Ads From the Past 545: Mega Man X for PC

We’ve Dug Up Trouble – Capcom’s First PC CD-ROM Game!

Back in the mid-1990s, Capcom made a bold move that bridged console gaming and the growing PC market — and this striking advertisement tells the story perfectly. “We’ve dug up trouble,” the ad declares, showing an archaeologist uncovering the vibrant Mega Man X box art buried in sand like a lost relic. It’s dramatic, fun, and very 90s.

This ad promotes Capcom’s first-ever PC CD-ROM game, the PC release of Mega Man X. Originally debuting on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Mega Man X brought a futuristic edge to the beloved blue bomber franchise. Players took control of X, a new generation of robot created by Dr. Light, as he faced off against Sigma and his army of Maverick Reploids to save humanity.

What made this PC version special wasn’t just the transition from console to computer—it was bundled with a free 6-button controller, a big deal at the time when most PC gamers relied on keyboards. Capcom emphasized this in the ad as a $14.95 value, signaling the company’s commitment to delivering a console-like experience on home computers.

The design of this advertisement is a time capsule of 90s gaming culture. From the sand-dusted typography and “archaeological discovery” theme to the bright, comic-style box art, it captures the excitement of an era when every new game felt like unearthing treasure. It even promotes the Mega Man animated series, tying together the multimedia push surrounding the franchise.

For PC gamers in 1995, this was an invitation to experience one of Capcom’s most polished platformers outside of the console world. Mega Man X on PC may not have been the definitive version, but it marked an important milestone — the beginning of Capcom’s expansion into PC gaming.

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Fun Fact: The inclusion of a free controller was part of a growing trend in the mid-90s where publishers sought to make PC gaming more “arcade-like.” For many fans, it was their first taste of what would become a standard in modern PC gaming—controller support.

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