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51
Zero / Re: MegaMan Zero, then and now.
« on: May 23, 2015, 02:10:31 PM »Quote
*1-up sound*
I know, I know, necro-posting, but MM25 had a bit of new info on this one (see second quote-bit below)
I personally don't mind, as long as there's something to discuss.
We also pretty recently acquired this little tidbit:
http://www.usgamer.net/articles/companions-through-life-and-death-time-and-again-the-story-of-inti-creates-and-mega-man
"Capcom, the company itself, wanted to keep on creating the X series," says Aizu. "That’s the reason why both the X series and the Zero series ran in parallel. Our two teams had no communication with each other, so literally we would see the press releases and read them and be like, 'Oh... OK, this part is overlapping too much, so maybe we should change something,' or, 'Oh, our concepts are too far apart, so maybe we should make it a little closer to what they’re creating.'
"Those X games were not created by Inafune. He was working on the Battle Network games at the time. Maybe it's not appropriate for me to talk about this, since it's more of something Inafune should discuss himself, but my perspective as an outsider observing the situation is that it was kind of like he wanted to continue working on those side scrolling Mega Man games, but they were kind of taken away from him. So that’s why he started the Zero series."
"The main concept that we wanted to explore was Zero killing X," says Aizu. "We wanted to come up with something really sensational. There was something about Mega Man Zero at first that we felt wasn't quite right — it wasn't true to our idea of the character. So we tried to resolve that by coming up with this dramatic concept.
"Also, there's a manga series called Kikaider which really influenced me, and Inafune happened to like the concept, too. The Kikaider manga had an anime spin-off called Hakaider. There, the bad guy, Hakaider, becomes the main character and defeats the main character of Kikaider. That struck me as really sensational and stuck in my mind, and that's what inspired me to take the direction we did with Mega Man Zero.
"Originally, Inafune had simply requested a game built around both Zero and X. But I wanted to do something with more impact, so that’s why I came up with this idea."
Surprisingly, Aizu says, this radical rethinking of the series' main cast was met with enthusiasm by the Mega Man fans at Inti Creates — though not everyone shared their feelings.
"Within the team, there was no resistance at all," he recalls. "In fact, right up until we went to master the game, the plot played out with Zero defeating X.
"However, Capcom as a company... it didn’t serve well for the company to have a series in which X is the hero and then another title where that same hero gets killed off. And so because of that, at the very, very, very end, like right before we sent the game to be manufactured, we had to change it so that the X that Zero kills was actually a copy. We didn’t have time to change the game play, though, so just the story changed slightly."
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I've said it before, and Inti basically admitted it themselves in MMZOCW, but I'll say it again: The lack of "22XX" references from Z2 onward is much more justly laid at Inticreates' feet, what with the Dark Elf's origins and such, than it is at any notion of trying to make room for the later X-series titles.
I'm inclined to think that both the X and ZERO side of development kept details intentionally vague in order to avoid stepping on each other's toes while maintaining their own creative freedom.
Without communication between the teams, that was the best either could've done at the time. It's not until after each series concluded / went on hiatus, that the developers have begun to work out the remaining kinks (see ZERO collection timeline).
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Command Mission is a squeeze, but I don't think there's any reason it NEEDS to be an alternate.
Once upon a time I would've had the same opinion. However, if we take every current tidbit of information at face value, there's really no other conclusion to be made:
-21XX, X-series)
-22XX, ZERO-series
-Elf Wars 50 years after X6 Zero End.
-ZERO-series 100 years after Elf Wars.
No matter what, this places the Elf Wars at late 21XX, long before Command Mission's 22XX of 2202+. And as they say in Ace Attorney:
![[objection!]](http://forum.rockmanpm.com/Smileys/default/objection.gif "Objection!")
That's a contradiction.Quote
Any particular reason Zero isn't just as viable? If the later-X-series games and the Zero series have one thing in common, it's that the whole multiple-primary-weapons shpiel kinda became Zero's thing. One could draw parallels between Dark Cross and Shield Boomerang, and the Frost Javelin and Triple Rod maybe.
The primary reason Zero isn't as viable is his continued absence from the Maverick Wars as a Maverick Hunter following X6. One may count Elf Wars as part of the Maverick Wars and forcibly allow it, but that's not the spirit with which the original Shining Arms concept was created. Back then (in RTRZ, pre-Z2) there were no Elf Wars for Zero to have fought in.
52
DASH / Re: The Misadventures of Tron Bonn is coming to PSOne Classics
« on: May 08, 2015, 08:44:44 PM »Quote
I' never got around to playing Tron but I'm glad to see it'll be up for grabs for a low price.
The game is awesome. When I played it for the first time last year, it was the most fun I've had in a long while.
53
Fan Games / Re: Mega Man: Infamous Intent (MM:IFI)
« on: May 04, 2015, 07:25:31 PM »Quote
Can you elaborate on this? What animations specifically look off?
Since you changed Rock's idle, the animations that flow from it should follow suit with equal detail - but they don't. Most egregious are his normal shooting, the jump, and run.
-Shooting lacks motion, retracting only the buster arm by a pixel.
-Jumping stretches the arms excessively in an attempt to improve proportions, while neglecting to update to a more realistic pose.
-Running is too restrained. Similar to the jump animation, it attempts greater realism in proportion but not in pose. Please consider referencing the walk cycles from R7, R8 or Battle and Fighters.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for people redrawing the character sprites, it's a good effort, just needs some more work.
54
Fan Games / Re: Mega Man: Infamous Intent (MM:IFI)
« on: May 03, 2015, 09:47:21 PM »
Main character animations need a lot of work still. Proportion and posture just don't work well for the majority of his frames. Please consider revising them more.
55
Fan Games / Re: Mega Man: Infamous Intent (MM:IFI)
« on: February 01, 2015, 12:24:36 AM »
Just ignore him.
Anyway; I applaud you for attempting to redraw the original sprites.
Anyway; I applaud you for attempting to redraw the original sprites.
56
Gaming / Re: Megaman Anniversary Special Stream feat. Zan Sidera!! (Game Dev Sucks At VG)
« on: December 14, 2014, 12:29:42 AM »
Mega Man V completed. My victory. Next X4.
Edit:
Total Loss on X4
Edit:
Total Loss on X4
57
Gaming / Re: Mighty No. 9
« on: October 07, 2014, 09:04:46 AM »
From what I understand, Comcept funneled in 80k of Backer pledge raisings to guarantee a 100k baseline for voice acting in one language. It now falls on us to decide our preferred language in case future pledges fall short of 200k. As is, we'd either get Japanese or English, and maybe both.
58
Rockman Series / Re: Mega Man Archie Comics
« on: September 02, 2014, 11:52:15 AM »Quote
Keep in mind that he's very possibly just passing on what Capcom told him in terms of it being canon.
Capcom USA.
59
Rockman Series / Re: Mega Man Archie Comics
« on: August 10, 2014, 01:34:49 PM »Quote
I'd say it's just as valid in that sense as any of the GB titles.
That's exactly what I argued. It's an in-house Capcom product, no matter how much Inafune or anyone dislikes it. As such, I can only reckon it's a matter of absent localization instead. Perhaps that's also what's troubling Challenger From The Future most, because outsourcing the World games didn't affect their canon status either.
60
Rockman Series / Re: Mega Man Archie Comics
« on: August 05, 2014, 06:02:17 PM »
Ian Flynn has occasionally mentioned the above over at Bumbleking Forums.
Also, recently he wrote:
Can't say I quite agree with non-canon Super Adventure.
Also, recently he wrote:
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Something to keep in mind: while I'm all about incorporating as much as possible, there are games that aren't considered part of the game canon:
- Super Rockman Adventure
- Rockman & Forte 2: Challengers of the Future
- the tactical RPG with the Constellation Droids
- the awful PC ports with Shark Man and the like
- the Monopoly-esque board game
Obviously, I've been allowed to use some of this. (e.g. Ra Moon, Mayor L. Derado) Some stuff I've specifically been told not to use (Rockman & Forte 2). But when trying to rationalize the time travel and alien elements, or lack thereof, you should consider that most of the alien encounters and time travel didn't happen as far as the main series is concerned.
