Variety is the replayability of life. Such is the case with 30XX, Batterystaple Games’s sophomore homage to the Mega Man X series. While it’s not their first game, blending roguelike action with the Mega Man formula, it is their most well-rounded game, adding in numerous bells and whistles around an already well-polished experience. Filled to the lid with game modes, power ups, and player created levels, 30XX builds upon the foundation established in 20XX by hooking players in with tight gameplay and keeping them hooked with infinite ways to experience it.
Set one-thousand years after the original, 30XX returns players to a world where robotic monstrosities run amok. The story is on the light side, with some lore sprinkled around the edges, but players who’ve played any Mega Man game previously, know you’re not here for the story. You’re here for the challenging levels, capstoned by boss fights that put your dodging and shooting to the test. There is plenty of that to be had, with each level not only having an end boss, but a mid-point mini boss as well. Each is challenging in their own right, and no two bosses or mini bosses feel the same. Some standouts include Capital Punishment, a sleek three-piece suit-wearing robot in control of three giant fists, and Absolution, a reaper-esque enemy who can blend into walls. While there are a few that I think don’t fit here (looking at you Lethal Tempo), the bosses as a whole are a great mix.
The eight main levels in 30XX are randomly generated, but to be honest, I didn’t see many differences in some levels between runs. It didn’t take away from my experience, but it was especially noticeable in some places. For example, Absolution’s area contains platforms that appear and disappear with each jump. Following the area’s mini-boss, I was always guaranteed to be met with an ascension to the final boss, that included navigating these platforms in practically identical layouts. All that said, each level throws in some unique challenge that plays into its theme. The ‘Retro Game’ level is filled with enemies that resemble sprites from gaming’s past. Some, such as the Snake, bend and move in the same way as their retro counterparts. While levels are played in random order, players do have a little more say in the order when it comes to later runs, with the game presenting three options to choose from after defeating an area’s boss. I didn’t find an optimized run in my time with the game and that’s partially because of my main issues with 30XX.
Bosses in 30XX don’t have a weakness that players can exploit. This stands out like a sore thumb on a game that so closely resembles its influencer. Players still collect unique abilities from each boss, but none of those abilities give you an upper hand in any of the fights to follow. One of the key experiences of any Mega Man is solving the rock, paper, scissor scenario presented with each rogues’ gallery of robot bosses. What genre is better positioned to implement that experience than a roguelike? It feels like an unforced error in an otherwise great game.
Players once again have the choice of playing as Ace or Nina. Both offer a unique way to approach each run. Augments out of the gate change up base attacks and offer some variety for how to attack early levels. Once enemies’ abilities are thrown in, each character’s differences really begin to shine through. Ace’s abilities all tied to a button and a direction can make for some nasty combos as you swoop in for a deadly attack and swoop out before an enemy can respond. I trended toward Nina more in my time with the game. Her base attack and enemy beams played more toward the Mega Man X experience. I also really enjoyed her ability to blend enemy beams into deadly new attacks. Movement for both characters is identical but feels tight. Sliding and wall kicking feel great.
Augments picked up throughout levels can help balance the tide as difficulty ramps up. Players are given the opportunity to heal up before boss fights and purchase additional augments. A lot of times this came down to one or the other, to keep me from completely running away with the upcoming fight. To the sickos out there looking for more of a challenge, the game is ready to quench your thirst with Glory and the Safety Lab. Glory comes in the form of taking on a hard task, with the promise of a new augment at the end of it. These challenges range from taking damage, disabling your attacks, to an area’s boss having double health. The Safety Lab takes Glory one step further, but offers more challenging tasks, that mainly take augments or abilities away from you for the run.
Players struggling to complete runs, can head over to Mega Mode. This presents 30XX as a linear Mega Man X game. No losing progress, no starting from square one. Losing in a level kicks you back to that level to give it another go. Want to do a boss run? You can also jump into a mode that is nothing but the end level boss fights. These modes make 30XX a much more approachable game. They’re great quality of life add-ons that give players a new way to experience the game, no matter if they’re brand-new players daunted by roguelikes or experienced players who just want a throwback Blue Bomber experience. Co-op returns as well (local and online) to add to the mix of replayability options.
Also new to the mix is the player level editor. This gives players the ability to create levels based on pre-existing biomes and share them with other players. At first glance, the editor seems intimidating, but once you get into it you’ll be looking for new creative ways to make nightmarish headaches for those foolish enough to queue up your creation. The lasting appeal here is the endless gobs of levels that are possible from the community. Once you’ve had enough of the game’s base modes, you can attack these custom levels and even rank them.
My biggest takeaway from 30XX is that you can experience it anyway you want. If you want to make levels that test everyone’s patience, 30XX is for you. If you just want to fight the bosses, 30XX is for you. If you hate roguelikes and just want a linear experience. Yep, 30XX is for you.
