Mega Man

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Mega Man firing his gun while in Shadow Man's stage, Mega Man 3, on the NES

Mega Man, or Rockman as the character is known in various countries, including Japan, is the hero in a series of video games made by Capcom for various Nintendo and other gaming consoles.

Over time, the series has 'evolved' to include several spin offs including the X, Zero, Legends, and Battle Network series.

Background

The Megaman character was created in 1987 by Capcom of Japan, then a small company eager to make a breakthrough with a new platformer game.

In the story behind the original series, Mega Man is an android created as a lab assistant by scientists Dr. Thomas Xavier Light and Dr. Albert W. Wily; following treachery by Dr. Wily, Mega Man was converted into a fighting robot to defend the world from Wily's violent creations.

Originally Megman was going to be called Rainbowman since he could change colors when he obtained certain types of weapons form various bosses in the games.

Mega Man/Rockman original series

Mega Man appeared in six platform games originally for the Nintendo Entertainment System, two for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (one of them Japan-only), one originally for the Sony PlayStation, five for the Nintendo Game Boy, one for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance (which was a port of a Japan-only game for the Nintendo Super Famicom), and one for the Bandai WonderSwan. In addition, there was a Mega Man soccer game for the SNES, and a racing game for the PlayStation. The six NES Mega Man games were also Japan-only re-releases of the NES games on the Sony Playstation.

A game in this series generally takes the player to a stage select screen, from which he/she can select any of several (usually eight) "Robot Master" bosses, each whom are given a name in the form of (Noun) Man, for example, "Fire Man" "Wind Man" "Bubble Man" etc. Upon selecting a boss, Mega Man enters a themed level associated with that Robot Master, and must reach the end of the level and defeat the boss. When the boss is defeated, Megaman in turns gains the weapon of the fallen boss--for example, upon defeating the electrified Spark Man, Megaman gains an electrical attack known as "Spark Shock". Robot Masters are affected differently by different attacks, so this greatly affects gameplay and play order. Strategy and logic must be used to determine the best sequence, for example, a fire-based robot master may be weak to a water-based weapon, and so forth.

Usually, after all Robot Masters have been defeated, Mega Man proceeds to a fortress. Sometimes this fortress is inhabited by Dr. Wily; sometimes another character is at the end of the fortress, in which case a second one with Dr. Wily usually follows. In general Mega Man must fight all the game's Robot Masters again at the end of the fortress before facing the final boss.

Major characters include

• Mega Man ("Rockman" is his Japanese name).
• His prototype and "brother" Protoman, also known as Breakman (in both languages). In Japan he also goes by the name of "Blues."
• His "sister" Roll, a housekeeping robot. Her name is part of a pun - Mega Man's name when not fighting under the name of "Rockman" or "Mega Man" is "Rock," making the two "Rock and Roll"
• Rush is Mega Man's robotic dog friend (or Canine Support Unit). Rush can transform himself into a coil (spring), a jet, a marine device, and/or a search device, depending on the game. He can also fuse with his master to enable him to fly.
• Dr. Light (known in Japan as "Dr. Right") is the inventor of Rock, Roll, Protoman, Cut Man, Guts Man, Elec Man, Ice Man, Fire Man, Bomb Man, Rush, Eddie, Tango, and Auto. He ran a store where P-Chips could be traded for items in Rockman World 4/Mega Man IV and Rockman World 5/Mega Man V
• Beat the Bird Support Unit first appeared in Rockman 5/Mega Man V, and has appeared continuously in other Mega Man games. He was invented by the Russian scientist, Dr. Sergei Cossack, who appeared in Rockman 4/Mega Man IV. At first he pecked at enemies. In other games, he picked up Mega Man if he fell into a hole.
• Tango, a robotic cat, appeared in Rockman World 5/Mega Man V as one of MegaMan's helpful allies. Tango changes itself into a buzzsaw and dives into enemies.
• Auto, the lab-helper robot, first appeared in Rockman 7, Mega Man VII as the runner of the place where Mega Man exchanged bolts for items. He has appeared in other games.
• Eddie, the "walking briefcase" (sometimes also known as 'Fliptop'), first appeared in Rockman 4/Mega Man IV to give Mega Man well-desired items. He had been reduced to onlooker status in Rockman 7/Mega Man VII
• Dr. Albert William Wily, The inventor of the "evil" robots and enemy of the series. He used to be Light's lab assistant before stealing 6 robots to counter Mega Man in the first game.
• Bass (known in the Japanese versions of the games as "Forte") is Mega Man's rival. He was created by Dr. Wily after studying Mega Man in the hopes of making a similar - but more powerful - robot. During his studies, Dr. Wily accidentally discovered an energy source called Bassnium (known as Fortenium in the Japanese games), and then went on to create Bass. Bass is fiercely independent and rebellious, and doesn't always do as Dr. Wily tells him, sometimes even outright fighting against him! His main drive in life is to defeat Mega Man in battle, to the point where he's probably lost sight of what he would do if he ever were to win. He has yet to succeed in any fights with Rock, however, and he takes this badly, because he believes himself to be the strongest robot in the world (as a side-note, Bassnium, as used in Bass' creation, is currently the most powerful energy source on Earth). Nonetheless, he keeps on fighting, determined to be victorious against his rival someday.
• Treble (known as "Gospel" in the Japanese versions) is Bass' equivalent to Mega Man's dog, Rush. Treble is Bass' wolfbot. The two can fuse together, temporarily giving Bass more power, and the ability to fly.
• Duo, a mysterious robot that only made his appearance in the most recent games. He is searching for an evil source of dark energy which he wants to destroy.