Can't say I quite agree with non-canon Super Adventure.
61
Rockman Series / Re: Bridging the gap. The Classic to X interim. What do we know?
« on: June 15, 2014, 02:01:03 PM »Quote
Sigma was not born of the virus, he bonded with it as a matter of circumstance and proceeded to manipulate it from there. Chop Register "is" the virus. Shurikein "is" the virus. Sigma is not. Sigma is sustained by the virus. Sigma uses the virus. Sigma uses others through the virus. But Sigma no more "is" the virus than Wily is.
Doppler: Sigma's true form is that of a computer virus... I was corrupted by him and... I created a horrific new body for him...
Doppler: Sigma's consciousness is... a malignant program virus... he brainwashed me. I regretfully made him a dreadful body...
Fact of the matter is: an entity merged with the virus cannot compare to Zero's unique virus countermeasures.
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It depends, you need to clarify what "limitless potential" refers to.
Dr. Light: I have given you the power to think... to worry and to grow and evolve as you fight, but... it is too soon for that power to be unleashed...
"Limitless Evolutionary Potential", as Light defined it, applies to combat and human-robot relations both. X's ability to think, feel and worry is an innate part of it, but his physical growth and variability are also second to none. Zero does not grow stronger like X does.
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In battle, though, "the strongest in the universe", who is "something far greater than what you appear to be", can overcome any challenge just the same as "limitless potential" can.
Zero, by his base specs, skill, and virus countermeasures, has great potential to become the "strongest in the universe". This is true. X, however, can exceed Awakened Zero still.
62
Rockman Series / Re: Bridging the gap. The Classic to X interim. What do we know?
« on: June 12, 2014, 11:01:23 PM »Quote
Wily has made multiple copies of him (Mega Man V), and we should assume only a copy was destroyed in that instance.
Even if a copy was not destroyed, very few robots in classic have died permanently.
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That's an interesting theory, but I don't see X-series Wily as having the same agenda as Classic-series Wily. X-series Wily is all about the rivaly with Light/X on a more personal level, making absolutely no moves for any recognition or domination in any way. He only seems to intervene directly when Zero's survival is at stake.
That and we've been told the X-series has a dead Wily back by the virus.
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Zero is OBVIOUSLY not the only Reploid to utilize the virus, since Sigma does so on a regular basis. Their methods are vastly different, sure, but when Sigma can use the virus itself as a battle form such as in X2, how is that not a source of strength?
Sigma is the virus, Zero is not.
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My issue is, that theory implies that the "special" nature of Zero's heart is by and large inferior to that of X.
X and Zero both have heart. Zero has higher base specs, X has Limitless Potential. Neither are the same as heart.
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by that logic, Zero should not be able to defeat Omega.
There's no doubt in my mind that regular Zero's performance against his awakened self would not have differed from X's.
Furthermore, Zero did not beat Omega alone. It almost required the ultimate sacrifice of three others.
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I wonder if at some point Wily attempted to use it to go back in time to use his current knowledge of robots to beat Light in the robot race so to speak.
He did in Megaworld.
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Then there's High Max.
Zero's DNA holds amazing promise, but the original remains superior. Neither Zero nor his copies have any form of Limitless Potential. To imply otherwise devalues X's growth throughout X6.
63
Entertainment / Re: Disney/Lucasfilm, EpVII coming Dec. 2015, post-RotJ EU non-canon
« on: May 08, 2014, 03:33:56 PM »Quote
the death of the EU
What makes these new movies any less "expanded universe" than anything else not part of the original trilogy?
64
Entertainment / Re: Disney/Lucasfilm, EpVII coming Dec. 2015, post-RotJ EU non-canon
« on: May 03, 2014, 01:59:33 PM »
Canon and continuity exist only in relative terms. From either perspective, one or the other is ignored to promote narrative consistency. If it fits: it fits. If it doesn't: it doesn't. The EU already has problems of consistency within itself, why do these new movies matter any more or less? Just consider them an alternate telling of the post-RotJ era.
65
Gaming / Re: Ridley
« on: April 18, 2014, 04:43:53 PM »Quote
Which brings me to my next point: Other M, despite emphasizing such a fact occurred, never even bothered to tell the players such an event happened, in spite of all its other flashbacks.
I find it incredibly ironic how people criticize Other M for its copious monologues only to shut down their brains during actual efforts at subtle presentation.
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character regression (Samus revisiting a problem she already resolved, even IN the manga)
PTSD, of its very nature, does not surface lest one lowers their defenses.
Samus believed Ridley to have died for good with the destruction of the Zebesian Space Pirates. She had, at long last, closed off that chapter of her life. This, Adam and the infant Metroid, left Samus unprepared for Ridley's sudden return.
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assassination (her once boundless courage is now revoked, destroying her larger-than-life superhero status).
Courage is not absence of fear, it is triumph over fear. Her past victories against Ridley are empowered by this knowledge.
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eligibility to be a playable character in Smash Bros
Do want playable Mother Brain.
66
Gaming / Re: Hamster Drop is released!
« on: April 13, 2014, 09:10:57 PM »
How do you like the game itself, Flame?
67
Gaming / Re: Gunvolt [New Inafune & Inti Creates game]
« on: March 17, 2014, 04:51:01 PM »Quote
2D Metroid has walljumping, but it's never required and only seen as an advance technique that eventually becomes superseded by Space Jump
I don't think you can compare Gunvolt's wall climbing to the unnecessarily complex Metroid mechanic.
68
Gaming / Re: Gunvolt [New Inafune & Inti Creates game]
« on: March 16, 2014, 09:21:31 PM »
The wallclimbing mechanic is similar to "Model a", if anything.
69
Rockman Series / Re: Bridging the gap. The Classic to X interim. What do we know?
« on: March 14, 2014, 04:38:13 AM »Quote
if it and not Zero is the very source of the power, then it downgrades Zero's "special" status
I must respectfully disagree.
No matter what, the ability to attain further power from the virus is Zero's alone. Even if the Sigma Virus is the new strongest energy Wily spoke of, that doesn't diminish Zero's default qualities in the slightest. His abilities (power, mobilty, skill, instinct and adaptability) are all formidable, extraordinary even, just not at the absolute peak of "strongest in the universe".
It's like a Forte without Fortenium: a sturdy and mobile design - very much Rockman's equal, never his superior. Fortenium serves to raise Forte's combat capabilities beyond the limitations of his specs, just as the Sigma Virus does for Zero. Let's not forget that Zero, for all intents and purposes, does not have Limitless Evolutionary Potential. What makes Zero "special" is not the same as X's.
70
Rockman Series / Re: Bridging the gap. The Classic to X interim. What do we know?
« on: March 12, 2014, 03:22:40 PM »Quote
Even the project being the virus at all is something that we only infer. It is something that fits, that does not make it a proven fact.
I did write "presumably" in the original post.
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Fortenium is an object, solar/atomic refer to processes.
True, although we have no source stating that Zero runs on anything else than standard fuels for a standard solar/atomic generator. His "unknown power" lies concealed by mysterious facets of his design that defy traditional analysis.
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Zero's power source is not Fortenium, this is true, but Fortenium is relevant to the discovery of whatever does power Zero. Bass has been tied to many things, including to some degree emotion and heart, but energy life forms aren't one of them.
As I mentioned before, that scene presents several ideas at once:
1) Wily dislikes Forte's disobedience and regrets creating him.
2) Currently Fortenium is the strongest energy on Earth, but that's not for long. Wily learned from the accident that made Forte and Fortenium.
3) Wily created a new type of robot with a far superior power level. It's not yet complete. It's also much more than just a simple robot.
These points hold the following implications:
1) Wily will do anything in his power to avoid another disobedient robot. This is however exactly what Zero turned out to be prior to correction by the Sigma Virus.
2) An energy that exceeds Fortenium does not yet exist. It's a hypothetical, a concept. The Alien Energy at the forefront of Power Fighters' plot is thereby weaker than Fortenium. This new energy still needs to go through the many uncertain stages of research and development. Despite this, Wily has complete confidence in Zero's design. This time it won't be an accidental creation.
