X-MEN: Children of the Atom FAQ

                    X-MEN: Children of the Atom
                  (Galen is working on the title!)
                   
                       version 2.1, (c)1995

=======
 INTRO
=======

X-MEN, Capcom's newest fighting game, boasts incredible graphics and
brand new features never seen before.  As if you couldn't guess, the
game based on characters appearing in Marvel comics (though they are
a little out of date)  X-MEN isn't exactly SF3, but it's a fun game,
well worth your fifty cents to play.

X-MEN is all of 300 megs, and is the eighth to use the Capcom CPS2
system.  This faq is based on version 3.00 of X-MEN.

Feel free to copy and distribute this faq, but don't sell it!  My
fellow faq writers and I don't get any money for our work, and it
really pisses us off when freeloaders make a profit from it.  This
goes for game magazines as well. (Hi EGM, you rat bastards!)
It's free info...keep it that way.

Send any comments, corrections, etc. to Rich Joseph at rfj105@psu.edu


========================
 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
========================

  BLOCKING AND THE AUTOBLOCK

Blocking is as simple as pushing the joystick away from the attack.
In X-MEN, you can block on the ground or in the air.

There is a feature called "automatic blocking", which is selectable
when you choose your character.  All attacks are blocked, even if you
are moving forward, as long as you don't touch a button.  However,
autoblocking only works for the first match...an X will appear over
the "AUTO" sign when it is turned off.  This feature will also
permanently limit your moves.  The most common example are the beam
attacks.  Beams will only fire straight, instead of having three
different directions.

  DASHING

Tap forward twice to dash forward, and twice back to dash backward.
Can also hold in the direction and hold all three punches.  During
a dash, slide by pushing down and a button.  Slides and dashes are a
good way to start combos. 

  MUTANT ABILITY METER

Underneath the life bar is an empty bar.  This bar will fill with
glowing energy every time you do a special move, throw, or hit an
opponent (blocking or not).  Every time you reach a new power level,
energy will glow around your legs, and the power level (1st, 2nd,
etc.) will appear over the life bar.

When the power is blue in the pow bar (1st level), only regular moves
are allowed.  When the meter becomes orange (2nd Level), you can use
some energy to perform special "X-Ability" moves.  When the energy bar
is full, the colors flicker, and you can perform the "Hyper-X" moves.

  POSITIONING
 
Between battles, you are able to move your character back and forth.
This allows you to position yourself *just* right... 

  STUNS AND KNOCKDOWNS

Besides normal stuns, your character can be stunned on the ground.
Shake the joystick to recover from a stun quicker.

If you are knocked down, dash with all three punch buttons.  This
will cause your character to get up quicker and roll away.

  SUPER JUMPS
 
Besides normal jumps, your character can leap twice as high. Rapidly
flick the joystick from down to up.  An alternate way is to hold up
and all three kick buttons.  The game will stay focused on the higher
character, and a little marker shows the position of the lower one. 
 
  THROWING

Simply press the joystick forward with a medium or a fierce punch
to throw.  There are both air and ground throws...every character
can do both.  When someone is trying to throw you, it can be
"reversed" by attempting to throw the thrower.

Holding down and all three punch buttons has two different effects
on throws.  If you are being thrown, this will "shrug off" the
throw.  If you have already been thrown, the movement will allow
you to land without taking further damage.  This feature uses some
of the energy in your power bar. (you must be at 2nd level to use it)


==============
 KEY TO MOVES
==============

               Jump                      Punches: Jab     = a
   Jump Back O   O   O Jump Forward               Medium  = b
              \  |  /                             Fierce  = c
     Back  O-         -O  Forward
              /  |  \                    Kicks  : Short   = x
 Crouch Back O   O   O Crouch Forward             Forward = y
               Crouch                             R.house = z
                         

TERMS: (C)     - Use the joystick to guide this move. (Control)
       (D)     - Character now does more damage in some way.
       (G/A)   - Ground/Air.  Some moves are ground-based, others
                 are aerial.  Both letters mean the move can be
                 performed on the ground as well as in the air.         
       D.      - Move goes in a diagonal direction (D.Up, D.Down)
     
       X-moves - Moves that are unique to this character and can
                 be done at any time during the match.  These moves
                 help to charge your power meter.
       X-Abil. - Special moves that draw on the power stored in
                 your power meter.               
       Hyper-X - When the power meter is full, your character can
                 drain it to perform this super move.         

