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X-Men (Sega)
Encyclopedia
X-Men is a home console video game produced by Sega
in 1993, based on the adventures of the Marvel Comics
superhero team, the X-Men
. One or two players can play as any of four pre-chosen X-Men. X-Men is a Mega Drive/Genesis
-exclusive game and in 1995 was followed up by X-Men 2: Clone Wars
.
, a training area for the X-Men inside the X-Mansion. A virus transmitted via satellite has infected the Danger Room, disabling control and safety limits. The X-Men must endure the unpredictable behavior of the Danger Room until the virus can be located and eliminated. Once the virus is eliminated, the X-Men discover that Magneto
is behind the computer virus and the final stage involves a battle with him.
Gambit
, Nightcrawler
, Wolverine
, and Cyclops
are available to play. Each character can jump and use various unlimited weapons (i.e. punch, kick) and a superpower which had a usefulness limited by a mutant power bar similar to a life meter, making the player rely more on standard attacks. The mutant power bar would slowly regenerate when depleted and when switching characters in mid-game, would revert to the status of the next characters mutant power bar from the last use (characters yet to be used would start off with a standard full bar of mutant power).
Gambit: Uses his trademark bo staff as a weapon. His charged cards track enemies.
Cyclops: Uses rebounding optic blasts.
Nightcrawler: Uses a teleportation ability which can skip many areas or transport a secondary character.
Other X-Men such as Storm, Rogue
, Iceman
, and Archangel
can be called upon for support. Jean Grey
also appears as support to pick up characters which fall. There are several levels, most having boss fights with familiar X-Men villains.
. Once Mojo is defeated, the player must "reset the computer" for the Danger Room to stop the virus being emitted on Mojo's level. However, there are no switches for doing so. Resetting the computer is meant to be literal, in that the player has to lightly press the reset button on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis console before the time ran out. If executed well, the game will display digits as if a computer has been reset.
Although unique, this trick was widely panned by both video game magazine critics and consumers. Holding down the reset button too long would simply reset the system to the title screen as one would normally expect. This also makes the game impossible to complete when playing on the Sega Nomad
and emulators without using a level select cheat, as the portable Sega Mega Drive/Genesis has no reset button.
using the G.E.M.S. system (Genesis Emulation Music Software), which could communicate with the Yamaha 2612 FM synthesizer chip
on the Sega Genesis and could be used to directly play back the sounds through the Genesis.
In Fletcher's own words, "My inspiration was to create some hard edged rock/electronica tracks that would work well in the game. In part, this was because I listened to music of that era and had played in many rock bands but also because I thought it would work better on the Genesis than to attempt something more organic or orchestral sounding. The Genesis’ synthesizer uses four operator FM synthesis as its sound source. FM sounds best, in my opinion, doing hard edged, distorted sounds or very synthy sounds. It’s not so good at organic sounds. On X-Men, I was attempting to create the sound of distorted guitar on many of the tracks I wrote."
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
in 1993, based on the adventures of the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
superhero team, the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
. One or two players can play as any of four pre-chosen X-Men. X-Men is a Mega Drive/Genesis
Sega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
-exclusive game and in 1995 was followed up by X-Men 2: Clone Wars
X-Men 2: Clone Wars
X-Men 2: Clone Wars is the title of a video game released in 1995 by Sega of America for the Mega Drive/Genesis. The game is a sequel to its 1993 side-scrolling video game titled X-Men. Oddly enough, the European release of the game reused the same cover art of X-Men 2: Game Master's Legacy for the...
.
Description
The game takes place in the Danger RoomDanger Room
The Danger Room is a fictional training facility built for the X-Men of Marvel Comics as part of the various incarnations of the X-Mansion.-Early designs:...
, a training area for the X-Men inside the X-Mansion. A virus transmitted via satellite has infected the Danger Room, disabling control and safety limits. The X-Men must endure the unpredictable behavior of the Danger Room until the virus can be located and eliminated. Once the virus is eliminated, the X-Men discover that Magneto
Magneto (comics)
Magneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the central villain of the X-Men comic, as well as the TV show and the films. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
is behind the computer virus and the final stage involves a battle with him.