3) Wily clearly highlights the technical complexity of Zero's design. The exact specifics of his systems are known only to Wily. Other than him, Sigma has the greatest understanding of these secrets.
---Sigma: I met an old man who knows a lot about you... He told me an interesting story. He told me that you are something far greater than what you appear to be... On his advice, I scattered the Virus so that it could infiltrate you, but you haven't shown any signs of waking up...
---Zero: I won't become a Maverick! I won't yield to your pitiful virus!
---Sigma: Hee hee hee. You don't seem to understand. I'm not talking about becoming a Maverick. You felt it, didn't you. You felt a tremendous power fill your body... A power from the Virus. That is because the Virus purifies your body.
You may doubt Sigma's words, but he's actually correct in his assessment. Zero, who was once an irregular, won't become an irregular from the infection (ZERO Collection timeline). Thereby, power comes from the virus. The virus purifies his body. Zero's greatest level of strength comes from contact with the subspecies of a virus Wily created at least two whole games after Power Fighters.
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My main shpiel is that while the virus certainly serves to draw tremendous power from Zero, I do not believe that Zero requires it to overpower Bass.
Yes, default Zero overpowers Forte, but so too does default RockmanX (and the combat Repliroids of 21XX).
Neither "the strongest energy" and "Limitless Potential" factor into this equation. As I see it, Forte mimics Rockman, Zero and X do not. By raw specs alone, they are superior to a dated design powered by Fortenium. Their "unknown power" of unanalyzable mystery only serves to completely topple the scales.
71
Rockman Series / Re: Bridging the gap. The Classic to X interim. What do we know?
« on: March 10, 2014, 01:13:05 PM »
World 2 included a time machine Wily stole from a time research institute, that didn't work until after Wily made some alterations. It could only travel into the future and back again.
Mega World included two time machines Wily and Light build themselves, these could travel into the past to both change and restore the future.
So... dangerous, unethical technology banned then lost seems like a pretty good guess to me.
Mega World included two time machines Wily and Light build themselves, these could travel into the past to both change and restore the future.
So... dangerous, unethical technology banned then lost seems like a pretty good guess to me.
72
Original / Re: Rockman Gigamix NamCap OP Promotion~
« on: March 09, 2014, 04:03:40 PM »Quote
I'm guessing Gigamix had World 5 and Super Adventure arcs?
R8 / World5 actually. Ariga redesigned Dark Moon to resemble Ra Moon more.
73
Rockman Series / Re: Bridging the gap. The Classic to X interim. What do we know?
« on: March 07, 2014, 05:57:30 AM »Quote
I consider the Maverick Virus to be separate from the Bassnium derivative/refinement that was key to Zero's construction. The fact that Zero essentially suffers a more extreme version of Bass's malfunction prior to viral infection seems to point to a tie between them independent of the virus. The implication I take from that is that the Maverick Virus is probably the "other project" that Wily references in the Power Fighters ending, especially if he's already expecting Zero to take a long time to complete.
The context of their discussion is threefold:
-Forte's disobedience.
-Creation of the strongest robot, Zero.
-Creation of an energy stronger than Fortenium.
Within that context, the "other project" is not only the new energy, but it is also the Sigma Virus which corrects Zero's behavior. Nothing else fits the reference.
Remember, Zero does not run Fortenium. His body contains a common solar or atomic generator. Overt displays of raw power do not fit his fighting style, lest he comes into contact with the virus first.
To paraphrase X5:
When the virus infiltrates his systems, it does not turn him into an Irregular. It instead clears his mind. A tremendous power fills his body. A power from the virus. The virus purifies his body.
I think you and I can both agree this is Zero's one true and greatest form.
Now, we can go to great lengths to theorize how perhaps Zero does not just absorb the Sigma Virus. Perhaps it's indeed caused by some sort catalysis: like a prototypical variation of Convergent Ignition by Energen Linkage [to Cyber-Elves]. No matter how you cut it: by Zero's unique reaction to the virus, he produces a power far beyond Fortenium and becomes the strongest robot Wily spoke of. In this form, he may yet conquer Right's ultimate creation... and his limitless potential.
I do agree, however, that Zero's primary ability (as utilized in gameplay) comes from within. Both of body and of mind, his strength has triumphed over many foes across three different eras. From Learning Ability, to the Form System, to sheer raw specs, Zero's a force to be reckoned with. Still, it's only when combined with an external superpower that we see his full potential unleashed. That, after all, was the very basis of Dr. Vile's Project Elpis.
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If I had to throw my own fan theory out there, I'd wager Mega Man and co just decided to deactivate themselves. It doesn't make sense for them to die or whatever in some epic battle when classic, due to its episodic nature, never intends to finish in the first place.
I must ask, why does Rockman have to die? Sure, he's not around in 21XX or any other of the later eras of Earth history, but his fate is not so set in stone. A whole universe of possibility exists.
74
Rockman Series / Re: Bridging the gap. The Classic to X interim. What do we know?
« on: March 04, 2014, 01:35:20 PM »Quote
However, despite all that, I still have to wonder: "Why does it matter?" Aside from MAYBE Zero/ZX all of the Megaman games are bullshit in terms of plot. I won't try to stop you from theorizing but...
Well, maybe it's just my grumpy personality but I just don't feel it. The plot of the games is so [tornado fang]ing terrible, mostly because they just kept tucking on [parasitic bomb] with each of the games.
Yes, I agree, the plot does have severe issues for the very reason you describe.
They're games, old ones at that.
From classic all throughout the X-series, each entry is a standalone story, with limited opportunities for actual storytelling. Plus Capcom spread the franchise far too thin across too many different development teams, unhinging several core themes.
However, the "Mega Man" and "Mega Man X" games always did have something special about them. Not just its gameplay and music, but also its colorful characters and setting.
Far more than the story of the games, its the efforts of people like Yoshihiro Iwamoto, Hitoshi Ariga, Ian Flynn (and also the devoted fan!) who use their own imagination to capture that 'magic' while providing a coherent plot at the same. If you haven't already, I urge you to pick up a copy of Gigamix Volume 2. It's a great example of how to combine scattered pieces of lore into an epic.
75
Rockman Series / Bridging the gap. The Classic to X interim. What do we know?
« on: March 04, 2014, 02:56:33 AM »
Little is known about the interim between the Mega Man and Mega Man X series. An official outline of events does exist, but the developers prefer to leave matters to our own imaginations [1]. With this topic, I hope to piece together the fragmented bits of information we have on this elusive time period, supplying reference whenever needed.
Time Travel
Our first glimpse of the future comes courtesy of Quint. That enigmatic robot is actually Mega Man himself [2]!
Mega Man and Mega Man?
For those unfamiliar with the story of “World 2”, Wily once stole an experimental time machine from a time-space research lab and used it to spy on Mega Man’s future *1.
He arrived in a peaceful world, free of conflict, in which an older Wily had reformed and Rock had reverted back into a household robot [3]. By conspiring with his future self, Wily kidnapped Rock and turned him into Quint before returning to the present.
So what does this mean for Mega Man’s future? Will Rock inevitably become Quint? What happened afterward?
“Challenger from the Future”, despite it's questionable status in the canon, does give us a little more insight [4]. In that game, we’re introduced to yet another time travelling foe. While many confuse him for Quint, “Mega Man Shadow” is actually another robot from Quint's future time, made in Mega Man’s image.
Mega Man Shadow and the Dimensions.
When he arrived in the past and attacked Symphony City, Shadow told the following: the future Wily has not given up on his ambition of world conquest.
A lie, however. In his dying breath Shadow admits that Wily truthfully did not continue his evil ways. Though, he does reveal a bleak future in which Shadow himself became mad with power, desired to destroy the world, and faced ever stronger foes until no-one remained to stop him.
In the end, Bass and Rock both learn valuable lessons from Shadow’s tale. They vow not to go down this same path. Their determination gives us hope that perhaps, and only perhaps, Rock will not become Quint and a new future may be written.
Mega Man
The fate of our hero is officially unknown. Though it may seem destined for Rock to become Quint and meet a poetic demise in battle against himself, this future represents only a possibility. As changes from the past ripple onward into the future, so too might the present stray from this set path *2.
Mega Man and Quint in a heated battle for the future.
