rom my own standpoint as a long time fan of the blue bomber, Mega Man X8 is nearly everything I wanted from a next-gen MMX game. What’s even better, though, is that it is able to stand on its own merits as a solid, entertaining side-scrolling action title. X8 may not do anything incredibly revolutionary, but it makes up for it by bringing back everything that was good from the first seven MMX titles and mixing some new elements into a tight, well-crafted experience.

The reasons I love the X series – the responsive control, interesting levels, and cool upgrades – are in full effect. I’m especially enamored of the alternate weapons for Zero; the only thing cooler than a robot with a plasma sword is a robot with a gigantic plasma naginata. The secrets hidden within the levels are also sweet, ranging from data which unlocks new upgrades to armor for X himself. But most of all, the fast-paced action is better than ever. All three heroes can dash, dash-jump, and wall-cling, and mastering these maneuvers propels the gameplay along at a breakneck pace at all times. X8 gave me a sense of freedom of movement unrivaled by any but the best Mario platformers.

All of this would be pointless, however, without good level design to back it up. Fortunately, I had a better time exploring the world of X8 than I have in ages. For one thing, the challenges vary from stage to stage. On one a huge invulnerable Mechanoloid will chase you, while on another you’ll be trying to avoid security beams. I know it sounds kind of dumb and contrived, but each of the levels has been put together with the craftsmanship to pull off whatever goofy idea they’re built around. Only the two F-Zero-esque stages bothered me, but even those are merely mediocre and not tiresome and stupid like the 3D levels of X7.

As much as I clearly enjoy this title, X8 is not without its flaws. For one, the weapons X receives from defeating bosses are lame – most of them have attack patterns so wonky that they’re only good for the boss you’re supposed to use them against. The soundtrack is disappointing as well – as someone who literally listens to Mega Man 2 songs while I type (yes, I am a huge nerd), I expect a lot more than weaksauce generic techno to accompany my single-handed defense of Earth. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the story continues to somehow be both incomprehensible and banal.

Though the adventure is somewhat short, I can’t help but feel that Capcom has finally done it right with X8. This title simply captures the mystique of 2D action of old. It’s fast-paced, good-looking, and straight up fun. Not since Viewtiful Joe have I lost myself completely in a flat-out test of my side-scrolling skills like I did in my time with X8. Old-school fans will rejoice, and maybe a new generation will now understand why Mega Man is awesome.