The series is set in the ambiguous year 20XX to avoid seeming dated; in Mega Man 2 this was given as 200X, but generally the transition is interpreted as a change in canon rather than an indication of time passing.

Games in the original series

• Mega Man - 1987
• Mega Man 2 - 1989
• Mega Man 3 - 1990
• Mega Man 4 - 1991
• Mega Man 5 - 1992
• Mega Man 6 - 1993
• Mega Man 7 - 1995
• Mega Man 8 - 1997
• Rockman & Forte (Super Famicom, Japan-only) - 1998
• Rockman & Forte (Game Boy Advance, Japan) - 2002
• Mega Man & Bass (English-language GBA translation of Rockman & Forte) - 2003
• Mega Man Anniversary Collection - 2004: An upcoming re-release of Mega Man 1 through 8 plus two previously unreleased U.S. arcade games for the GameCube and PlayStation 2.
• Mega Man Mania/Mega Man Anniversary Collection for Game Boy Advance - 2004: A collection of the five black & white Game Boy Mega Man games, including colourized versions, and unlockable artwork.

MegaMan X/Rockman X series

Similar to the original series, the Mega Man X series features a formerly peaceful robot who, after to a disastrous betrayal, begins fighting to save the world. This robot, named X (hence the series name), is Dr. Light's final creation; he was the most advanced robot ever created, and the first truly sentient robot. As part of a testing procedure to prevent him from becoming dangerous, X lay dormant for thirty years, during which Dr. Light apparently died (though he lives on in the form of a sentient hologram) and the events of the original series were forgotten. In 21XX, X was discovered and awakened by a scientist named Dr. Cain, who used X's design and numerous modified versions to create a race of sentient robots known as "Reploids." However, a mysterious computer virus, apparently contracted from a Reploid-like robot named Zero, spread amongst many of the Reploids, and convinced of their superiority, these so-called "Mavericks" began to terrorize the human race. A task force was created to silence the uprising, and a strong, brilliant Reploid named Sigma was created by Dr. Cain to lead the newly-formed "Maverick Hunters." Sigma managed to defeat Zero in battle, after which he was rebuilt and became a Maverick Hunter himself. Sigma later contracted the Maverick virus and took most of the Hunters with him, leaving X and Zero responsible for defeating the Mavericks and protecting Reploids and humans alike.

It is strongly implied that Zero was the final creation of Dr. Wily -- in Mega Man X2, upon his defeat, Sigma mentions that Zero was "the last of the doctor's creations." To support this theory, Wily, in his later years, was said to have worked on a robot to counter both Mega Man and his own renegade creation, Bass, who described its plans as "girlie-looking" and "long-haired" (as seen in Rockman 2: The Power Fighters).

Despite the different storyline and characters, gameplay is very similar to the original series, with several exceptions (most notably, X and Zero can cling to walls, and Zero is armed with a beam saber rather than the traditional "buster" gun.) Mavericks replace the Robot Masters, and Sigma replaces Dr. Wily. The Mavericks all take the form of robot animals instead of "men." For example, instead of "Flame Man" there is "Flame Stag," instead of "Spark Man" there is "Spark Mandrill" etc. Though some Mavericks have new, never before seen powers, such as "Toxic Seahorse," most have the traditional elemental based weapons of the past games, such as fire, water, air, earth, etc.

