Mega Man X2/X-Hunters Base 1

Stage walkthrough
Notice the ice on the walls: this is because you are at the North Pole.

Part 1
This stage has many vertical portions. You can equip either the Spin Wheel or the Silk Shot, since their charged form allows to hit enemies that are above or below you, and no boss is weak against them (except for the Teleport System rematches).

When you go down the first passage, pay attention to the wall opposite to you. There is a spare body (extra life) in an alcove to the right.

Slidame is an enemy robot that was only met in the introduction stage. It flies vertically up, then grabs at the two walls and pulls them in. If you are too slow before you can get up there, you will be sqeezed and destroyed. If you approach these robots carefully, you can take them down before they move with a charged-up shot of Spin Wheel (or any vertical-shooting weapon).

The first Slidame you meet here is just a reminder. The second one is the tricky one. Jump and climb the right wall, and when you see a step in, jump to the opposite wall and climb on that side until the top. The third Slidame simply starts in a narrower shaft.

Between the Slidames, you will meet some Barrier Attackers (from the ../Central Computer/). They take two shots from any weapon, but just one from the Bubble Splash. Still, remember that you will need this weapon against the X-Hunter in this stage.

Part 2
Right at the halfway point of the stage, more robots from the introductory stage will come back: the Mecha-Arms. They are almost harmless, the pit where they try and toss Mega Man X is void of spikes, there are just some enemies, an energy capsule and a spare body. The upper path is easier. Just press right when the Mecha-Arms grab you, and Mega Man X will fall back on the upper platform.

Where you see stepladders from below, just ignore them: it is the exit from the Mecha-Arms pit. Nothing interesting lies below.

Instead, a fourth Slidame waits above you, and is is almost impossible to destroy it before it flies up. Similar to the second one, its shaft has steps. Start by climbing the left wall, then jump to the right after the second step/indentation.

Another option to kill the fourth Slidame is slowing time with a fully charged Crystal Hunter and then unleashing a Giga Crush.

X-Hunter: Violen
Unlike the next two X-Hunters, Violen kept its original form. This robot attacks with its spiked ball, and occasionally jumps and shoots smaller projectiles in mid-air.
 * Weakness: Bubble Splash

The only difference with the previous combat is that some random blocks will appear, changing the pattern of the spiked ball and occasionally allowing Violen to step on them.

It is probably better to keep the Bubble Splash uncharged, so that it has a longer reach. However, if you feel bold, you can charge it up and just stand next to Violen.