Fast Links
Title: ROCKMAN X DiVE
Developer: Capcom Taiwan
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Action Platformer
Version Tested: iOS
Release Date: March 24, 2020 (Selected Asian Countries), October 31, 2020 (Japan), TBA (World)
MegaMan is back in this recent mobile game available for iOS and Android users. ROCKMAN X DiVE, or MegaMan X DiVE, is coming real soon to western gamers. After its successful closed beta in 2019, it is now available for download in selected countries in Asia, namely Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. Made by the team in Capcom Taiwan, the game still has that classic Japanese platformer theme complete with Japanese voice actors. Interestingly, the game is yet to launch in Japan on October 31, 2020. Capcom Mobile JP will take care of its publication in its home country.
The game is free-to-play with in-app purchases such as Elemental Metals (Gems), character packs, daily, weekly, and monthly packs—an action platformer mixed with gacha mechanic. Since ROCKMAN x DiVE is free, your movement is limited by AP (Action Points). The AP’s maximum is dictated by the player’s level and will increase as the player level up.
ROCKMAN X DiVE Gacha
This Gacha mechanic is new to MegaMan games, and as of this writing, they are doing a Megaman Legends event. Tron Bonne, MegaMan Volnutt, and Heart of Gold equipment are up for grabs. As a Megaman Legends fan, who played Megaman Legends 1, Megaman Legends 2, and even The Misadventures of Tron Bonne on PlayStation 1, this is exciting! To be honest, this news is what drove me to download and test out the game.
While downloading, my expectation is the game will have a dedicated story or a snippet that will include the two MegaMan Legends stars. A story that will include Roll, Professor Barrel, the Bonne family, Servbots, and Data. A little fan service that will make me relive my childhood game. But after downloading ROCKMAN X DiVE, expecting a story, the game gives me its usual run. No extra intro about the event, just its usual “play through” with its step by step tutorial.
Upon saving 3000 Elemental Metals, I tried my luck. With 30 pulls, I only got MegaMan Volnutt and no Tronn nor Heart of Gold. Still holding on for a story or any fan service, I dived right in. But, nope. Nothing. It seems like these events are only for aesthetic purposes. New characters that you can use to play through the game. Although, for every character you unlock, there are two different skills you can use. If you’re looking for a story, there’s none. They are sticking with their own ROCKMAN X DiVE story even while you’re using Tron Bonne.
What to Expect
Since the disappointment of the game’s event is out of the way, let us go straight to what you can expect. As you play through, the game will give you a tutorial and teach you basic movements and other functions on your home screen. Playing the game for three days, the stages are easy to finish and wouldn’t require ten minutes of your time. Free-to-play players will not have any problems saving Elemental Metals as the game has enough daily tasks and rewards that you can get for free. The Gacha section also gives you free pulls. Yes, pulls. There are several gacha banners in the game that lets you pull for free.
As a mobile game, it has a PVP mode where you can battle random players from around the world according to their “matchmaking.” I never won any at all. I am always matched against level 60+ players with fully upgraded characters and weapons versus me, a level 16 with zero upgrades. I hope they fix that before they totally bring it out worldwide.
Speaking of upgrades, you can farm the materials that you will need on every stage. You can “Skip Dive” for free as long as you have enough AP to do it. On the other hand, characters and weapons need “memory fragments” to rank up and gain stars. There are various ways to upgrade them, though. You can upgrade their levels, upgrade their stats, unlock a skill, or add a chip (unlockable from defeating bosses).
Verdict: It is a good action platformer mobile game that you can download for free. Although, it may take a while before you can get used to the controls. Running, jumping, and dodging may pose a challenge while you play if you don’t have a controller. It is because of the smoothness of the screen. I want to run and jump, but instead, the on-screen controller reads it as “dock” and “slide.” It is frustrating, but after some time, you may get used to it. Also, there are also secret “rooms” in the game that you can explore. This will make you want to play through the stage again to explore fully.
The question is, should I continue playing the game? I may drop the game as soon as I have a new game installed. I was really looking forward to that Megaman Legends fan service. But if you’re a RockMan X or MegaMan X fan, this game is right in your alley.