Gambit
Gambit (comics)
Gambit is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero that has been a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee, the character first appeared briefly in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 , weeks before a more comprehensive appearance in Uncanny X-Men #266...
, Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler (comics)
Nightcrawler is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. He has been associated with both the X-Men and Excalibur, originally appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, he debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1...
, Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
, and Cyclops
Cyclops (comics)
Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
are available to play. Each character can jump and use various unlimited weapons (i.e. punch, kick) and a superpower which had a usefulness limited by a mutant power bar similar to a life meter, making the player rely more on standard attacks. The mutant power bar would slowly regenerate when depleted and when switching characters in mid-game, would revert to the status of the next characters mutant power bar from the last use (characters yet to be used would start off with a standard full bar of mutant power).
The four primary characters
Wolverine: Uses retractable claws which enhance the strength of his basic punches and allows him to execute special mid-air attacks. As in other X-Men games, he possesses a healing factor that enables the character to recover from injury (i.e. replenish the life bar).Gambit: Uses his trademark bo staff as a weapon. His charged cards track enemies.
Cyclops: Uses rebounding optic blasts.
Nightcrawler: Uses a teleportation ability which can skip many areas or transport a secondary character.
Other X-Men such as Storm, Rogue
Rogue (comics)
Rogue was first slated to appear in Ms. Marvel #25 , but the book's abrupt cancellation left her original introduction story unpublished for over a decade, before seeing print in Marvel Super Heroes #11 in 1992. Rogue's first published appearance was in Avengers Annual #10...
, Iceman
Iceman (comics)
Iceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men vol. 1 #1, ....
, and Archangel
Archangel (comics)
Warren Kenneth Worthington III is a fictional character, a comic book antihero in the Marvel Comics universe. Originally known as Angel and later Archangel, Worthington is one of the founding members of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-creator Jack Kirby, he first appeared in...
can be called upon for support. Jean Grey
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
also appears as support to pick up characters which fall. There are several levels, most having boss fights with familiar X-Men villains.
Resetting the Computer
At the time of its release, this was one of the few games which broke the 4th wallFourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
. Once Mojo is defeated, the player must "reset the computer" for the Danger Room to stop the virus being emitted on Mojo's level. However, there are no switches for doing so. Resetting the computer is meant to be literal, in that the player has to lightly press the reset button on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis console before the time ran out. If executed well, the game will display digits as if a computer has been reset.
Although unique, this trick was widely panned by both video game magazine critics and consumers. Holding down the reset button too long would simply reset the system to the title screen as one would normally expect. This also makes the game impossible to complete when playing on the Sega Nomad
Sega Nomad
The Sega Nomad was a handheld game console sold for the North American consumer market which played Mega Drive/Genesis game cartridges. The system was similar to the Japanese Sega Mega Jet, but featured a built-in color screen; the Mega Jet needed a separate monitor...
and emulators without using a level select cheat, as the portable Sega Mega Drive/Genesis has no reset button.
Soundtrack
All of the music in the game was composed by Fletcher BeasleyFletcher Beasley
Fletcher Beasley is a Los Angeles based composer. He wrote the score and title song for the HBO feature film, Strange Hearts , starring Robert Forster and Rose McGowan...
using the G.E.M.S. system (Genesis Emulation Music Software), which could communicate with the Yamaha 2612 FM synthesizer chip
Yamaha YM2612
thumb|right|Yamaha YM2612The YM2612, aka OPN2, is a six-channel sound chip developed by Yamaha. It belongs to Yamaha's OPN family of FM synthesis chips used in several game and computer systems. Developed as a stripped-down version of the YM2608, it lacks its larger sibling's ADPCM channel,...
on the Sega Genesis and could be used to directly play back the sounds through the Genesis.
In Fletcher's own words, "My inspiration was to create some hard edged rock/electronica tracks that would work well in the game. In part, this was because I listened to music of that era and had played in many rock bands but also because I thought it would work better on the Genesis than to attempt something more organic or orchestral sounding. The Genesis’ synthesizer uses four operator FM synthesis as its sound source. FM sounds best, in my opinion, doing hard edged, distorted sounds or very synthy sounds. It’s not so good at organic sounds. On X-Men, I was attempting to create the sound of distorted guitar on many of the tracks I wrote."