There have been a total of eight Mega Man X games: three on the SNES (Mega Man X, Mega Man X2, Mega Man X3), three on the PlayStation (Mega Man X4, Mega Man X5, Mega Man X6), and two on the Nintendo Game Boy Color (Mega Man Xtreme and Mega Man Xtreme 2, which take place between some of the home console Mega Man X titles). Mega Man X3 was re-released in Japan and Europe on the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Additionally, Mega Man X4 also made an appearance on the Saturn. A seventh main-series game, Mega Man X7, has been released for the Sony PlayStation 2. Major characters in the series are X, Zero, Axl (a mysterious youngster with a large scar across his face, who wants to become a Maverick hunter - introduced in X7) Sigma, Dr. Light, Vile (a Maverick working on his own to kill X), Dynamo (a mercenary), Signas (the commander of the Maverick hunters), and Alias (a Maverick hunter who gives X and Zero technical support). Mega Man X7 is the first in the Mega Man X series to be three-dimensional.

There seem to be running jokes with this series in the form of references to Star Wars--in the first game in particular, Zero played a role similar to that of Obi-Wan Kenobi (including dying and his body disappearing) and Sigma fighting with a light saber (Zero, who returned in the second game, gained such a saber himself in the process). The most prominent resemblance is that Vile (known in Japan as Vava) wears something very similar to Boba Fett's distinctive "T" helmet.

It should be noted that the relation of X to the original Mega Man is under dispute. Some fans believe X is an upgraded form of Mega Man; others believe he is a totally different robot who simply has a similar design. Comparisons between the two in terms of personality and technical parameters, as well as X's lack of any memories of the 20XX era, seem to indicate that the two are separate. Keiji Inafune, the man generally associated with being the creator of Rockman, expressed in an interview that Rockman and X are two different robots entirely.

Mega Man Zero/Rockman Zero

After laying dormant for 100 years to permanently remove the Maverick Virus from his systems, Zero (from the X series) awakens in 22XX in a world where Reploids are being constantly accused of being Mavericks and systematically exterminated, apparently under the direction of X himself. Assisting a small resistance group led by a human named Ciel, Zero must fight X's army, including his four generals (named Harpuia, Leviathan, Fefnir, and Phantom), to reach and stop X... who, as it turns out, is a mere imitation of the real X. Gameplay is very similar to that of the X series, although the level select screen is removed in favor of a "mission"-oriented system. Major characters are Zero, Ciel, X, and the generals. There are two games in this series, with a third due in April 2004.

Legends/DASH series

A strange variation on the Mega Man franchise, at first, people thought that MegaMan Legends had no connection to the original or X series at all. In fact, it is set some hundreds of years afterwards (now chronologically taking place long after the Rockman Zero series). !UPDATE! 1/13/04 NOTE: There have been STRONG references from the Mega Man Zero series like those weird eye-symbols (that appear in Mega Man Zero 2 in some parts of the stages) that look EXACTLY like those that appear everywhere in the Legends games, most noteably the first Legends game. And get this, in a sourcebook called Rockman Perfect Memories (officially released by CAPCOM in Japan) stated that, in fact, the Legends series takes place after the X series (or more accurately the Zero series)and even some have speculated such a connection based on comments in the X series, most notably the use of the word "elysium" in one the endings of MegaMan X5). The player controls MegaMan Volnutt, a human teenage boy. MegaMan is a Digger, meaning he goes into underground mazes for a living, fighting ancient robots to find "Refractor" power sources with help from his adopted sister Roll and their grandfather, Barrell Casket. Giving them trouble are the Bonnes, a group of pirates consisting of leader Tiesel Bonne, his sister Tron (who is, ironically, infatuated with MegaMan), the large "baby" robot Bon Bonne (known primarily for his oft-repeated line "Babu!" which has become a catchphrase among the series' fans), and the 40 Servbots (which vaguely resemble well-trained Lego mini-figures). There are only two main MegaMan Legends games at present (the first is available for PlayStation, N64, and PC, though the second is exclusive to the PlayStation), plus a spinoff PlayStation game called "The Misadventures of Tron Bonne" starring Tron Bonne, and the 40 Servbots, in a quest to rescue Tiesel and Bon Bonne ("BABU!"). Main characters include MegaMan Volnutt, Roll Casket, Barrell Casket, and the Bonne family. Characters from this series also cameo in various other Capcom games, and Tron Bonne is a playable character in Marvel Versus Capcom 2. No planning has begun on a third game, which has many of the fans upset, especially due to the cliffhanger ending of the second game.