Using our imagination, limitless scenarios can serve to explain Mega Man’s absence from the X-series. While we know that Rock did not become Mega Man X (they're separate entities) [7] [27] [28], one other explanation in particular has acquired much infamy over the years.
As many fans have asked: did Zero kill Mega Man? And if he did, who else?
Keiji Inafune’s personal stance is that Zero did NOT in fact kill anyone. It’s not in his profile [5]. Furthermore, the man has expressed a great distaste for excessive violence in the classic series [6]. Also let us not underestimate Mega Man in a theoretical battle against Zero.
Though Zero is a fearsome robot built by the late Dr. Wily as his most advanced creation ever, designed specifically to outclass any other robot of 20XX - including the original Megaman [26]. Zero can still suffer defeat against an enemy with strength of heart [29] (as well as many allies). Remember, just as Wily created Zero, Light created X. As X can be considered a more advanced version of Mega Man [28] (equipped with the Mega Buster Mk. 17). Dr. Light may very well put X’s weapon and armor technology to good use if Rock requires such an upgrade, echoing the events of "Mega Man V" (Rockman World 5)
Magnum Opus
Light and Wily – eternal rivals – conversing their dying wishes to their last creations.
Dr. Light is remembered in history as “the father of robotics” [8], Dr. Wily as “the legendary mad scientist” [9].
Despite their differences, Wily and Light lived the last days of their lives in clear parallel. They both completed their magnum opus in secret before passing on. Dr. Light left a program with his personality to play back messages for X (which, for all intents and purposes, is the good doctor in person), whereas Dr. Wily was brought back by the virus [10] (perchance as Serges and/or Isoc, but most certainly as the ‘Old Man’ from X5). A hundred years into the future, the two continue to deliver aid in their own unique ways.
X and Zero, parallels in every way.
Humans and robots
The groundwork laid by Dr. Light led to further technological developments over the course of a century. Though certain robot designs have withstood the test of time with minor changes (Mettaurs [11] and Battons [12]) others were quickly replaced, like how state-of-the-art phones become obsolete in less than a decade [13].
Still, a century later, little progress has been made in the field of humanoid robots until Cain’s creation of the Reploids. In “Maverick Hunter X”, Dr. Light gives us a plausible explanation why: not only does he have no one to carry on his work, humanity is not yet ready to accept a robot as humanlike as X. They fear the dangers he represents.
This should come as no surprise: not only did the world suffer great fear through Dr. Wily’s repeated attempts of world domination [14], invincible combats robots have also been used as weapons of war [15].
X doing battle with the invincible combat robots of bygone days.
While Light never doubted X’s reliability for a minute, it took thirty years of ethical testing to persuade others of that fact.
Mega Man X
As early as The Power Battle, Dr. Light mentioned how robots don’t just need to increase their physical strength; they need to improve their cognitive programs. He spoke about giving robots the ability “to worry”. Like humans, they need to determine what is right and wrong by themselves [16] *4.
What robots truly need!
The first robot granted this experimental ability is Mega Man X, whose very name (the variable “X”) represents “Limitless Potential.” Created with a much more advanced A.I., he is Mega Man's successor [27].
One little known fact is that the original Japanese manual contains an extended version of X1’s “Warning” message:
WARNING
In it, Dr. Light ascribes X’s humanlike A.I. to “the act of worrying”. If extended to matters that by nature must not be questioned (e.g. if robot were to harm a human deliberately) the result would be disastrous. Humankind would tremble with fear, the like of which was unknown even in the days of the Dr. Wily incidents [14].
Though X “worries” most of all (as said in “Maverick Hunter X” *5), the Reploids have in fact inherited his ability. Based on X’s data and equipped with a “suffering circuit”, as to be biased toward neither side, they are fated to continuously worry about which side in society they should stand upon [17]. This is what gives him the ability to think, reason and act totally independently [27]. Older robots, despite having a conscience, personality and emotions [18], do not possess the same ability to disobey their human masters [19].
While Dr. Light always kept a positive outlook on the future – seeing X as the world’s hope and dreaming of human-robot coexistence – he was also a cautious man. Not only did he seal X away for 30 years ethical testing and limited X’s strength whenever possible, he also anticipated X would do battle against robots infected by computer viruses. To that end, he equipped X with the perfect virus countermeasure [20] *9. The good doctor may have dabbled in very dangerous research, he understood the risks well and took every precaution to prevent the worst possible outcome.
Zero
As a robot possessing impressive A.I. and an infinite Bassnium power source [19], Bass has gone against his own creator several times. His accidental creation and subsequent defiance led to Dr. Wily developing an energy stronger than Bassnium (the Maverick Virus, presumably) and a robot more powerful than Bass or Mega Man, or anyone.
ZERO
Chronologically, Zero first appeared in The Power Fighters when Wily showed his design to Bass (X2 form, X3 buster, no Z-saber). However, it would be some time before Wily completed this project. It would also appear that Wily ran into some difficulties. *4
Zero (X1 design) contained a flaw in his cognitive program that made him violent and unwilling to obey instructions (like Bass). For this very reason, Dr. Wily himself sealed Zero in a capsule [21] [26] *6 *9.
In 21XX, an unknown computer virus (a subspecies of Roboenza) emerged from the capsule Zero slumbered in and began driving robots mad locally [22] *7 *9. Later Zero awoke from his capsule and wiped out Garma’s unit of Maverick Hunters before doing battle with Sigma. During this confrontation, the virus infected both of them at the same time (bypassing Zero’s imperfect virus countermeasure / antibodies through a breach in his armour). This event led to Zero’s personality changing completely. Reborn as a good Reploid, he joined the Maverick Hunters [17] [23] [26] *8 *9.
Since the above may seem contradictory. It’s important to note that the Maverick Virus serves a double purpose. First, when negated by his anti-virus systems, it empowers Zero to near invincibility. Second, through direct application (X2) or overexposure (X5), the virus awakens Zero’s true self. Thereby the Maverick Hunter is not the end product of virus infection, but rather an intermediate state born from attempted correction of the Irregular Zero. Awakened Zero (not Irregular Zero) is the strongest robot Wily envisioned, subservient to his cause.
Awakened Zero, powerful, calm, collected, and under Wily’s control.
Additional Notes
[spoiler]
*1 The US manual for “World2” gives us the name Chronos Institute for the time-space research lab and “Time Skimmer” for their time machine. Wily travelled approximately 37.426 years into the future. By this figure, the future Wily would be around 90 years of age.
*2 Mega World / Wily Wars proves that time travel to the past can change the future. A temporal loop may still occur, however.
*3 Mega Man 9 introduces a law limiting the lifespan of robots. This may further explain the future absence of older model robots (humanoid or otherwise). However, we do not know if this law persisted after the incident. Furthermore, robots like Rock and Roll are clear exceptions to the law.
*4 The Power Battle occurs after Mega Man 7, before Mega Man 8. The Power Fighters occurs half a year after Mega Man 8.This puts the full production of X and Zero quite late into the timeline.
*5 The script differs between the original X1 and Maverick Hunter X, however the two versions are not incompatible. For the purpose of this text, they’re treated as complementary.
*6 Zero’s capsule was stored inside a warehouse/store in the Rocky Mountains. This is the same approximate region in which X was also found, later dubbed the “Forbidden Area”.
*7 The English version of Mega Man Zero Official Complete Works disagrees with the Japanese original on this subject [17]. The Sigma Virus does not actually originate from X’s suffering circuit (that we know of). The circuit is however mentioned as the “true form” or “true essence” of the Sigma Virus (in function, not in origin). On the old (but now defunct) Mega Man Network forums, the person tasked with the English adaptation of the book had expressed difficulty interpreting the paragraph in question.
*8 This information echoes the early concept scenario from Mega Man Zero Official Complete Works [17], though the detail of Zero being the “first” Reploid infected seems to have changed. The Idiom Dictionary of the same book, however, does mention that Zero was discovered as the source of the virus outbreak (the only one infected with the virus initially). Furthermore, Rockman Perfect Memories reckons that Zero was born with the virus already inside of him [24], whereas Keiji Inafune claims Zero passed the virus to Sigma [25]. Given his natural immunity and close proximity, it’s quite probable that Zero became a carrier of the virus long before it affected his mind.