SPECIAL NOTE:  These descriptions assume you are not using autoblock.
               All special moves in autoblock mode are limited to the
               medium or forward versions of that move. (with some
               exceptions)  Also, the second Hyper-X will not work.


================
 THE CHARACTERS
================

COLOSSUS

With a thought, Piotr Rasputin can encase his body in organic steel,
making him practically invulnerable.

 ,__ X-Moves __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Giant Swing    |  | \ -O Punch    | (G) Colossus runs forward, grabs| 
 |                |  O  O            | his opponent and twirls them.   |
 |                |                  | Spin joystick for a faster spin.|
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Power Tackle   |  | \ -O Kick     | (G) Colossus sticks out his     | 
 |                |  O  O            | shoulder and charges.  Hit a    |
 |                |                  | button to come out sooner.      |
 |                |                  |  a=Across  b=D.Up    c=D.Up     |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Body Press     |  | + Punch       | (G) Use this only on the fallen | 
 |                |  O               | opponent. Colossus will hoist   |
 |                |                  | the character over his head.    |
 |                |                  | (setup for a rethrow)           |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ X-Abilities ______________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Super Armor    |  |  / O- abc     | (G) Colossus becomes shiny. He  |
 |                |  O O             | will take less damage, and he   |
 |                |                  | cannot be knocked down!         |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Hyper-X __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Super Dive     |  | \ -O abc      | (G) Rise into the air, then     |
 |                |  O  O            | dive into your opponent.  Hit a |
 |                |                  | button to dive sooner.          |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Other Notes ______________________________________________________,
 |                                                                     |
 | None.                                                               |
 |                                                                     |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|


CYCLOPS

Scott Summers, leader of the X-Men, has eyes that emit solar radiation.
He must wear ruby lenses or the energy will pour forth everytime he
opens his eyes.

 ,__ X-Moves __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Optic Blast    |  | \ -O Punch    | (G/A) Shoot a beam of energy.   | 
 |                |  O  O            |  a=Crouch  b=Stand   c=D.Up     |
 |                |                  | (all aerial beams are straight) |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Gene Splice    |  -O | \  Punch   | (G) A rising uppercut. Hold up  |
 |                |     O  O         | and tap button for extra hits.  |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ X-Abilities ______________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Leg Throw      |   / | \  y or z  | (close) A flip toss.            |
 |                |  O  O  O         |                                 |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Hyper-X __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Mega Optic     |  | \ -O abc      | (G) Cyclops shoots a huge optic | 
 | Blast          |  O  O            | blast straight forward.         |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Control Beam   |  |  / O- abc     | (G/A,C) Cyclops emits a thick   |
 |                |  O O             | optic blast. Beam will reflect  |
 |                |                  | from walls and floor.           |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Other Notes ______________________________________________________,
 |                                                                     |
 | Back or forward with (c) shoots a laser burst.                      |
 | Dashing with (ax) gives a series a kicks and punches.               |
 | Tap up after a jump to jump again (double jump)                     |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|


ICEMAN

Bobby Drake controls the powers of moisture, using iceforms as both a
stylish attack and defense. He wears that ugly belt to keep his
awesome power in check.

