X (Mega Man)

X (Japanese: エックス, Hepburn: Ekkusu) is a character and protagonist of Capcom's Mega Man X video game series, known as Rockman X (Japanese: ロックマンX, Hepburn: Rokkuman Ekkusu) in Japan. First appearing in the 1993 Super NES video game Mega Man X, X is an android member of the Maverick Hunters, a special police force tasked with defending humans and Reploids (anthropomorphic androids similar to X) against criminal Reploids known as Mavericks. X has made additional appearances in the Mega Man franchise, including printed adaptations of the series, an original video animation called Day of Sigma which explores his early days as a Hunter, and as a supporting character in the Mega Man Zero and Mega Man ZX video game series which star his Hunter comrade Zero. X has also appeared in multiple crossover video game series outside of the franchise.

Keiji Inafune and artist Hayato Kaji created X as a contrasting successor to the original Mega Man, with a darker characterization and multiple sets of armor that enhance his abilities. X has been voiced by multiple actors in both Japanese and English versions of the franchise.

Critics have generally praised X, with game journalists often finding him a worthy successor to Mega Man because of his unique traits and complex characterization as a tragic hero who hates violence. His partnership with Zero was also praised due to their different yet complementary skills, although X was noted as being less popular than Zero, and his English voice actors were often criticized as not fitting his characterization.