*9 Information from the timeline section of the Rockman Zero Collection official site has been removed during the latest overhaul. While this may discredit its validity, one can still cross-reference the information with other sources to affirm its accuracy. [26], for example, recites many of the Zero-specific details.[/spoiler]
References
[spoiler]
[1]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2013/02/02/the-times-they-are-a-changin/
Q03: Has what happened in the interim between the Rockman series and the Rockman X series been decided? Or is there no canon version of what happened?
CAPCOM: Of course there is such an outline, but don’t expect an official announcement of it. Players have always enjoyed using their imaginations to come up with their own conclusions, and we wouldn’t want to take that away from them…
[2]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2011/03/14/its-quintn-time/
[3]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2010/09/20/ask-me-3-the-final-lesson/
Q. I read that Quint is supposed to be the future Rockman who was remodeled, but does that mean that in the future Rockman loses to Dr. Wily?
A. Ah… That’s quite an inexorable situation. As we came to understand later on, in the future that “Quint” came from even Wily himself had reformed, resulting in a peaceful world that was free of conflict. As would naturally occur in such a setting, the “battle functions” had been already been removed from “Quint”. And that’s when our Wily showed up with that time machine and attacked, or so we understand.
[4]
http://megaman.wikia.com/wiki/Rockman_%26_Forte:_Mirai_Kara_no_Chousensha_Script
[5]
http://www.capcom-unity.com/s-kill/blog/2008/09/05/inafunesan_answers_your_questions
1) Did Zero really "kill" the family between the events of the Classic Mega Man and X series?
KI: No, Zero did not kill them. According to the way I created him, Zero is not such a person--it is not in his profile.
[6]
Mega Man Complete Works
The ultimate unspoken rule about making a game that is geared toward children is that you simply cannot kill anyone.
[7]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2010/07/05/rockman-x-origins-2/
"Our protagonist this time is X, who is of course an entirely different person from Rockman."
[8]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2010/07/05/rockman-x-origins-2/
In this game, Dr. Right has already become a historic figure, known as the “Father of Robotics”.
[9]
Sagesse (Serges)
Leader of the 3 main Counter Hunters. Like the legendary mad scientist, he is a super genius!
[10]
http://www.capcom-unity.com/s-kill/blog/2008/09/05/inafunesan_answers_your_questions
KI: A large amount of time has passed between the classic series and Mega Man X. Dr. Wily had died in the interim but was brought back by the virus.
[11]
Mettool C-15
Repliroid who watches the factory. From the former series that
worked at the factory, but this time they were actually advanced
enough so as to be placed as chiefs of the factory.
[12]
Batton M-501
Bat type mechaniroid which Batton Bone is based on.
It is a very unusual mechaniroid, made over 30 years ago.
[13]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2013/02/02/the-times-they-are-a-changin/
Q02: Why aren’t the robots from the original Rockman time period still around in the Rockman X time period? Especially since there are some robots with only minor changes.
CAPCOM: When you consider that state of the art mobile phones become obsolete in less than a decade, you can imagine how after 100 years you wouldn’t expect to see too many old models still remaining. There are indeed a few Metalls and Battons and such still around albeit with minor changes, so perhaps that’s because their designs are so enduring?
[14]
http://rockmanpm.com/?p=x/rockmanx1/manuals
“X” presents many problems inconceivable in existing robots. There is a danger he may worry over or question even the absolute requirement for robots, “Do not harm a human.”
The act of worrying in “X” marks a new epoch in robotics and is the first time this experiment has succeeded, but if it extends to matters that by their nature must not be questioned, it would be disastrous. In the worst case, if a robot were to harm humans deliberately, humankind would tremble with fear the like of which was unknown even in the days of the “Dr. Wily” incidents…
I conclude that “X” is an extremely dangerous being. If I am to send “X” out into the world, he must have a verification period of 30 years at the least. However, I do not have that long to live, and regrettably there is no one who understands all my research to carry it on for me.
Therefore I seal “X” here. If by some chance there is someone who discovers this capsule, as long as “X’s” thinking has not been fully analyzed, please leave him untouched. “X” is a robot laden with both unlimited possibility and unlimited danger…
Sep. 18 AD20XX
T. Right
[15]
Old Robot
Combat robot used in wars of the past. Heavily armored, attacks were once
useless on this invincible robot, but with the end of the wars, it was turned
to scrap. Where the armor is missing in the center is its weak point.
[16]
Dr. Right: それはにんげんと同じように考え、なやむことじゃ。 ロボットのパワーを強くするだけでは、おろかなたたかいなくならない。 しこうかいろのプログラムをもっとパワーアップさせなくてはならないな。
Dr. Right: It is that robots have thinking and troubles similar to humans. If only robots' power is strengthened, foolish fights will never end. We must further power up the cognitive program.
Dr. Light: Like humans, the robot has to determine what is right and what is wrong by itself. Robots are not supposed to hurt humans. We need to research more on A.I. program.
[17]
Mega Man Zero Official Complete Works
Sigma Virus
The terrifying virus that causes a Reploid to go Maverick. The virus actually originated from one of the circuits that Dr. Light installed in X's brain. The circuits function was to keep X neutral and unbiased in matters concerning humans and Reploids. Tragically, the very same circuit condemned X to a life plagued by the philosophical question that weighed the value of humans against that of Reploids - a question to which there was no answer. Zero was the first Reploid to be infected by the virus, but as an android created solely for evil, destructive purposes by Dr. Wily, the virus affected him uniquely. Instead of going Maverick, the virus turned Zero into a warrior driven by goodness, not evil. Unfortunately, by tirelessly fulfilling his destiny as a Maverick Hunter, Zero inadvertently spread the virus throughout the world. Eventually, as the host of the virus, Zero was taken to a research facility for study.
Rockman Zero Official Complete Works
Sigma Virus
The dreadful Sigma Virus that transforms repliroid to irregular.
The true form of which, was a suffering circuit Right inserted into X during the time of his creation.
A repliroid which possesses a suffering circuit,
in regards to a society where humans and repliroids coexist,
so as to be biased towards neither side,
it is fated always to worry continuously as to which side it should stand upon.
Zero was the first repliroid to be infected with the Sigma Virus but
Zero which was developed by Wily to be a completely evil repliroid,
despite being infected by Sigma Virus isn't transformed into an irregular, [instead]
was reborn as a good repliroid.
But,
as Zero bustled about for the sake of fulfilling his missions as an Irregular Hunter
the Sigma virus lying dormant within his own body was scattered throughout the world
inviting an ironic result.
And so Zero, having become carrier of the Sigma Virus, was admitted to the research facility.
[18]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2010/09/20/ask-me-3-the-final-lesson/
Q. Do robots like those made by Dr. Wily or Dr. Cossack have self-awareness, and can they talk? And do they run on solar energy like Rockman does?
A. I take it you’d like to know if Wily and Cossack’s robots possess “sentience”? Naturally, they each have a “consciousness”, although the level of every “cognitive circuit” embedded inside each one of them varies, producing as many different “personality” types as found in people… Just like you or I, they can speak, and have emotional responses like shyness, or anger, just as we do.
Regarding their energy systems, many of them do utilize “solar energy” in some way
[19]
http://www.themmnetwork.com/blog/2011/04/22/rockman-online-gets-a-little-bass-in-its-voice
Forte possess impressive AI, and for that reason he, unlike other robots, appears to be able to disobey his own master's orders. This has points of similarity to the AI of present day Repliroids.
Should nothing else come up that's contradictory to this information, this robot, with consideration to the special characteristics of his infinite Fortenium power source, has a high likelihood of being closely similar to the prototypes of this era.
[20]
http://www.themmnetwork.com/blog/2010/04/09/does-the-rockman-zero-collection-storyline-explain-everything
Hypothesizing X could battle robots infected by viruses, he gave X the perfect virus counter-measure.
[21]
http://www.themmnetwork.com/blog/2010/04/09/does-the-rockman-zero-collection-storyline-explain-everything
Zero was produced by Dr. Wily, who schemed at taking over the world. But he contained a flaw in his cognitive program that made him violent and unwilling to obey instructions, so Dr. Wily himself sealed Zero in a capsule.