 ,__ X-Moves __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Ice Beam       |  | \ -O Punch    | (G/A) Shoot a beam of ice.      | 
 |                |  O  O            |  a=D.Down  b=Across  c=D.Up     |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Ice Avalanche  |  Punch + Kick    | (G/A) Form a boulder of ice in  |
 |                | (same strength)  | the air to drop on your victim. |
 |                |                  |  ax=Toward  by=Down  cz=Away    |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ X-Abilities ______________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Ice Fist       |  |  / O- abc     | (G,D) A large sphere of ice     |
 |                |  O O             | welds to Iceman's hand.         |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Hyper-X __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Arctic Attack  |  | \ -O abc      | (G/A) Large hailstones stream   |
 |                |  O  O            | from Iceman's body.             |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Other Notes ______________________________________________________,
 |                                                                     |
 | Ice from the beam or a throw will slow down the other player.       |
 |  (Or even freeze in place)                                          |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|


PSYLOCKE

As the result of Spiral's experiments, the psionic Betsy Braddock had
her genes mixed with those of a ninja warrior.

 ,__ X-Moves __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | PsiFlash       |  | \ -O Punch    | (G/A) A burst of mental energy. | 
 |                |  O  O            | Mutiple blasts are possible.    |
 |                |                  |  a=D.Down  b=Across  c=D.Up     |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | PsiBlade Spin  |  | \ -O Kick     | (G/A) A spinning energy kick.   | 
 |                |  O  O            |  x=Across  y=D.Up    z=Up       |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ X-Abilities ______________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Ninjutu        |  |  / O- Punch   | (G) Six images of Psylocke.     |
 |                |  O O     or Kick | Button determines where she is. |
 |                |                  |  a=Far Left......z=Far Right    |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Hyper-X __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | PsiSpear       |  | \ -O abc      | (G/A,C) Psylocke gathers her    |
 |                |  O  O            | energy.  Use this time to push  |
 |                |                  | the joystick in the direction   |
 |                |                  | you want to fly. After the first|
 |                |                  | run, reposition and repeat with |
 |                |                  | a button tap.                   |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Other Notes ______________________________________________________,
 |                                                                     |
 | She can jump off of walls.                                          |
 | Tap up after a jump to jump again (double jump)                     |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|


OMEGA RED

An attempt to create a super-soldier for the former Soviet Union, the
psychotic Omega Red is a deadly opponent.

 ,__ X-Moves __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Carbonadium    | | \ -O Punch or  | (G/A) Omega's whip shoots out   |
 | Coil           | O  O   Kick      | and grabs his opponent. Grabs   |
 |                |                  | through special moves. Tap a    |
 |                |(kick aerial only)| button to cancel.               |
 |                |                  |  a=Across  b=D.Up    c=Up       |
 |                |                  |  x=Across  y=D.Down  z=Down     |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Flip n Smash   | O- or -O + Punch | (G/A) Flip your opponent around.| 
 | (after coil)   |                  | Two flips if close to the side. |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Omega Strike   | | \ -O Kick      | (G) Use the tentacles to propel | 
 |                | O  O             | Omega Red in a direction. Push  |
 |                |                  | down and a button to cancel.    |
 |                |                  |  x=Across  y=D.Up    z=Up       |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ X-Abilities ______________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Death Factor   | Tap Punch        | (G/A) Use your enemy's life to  | 
 | (after coil)   |                  | heal Omega!                     |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Energy Drain   | Tap Kick         | (G/A) Absorb your opponent's    | 
 | (after coil)   |                  | X-Power.                        |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Hyper-X __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Omega          |  | \ -O abc      | (G) Omega's tentacles spin out  |
 | Destroyer      |  O  O            | over the screen in a frenzy.    |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Other Notes ______________________________________________________,
 |                                                                     |
 | Omega can dash forward in the air.                                  |
 | A crouching roundhouse has three distances: A back crouch is near,  |
 |  a straight down crouch ends up in the middle of the screen, and a  |
 |  crouch forward ends up on the other side.                          |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|


SENTINAL

The sentinals were created to "protect" normal humans by capturing and
exterminating all mutants, a job they perform with ruthless effeciency.

