Mega Man Maverick Hunter X hits two different sets of gamers at once; those who have played Mega Man X and those who haven’t. Rather than catering to just one group, Capcom has developed a game that manages to deliver a fresh experience that can be enjoyed by both groups.

The redone visuals are excellent and really give hope to old-school gamers like myself that there is some life left in 2D side-scrollers. The game is still played in 2D, though all of the sprites have instead been replaced with 3D characters and set pieces. These changes help to bring a new life to levels, if not the entire game. Animations are smooth and everything in the game has a clean, crisp look that shows just how much work and polish went into the game. What I found surprising was the amount of slowdown present in some areas. Interestingly enough, all of the slowdown appears in the same areas as in the SNES version, adding a strange bit of nostalgia.

Audio isn’t as impressive as the visuals. Music has been redone and remixed, some of which work well and others that do not. Voice acting has also been added. Overall the acting is good, although there are times where characters overact just a little too much. Some will groan at it, but I thought it was fun in that overly exaggerated, anime way. One of the vocal elements I could have done without was X’s insistence on calling out the name of the weapon he’s currently using. Saying the name the first time is fine, anytime after that is just plain annoying.

The original Mega Man X was a departure from the traditional Mega Man formula. It still kept the series trademark platforming and weapon stealing mechanics, but it also added a number of refinements to the series, including wall-climbing moves and ability upgrades. Story also became a little deeper. Hunting down and destroying evil robots was still a key theme, though the events surrounding the hunt were a little edgier.

Maverick Hunter X is a familiar, yet different experience. All of the gameplay elements from the original are still around, only with modifications to the formula. Still, the core gameplay is still there and is as strong as ever, a testament to just how great the original was.

Most of Maverick Hunter X’s changes come in the way of story and layout. The game’s story stays the same, though animated sequences that help to flesh out the story bookend the adventure. In addition, it also injects personality into both X and the other Maverick robots. Their motivations and personalities aren’t particularly deep, and actually understanding then does require you to watch the “Day of Sigma” feature that is unlocked after completing the game. Still it works for the game and doesn’t feel tacked on.

Stage layouts are a slightly bigger change. Most of the levels remain untouched, though later ones (especially Sigma’s Fortress) have been reshuffled and make a little more sense now. Also, ability upgrade capsules have been moved around. The capsules are all in the same place, but what you get has been changed.

Some of Maverick Hunter X’s best tricks are saved for after you complete the game. The first of two big surprises is the animated feature, “The Day of Sigma” which sets up the series' background by showing all of the characters' places before the game begins. The story tinkers with some details to add drama, but overall it is a good watch.

The other big prize earned by completing the game is Vile Mode, which lets you play through the entire game as X’s main rival, Vile. While many are probably expecting a half-ass, throwaway palette swap mode seen in other games, Vile mode includes a new story and new strategies. This mode alone makes the game worth the time even if you aren’t a big time Mega Man fan but enjoy good 2D gameplay.

Another added bonus is the inclusion of a level from the upcoming Mega Man Powered Up, a Maverick Hunter X-styled remake of the original Mega Man, only with more of a childish slant.

Part of Maverick Hunter X’s ability to cater to two different groups of gamers is its difficulty. Newcomers are in for a rough, but short, breaking-in period as they adapt to the game’s particular way of handling things (the lack of the ability to shoot up or while kneeling) as well as things like the lack of save points and having to start a level over once you’ve lost all your lives.

Veterans will probably find that Maverick Hunter X feels like a much easier game than the original. Many of the more headache-inducing areas, like the armor upgrade in Flame Mammoth’s area, are much easier to bypass. Even with the shuffling of items and some areas of maps, anyone should be able to work their way through X’s side of the story within a matter of hours. Hard mode does put a little more challenge into things, though Vile mode is where most of the challenge is for veterans due to a completely new weapons system and shorter life gauge.

The base mechanics from the SNES version have made it over to the PSP. The HUD has been reworked to show all of X’s weapons at all times rather than having the currently equipped weapon pop-up near the health bar, eliminating the blind cycling as you search for weapons.

Vile mode, on the other hand, features a completely new weapons system that shares more in common with the Battle Network games rather than the traditional Mega Man games. Vile comes with three body-mounted weapons; an arm blaster that shoots forward, a knee-mounted launcher that shoots down and a shoulder-mounted cannon that shoots up at an angle. The multiple attack angles are one part of Vile mode’s unique strategic element; the other is only each consume a different power percentage. And, since Vile is limited to only carrying three weapons at a time, you’ll find yourself spending a large chunk of time trying to mix and match the right combination with weapons to your current power capacity and the level you’re about to tackle.

Mega Man Maverick Hunter X is a remake done the right way. It retains everything that made the original classic, while adding enough new elements to entice players to return for one more run through. Add to that the $30 price point, and you have one of the better PSP games available right now and one you shouldn’t miss out on.