The game uses a side-scrolling perspective across combat-focused platforming stages. X begins with a basic buster and can run, jump, dash, climb walls, and charge shots.

Eight Maverick stages can generally be selected in different orders. Defeated bosses provide special weapons, while armor capsules, Heart Tanks, and Sub Tanks improve X’s abilities and survivability. The stage order matters because some weapons are effective against particular bosses.

After the initial Maverick battles, the game moves into later fortress stages with tougher enemies and boss encounters. The DOS conversion changes parts of the level design and presentation from the console version.

Choose stages according to weapon weaknesses rather than treating the boss order as fixed. Learning each boss’s movement pattern is more important than firing continuously.

Search stages carefully for armor capsules, Heart Tanks, and Sub Tanks. Wall jumping provides safer positioning and helps X avoid many ground attacks.

Because the DOS version differs from the console game, do not assume that every stage layout, enemy behavior, or weakness matches the Super NES release.