Mega Man X (Mega Man X7)

Mega Man X, named Rockman X (ロックマンエックス Rokkuman Ekkusu) in Japan, commonly called X (エックス Ekkusu), was the eponymous protagonist of the Mega Man X series. In 2003 when Mega Man X7 came out, he was badly butchered and reduced to a tritagonist role.

Why He Gets An X

 * 1) Compared to other games, X has become a whiny crybaby.
 * 2) He likes to complain about violence a lot, especially compared to past entries in the series.
 * 3) He took Axl way too seriously in the beginning.
 * 4) Despite being the title character, he is unable to be playable until you save 64 reploids or defeat a few mavericks to unlock him which is a pain.
 * 5) He doesn't even feel like the main protagonist in X7. Newcomer Axl fills that role instead of him even though the game is named after X, not Axl.
 * 6) At the end, he stays like he was at the beginning, so he practically learns nothing.
 * 7) His American voice acting is appalling, and you have to listen to believe.
 * 8) While his Japanese voicer, Showtaro Morikubo, did a nice job at voicing him, that good voice hasn't returned ever since, which is sad.

Redeeming Qualities

 * 1) X is a likable protagonist in X1-X6, and becomes likeable again in X8-CM and Zero-Zero 3.
 * 2) He becomes somewhat more sympathetic when you get him recruited.
 * 3) He's extremely useful, if you keep him to catch up, of course.
 * 4) Though it wastes his talent, Showtaro Morikubo still does a great job voicing him in Japanese. Unfortunately, it's also the last time he voiced X.