 ,__ X-Moves __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Rocket Punch   |  | \ -O Punch    | (G/A) Extend the robot's arm.   |
 |                |  O  O            |  x=D.Down  y=Across  z=D.Up     |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Sentinal Force |  | \ -O Kick     | (G) Send three flying robots to | 
 |                |  O  O            | attack the opponent.            |
 |                |                  |  x=Down toward the opponent     |
 |                |                  |  y=Straight across the screen   |
 |                |                  |  z=Carpet bomb                  |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Dual Missiles  |  Tap b           | (G) Send out two missiles from  | 
 |                |                  | your arms to the ground.        |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Beam or Bomb   |  Tap c           | (G) Spew a laser beam standing, | 
 |                |                  | or spit a missile if crouching. |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Body Press     |  | + Punch       | (G) Use this only on the fallen | 
 |                |  O               | opponent. The robot will hoist  |
 |                |                  | the character over his head.    |
 |                |                  | (setup for a rethrow)           |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ X-Abilities ______________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Flying         |  |  / O- abc     | (G/A) Your jets turn blue, and  |
 |                |  O O             | you can float in the air.       |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Hyper-X __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Plasma Storm   |  | \ -O abc      | (G) Hold a wall of energy, then |
 |                |  O  O            | release it toward opponent.     |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Other Notes ______________________________________________________,
 |                                                                     |
 | The Sentinal has a huge variety of normal moves; learn how to use   |
 |  them to your advantage.                                            |
 | While in the air, hold down with (c) for a spinning dive.           |
 | An aerial (y) is controllable.                                      |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|


SILVER SAMURAI

Keniuchio Harada is the Silver Samurai, a powerful mutant with the
ability to channel awesome amounts of energy through his blade.

 ,__ X-Moves __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Shuriken       |  | \ -O Punch    | (G/A,C) A six-pointed shuriken. |
 |                |  O  O            |                                 |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | HyakuRetsuToh  |  Tap Punch       | (G,C) Rapid sword slices. Dash  | 
 |                |                  | during the button tap to run.   |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ X-Abilities ______________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Blink          |  | \ -O Kick     | (G/A) Fade out then back in.    |
 |                |  O  O            |                                 |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Touki          |  |  / O- Punch   | (G,D) Power up your katana.     |
 |                |  O O             |  a=rai  (thunder)               |
 |                |                  |  b=hono (ice)                   |
 |                |                  |  c=sui  (fire)                  |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Bushin         |  |  / O- xyz     | (G,D) A series of shadow images |
 |                |  O O             | follow the Samurai. Each image  |
 |                |                  | repeats previous move, so one   |
 |                |                  | slash can turn into six!        |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Hyper-X __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | RaiMeiKen      |  | \ -O abc      | (G) Bolts of electricity whip   |
 |                |  O  O            | from his katana.                |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Triple         |  |  / O- abc     | (G,C) Throw three shuriken.     |
 | Shuriken       |  O O             |                                 |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Other Notes ______________________________________________________,
 |                                                                     |
 | Tapping a punch button will slice in one direction, then another,   |
 |  then it will start the HyakuRetsuToh                               |
 | Use the ice sword to freeze, combo, then refreeze your opponent.    |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|


SPIRAL

A henchman of Mojo, the interdimensional movie director, Spiral wields
weapons with savagery and parts the space/time curtain with ease.

