Exploding Rabbit Analyzes the Game Mechanics of Mega Man X

In working on Super Retro Squad, Jay Pavlina of Exploding Rabbit (of “Super Mario Crossover” fame) is going through some classic retro game titles to research the mechanics which made them so much fun to play, and has decided to share the experience in a series of videos. First up: Mega Man X.

It may seem rather elementary and is perhaps of greater interest to game designers, but even I learned a few things I was unaware of while watching this video, such as the first regular shot you fire while dashing has twice the power of a normal shot. Furthermore, that added power is reflected by the different trajectory it follows when it ricochets off invulnerable enemies and objects. It’s a neat touch, and one has to wonder what other such details will be noticed over the course of these videos.