Sir Arthur isn't here, but Zero's plasma sword sets the tone just fine.

Mega Man X5 reads like a game you love with a controller in hand first. On just a few votes, its feel in the hands already sits ahead of 86% of titles, with the art style right behind, ahead of nearly 80% of the rest. Fun points the same way, though that's to confirm on so few duels. Everything else, the urge to take it to a desert island, attachment, the soundtrack, stays quieter, around the middle. There's no instinctive ranking here, so the verdict rests on the mechanics: this is a game of precise inputs that wins you over in the hands, not one that marks you through emotion.

Next to the other action platformers of its era, it's exactly what you'd expect from the series: running, jumping, pixel-perfect shooting, bosses to devour. No narrative frills, just nerve.

So, who's it for? For you if you chase the raw satisfaction of perfect timing and a boss finally down. A lot less if you want a game to tell you a story or tug at your heart.