MegaMan X7 does a lot to bring the series up to date, but it doesn't retain the caliber the series is known for.
MegaMan X7 takes place after X6, where the Maverick Hunters are seeking to build a Utopia, where humans and Reploids can live in peace. Well, a new threat is on the rise, called Red Alert, a crime syndicate that has been turned Maverick. As destruction spreads along the streets, Zero jumps to the scene, where he finds that all of this pandemonium is caused by only one reploid: Axl. Axl is an ex-member of Red Alert, and escaped due to Red, the leader of the syndicate, wanting to utilize his ability to shape-shift for harming others. Now, Axl wants to become a Maverick Hunter, as X has given up trying to keep peace. Now, Zero and Axl set out to stop the syndicate, and whatever other threats that lie in thier way.
Now wait a minute. Did I just say the X gave it up? Yes, I did, and that's the truth. X is not playable until you reach a certain requirement in the game. Then why the hell is this called "MegaMan X"7? This is one slip up that Capcom should have really fixed. Even though he is still playable, he is the main character, and should be playable right off the bat. His return is part of the storyline, so don't think that in later games he won't be there, although you will need to make the requirements.
The gameplay is hit or miss, mostly hit. With the turn to 3D, the game suffers some camera issues, and the characters seem to move slowly. There is still the dash, but walking seems slow. However, platforming is a nice change for the series, and it does it well for the most part, with a great auto-targeting system, and some good platforming elements. Overall, the 3D segments play well. There is also still side-scrolling, which is even better, since it reatins that old-school feel, and really plays quite well. There's really nothing bad about the side-scrolling portions. There is also vehicle missions to overcome, which play well, but sometimes go too fast to really dodge anything. It plays well, though.Boss battles are a problem, though, as the weaknesses never really show. The fact that each boss has a specific weakness to a weapon is sometimes thrown to the wind on some bosses, which makes me wonder why. However, some bosses do retain this, which is good. It does get good when you get to play as X, since he's the best. Zero plays just like he did, as well. However, Axl plays interestingly, since his weapon changes appearance for each weapon you equip for him, as well as the ability to rapid fire, and copy enemy appearance and abilities. It's only limited to the size of the enemy, which must be around his size.
The graphics are well done, although the characters may stand out too much, since this is cel-shaded. Some textures look blocky, as well, but the graphics can really be summed up as good. The sound is a different story. There are some nice music tracks, including an instrumental track by R.E.M. during the game's credits, but the voices are poor. X just doesn't sound that good, as the guy who did his voiceover can't act, Axl sounds like a cross between a guy of a girl, which questions what gender he is, and some boss battles have repetitive and annoying repeats of sounds that is just irritating. Listening to Flame Hyenard yell "BURN!!!" a thousand times over during the fight gets annoying, quick, and makes you want to turn the volume down. It's that bad. The music is good; the sound effects are bleh.
There isn't much to unlock in the game, other than a fairly basic Glide Armor for X, which has the ability to allow you to glide (wow...). In other words, they could have made a more interesting armor in the game, like its predecessors, which all had much more variety in their abilities, as well as exclusive, and cool, features.
Overall, MegaMan X7 plays well, and suffers a bit in its 3D portions, but those 2D side0scrolling portions will have you right at home. Be expecting to hear some annoying and poor voiceovers, they tend to plague the overall experience. The game introduces so many new things to the series, but still doesn't reatin that "classic" caliber enough to be called consistent.