 ,__ X-Moves __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Dancing Swords |  \  |  / 0- bc   | (G/A) A halo of six swords float|
 |                |   O O O          | around Spiral. Tapping a punch  |
 |                |                  | button releases a sword. Also a |
 |                |                  | setup for other moves.          |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Sword Toss     |  | \ -O Punch    | (G/A) Throw a ring of swords.   | 
 | (need halo)    |  O  O            |  a=Down    b=Across  c=Up       |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Six-Hand       |  | O Punch       | (G) Spiral floats up and tries  | 
 | Grapple        |  O |             | to grab. (setup for a throw)    |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ X-Abilities ______________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Sword Explosion|  | \ -O Kick     | (G/A) Swords explode outward.   | 
 | (need halo)    |  O  O            |  x=Explode y=Spinner z=Seekers  |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Position       |  |  / O- a       | (G/A) Change places with your   |
 | Switch         |  O O             | opponent.                       |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Teleport Dance |  |  / O- b       | (G/A) Spiral reappears over the |
 |                |  O O             | opponent's head. Useful for     |
 |                |                  | getting out of throws.          |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Quick Drop     |  |  / O- c       | (A) Drop quickly to the ground  |
 |                |  O O             |                                 |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Power Dance    |  |  / O- x       | (G/A,D) Spiral has a pulsating  |
 |                |  O O             | red glow and does more damage.  |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Speed Dance    |  |  / O- y       | (G/A) Spiral glows a soft white |
 |                |  O O             | and can move incredibly fast.   |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Shadow Dance   |  |  / O- z       | (G/A) Spiral turns invisible.   |
 |                |  O O             |                                 |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Hyper-X __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Metamorphose   |  | \ -O abc      | (G/A) Doing move once gives     |
 |                |  O  O            | Spiral a rainbow glow.  Any     |
 |                |                  | successful throw will now cause |
 |                |                  | Spiral to morph into each char  |
 |                |                  | for a multi-hit combo.          |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Other Notes ______________________________________________________,
 |                                                                     |
 | Tapping (c) once gives a quick six-hit combo.                       |
 | From her leaping throw, Spiral tosses the opponent in the direction |
 |  of the joystick. Toss D.Up, and it is possible to rethrow or combo.|
 |_____________________________________________________________________|


STORM

An African princess who wields the powers of the Earth's elements,
Ororo Munroe uses the wind to fly and the storm to fight her enemies. 

 ,__ X-Moves __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Typhoon        |  | \ -O Punch    | (G/A) A small whirlwind.        |
 |                |  O  O            |                                 |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Lightning      |  Punch + Kick    | (G/A,C) Storm spins holding a   | 
 | Attack         | (same strength)  | ball of lightning in her hands. |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Ball Lightning |  Tap b (in air)  | (A,C) Storm tosses a ball of    |
 |                |                  | electrical energy.              |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ X-Abilities ______________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Wind Block     |  Dash            | (G/A) Wind screen blocks attacks|
 | Flying         |  |  / O- abc     | (G/A) Storm defies gravity.     |
 |                |  O O             |                                 |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | KazeOkoshi     |  |  / O- xyz     | (G) Tap buttons for a series of |
 |                |  O O             | rising wind kicks.              |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Hyper-X __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Lightning      |  | \ -O abc      | (G/A) Bolts of lightning arc    |
 | Storm          |  O  O            | off of Storm's body.            |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Other Notes ______________________________________________________,
 |                                                                     |
 | Hold (abc) while jumping or flying for a controllable air dash.     |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|


WOLVERINE

A product of Canada's secret Weapon-X program, Logan possess an
unbreakable adamantium skeleton, razor sharp claws, and a mutant
healing factor...as well as a short temper.

 ,__ X-Moves __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Tornado Claw   |  -O | \  Punch   | (G) A rising uppercut.  Hold up |
 |                |     O  O         | and tap button for extra hits.  |
 |                |                  | Use this to juggle the opponent.|
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Drill Claw     |  Punch + Kick    | (G/A,C) Logan spins with his    | 
 |                | (same strength)  | claws extended.                 |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ X-Abilities ______________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Berserker      |  |  / O- abc     | (G,D) Wolverine becomes very    |
 | Charge         |  O O             | quick (note the afterimages)    |
 |---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | Healing Factor |  |  / O- xyz     | (G) Gain extra life energy.     |
 |                |  O O             |                                 |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Hyper-X __________________________________________________________,
 |                |                  |                                 |
 | Berserker      |  | \ -O abc      | (G) Dash forward in a frenzy of |
 | Barrage        |  O  O            | slashing attacks.               |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|

 ,__ Other Notes ______________________________________________________,
 |                                                                     |
 | He is able to wall jump.                                            |
 | Push away after an attack to bounce off.                            |
 | Logan slowly regenerates, about a pixel every five seconds.         |
 |_____________________________________________________________________|


============
 THE BOSSES
============

After fighting six random characters, you must fight the two boss
characters to finish the game.  You cannot play as these characters.