[22]
http://www.themmnetwork.com/blog/2010/04/09/does-the-rockman-zero-collection-storyline-explain-everything
A subspecies of the terrible computer virus from long ago is generated, and begins driving robots mad locally. The human leadership acknowledges these infected robots as Mavericks, and orders them to be disposed of. The source was found to be an unknown computer virus that had prevailed over 100 years ago emerging from the capsule Zero slumbered in.
[23]
http://www.themmnetwork.com/blog/2010/04/09/does-the-rockman-zero-collection-storyline-explain-everything
Receiving information of Zero awakening from his capsule and causing violence, the Maverick Hunter Sigma finds and intercepts him. during this incident, Sigma is infected by the unknown computer virus leaking out from Zero's capsule, but at the same time Zero, having his armor damaged in the battle with Sigma, also becomes infected with the virus. Due to this, Zero's personality completely changed, and he would turn to working as a Maverick Hunter.
[24]
Rockman Perfect Memories:
Exactly what kinds of secrets are sleeping in Zero's past?
Zero has almost no memory of the past. However, sometimes he seems to see a person resembling Dr. Wily in his dreams. And it's also said that Zero was born with the Sigma Virus already inside of him. His creation is it actually to battle with whom? One would never think it was for justice, however...
X: He was made by Dr. Right. Will the time for his fated battle with Zero come?
Dr. Wily: The one who put the Sigma Virus in Zero is, perhaps him......
[25]
http://www.capcom-unity.com/s-kill/blog/2008/09/05/inafunesan_answers_your_questions
Sigma was a powerful leader of the Maverick Hunters but after Zero passed the virus to him, his allegiance changed. Circumstances can change anything, and nothing is absolute.
[26]
First 4 Figures Zero bio figurine:
"Zero is fearsome robot designed and built by the late Dr. Wily as his most advanced creation ever, designed specifically to outclass any other robot of the time, including the original Megaman. Due to an initial flaw in Zero’s programming, he proved to be a dangerous and unpredictable machine, refusing to follow his creator’s orders, leading to him being locked away. Following a brutal battle with Sigma upon reawakening, Zero was brought under control, and now fights as a formidable member of the Maverick Hunters alongside X."
[27]
First 4 Figures X figurine bio:
"X is the final and greatest creation of Dr. Thomas Light, and created as a successor to the original Mega Man. Unlike the original, X was created with a much more advanced A.I that allowed him to think, reason and act totally independently. Once created, X was initially sealed away by his creator, fearing that his incredibly complex mind and programming could endanger the planet should he choose to act with evil intentions. After eventually being discovered and having been awoken by Dr. Cain many years after his creation, X joins the Maverick Hunters to help fight off a new generation of renegade machines: The Reploids."
[28]
Compendium of Rockman X:
CONNECTION TO OTHER WORKS
The setting of Rockman X is established about 100 years after the world of Rockman. It seems that after Dr. Light built Rockman, he developed X as a still more advanced version. Also, someone resembling Wily can be glimpsed in Zero’s vicinity.
[29]
Mega Man ZERO:
UnknownX: The heart is what counts. Not the body...
[/spoiler]
Time Travel
Our first glimpse of the future comes courtesy of Quint. That enigmatic robot is actually Mega Man himself [2]!
Mega Man and Mega Man?
For those unfamiliar with the story of “World 2”, Wily once stole an experimental time machine from a time-space research lab and used it to spy on Mega Man’s future *1.
He arrived in a peaceful world, free of conflict, in which an older Wily had reformed and Rock had reverted back into a household robot [3]. By conspiring with his future self, Wily kidnapped Rock and turned him into Quint before returning to the present.
So what does this mean for Mega Man’s future? Will Rock inevitably become Quint? What happened afterward?
“Challenger from the Future”, despite it's questionable status in the canon, does give us a little more insight [4]. In that game, we’re introduced to yet another time travelling foe. While many confuse him for Quint, “Mega Man Shadow” is actually another robot from Quint's future time, made in Mega Man’s image.
Mega Man Shadow and the Dimensions.
When he arrived in the past and attacked Symphony City, Shadow told the following: the future Wily has not given up on his ambition of world conquest.
A lie, however. In his dying breath Shadow admits that Wily truthfully did not continue his evil ways. Though, he does reveal a bleak future in which Shadow himself became mad with power, desired to destroy the world, and faced ever stronger foes until no-one remained to stop him.
In the end, Bass and Rock both learn valuable lessons from Shadow’s tale. They vow not to go down this same path. Their determination gives us hope that perhaps, and only perhaps, Rock will not become Quint and a new future may be written.
Mega Man
The fate of our hero is officially unknown. Though it may seem destined for Rock to become Quint and meet a poetic demise in battle against himself, this future represents only a possibility. As changes from the past ripple onward into the future, so too might the present stray from this set path *2.
Mega Man and Quint in a heated battle for the future.
Using our imagination, limitless scenarios can serve to explain Mega Man’s absence from the X-series. While we know that Rock did not become Mega Man X (they're separate entities) [7] [27] [28], one other explanation in particular has acquired much infamy over the years.
As many fans have asked: did Zero kill Mega Man? And if he did, who else?
Keiji Inafune’s personal stance is that Zero did NOT in fact kill anyone. It’s not in his profile [5]. Furthermore, the man has expressed a great distaste for excessive violence in the classic series [6]. Also let us not underestimate Mega Man in a theoretical battle against Zero.
Though Zero is a fearsome robot built by the late Dr. Wily as his most advanced creation ever, designed specifically to outclass any other robot of 20XX - including the original Megaman [26]. Zero can still suffer defeat against an enemy with strength of heart [29] (as well as many allies). Remember, just as Wily created Zero, Light created X. As X can be considered a more advanced version of Mega Man [28] (equipped with the Mega Buster Mk. 17). Dr. Light may very well put X’s weapon and armor technology to good use if Rock requires such an upgrade, echoing the events of "Mega Man V" (Rockman World 5)
Magnum Opus
Light and Wily – eternal rivals – conversing their dying wishes to their last creations.
Dr. Light is remembered in history as “the father of robotics” [8], Dr. Wily as “the legendary mad scientist” [9].
Despite their differences, Wily and Light lived the last days of their lives in clear parallel. They both completed their magnum opus in secret before passing on. Dr. Light left a program with his personality to play back messages for X (which, for all intents and purposes, is the good doctor in person), whereas Dr. Wily was brought back by the virus [10] (perchance as Serges and/or Isoc, but most certainly as the ‘Old Man’ from X5). A hundred years into the future, the two continue to deliver aid in their own unique ways.
X and Zero, parallels in every way.
Humans and robots
The groundwork laid by Dr. Light led to further technological developments over the course of a century. Though certain robot designs have withstood the test of time with minor changes (Mettaurs [11] and Battons [12]) others were quickly replaced, like how state-of-the-art phones become obsolete in less than a decade [13].
Still, a century later, little progress has been made in the field of humanoid robots until Cain’s creation of the Reploids. In “Maverick Hunter X”, Dr. Light gives us a plausible explanation why: not only does he have no one to carry on his work, humanity is not yet ready to accept a robot as humanlike as X. They fear the dangers he represents.
This should come as no surprise: not only did the world suffer great fear through Dr. Wily’s repeated attempts of world domination [14], invincible combats robots have also been used as weapons of war [15].
X doing battle with the invincible combat robots of bygone days.
While Light never doubted X’s reliability for a minute, it took thirty years of ethical testing to persuade others of that fact.
Mega Man X
As early as The Power Battle, Dr. Light mentioned how robots don’t just need to increase their physical strength; they need to improve their cognitive programs. He spoke about giving robots the ability “to worry”. Like humans, they need to determine what is right and wrong by themselves [16] *4.
What robots truly need!
The first robot granted this experimental ability is Mega Man X, whose very name (the variable “X”) represents “Limitless Potential.” Created with a much more advanced A.I., he is Mega Man's successor [27].
