#okaycool

something to note is, for me, i can enjoy Most Games if the content within is endearing enough to me, so that's definitely part of it! i don't think x7 is as terrible a game as people will imply—especially not if you're playing the UK version, which is possible in the legacy collection regardless of your own region—but i understand it's a little rough. i think it's perfectly standard for a game of its era, though, and there are beloved favorites of mine from around the same time that are much worse to play than this. and anyone who says this game is as functionally bad as sonic 06 is just completely wrong, by the way. i've played both. 06 is a completely different beast (i speak as someone who finds a lot of enjoyment in 06 aside from its gameplay! i speak from a place of love!) and i don't like when i've seen these two compared.

it's not that i think x7's gameplay is exceptional, but i do think it's fun, and that's all i need out of my game, especially when i enjoy so much of its other qualities!!!

first off, i really love the graphics!!! i think it's a very cute game, and the first time i got to see zero jump around in 3d was a genuinely magical moment. i gasped so hard when the camera angle switched. and on the topic of zero, i love deflecting stuff with his saber. so so so fun. i think everybody is super cute in this one. the power point transition entrances in cutscenes are??? hilarious. the voice acting is also pretty funny. i'm particularly fond of axl's (in terms of i actually think it's good!), with second place going to zero. zero TRIPS ME UP because i think he does a fantastic job playing zero, but he should NOT have been cast???? i'm a lucas gilbertson zero truther, so i definitely prefer zero's voice more in that range over... batman??? but he does a great job.

next up, the characterization... oh my GOD do i love the characterization in this one!!!!!!!!!! axl is instantly endearing, youthful but clearly carrying some hard edges. the fact that he runs into one of his heroes and idols and the first thing he says to him directly is "ARE YOU STUPID?!" is... genuinely incredible. i think the game gives you a grasp on axl's character so quickly, in this and the following cutscene. and i ADORE that character, which definitely contributes to why i love x7 so much!!! it's The Axl Game, and i'm not mad about that.

i know a lot of people are frustrated by the inability to play x at the start, or the sudden inclusion of axl, but i'm not in that camp even a little. i think x7 was a really smart idea, and i think it's too bad it didn't land how it should have. after six (eight if you include xtreme 1&2!) games, there's only so much you can do with x & zero, especially considering their arcs were technically given closure in x5. I'M glad they kept making games, especially since it got us to axl, but it's hard to keep giving these guys stuff to do over and over... axl was a perfect choice to mix it up!!!

i'll get back to x in a second, but i'm gonna keep talking about axl here—axl is the absolute perfect complement to both x and zero's characters. he rounds out their trio perfectly. he's young and a little inexperienced, calling back to x's self in the early game, but he's not as squishy or thoughtful as x. he's blunt like zero, but he's not as composed. he is very much like if you put x & zero's traits in a blender... and that's perfect!!! it gives him the ability to bounce off both established characters in really interesting ways, and the ability for all three to relate to each other in some way!!!

and separate from x & zero, axl's a really interesting character on his own. i don't think he always gets his due credit for how interesting he is. there's a lot going on in that weird little noggin of his. he's definitely violent, arguably moreso than even zero at times, but he still has a strong sense of morals. he's got some issues and baggage, but he doesn't ever let that weigh him down. x and zero both have moments where something from their past holds them back; a fear, a memory, an ideal, a lingering piece of code--not axl. axl gets from point a to point b, and he doesn't let you philosophize or muse your way out of becoming his bullet sponge. he shoots first, and may or may not ask questions later. he idolizes x and zero, but that doesn't stop him from poking fun or disagreeing with them, which i think is a REALLY cool quality! axl has a level of self-assuredness that's deeply refreshing. everything x does, he wonders if there's another way; zero doesn't often wonder about alternatives, but wonders instead if he even has any choice in his cruelty, or if he was doomed to it from the start. axl doesn't ask either of those things. axl has faith in his choices and ability, and gives 100% of his confidence in everything he does. when he decides to leave red alert, he throws himself in with the hunter entirely, and doesn't look back (other than during red's sacrifice, but it's entirely understandable for a kid to resist an important older figure's intentional death).

aaaand that's probably not the sort of thing you're asking, but i REALLY like axl!!! more about x7, though:

i love x's retirement arc here. i think it's perfect. SOMETHING IMPORTANT: he only retires from the field! he's STILL WORKING at mhq!!! he does not give up entirely, and he's not being lazy! x is working, genuinely, hard as he can, to find another solution. the other thing i think is important is that this is completely in character!!! people say x wouldn't retire all the time, but i think they're forgetting how many games x ends wishing he could have done something, anything else—such as THE VERY FIRST GAME!!! this is in line with his character and really good! and i love how bitter he comes off in this installment; he has gone against his heart, over and over, and it feels like the reward never comes. he's lost his best friend to this endless cycle twice. how many more times?

