Shot, but not dead.
In MegaMan X5 the graphics are more colorfull then the past 4 and seem to use a bit more on 3d models. Backgrounds and levels are very well detailed and still shows capcom can do very well with 2D games.
Gameplay is the same as the past 4 games, but you can choose what character you want to use before each level rather then just having a story for each. Mind you at the beginning of the game you still use your main character which makes the story a bit different, but not a big change to the story. This game also has multiple endings depending on how you play. It's nice to have multiple endings it really gives to the replay value.
You also go up in class depending on how you play the game. This time around you save reploids, which can be a pain, but that pain can be a good challenge somthing that can test your skill. Another thing added to the game which kinda hurts it is timed gameplay. You can run down the time and basicly go to the end of the game. But doing so gives you the "Bad" ending.
Sound is the same as X4 nothing new, it dosent really hurt the game but it dosent add anything to it either so its basicly the same. Also the nice cut scenes from X4 are gone! I'm guessing they wanted to go back to a more traditional feel for MegaMan X5, but i would rather the cut scenes rather then text. that feeling of the game comming to life is basicly dead. The still frame scenes you do see though are very well drawn, but in my opinion i would rather the cut scene.
All in all, X5 trys to mix up the gameplay. It dosent really fail, but it dosent really win either. Sometimes Change is for the good sometimes change is for the bad, this time change wasnt too good but its still a fun game. MegaMan X fans will enjoy it but maybe not as much as the Past games.