Mega Man X8 provides a greater degree of freedom and variety than ever before. Players are able to complete the stages in any order and as often as they like. Each area is designed to help build and acquire skills that will be used to advance through the game. Players must successfully jump, attack, and utilize new weapons to open up additional areas and conquer each challenge. Twelve stages provide vast variety in gameplay and settings from 3D depth-scrolling space stations to side-scrolling lunar colonies and even vehicle based missions, each with their own objectives. Replay is encouraged through "intermission" sub quests that provide different objectives for already-cleared stages to provide added depth and help players hone skills.

1. Three playable characters with varying strengths and special abilities: Mega Man X - Equipped with his trusty charge shot, Zero - A master of short range attacks with the ability to double jump, Axl - Armed with a spread shot weapon and hovering skills
2. Enhanced tag team action - Switch between two characters at any time to effectively defeat enemies
3. Rescue change - Standby character can provide backup support when the main character is caught in enemy clutches
4. Double attack - Attack enemies to fill up a special gauge and unleash a powerful two-player simultaneous attack!
5. Recovery gauge - Health gauges for standby characters refill according to how well the main character performs in battle
6. Combo counter - Recovery items are only available when dropped by enemies; defeating multiple enemies in a row will increase the combo counter and the rate at which enemies drop these special items
7. Three Navigator types - Pick a Navigator at the beginning of a stage; each offers a stage strategy, an enemy strategy or story supplements
8. Collect "metal" from defeated enemies - Use as building blocks for valuable power-up chips
9. Ability to use weapons obtained from defeated bosses
10. Multiple story endings and hidden items

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