JUGGERNAUT

Incredibly strong and nearly invulnerable, the half-brother of
Professor Charles Xavier is one of the X-Men's toughest foes.

  X-Moves:
     Earthquake   - Slams the ground, sending a shockwave.
     Power Punch  - A double straight punch.
         
  X-Abilities:
     Red Glow     - Does even more damage!
     Girder Bash  - Rips up a girder and uses it as a weapon
   
  Hyper-X:
     Red Shoulder - Rushes forward in a red glow.
   
   
MAGNETO

"Fool, you dare face me?  The human era is over.  The mutant era
 has begun!"

The master of magnetism believes that the war between mutants
and humans is inevitable...and he will do everything in his
power to see that mutants reign supreme.

  X-Moves:
     Magnet Pulse - Shoots twin pulses of energy downward
     Flying       - Magneto flies at will
     Plasma Burst - A thick beam of energy.
     Blackout     - Magneto phases in and out
     Ion Stream   - Three electric pulses stream from his
                    hand to your body.

  X-Abilities:
     Magnet Storm - Magneto rips up six large pieces of the space
                    station, and they hover until he sends them
                    at you (they can be knocked out of the air).
     Magnetism    - Magneto uses his powers to draw you closer
     Electro Aura - A circle of electricity appears around
                    Magneto.  It is impossible to hit him while
                    the aura is active...but he can hit you!
  Hyper-X:
     Shockwave    - Magneto sends a series of brilliant blue
                    columns across the screen.


============
 THE STAGES           
============

Unlike other fighting games, the stages in X-MEN are very tall...about
double the height of a normal screen.  These stages allow characters
to use super jumps to their full ability.

Besides being able to break normal objects on the screen, on some
stages it is also possible to break the floors.  When something heavy
hits the ground (boulder, a thrown character) jagged cracks appear.
(A shatterproof floor will "heal" these cracks)  A few more cracks
break the floor, and both characters fall down to the next.

The Regular Stages:

  DANGER ROOM - Cyclops, 1 level

The training room of the X-Men, Professor X monitors the battle while
programming different simulations (jungle, ocean, space, training)

  THE DEEP - Omega Red, 1 level

The battle takes place in a diving capsule with a large window.
During the fight, the capsule sinks lower and lower into the
ocean.  Different forms of marine life swim by the window, and an
underwater city glows in the darkness.  Toward the end of the match
the view window starts to crack, and the capsule is hauled to the
surface.

  GENOSHA - Sentinal, 1 level

Fight on a steel floor overlooking a vast array of machinery. 
A large sentinal rises from a glowing pit in the center of the room,
watching the fight.  If the Sentinal wins the match, the large robot
flies off.  If the Sentinal loses, the other sentinal explodes and
drops back into the pit.  It is possible to break both walls. 

  ICE ON THE BEACH - Iceman, 1 level

Battle on an ice floe near a tropical beach.  On the second round,
the ice breaks away and starts floating into the bay.  Well-tanned
spectators watch from the beach and from boats.  At the end of the
match, a group of dolphins leaps from the surf.

  MOJO WORLD - Spiral, 4 levels
 
Surrounded by a Dali-esque landscape, the characters fight on glass
floors.  The glass is easily broken, and the players fall down
through various levels.  There is a floating fish board, a strange
winter scene, a grey desert lit by lightning flashes, and finally
a board where a twitching sculpture of Mojo floats nearby.. 

  MOON NIGHT - Psylocke, multi-levels (elevator)

A steel catwalk on top of an elevator is the scene of this battle.
The lift moves up, and side to side.  You eventually emerge from
the elevator shaft onto the rooftop, overlooking a moonlit city.
It's possible to break the scaffolding here.

