The Mega Man X Series revolutionized the Mega Man franchise when it was released in 1993. The earlier Mega Man X games, including X, X2, and X3, were highly acclaimed for their gameplay and level of polish in the side-scrolling action genre. While Capcom has been relatively quiet about the Mega Man X Series, indie studios like Batterystaple Games have taken up the mantle to keep the legacy alive.
Their game, 30xx, is a sequel to 20xx and aims to deliver an even more refined experience. With its diverse tile sets, randomly generated levels, and a wide variety of weapons and power-ups, 30xx is a significant upgrade over its predecessor. In this review, we will focus solely on 30xx and not compare it to 20xx.
Challenging Roguelike Action
30xx is an action platformer game that falls into the roguelike genre. In this game, you will be thrown into various levels where you have to navigate through side-scrolling platforming challenges. Each level concludes with a boss fight that you must face. Along the way, you can collect health pickups and temporary currency called bolts. You can also earn a currency called Memoria, which can be used to purchase meta upgrades.
The core game mode in 30xx is similar to a roguelite, where if you die, you lose all progress and have to start a new run from your home base. Each run will have randomly generated levels, including any progress you had previously made. However, there is a form of permanent progression in the game. Players can use the Memoria they collect to buy permanent upgrades for their health, power, and other options.
30XX Engaging Boss Battles
It's important to note that 30xx is a challenging game, much like the classic Mega Man X games. The difficulty level can be quite high, and the game doesn't offer much leniency. However, if you enjoy side-scrolling action games and are a fan of the Mega Man franchise, you will find plenty to love in 30xx. The game offers a variety of gameplay modes, including a co-op option where you can play as either Nina or Ace. The art style is reminiscent of the Mega Man series, and the gameplay is fast-paced and fun.
If you're looking for a game with replayability and permadeath mechanics, 30xx is definitely worth checking out. The level design in 30xx is strategic, requiring players to utilize their core abilities to progress. While it is possible to finish a level using only the basic abilities, mastering the fast-paced movement is crucial for success.
The game offers three primary movement options: dashing, jumping, and wall jumping. These options can be combined to navigate levels quickly and efficiently. For example, combining a dash with a jump allows for longer jumps, while wall jumping can provide significant elevation. The game's levels are generated with these movement mechanics in mind, creating an engaging and challenging experience.
The regular enemies in the game are not too difficult to defeat, usually requiring only one to three hits if your weapon is fully charged. However, the bosses and level bosses provide a more interesting and challenging experience. Each level may have mini bosses, such as a Clockwork enemy in the clock zone or a big rally in the burning temple.
Appreciating Classic Genre
While not as tough as the end-of-level bosses, these mini bosses still pose a challenge and test your skills with the level's mechanics. For example, the big rally requires you to navigate through a chase sequence and then face it in an arena, using wall jumps and dashing jumps to avoid its attacks. The end-of-level bosses themselves are the game's gatekeepers, pushing your abilities to the limit with their unique designs.
When playing 30xx, each level is different and you'll quickly learn what to expect. For example, the burning Temple level is home to Zen Primus, who uses powerful jumping attacks and Fireballs to test your evasion skills. On the other hand, the clock Zone level features Lethal Tempo, where you must juggle four different sources of attacks to take out its weak points.
While the core game of 30xx provides a significant challenge, it also offers a more forgiving way to play called Mega Mode. In Mega Mode, you can retain all the upgrades you find even after you die in the randomly generated campaign. This serves as a softer introduction to the game's core gameplay loop. However, it's important to note that the difficulty is not significantly reduced. You still need to master the game's movement and combat to make progress. The main difference is that you won't have to fight the same enemies repeatedly if you die and restart.
The gameplay, boss fights, and level design are all going to great places. The game's roguelike elements, such as procedural generation and permadeath, add replayability and challenge. Whether you prefer to play as Nina or Ace, 30xx offers plenty of variety in how you approach the game. Additionally, the option to create and upload your own levels or chunks of levels through the level editor is a welcome addition.
Level Creator & Community Sharing
One of the standout features of 30xx is its level Creator, which allows players to create and share custom levels within the game's Community. Players have the option to download and try out these custom levels, and there are various ways to sort and filter them based on popularity, quality, and difficulty. Additionally, there is a mode where players can test their skills by playing through a series of randomly selected Community levels with a limited number of lives.
The plot of 30xx is fairly simple: an evil scientist is intent on destroying the world, and it's up to our protagonists, Ace and Nina, to stop him. The story serves as a basic premise to justify playing through the game's randomly generated levels and challenging boss fights. However, the game still manages to have its own unique charm, with each NPC having their own distinct personality traits, resulting in short and often humorous conversations.
Like many games, the enjoyment of 30xx depends on how much you appreciate the classic action platforming genre. Fans of Mega Man and similar games will find plenty to love in 30xx, as it offers a variety of gameplay mechanics, such as double jumping and dashing, that are reminiscent of those classic titles. The game's art style and level design are also reminiscent of Capcom's Mega Man X series.
Fans of the Mega Man X franchise will find plenty to enjoy in 30xx, a roguelike action platformer developed by Batterystaple Games. However, if you're not a fan of side-scrolling action games, this may not be the right game for you. That being said, if you're willing to give it a chance, 30xx offers hours of fun with its engaging gameplay and challenging boss fights.
30xx carries on the legacy of the Mega Man X games, both in its art style and general gameplay. But it also adds modern features like a level editor and randomly generated levels, giving the game a lot more replayability. The core gameplay may seem simple at first, but as you progress, you'll need to master movement techniques to overcome the challenging level and boss designs.
