This is a huge step backward from X4, but it’s not a total mess like X6 is, it’s just mediocre. There’s only one stage I really like (Grizzly Slash), and the rest are either just ok (like Izzy Glow and Dark Dizzy) and others I can’t stand like how much of a boring slog Duff McWhalen’s stage is, how unfair The Skiver’s stage is, and how irritating Axel the Red’s is. For the most part, the bosses are alright, but they get really annoying towards the end due to the fact that the level up as you progress through the game. While this is a good idea in concept, the levels really only increase their health as far as I can tell, which just makes them take longer to beat. This is especially annoying when they’re all max level at the final boss rush and take ages to beat (part of the reason i didn’t finish this game). They also messed up the armor system by making it so you need all the pieces of armor in order to get their benefits, which just removes the satisfaction of finding the individual pieces. Also the fact that the ending you get is luck based is incredibly stupid. I got most of the way through the game, up to the Sigma fight, but the final bosses and stages were so frustrating that a I didn’t bother finishing it. Not the worst X game, but far from the best.