  MUTANT HUNTING - Colossus, 2 levels

The first part of this stage takes place in a parking lot, full of
junked cars.  After you break through the asphalt, the characters
land on a boat traveling down the river.  On the banks of the river,
you can see humans and sentinals searching through the damaged city,
presumably for mutants.

  ON THE BLACKBIRD - Storm, 1 level

The X-Men's Blackbird rests on an aircraft carrier in the middle of
the ocean.  The characters fight on the back wings, and the sun sets
over the horizon.

  SAMURAI SHRINE - Silver Samurai, 1 level

A many-armed statue is the centerpiece of this stage, and there are
two haindmadiens standing on either side.  Two ninja occasionaly
appear and disappear in puffs of smoke.  A small old man in a robe
walks across, and it's possible to slice him in half!
 
  SAVAGE LAND - Wolverine, 1 level
 
The Savage Land is a prehistoric valley hidden deep within Anarctica.
The battle takes place on a chunk of rock in the middle of a lava
river.  Different dinosaurs watch the fight from the banks.  The rock
finally floats into a magma lake, where a flock of green Archeaopteryx
land by the characters when the match is over


The Boss Stages:

  SPACEPORT -  Juggernaut, 1 level

Your character fights the Juggernaut on the rocket scaffolding.
Girders occasionly break, and debris falls.  There is a black
spacecraft in the background, which later collapses from Juggernaut's
constant pounding.

  AVALON - Magneto, multi-levels (elevator)
 
From the spaceport, you come to Avalon, Magneto's space station.  An
elevator takes you down and around to the different parts of the
station.


=========
 ENDINGS
=========

WOLVERINE

The Acolytes surround Magneto, and Wolvie tells "Maggie" to finish the
fight.  "The station is going to be destroyed, Logan, flee while you
still have time."  "Then come with us!"  "Go!" orders Magneto as he
fires a plasma burst, knocking Wolverine off the screen.

The other X-Men crowd around him, asking what happened. "No time, this
station is gonna blow!"  They rush toward their shuttle.

Cut back to a scene of Avalon exploding, while the black spacecraft
streaks home.  "Stubborn." Logan mutters.  "What?" asks Iceman.
"Nothing."

Back on Earth, Cyclops and Wolverine are standing in the Danger Room.
"Scott!" the beautiful Jean Grey shouts, as she rushes in and throws
her arms around Cyclops.  "I'll leave you two alone," says Wolverine.
"I need some to time think."  A slashed pic of the happy couple appears
on the screen as Logan leaves.

Wolverine walks into the garage.  "I need a vacation!"  He gets on his
motorcycle and takes off.

The Silver Samurai is standing at the Samurai Shrine, and Logan walks in.
"What?  I can't visit this land without walking into one of you clowns?"
"Prepare to die!" replies the Samurai.

Screen fades to black. White sword and claw slashes appear all over
the screen.

Fade back in, Logan standing triumphant.  He takes his mask off.
"Thanks bub, I needed the workout.  I wonder how Madripoor is this
time of year?"


====================
 THE THANKS SECTION
====================

A special thanks to all these people who helped to create
the X-MEN faq (in no particular order):

Anthony Ty          Galen Komatsu       Chris Bird
Flint               Dave Kirsch         Milo Cooper
Andy Eddy           Chris Kramer        Dan Wells
David Lemasa        Thomas Cannon


=====================
 HOW TO GET THIS FAQ
=====================

Look for the X-MEN faq to be posted every Friday in the newsgroup
  rec.games.video.arcade

You can FTP this faq from the following places:

Dave Kirsch's fighting games archive
ftp.krl.caltech.edu  /pub/fighting/xmen

Andy Eddy's videogame FAQ archive
ftp.netcom.com  /pub/vi/vidgames/faqs/xmenatom.txt

Paul Schwartz's mirror of the Netcom site  (gopher or FTP)
cencongopher.concordia.ca  /pub/JustTheFaqs/VideoGames/xmenatom.txt

==============================
 Rich Joseph <rfj105@psu.edu>
 Bio UnderGrad
 Penn State University
==============================