Mega Man X3 (PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Windows)

Mega Man X3
Also known as: Rockman X3 (JP) Developer: Capcom Publishers: Capcom (JP/US), Virgin Interactive (EU) Platforms: PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Windows Released in JP: April 26, 1996 Released in US: March 28, 1997 (Windows) Released in EU: July 1997 This game has hidden development-related text. This game has regional differences. This game has revisional differences. This game has a prerelease article

A port of Mega Man X3 for disc-based systems, adding in FMV cutscenes and a full CD audio soundtrack. What more could one ask for? Well, a console release in the United States, for one...

This version was included in Mega Man X Collection.

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Prerelease Info

Build Date

Present in CAPCOM.INF of the PlayStation versions:

Japan	Europe
01/01 01 MASTER 07:30 19960229 ロックマン Ｘ３	01/01 01 MASTER 00:00 19960000 ロックマン Ｘ３

The European version's text still refers to the game by its Japanese name. While the European build date is essentially blank here, looking at the SLES_005.03 file's modification date shows that the game was built on September 17, 1996 at 8:45 PM ("20:45 19960917" if written in the above format).

Regional Differences

To do: Add title screen differences between Japanese and English versions.

Introduction

The Japanese intro's theme music, "One More Time" by Kotono Shibuya, was replaced by an instrumental track for the international release.

Japan	International

Ending Theme

The theme used in the Japanese version during the ending, "I'm Believer" by Kotono Shibuya, was also replaced by an instrumental track for the international release.

Japan	International

Maverick Names/Introductions

During localization, the eight Mavericks had their names changed. Furthermore, the names were changed in the FMV boss intros, the most infamous localization being the misspelling of Blizzard Buffalo (Bilzzard Buffalo).

Japan	International
Gravity Beetbood	Gravity Beetle
Electro Namazuros	Volt Catfish
Frozen Buffalio	Blizzard Buffalo
Explose Horneck	Blast Hornet
Screw Masaider	Tunnel Rhino
Acid Seaforce	Toxic Seahorse
Scissors Shrimper	Crush Crawfish
Shining Tigerd	Neon Tiger

Version Differences

SNES vs. PlayStation/Saturn/Windows

SNES	PS1/Saturn/Windows
Damn! It's a dead end...	Damn! It's dead end...

During the ending, there is a typo in X's speech that was not present in the original SNES version.

• Due to being on a disc, all of the soundtrack was remixed into Redbook audio (PlayStation/Saturn)/WAV format (Windows), and all sound effects are overall higher quality.
• Mavericks now have anime introductions replacing the original stage introductions.
• Both the opening stage cutscene and credits were converted to FMVs. As a side effect, this means that X will always wear the Original Third Armor in the credits even if the player hadn't obtained it.
• Passwords giving two or three enhancement chips are no longer accepted.

(Source: MMHP (password behavior))

PlayStation/Saturn vs. Windows

To do: The Windows version has one Redbook audio track, check if it's used.

• The Windows version adds a difficulty selector. The only noticeable difference in Easy mode is that the damage received from enemies is halved (similar to international versions of Mega Man 2).
• In the Windows version, due to a (presumably) porting oversight, the Godkarmachine O Inary's homing sphere attack will cause an object stack overflow to occur, which leads to a game program crash.

PlayStation vs. Saturn

• The title screen has a flashing "Press Start Button" text in the Saturn version.
• The title screen's opening text has minor flickering issues in the Saturn version.
• Load times are significantly longer in the Saturn version.
• The Saturn introduction sequence has a higher framerate and color variety.
• Due to the Saturn being unable to output a horizontal resolution of 256 pixels, borders are on both sides to preserve the original pixel ratio. This essentially results in the Saturn version appearing "squashed" on a 4:3 display, in comparison to the SNES or PlayStation versions.

ABS Text

An ABS text file, written in Japanese, can be found and accessed in the directory containing a blurb about the game. This can only be found in the Japanese Saturn version. The text is as follows:

セガサターン版ソフト『ロックマンＸ３』は弊社の人気シリーズ、『ロックマン』の流れを受け継いで制作された『ロックマンＸ』シリーズの３作目にあたるスクロールタイプのアクションゲームです。プレイヤーは『ロックマンＸ』を操って、各ステージに待ち受ける多数の敵，トラップをクリアーし、最後に待ち受けるボスキャラと対決します。『Ｘ』は最初は腕に仕込まれたロックバスターしか武器を持っておりませんが、ボスと闘って勝つことでその能力をコピーしたり、ステージマップ内に隠されたアイテムやパーツを発見，装備することでより強力なパワーを得る事ができます。全てのステージボスを倒すとラストステージが出現、このステージボスを倒すとエンディングとなります。

Translation:

The Sega Saturn game "Rockman X3" is a side-scrolling action platformer that is the third installment in the "Rockman X" series, which was created following the success of our popular series "Rockman". Players control "X" to clear numerous enemies and traps that are in each stage, and finally confront the boss that awaits them. At first, "X" has only the Rock Buster in his arm, but by fighting the boss and winning, he can copy the ability, and discover items and parts hidden in the stage. Equipping them will give you even more power. If you defeat all the stage bosses, the last stage will appear, and if you defeat the final boss, the game will end.