X4's batch of Mavericks may seem like a sorry looking bunch, but don't count 'em out just yet! You'd be surprised how much these bad dudes can actually grow on you. A perfect example is Split Mushroom. The first thought that ran through my head when I heard that a lowly mushroom was going to be a mighty Maverick was "Aw man, I think someone at Capcom has been EATING too many mushrooms while smoking up." Surprisingly enough, Split Mushroom turned out to be a funny little guy. I actually LIKED him! I was ashamed of myself, yes.

Mushroom isn't the only one who took me by surprise. Come on in and meet the gang!

ONCE UPON A DECEMBER-Frost Walrus was one of my favourite Mavericks in X4. He makes a barking noise when he launches his ice torpedoes at you, he slides, he calls Zero 'that blonde kid' and does other fun things. :)

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE-Geez, I'm so clice! Web Spider is a rather interesting Hunter-turned-Maverick. His weapons are...webs!

Web Spider has one of the nicest looking stages in the game. It's a techno-rainforest sort of setting with running brooks that expand into roaring waterfalls. Beware, cobras and bees lurk in those lush tree branches!

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE-Storm Owl, like Web Spider, was also a former leader of a Hunting Unit. He's also a pain to beat. He catches you in his talons, laughs, then slams you down. When he's not abusing you in that manner, he's shooting his cyclone weapons at you. I would respect Owl a lot more if his name wasn't a rip off of the majestic Storm Eagle's.

Any of you play Star Fox 64? It seems that the latest fad is to rip off ID4. Remember those huge alien ships that destroyed the cities in the movie with their 'death ray'? One of those appeared in Star Fox 64 at the Katina base, and you'll meet even more of 'em in Storm Owl's stage. Quite popular. :)

"THIS TRAIN WE ON DON'T MAKE NO STOPS!"-Such are the famous words of Barret from FF VII. Slash Beast is a huge tomcat that resides on a military train. I LOVE this Maverick! You can bet that he'll appear in some of my future fanfics. >:)

X's mission is to stop Slash Beast's train so that no more supplies can get to the Maverick armies. Again, Star Fox 64 veterans who've visited the planet Macbeth should be familiar with THAT song and dance.

RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO HELL-I said it before, but it's always worth repeating: someone at Capcom needs to learn how to draw their dracos. Nevertheless, Magma Dragoon is an interesting piece of pie. Former member of the 14th Unit, Magma Dragoon turned traitor and killed hundreds of humans by dropping the Sky Lagoon (a floating city) on their town. City fall, people go SPLAT!

Dragoon is squirrled away in an active volcano filled with seething lava and flying rocks. He appears to be Ryu in costume: his weapons are Hadokens and Dragon Punches, complete with the sound effects and all! Maybe the World Warriors in the Land of SF II got pissy at Ryu for some reason and tossed him into the X series...I dunno...

TRIPPIN' WITH THE HUNTERS-Cyber Peacock resides in Cyber Space. He's a logical and mysterious little birdie. Like Storm Owl, he's a terror to beat without a special weapon. He has devised all sorts of NASTY attacks with those tail feathers of his. Real peacocks use their tails as a mating signal. Cyber goes way beyond that, let me tell you.

Cyber's stage makes your mind go all screwy like some illicit drug. Stepping on a mere switch can rearrange the entire stage. Plus, you're continually being 'ranked' by a little annoying gunsight. The 'rank' can determine what power ups you will recieve.

IN THE NAVY-Jet Stingray and his stingray drones can give you a bad day. Plus, his stupid "YEEAARGH!" scream grates on your nerves like nails against a chalkboard.

Remember the Mobile Attack Cycle that appeared briefly in X2? It's back! You use it to navigate the Navy Base where Jet Stingray has nested. This stage is fun, but requires a heap of patience to complete fully.

BIOLOGY 101-Ah yes, Split Mushroom. Don't laugh, he's a respectable foe despite his goofy nature. You can find Split Mushroom in a previously abandoned bio lab. He chose a pretty setting for his hideout: a haunt with towers that claw their way above the clouds. A full moon glares down on X for most of the stage.

Genetic cloning seems to be all the rage these days. Split Mushroom flaunts his trendy style by creating clones of himself, which he launches at his enemies. If that fails, he uses a gas attack. Terrence and Philip would be proud!!

There you have it. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I only wish the announcer didn't yell out the names of the Mavericks when I select one from the stage select screen. I don't need some idiot yelling out "FROST WALURS!" for me. I can read.

This page violated quite a few copyrights. My apologies to those parties. ;)