One little known fact is that the original Japanese manual contains an extended version of X1’s “Warning” message:
WARNING
In it, Dr. Light ascribes X’s humanlike A.I. to “the act of worrying”. If extended to matters that by nature must not be questioned (e.g. if robot were to harm a human deliberately) the result would be disastrous. Humankind would tremble with fear, the like of which was unknown even in the days of the Dr. Wily incidents [14].
Though X “worries” most of all (as said in “Maverick Hunter X” *5), the Reploids have in fact inherited his ability. Based on X’s data and equipped with a “suffering circuit”, as to be biased toward neither side, they are fated to continuously worry about which side in society they should stand upon [17]. This is what gives him the ability to think, reason and act totally independently [27]. Older robots, despite having a conscience, personality and emotions [18], do not possess the same ability to disobey their human masters [19].
While Dr. Light always kept a positive outlook on the future – seeing X as the world’s hope and dreaming of human-robot coexistence – he was also a cautious man. Not only did he seal X away for 30 years ethical testing and limited X’s strength whenever possible, he also anticipated X would do battle against robots infected by computer viruses. To that end, he equipped X with the perfect virus countermeasure [20] *9. The good doctor may have dabbled in very dangerous research, he understood the risks well and took every precaution to prevent the worst possible outcome.
Zero
As a robot possessing impressive A.I. and an infinite Bassnium power source [19], Bass has gone against his own creator several times. His accidental creation and subsequent defiance led to Dr. Wily developing an energy stronger than Bassnium (the Maverick Virus, presumably) and a robot more powerful than Bass or Mega Man, or anyone.
ZERO
Chronologically, Zero first appeared in The Power Fighters when Wily showed his design to Bass (X2 form, X3 buster, no Z-saber). However, it would be some time before Wily completed this project. It would also appear that Wily ran into some difficulties. *4
Zero (X1 design) contained a flaw in his cognitive program that made him violent and unwilling to obey instructions (like Bass). For this very reason, Dr. Wily himself sealed Zero in a capsule [21] [26] *6 *9.
In 21XX, an unknown computer virus (a subspecies of Roboenza) emerged from the capsule Zero slumbered in and began driving robots mad locally [22] *7 *9. Later Zero awoke from his capsule and wiped out Garma’s unit of Maverick Hunters before doing battle with Sigma. During this confrontation, the virus infected both of them at the same time (bypassing Zero’s imperfect virus countermeasure / antibodies through a breach in his armour). This event led to Zero’s personality changing completely. Reborn as a good Reploid, he joined the Maverick Hunters [17] [23] [26] *8 *9.
Since the above may seem contradictory. It’s important to note that the Maverick Virus serves a double purpose. First, when negated by his anti-virus systems, it empowers Zero to near invincibility. Second, through direct application (X2) or overexposure (X5), the virus awakens Zero’s true self. Thereby the Maverick Hunter is not the end product of virus infection, but rather an intermediate state born from attempted correction of the Irregular Zero. Awakened Zero (not Irregular Zero) is the strongest robot Wily envisioned, subservient to his cause.
Awakened Zero, powerful, calm, collected, and under Wily’s control.
Additional Notes
[spoiler]
*1 The US manual for “World2” gives us the name Chronos Institute for the time-space research lab and “Time Skimmer” for their time machine. Wily travelled approximately 37.426 years into the future. By this figure, the future Wily would be around 90 years of age.
*2 Mega World / Wily Wars proves that time travel to the past can change the future. A temporal loop may still occur, however.
*3 Mega Man 9 introduces a law limiting the lifespan of robots. This may further explain the future absence of older model robots (humanoid or otherwise). However, we do not know if this law persisted after the incident. Furthermore, robots like Rock and Roll are clear exceptions to the law.
*4 The Power Battle occurs after Mega Man 7, before Mega Man 8. The Power Fighters occurs half a year after Mega Man 8.This puts the full production of X and Zero quite late into the timeline.
*5 The script differs between the original X1 and Maverick Hunter X, however the two versions are not incompatible. For the purpose of this text, they’re treated as complementary.
*6 Zero’s capsule was stored inside a warehouse/store in the Rocky Mountains. This is the same approximate region in which X was also found, later dubbed the “Forbidden Area”.
*7 The English version of Mega Man Zero Official Complete Works disagrees with the Japanese original on this subject [17]. The Sigma Virus does not actually originate from X’s suffering circuit (that we know of). The circuit is however mentioned as the “true form” or “true essence” of the Sigma Virus (in function, not in origin). On the old (but now defunct) Mega Man Network forums, the person tasked with the English adaptation of the book had expressed difficulty interpreting the paragraph in question.
*8 This information echoes the early concept scenario from Mega Man Zero Official Complete Works [17], though the detail of Zero being the “first” Reploid infected seems to have changed. The Idiom Dictionary of the same book, however, does mention that Zero was discovered as the source of the virus outbreak (the only one infected with the virus initially). Furthermore, Rockman Perfect Memories reckons that Zero was born with the virus already inside of him [24], whereas Keiji Inafune claims Zero passed the virus to Sigma [25]. Given his natural immunity and close proximity, it’s quite probable that Zero became a carrier of the virus long before it affected his mind.
*9 Information from the timeline section of the Rockman Zero Collection official site has been removed during the latest overhaul. While this may discredit its validity, one can still cross-reference the information with other sources to affirm its accuracy. [26], for example, recites many of the Zero-specific details.[/spoiler]
References
[spoiler]
[1]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2013/02/02/the-times-they-are-a-changin/
Q03: Has what happened in the interim between the Rockman series and the Rockman X series been decided? Or is there no canon version of what happened?
CAPCOM: Of course there is such an outline, but don’t expect an official announcement of it. Players have always enjoyed using their imaginations to come up with their own conclusions, and we wouldn’t want to take that away from them…
[2]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2011/03/14/its-quintn-time/
[3]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2010/09/20/ask-me-3-the-final-lesson/
Q. I read that Quint is supposed to be the future Rockman who was remodeled, but does that mean that in the future Rockman loses to Dr. Wily?
A. Ah… That’s quite an inexorable situation. As we came to understand later on, in the future that “Quint” came from even Wily himself had reformed, resulting in a peaceful world that was free of conflict. As would naturally occur in such a setting, the “battle functions” had been already been removed from “Quint”. And that’s when our Wily showed up with that time machine and attacked, or so we understand.
[4]
http://megaman.wikia.com/wiki/Rockman_%26_Forte:_Mirai_Kara_no_Chousensha_Script
[5]
http://www.capcom-unity.com/s-kill/blog/2008/09/05/inafunesan_answers_your_questions
1) Did Zero really "kill" the family between the events of the Classic Mega Man and X series?
KI: No, Zero did not kill them. According to the way I created him, Zero is not such a person--it is not in his profile.
[6]
Mega Man Complete Works
The ultimate unspoken rule about making a game that is geared toward children is that you simply cannot kill anyone.
[7]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2010/07/05/rockman-x-origins-2/
"Our protagonist this time is X, who is of course an entirely different person from Rockman."
[8]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2010/07/05/rockman-x-origins-2/
In this game, Dr. Right has already become a historic figure, known as the “Father of Robotics”.
[9]
Sagesse (Serges)
Leader of the 3 main Counter Hunters. Like the legendary mad scientist, he is a super genius!
[10]
http://www.capcom-unity.com/s-kill/blog/2008/09/05/inafunesan_answers_your_questions
KI: A large amount of time has passed between the classic series and Mega Man X. Dr. Wily had died in the interim but was brought back by the virus.
[11]
Mettool C-15
Repliroid who watches the factory. From the former series that
worked at the factory, but this time they were actually advanced
enough so as to be placed as chiefs of the factory.
[12]
Batton M-501
Bat type mechaniroid which Batton Bone is based on.
It is a very unusual mechaniroid, made over 30 years ago.
[13]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2013/02/02/the-times-they-are-a-changin/
Q02: Why aren’t the robots from the original Rockman time period still around in the Rockman X time period? Especially since there are some robots with only minor changes.
CAPCOM: When you consider that state of the art mobile phones become obsolete in less than a decade, you can imagine how after 100 years you wouldn’t expect to see too many old models still remaining. There are indeed a few Metalls and Battons and such still around albeit with minor changes, so perhaps that’s because their designs are so enduring?
