We were recently introduced to Klickelan Island, the latest addition to our growing Mega Man Legends atlas. What we’ve seen so far about Teomo City and its people had me very excited. It may be a new backdrop, but as far as Legends-style settings and adventures are concerned, for me this place feels more like coming home.
But this post isn’t about Klickelan Isle, but rather the entire setting concept of Legends itself. Before we had such a well-developed sense of their world, what kind of possibilities were the developers exploring? What kind of strange new places might we have experienced? Once again, Professor Data explains.
From the Rockman DASH Great Adventure Guide on page 34:
Professor Data’s “Uki-Uki!” DASH Laboratory!!
Lesson 2: Fine Art of the Rockman World!!
“Uki~! It’s our second session, and in this lesson we’ll be investigating the early setting for Rockman DASH!! This time the art will be telling the story!”
Your grand introduction to the rough sketches drawn for the image board!
Many assorted images of cities and ruins were drawn up, weren’t they? These are all illustrations that were done brainstorming the answer to ‘What kind of style is befitting for the world of Rockman DASH?’ Using all these various images and illustrations as a reference, we can develop a picture of the formation of our world!”
“These concept illustrations are incredible, wouldn’t you say!”
World Image
“Set atop a foundation of giant cogs and gears sit sprawling cities! What a surreal and fantastic concept! The inhabitants would probably have to use flying ships just to get around. That’s a bit like how we live, as well!”
Submerged City Image
“This one really gives off the impression of an ancient city, sunken below the sea! This idea of a long-lost advanced civilization with all its forgotten glory was adapted into the game! I wonder if the world we live in also has cities lying beneath the sea?”
Sky City Image
“Propped up by an enormous pivot, these ruins were constructed high in the sky. This place resembles some kind of ancient pleasure garden, now fallen into deep decline.”
Streets Image
“Through repeated cycles of urban development, this town appears to have gotten quite complex! I’d bet that to navigate this bustling town you’d probably rely on some kind of steam engine.”
Garbage-covered Ruins Image
“Probably left behind by some environmentally careless culture sits mountains of strewn refuse. I wonder if we couldn’t find a use for some of this stuff? The idea of exploring ruins of a higher civilization was a part of the setting concept from the very beginning.”
Very interesting how all these different ideas came together to shape their world and become the stage of Legends as we know it.
You can really feel the contrast between the vibrant energy of the emerging Digger civilizations and the forgotten entropy of the ancient culture. I love the way the artists used color and shadow to express some of these desolate places, but my favorite would have to be the giant gears hands down. Just imagining a place like that is absolutely breathtaking. I couldn’t live there though, the height would get the better of me for sure!
What’s your favorite?
I think my favourite’d have to be the gears, too. I doubt I could stand living there, but the concept of it is enough to grab my attention. (If that makes any sense.)
The junkyard is a runner-up, simply because I like that kind of environment (in fiction).
The lost, underwater city is a cool idea. With the Legends world being 90% water, there’s got to be very many of those. It would be interesting to see some kind of mention of one in the games, or to actually be able to *see* one, but that might be too much to ask.
Gears man myself. That concept looks fantastic. And actually wouldnt be out of place in Legends at all.
I like the underwater theme the most since it sounds like a perfect fit for the current Legends setting. As MM Model Q said above, in a flooded world, there’s bound to be plenty of cities lying under the sea. Some could even be protected with domes built before the water rose too much.
If I had to live in one, though, I’ll take the one with the trains. I love trains.
That train one reminds me of the FF7 city to be honest.
I like the concept of the trains, and the color scheme of the gears.
Those are really cool concepts, although I’m glad they found the happy medium with Kattlox Island. And they were able to work some of these ideas well into the sequel too, like Nino Island. Uhhhgg I cant wait to see whats in store for Legends 3!! 😀