I don’t think X8 was better than X1 but I will agree that its far better than anything else from the period with Sony. It did have some really good elements with Zero being allowed to wield something other than his Beam Saber, Axl’s transformation skills being worth a damn, Vava (aka Vile), the Girls (save Alia), and Sigma not being the final boss for once. My only complaints were that X’s Special Armor looked like crap, the ride armor stages (as all ride armor stages should die in a fire), and yet another blue balling plot twist at the end that wont be resolved for the next two decades (if ever).
Then again, being able to take a carry armor to a boss fight was way overdue, and redeems any issues I have with the game (save for the blue balls).
But during the time I played this on the N64 years back, defeating her was like crazy hard! (Beating Ganondorf in the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, was easier than her!.. seriously.) The first one wasn’t as bad as the second one though! There was heaps you had to watch out for and the air itself slowly lowered your health (because of poisonous fumes.)