accessing this game allows the player to face them by selecting either the Zero 3 or Zero 4 link to face against the 4 bosses from that respective game. The game also adds Metroidvania concepts into the level design, with more exploration elements than the main Mega Man series.

STORY

A decade before the beginning of the story, Vent or Aile (depending on what gender the player chooses) loses his/her mother to a Maverick raid on an amusement park and becomes orphaned. He/she is taken in by Girouette (Giro for short in North America and Europe), the owner of Giro Express (Girouette Express in Japan), a delivery service. Giro is contacted by an unknown person to deliver a package containing Biometal Model X to a rendezvous point in a forest.

Vent/Aile and Giro are ambushed by Mavericks after meeting up. Vent/Aile escape the area while Giro covers their retreat. Here, he/she meets with Prairie, the leader of the Guardians, but their meeting is cut short when a Maverick attacks the group. Model X lends its strength to Vent/Aile, allowing him/her to “Megamerge” and transform into Mega Man Model X. With the help of Model X, the Maverick is destroyed. After finding Giro, in the form of Mega Man Model Z, they board an airship deemed the Guardian’s headquarters. Later, a Maverick attack is spotted at the Slither Inc. main office.

The duo meets the president of Slither Inc., Serpent, and his Reploid guardians, Prometheus and Pandora. Serpent reveals his knowledge of the Biometal and says that he’s also a Mega Man, possessing Model W. He expresses his intent to find the Model W Core and leaves, but not before possessing a weakened Giro with the power of Model W. A fight ensues, mortally wounding Giro. Giro hands Model Z over to Vent/Aile during his dying moments and transforms into a Cyber Elf. By “double mega-merging” with both Model X and Model Z, he/she uses the form Model ZX to escape. Now the Guardians, including Vent/Aile, must recover eight Biometal fragments and stop Serpent.

After finding four of eight Biometal pieces, the Guardian HQ comes under attack from Mavericks, led by Prometheus, with Vent/Aile aiding in the defenses. He/she succeeds in defeating Prometheus before recovering the rest of the pieces. Upon retrieving all eight Biometal pieces and their passwords, Vent/Aile can enter a secret location and find Model W. However, Vent/Aile is stalled by Pandora and the Biometal is moved elsewhere. Later, Vent/Aile receives a signal from Model W, located at the Slither Inc. Head Office. Vent/Aile set off to destroy Model W.

After battling through Slither Inc., Vent/Aile faces off against Serpent, who feeds the Model W core with several innocent Cyber Elves, and then fuses with it. Vent/Aile suddenly reverts to human due to the realization that the hatred of the Mavericks that he/she has kept inside his/her heart is the last thing needed to unleash Model W’s full power, thus resulting in his/her temporary defeat. However, after gaining courage from the Biometals, he/she merges into Mega Man ZX and challenges Serpent to a final battle. During the battle, the tower collapses, destroying Model W and killing Serpent. Vent/Aile reunite with Prairie and the Guardians, and vow to continue to work for peace and justice.