Battle Network/EXE series

Known as the EXE series in Japan, the MegaMan Battle Network games are RPGs for the Game Boy Advance. The series is set in the year 20XX, in an alternate version of the original universe in which computers, not robots, were the subject of the most research. the result was the PET (PErsonal Terminal), a small computer which is used similarly to a cellular phone or PDA and which contains a customizable artificial intelligence known as a Net Navi (short for Net Navigator). The Battle Network series focuses on the adventures of relatively ordinary fifth-grade student Lan Hikari and his very extraordinary Navi, MegaMan.EXE. Lan and MegaMan fight primarily against the schemes of madman and failed scientist Wily, who is evidently an alternate version of the villain from the original series. This consists mostly of defeating Navis operated by Wily's henchmen. (Incidentally, most (but not all) of the Navis are named after characters from the original series). Out of battle, gameplay is typical RPG fare. In battle, they are a unique hybrid of classic MegaMan gameplay and RPG-style fights. There are four main Battle Network games, all for the Game Boy Advance, as well as several others that are best described as "gaidens".

Characters:

• Hikari Netto (Lan Hikari)

He isn't particularly special, but the bond between him and Rockman allow them to achieve what others may deem impossible.

• Sakurai Meiru (Mayl)

A classmate and friend of Netto, and the operator of Roll.

• Ooyama Dekao (Dex)

A classmate and friend of Netto. The token must-have fat-and-stupid-brute. He operates Gutsman, who is even stupider than him.

• Ijuin Enzan (Chaud)

A member of the Official Net Battler Association, a sort of online police force aginst hacking. Meticulous in his duties. This makes Netto see him as a rival, because he thinks that he's arrogant. The operator of Blues (Protoman).

• Ayamakouji Yaito (Yai)

Bald in front. A classmate and friend of Netto. Considerably younger than the other main characters, as she skipped a few levels due to her intelligence, which for some reason doesn't seem to be used at all. Operator of Glyde.

• Wily

Funding for his studies in robotics was cut in favour of Hikari Tadashi's research on networking. Bitter at how much networking has progressed, he wishes to have vengeance by destroying the internet. A half-bald one-eyed old nutter.

• Forte (Bass)

A mysterious AI navi who roams the deepest recesses of the internet, seeking to do battle with the strongest opponents. His past is intertwined with that of Tadashi Hikari.

• Shuryou Gospel

The leader of Gospel. Not much is known about him, aside from the fact that he looks like he can't possibly be human. (Shuryou Gospel means "Gospel Leader".)

• Shun Obihiro

The Gospel leader's true identity. A young kid whose parents were killed in an airplane crash. Ostracized by his peers, he decided to strike back at society by forming Gospel. Probably a blogger who thinks that everyone cares about him when they don't.

TV

The character of Mega Man, his robotic dog Rush, and mentor Dr. Light appeared in the cartoon series "Captain N: The Game Master" in the United States. A later cartoon series was based completely on Mega Man and his friends and enemies, although they were distinctly different from their video game forms. Mega Man has also been featured in comics and manga in Japan.

There is also an anime based on the Battle Network/EXE series, simply called "Rockman EXE". The first two seasons are loosely based on the first two games of the series but do also include story parts and other elements introduced in the third game (ex. the "N1 Grand Prix" and the PET design). The third season "Rockman EXE Axess" is not directly based on any of the games but contains elements of Rockman EXE 4/Megaman Battle Network 4 which is, as the name implies, the fourth game in the series. A heavily edited version of the anime aires in the USA, Canada and other countries and is called "Megaman NT Warrior".

External links

• Capcom, the official site of the company responsible for the Mega Man games as well as many others.
• Mega Man Home Page, featuring a complete discussion of Mega Man, including theories on connections, explanations of confusing points, and several volumes of fan fiction.
• Bob and George, a popular online comic strip which is set in the world of the Mega Man games. Although events in the strip often contradict the games, it is nonetheless an effective way to learn to understand both the series and its fans.
• Mega Man Network, offers in-depth analyses and guides across the Mega Man saga.
• Planet Mega Man, features a plethora of multimedia files related to Mega Man.
• Titanium Rhapsody, an animated video for Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody featuring the Mega Man cast.
• Rockman.exe Online, fan website with plenty of information related to the EXE series, specially the Rockman EXE anime.