Crystal Snail, known as Cristar Mymine (クリスター・マイマイン) in Japan, is a Maverick from the X era, first appearing as one of the main bosses in Mega Man X2. He is a crystal-themed Reploid based on a snail, who hides in his shell and traps his foes in crystals. His history is unknown, but he is an S-Class Maverick working with the X-Hunters.
Crystal Snail debuted in Mega Man X2 as one of the eight Mavericks on the Stage Select screen. He serves as the boss of Energen Crystal Stage. The Japanese game manual states that his background is entirely unknown, but he has been commanded by Sigma to occupy a vein of Energen Crystals to secure power for the rebellion.[2]
Crystal Snail's attacks are fittingly slow, but he evens the playing field by trapping the player in crystal or slowing down time. Defeating Crystal Snail grants X the Crystal Hunter. His weakness is the Magnet Mine, from Magna Centipede, which knocks him out of his shell; the player can then dash into the shell to send it flying, potentially hitting Snail for further damage. A boss attack rematch with Crystal Snail later occurs in X-Hunter Stage 4.
Where this Reploid appeared from his a mystery, and he is also prone to disappearing... into his own shell. Sigma has ordered him to occupy the facility for mining Energen Crystals, a new power source for Reploids. Snail treats the entire mine like a second shell, hiding himself away in its safest depths.[3]
A Reploid of unknown unit affiliation. He has a laidback personality and behavior. When attacked by an enemy, he retreats into his shell like a snail, refusing to tolerate any attacks. He has taken over a newly discovered vein of Energen Crystal, a new energy source for Reploids, to use as a secret base.[JP]
Affiliated unit unknown. He has a quiet personality and tends to withdraw into his shell. He controls a vein of Energen Crystals, which generate a huge amount of energy with just a small amount.[JP]
"If the player hits Snail with a specific weapon, his shell falls off. Snail will try to rush back into his shell, but that's not where it ends... One of the software guys said, 'Trust me, it'd be funnier this way.' Before I knew it, they made it so that X could body check the shell with a dash and send it flying. So we ended up with the most pathetic boss ever who will keep running around chasing his shell after it gets knocked off his back. I had tears streaming down my face." - (Sho Tsuge)[1]
Nomenclature
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
Cristar Mymine (クリスター・マイマイン)
"Mymine" comes from the Japanese word "maimai" (マイマイ), which is an alternative term for snail, possibly combined with "mine" referring to his stage location.
