Highly Recommended
A nostalgic, challenging, must-own classic action collection
This collection is packed with value from start to finish. The soundtrack alone makes it worth picking up, with X and X4 delivering some genuinely timeless, legendary tracks that are still every bit as good as when I was a kid. X2 and X3 bring the challenge factor in a big way too, and there’s a real sense of satisfaction in pushing through some of those tougher stages and boss fights. For anyone who wants a bit of a more casual stroll down memory lane or a lower bar to entry for players new to the series, there’s also a Rookie Hunter mode included.
The bonus content is where this collection really shines. X Challenge is a fantastic addition, taking the boss rush concept and spicing it up by mixing bosses from different games and throwing two at you at once. It’s a great way to test everything you’ve learned across the four games. Beyond that, the extras like the merchandise gallery, the art gallery, and the music gallery are a nice touch, giving you plenty to browse through if you want to soak in the history of the series a bit more.
Ranking the four games against each other, X4 comes out on top for me, though I’ll admit nostalgia plays a huge role in that since it was my first MMX game. Beyond the sentimental value, the level designs are smooth, the FMVs are a fun addition for the storytelling despite the wonderfully terrible English voice acting, and having both X and Zero fully playable gives you two distinct experiences to enjoy. The music and bosses are memorable too, which only adds to the case for it being my favorite. The original X follows right behind, hitting a lot of those same high notes minus the FMVs and playable Zero, with nostalgia being the main thing separating the two for me. X2 and X3 fall a bit further back, with a noticeable dip in music quality, a bit less forgiving difficulty curve, and bosses and stages that just don’t stick with me the same way. Still, both are solid games in their own right.
Even having now beaten all four mainline games, I can see myself coming back to this collection down the road. These games have that kind of staying power that makes the replay scratch worth the nostalgia itch.