as for axl, it's no WONDER x reacts so poorly to the kid. it's like a warped mirror. on the one hand, axl is young, bright-eyed--he hasn't been beaten down yet like x and zero have. there's a need to protect that, shield that youth. x was forced to become a child soldier, and look how he's holding up. why would he willingly inflict that on anyone else? but on the other hand, axl reminds x of everything he hates about himself like it's a compliment. axl admires the blood on x's hands, the destruction and hurt he's caused in the name of eventual peace (not everlasting. x hasn't know peace for a long, long time, if ever). x never did that because he WANTED to!!! but axl sees x's sins as accomplishments, and that drives x mad. x never wanted or wants to be praised for how well he can hurt others. it's not something he's happy about; it's something he has to do.

x doesn't want axl to become a hunter because he doesn't think axl can't do it—he thinks axl can do it too well, and he's scared of that, both for axl and the people on the other side of the gun.

x and zero's relationship in this game is really interesting, too, though we don't get to see too much of it... but they're definitely not happy with each other. despite that, the respect is still clear, even if they currently think the other is on the wrong path. there's no desire to get into big fights about it; they've already realized they just aren't going to agree. i really like the scene where x returns to the field and how they interact; how the first person x tells he's returning to the field is zero. zero's clearly pleasantly surprised and i think it's super cute lmao

AND AXL AND ZERO RAGHHH AXL AND ZERO oh they're so friends. and x is not happy about that lmao (genuinely, i think he's pretty jealous). axl and zero are so very special to me. i was absolutely hooked immediately with the "i'm not gonna run off, so can you take these things off? they make me feel like a criminal!" "FEEL like a criminal?" "err..." exchange. look at those guys. the best friends of all time.

again, there's this recognition of self—axl's unknown past, his abilities and specifically his DATA being used against his will (a wound still fresh from x6), coming into the world and immediately realizing your best use is as a weapon. for zero, making axl a hunter and taking him under his wing is his protection of axl. he's the only one who doesn't say they should send axl back; he's the only one that understands that 1. axl is not going back and 2. needs someone new to mentor him. obviously, this isn't the first time zero mentors a rookie, either!

i think axl reminds x and zero of both themselves and each other while still being his own unique person, and i just. I JUST THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE COOLEST BEST DYNAMICS EVER AND THERE'S SO MUCH TO EXPLORE!!! axl has so much to learn from both of them, but THEY LEARN FROM HIM TOO!!!

axl's determination and passion inspires x to return to the field,because he understands that, yeah, it has to get done, and it's up to the most capable to do it. the most capable are people he cares about and himself, and he wants to be there to protect the people he cares about. and it's not all pointless, because even if it breaks x's heart, his efforts are inspirational. his legacy matters to people, the one he'd disregarded as perpetuating of a cycle. he gives people hope. and that's worth fighting for. so even if he doesn't want to, x gets up, and he tries again, inspired by the kid he inspires. that's awesome i love this narrative.

so um yeah it's clear i really like the introduction of axl and what he does for the narrative ehe he... (i still. could keep going.)

i really like the main plot, but i do wish it was better executed... but that can be said for MOST x games, and it doesn't detract from my personal enjoyment. i can just understand why objectively other people would be less into it. but i think all the mavericks this game are interesting, and i think the premise of their duel to get this kid back like a fucked up custody battle is both goofy and pretty cool. it's also a nice change from the general "here's a bunch of random guys, go beat them up" vibe of previous installments (NOT THAT I THINK THAT'S BAD. I ALSO LIKE THAT !!! it's just refreshing). it's interesting to fight a group of mavericks we know ACTUALLY know each other and work together. axl clearly knows each of them pretty well, so i assume they were all a proper unit, and i'd argue friends (of varying degrees).

red alert as a group is also pretty interesting. a group of maverick hunters who... aren't maverick hunters! x's retirement didn't do anything to the maverick hunters as an organization (you can argue he isn't even high rank!), so you have to wonder why each member of red alert chose not to become a hunter and joined an underground group instead.

i think the messiest part of x7 is just it trying to involve sigma again, but that becomes a trend past x5. i don't actually mind sigma returning again and again, but i wish they integrated him better 😭😭 it's clear they weren't sure what to do with him past x5.

i really love the cutscenes between stages, a lot of these shots are just really good and i think about them a lot.

didn't have my favorite on hand, but i love that one on the balcony, too. i basically wrote a whole fic based on how much i love that balcony shot lmao.

axl's got great busts too! there's so much character and motion in them. i really like x and zero's as well, but axl's are my fave. he's got the widest range of expressions!

look at that guy. stupid fucking cat. <3

i think... hm... i think that's everything? i mean, i can keep going, but this is a crazy ramble as it is!!! so just trust i could elaborate even further on most of what i said here... i could probably write an essay with citations about this nonsense... i like x7 <3