[14]
http://rockmanpm.com/?p=x/rockmanx1/manuals
“X” presents many problems inconceivable in existing robots. There is a danger he may worry over or question even the absolute requirement for robots, “Do not harm a human.”
The act of worrying in “X” marks a new epoch in robotics and is the first time this experiment has succeeded, but if it extends to matters that by their nature must not be questioned, it would be disastrous. In the worst case, if a robot were to harm humans deliberately, humankind would tremble with fear the like of which was unknown even in the days of the “Dr. Wily” incidents…
I conclude that “X” is an extremely dangerous being. If I am to send “X” out into the world, he must have a verification period of 30 years at the least. However, I do not have that long to live, and regrettably there is no one who understands all my research to carry it on for me.
Therefore I seal “X” here. If by some chance there is someone who discovers this capsule, as long as “X’s” thinking has not been fully analyzed, please leave him untouched. “X” is a robot laden with both unlimited possibility and unlimited danger…
Sep. 18 AD20XX
T. Right
[15]
Old Robot
Combat robot used in wars of the past. Heavily armored, attacks were once
useless on this invincible robot, but with the end of the wars, it was turned
to scrap. Where the armor is missing in the center is its weak point.
[16]
Dr. Right: それはにんげんと同じように考え、なやむことじゃ。 ロボットのパワーを強くするだけでは、おろかなたたかいなくならない。 しこうかいろのプログラムをもっとパワーアップさせなくてはならないな。
Dr. Right: It is that robots have thinking and troubles similar to humans. If only robots' power is strengthened, foolish fights will never end. We must further power up the cognitive program.
Dr. Light: Like humans, the robot has to determine what is right and what is wrong by itself. Robots are not supposed to hurt humans. We need to research more on A.I. program.
[17]
Mega Man Zero Official Complete Works
Sigma Virus
The terrifying virus that causes a Reploid to go Maverick. The virus actually originated from one of the circuits that Dr. Light installed in X's brain. The circuits function was to keep X neutral and unbiased in matters concerning humans and Reploids. Tragically, the very same circuit condemned X to a life plagued by the philosophical question that weighed the value of humans against that of Reploids - a question to which there was no answer. Zero was the first Reploid to be infected by the virus, but as an android created solely for evil, destructive purposes by Dr. Wily, the virus affected him uniquely. Instead of going Maverick, the virus turned Zero into a warrior driven by goodness, not evil. Unfortunately, by tirelessly fulfilling his destiny as a Maverick Hunter, Zero inadvertently spread the virus throughout the world. Eventually, as the host of the virus, Zero was taken to a research facility for study.
Rockman Zero Official Complete Works
Sigma Virus
The dreadful Sigma Virus that transforms repliroid to irregular.
The true form of which, was a suffering circuit Right inserted into X during the time of his creation.
A repliroid which possesses a suffering circuit,
in regards to a society where humans and repliroids coexist,
so as to be biased towards neither side,
it is fated always to worry continuously as to which side it should stand upon.
Zero was the first repliroid to be infected with the Sigma Virus but
Zero which was developed by Wily to be a completely evil repliroid,
despite being infected by Sigma Virus isn't transformed into an irregular, [instead]
was reborn as a good repliroid.
But,
as Zero bustled about for the sake of fulfilling his missions as an Irregular Hunter
the Sigma virus lying dormant within his own body was scattered throughout the world
inviting an ironic result.
And so Zero, having become carrier of the Sigma Virus, was admitted to the research facility.
[18]
http://kobun20.interordi.com/2010/09/20/ask-me-3-the-final-lesson/
Q. Do robots like those made by Dr. Wily or Dr. Cossack have self-awareness, and can they talk? And do they run on solar energy like Rockman does?
A. I take it you’d like to know if Wily and Cossack’s robots possess “sentience”? Naturally, they each have a “consciousness”, although the level of every “cognitive circuit” embedded inside each one of them varies, producing as many different “personality” types as found in people… Just like you or I, they can speak, and have emotional responses like shyness, or anger, just as we do.
Regarding their energy systems, many of them do utilize “solar energy” in some way
[19]
http://www.themmnetwork.com/blog/2011/04/22/rockman-online-gets-a-little-bass-in-its-voice
Forte possess impressive AI, and for that reason he, unlike other robots, appears to be able to disobey his own master's orders. This has points of similarity to the AI of present day Repliroids.
Should nothing else come up that's contradictory to this information, this robot, with consideration to the special characteristics of his infinite Fortenium power source, has a high likelihood of being closely similar to the prototypes of this era.
[20]
http://www.themmnetwork.com/blog/2010/04/09/does-the-rockman-zero-collection-storyline-explain-everything
Hypothesizing X could battle robots infected by viruses, he gave X the perfect virus counter-measure.
[21]
http://www.themmnetwork.com/blog/2010/04/09/does-the-rockman-zero-collection-storyline-explain-everything
Zero was produced by Dr. Wily, who schemed at taking over the world. But he contained a flaw in his cognitive program that made him violent and unwilling to obey instructions, so Dr. Wily himself sealed Zero in a capsule.
[22]
http://www.themmnetwork.com/blog/2010/04/09/does-the-rockman-zero-collection-storyline-explain-everything
A subspecies of the terrible computer virus from long ago is generated, and begins driving robots mad locally. The human leadership acknowledges these infected robots as Mavericks, and orders them to be disposed of. The source was found to be an unknown computer virus that had prevailed over 100 years ago emerging from the capsule Zero slumbered in.
[23]
http://www.themmnetwork.com/blog/2010/04/09/does-the-rockman-zero-collection-storyline-explain-everything
Receiving information of Zero awakening from his capsule and causing violence, the Maverick Hunter Sigma finds and intercepts him. during this incident, Sigma is infected by the unknown computer virus leaking out from Zero's capsule, but at the same time Zero, having his armor damaged in the battle with Sigma, also becomes infected with the virus. Due to this, Zero's personality completely changed, and he would turn to working as a Maverick Hunter.
[24]
Rockman Perfect Memories:
Exactly what kinds of secrets are sleeping in Zero's past?
Zero has almost no memory of the past. However, sometimes he seems to see a person resembling Dr. Wily in his dreams. And it's also said that Zero was born with the Sigma Virus already inside of him. His creation is it actually to battle with whom? One would never think it was for justice, however...
X: He was made by Dr. Right. Will the time for his fated battle with Zero come?
Dr. Wily: The one who put the Sigma Virus in Zero is, perhaps him......
[25]
http://www.capcom-unity.com/s-kill/blog/2008/09/05/inafunesan_answers_your_questions
Sigma was a powerful leader of the Maverick Hunters but after Zero passed the virus to him, his allegiance changed. Circumstances can change anything, and nothing is absolute.
[26]
First 4 Figures Zero bio figurine:
"Zero is fearsome robot designed and built by the late Dr. Wily as his most advanced creation ever, designed specifically to outclass any other robot of the time, including the original Megaman. Due to an initial flaw in Zero’s programming, he proved to be a dangerous and unpredictable machine, refusing to follow his creator’s orders, leading to him being locked away. Following a brutal battle with Sigma upon reawakening, Zero was brought under control, and now fights as a formidable member of the Maverick Hunters alongside X."
[27]
First 4 Figures X figurine bio:
"X is the final and greatest creation of Dr. Thomas Light, and created as a successor to the original Mega Man. Unlike the original, X was created with a much more advanced A.I that allowed him to think, reason and act totally independently. Once created, X was initially sealed away by his creator, fearing that his incredibly complex mind and programming could endanger the planet should he choose to act with evil intentions. After eventually being discovered and having been awoken by Dr. Cain many years after his creation, X joins the Maverick Hunters to help fight off a new generation of renegade machines: The Reploids."
[28]
Compendium of Rockman X:
CONNECTION TO OTHER WORKS
The setting of Rockman X is established about 100 years after the world of Rockman. It seems that after Dr. Light built Rockman, he developed X as a still more advanced version. Also, someone resembling Wily can be glimpsed in Zero’s vicinity.
[29]
Mega Man ZERO:
UnknownX: The heart is what counts. Not the body...
[/spoiler]