Mega Man Zero
Systems: Game Boy Advance
Released September 2002

The Basics
Zero awakens from a long sleep (see his ending in X6) to face an army bent on retiring (read: destroying) reploids. Many fans had dreamed of seeing Zero as the central character of a Mega Man title, and their hopes were finally realized in this game.

Gameplay
You still selected a stage and fought your way to the boss, taking out everything that stood in your way and taking care not to come into contact with deadly floor and ceiling spikes, but you didn't absorb the powers of that boss upon his defeat. Instead, Zero used a handful of weapons, which he mastered over time through repeated use. Cyber elves could be found to provide backup effects, such as saving you from a pit or halving a boss's life. Each level had to be cleared in one straight shot, though you were allowed to retry once you reached a boss. Like in certain games in the X series, your performance was ranked according to a strict system.

The Weapons and Bosses
Zero's weapons (the Z-saber, buster, triple rod, and shield boomerang) gained levels and new attacks as they were used, and elemental crystals supplemented them with additional effects. The ice chip froze, the thunder chip paralyzed, and the fire chip burned enemies over time.

The game had a large collection of bosses, since many bosses had lackeys under their command. Mythological names like Harupia, Fefnir, and Leviathan dominated the list.

Final Thoughts
With gameplay truly befitting the Mega Man name, a unique art style, and enough twists to the story and mechanics to set it apart, Mega Man Zero succeeded on every level that matters. The nicest touch? Variable death animations for bosses depending on how they were killed. A finishing blow with the Z-saber would fittingly cleave your foe in two.