Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

X-Men: Children of the Atom delivers a classic 2D fighting experience that feels both familiar and fresh. You choose from six iconic X-Men — Colossus, Cyclops, Iceman, Psylocke, Storm and Wolverine — or one of four deadly villains: Omega Red, Sentinel, Silver Samurai and Spiral. Each character has their own unique move set, strengths and weaknesses, giving matches a strategic layer right from the character select screen.

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The core of the combat revolves around a best-two-out-of-three format, complete with automatic or manual blocking options. This setup allows newcomers to jump in with auto-block turned on, while veterans can fine-tune their defense manually. The flow of battle also keeps the momentum high: projectiles can be aimed left or right, and characters can super jump or roll away to evade attacks, making spacing and timing crucial.

At the heart of Children of the Atom’s depth is the X-Power gauge. Similar to the Super Combo gauge in Super Street Fighter II Turbo, it fills as you land hits or perform special moves. When you fill it to level one or beyond, you can unleash X-Abilities or Hyper X specials — dramatic, high-damage assaults that can turn the tide of battle in an instant. Managing this meter adds another tactical dimension to offense and defense.

Combos in this game feel weighty and impactful. You can chain standard attacks into special moves with relative ease, but mastering optimal meter usage and timing your cancels takes practice. Matches are fast-paced, and the learning curve rewards players who experiment with different characters and techniques. Overall, the gameplay strikes an excellent balance between approachability and depth.

Graphics

For its time, X-Men: Children of the Atom boasts stunning sprite work and vibrant color palettes. Each character is beautifully rendered, capturing signature looks and animations straight from the Marvel comics. Wolverine’s furious slashes, Storm’s swirling lightning bolts and Colossus’s massive iron form all pop off the screen with remarkable fidelity.

The stages are equally impressive, offering diverse backdrops that range from the X-Men’s sleek mansion to the gritty streets where Sentinels loom. Background elements animate subtly — monitors flicker, crowds cheer or gasp — which immerses you more deeply in each arena. The layering of parallax backgrounds adds a sense of depth without compromising performance.

Special moves and X-Abilities are where the visuals truly shine. Psylocke’s telekinetic blade glows with an ethereal purple hue, Silver Samurai’s slicing arcs leave fiery trails, and Magneto’s final showdown erupts in cinematic slow-mo. These flashy, over-the-top effects underscore the comic-book pedigree and make each powerful attack feel like a panel ripped from the source material.

Performance is smooth, even when the screen fills with effects. On arcade hardware and home ports alike, sprite flicker is minimal, and frame rates stay consistently high. Whether you’re dueling a friend locally or facing off against the CPU, the graphics engine delivers a crisp, responsive experience that still holds up for retro enthusiasts today.

Story

Being a fighting game first and foremost, X-Men: Children of the Atom’s narrative is relatively light. You’re thrown into a world where heroic mutants and ruthless powerful villains clash in high-stakes duels. The tournament structure lets you pick a hero or villain and face off against a roster of opponents leading up to two main bosses: Juggernaut and Magneto.

Each character has a brief intro sequence and ending vignette that provide a snapshot of their motivations. For example, Wolverine’s path is fueled by his relentless rage, while Cyclops fights to defend mutantkind from persecution. These short cutscenes help ground your battles in the larger X-Men mythos and reward fans with small story beats that feel authentic.

Capcom leverages Marvel’s rich lore to give context to each encounter. Facing Omega Red or Spiral doesn’t feel like a random matchup — you understand the rivalry, the stakes and the impending danger. The inclusion of Akuma as a secret character adds a fun meta twist, hinting at Capcom’s own fighting game universe colliding with Marvel’s world.

Although there’s no deep single-player campaign, replay value comes from seeing every character’s ending and hunting secret fights. Collecting all the endings and unlocking Akuma gives dedicated players a sense of completion. It’s light on plot but heavy on character moments, making it engaging for fans who appreciate bite-sized storytelling.

Overall Experience

X-Men: Children of the Atom stands out as a landmark fighter that not only introduced Marvel heroes to Capcom’s refined mechanics but also laid the groundwork for future Marvel vs. Capcom crossovers. Its tight controls, killer roster and flashy super moves make it a joy to both watch and play.

Although it lacks a sprawling narrative, the focus on character authenticity and high-octane battles fills that gap. Whether you’re a casual fan looking to bodyslam your buddy as Juggernaut or a competitive player weaving combos with Psylocke, the game delivers satisfying depth and accessible fun.

Multiplayer matches remain as entertaining now as they were in the arcade lineup. The learning curve offers enough room for growth without overwhelming newcomers, and the distinct playstyles of each mutant keep every match fresh. Finding your main and mastering their meter usage is pure fighting-game gold.

In the pantheon of 2D fighters, Children of the Atom holds a special place for capturing the spirit of the X-Men while providing battle mechanics that still resonate. It’s a must-play for retro enthusiasts, Marvel devotees and anyone seeking a burst-of-adrenaline arcade-style brawler with lasting appeal.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10