We’re playing catchup here at the Lav for that longer than anticipated e-vacation. I had planned for this to go up two weeks ago on the Fourth of July / J-Day of Sigma. Unfortunately, I was playing hookey from blogging that week. So, I could either wait a whole ‘nother year, or we could pretend it’s the right day and you can have this now. What say you?
From the Rockman X Ultra Encyclopedia pages 46-47:
The ultimate arch-nemesis!!
Record of Sigma’s Power Upgrades
Sigma, the Special A class repliroid who possessed an ingenious intellect and the highest combat capabilities that the world had ever seen.
In the year 21XX A.D. Sigma, who was the Commander of the Irregular Hunter 17th Unit, orchestrated a sudden rebellion that urged repliroids to bring about the downfall of mankind.
At the time of this first rebellion, Sigma was felled by X, and Sigma’s bid for world domination ended in failure. However, Sigma has since returned countless times, continuing his war against humanity.
Evil’s own symbol, the mark of Sigma!
First Model
Created by Dr. Cain, this body was the doctor’s greatest masterpiece. [1]
Transformation!
Sigma Second Form
A truly enormous wolf-type body, its limbs were yet unfinished. [1]
Power Up 1
Second Model
With claws equipped on his arms, his attack power skyrockets! [2]
Power Up 2
Third Model
This third body conceals the most formidable power! [3]
Maximum Power: 19000 rp.
Highest Speed: 19000 rp.
Transformation 1
Kaizer Sigma
Dr. Doppler constructed this, the strongest battle body in history! [3]
Maximum Power: 32000 rp.
Highest Speed: 20000 rp.
Transformation 2
Sigma Virus
The true form of Sigma. Possessing other repliroids, he is able to take over their bodies. [3]
Sigma’s Pet
Velguader
Sigma designed this ferocious wolf-type repliroid to prey upon those who would dare to cross him. [1]
During their first battle, after X destroyed his body, Sigma took on the form of a virus (malicious data), and all his personal memories and faculties were preserved!
Sigma is a pathogenic plague of evil upon our future computer-based society!
Pardon the deep-end red-scale of these pages, they aren’t the work of a haywire scanner but rather the way the book itself was made. I don’t know why so many Japanese books cut corners by restricting the yellow/green ink printing. I think it’s an awful practice, but Kodansha does it a ton. I prefer artwork to be in its full original color, thank you!
Since this book’s collected information reflected only the first three Rockman X games, the great mystery tying of Sigma and Zero’s pasts and how Sigma first came into his virus powers had yet to be revealed. They also skipped mentioning Sigma’s second “Neo Sigma” form in X2, perhaps for its essential similarity to the Sigma Virus form that appeared in the finale of X3. I have a soft spot for the CX4 chip’s wire-framed polygon rendition of the Sigma virus, but I must admit it looses a little of its “oomph” in the rare 2D representation seen here.
That’s it for now. Happy belated Day of Sigma, everyone!
Happy belated Day of Sigma to you, too. 🙂
Huh, I thought Neo Sigma was the Wolverine version…
…the other would make since in a tongue-in-cheek Matrix reference sort of way, had this not predated the movies by a number of years…
Out of curiosity, does any Japanese material give a meaning to those power and speed values given to the X2 and X3 mavericks? They’re neat in the games’ credits, but I think they could have shown up somewhere else too.
Its limbs were yet unfinished? It seemed like it wasn’t exactly hurting for want of its arms…
@RAD: Knowing me, same time next year!
@LBD: I thought so too. In fact, it seemed clear just from the end credits of X2 alone, which gave the 18500 rp Speed & Power stats to NEO SIGMA, which would have made sense for the predecessor of the Sigma mark 3 body with his 19000 rp. I did think it was weird that the other Japanese X2 guidebooks only called that form “Sigma”, but it didn’t seem any more weird to me then than say calling him “X” (or even “Mega Man”) instead of “Mega Man X”. It was only when I got the Compendium of Rockman X that I learned “Neo Sigma” is supposed to be the final form. Which I guess makes the credits wrong… though, it wouldn’t be the first time.
@Doc: I have yet to come across any meaning behind the value of “rp.” I would be very curious to know myself! I always sort of figured that the “P” would stand for power, and maybe the “R” for robot or repliroid or reactor… But that’s just blind guessing.
@Amp: True that, Sigma certainly made do, didn’t he! I have noticed that in many cases, final boss battles in Mega Man seem to be weighed in our heroes’ favor in some small (and perhaps technically meaningless) way. Either the final form is still incomplete, or some other force is helping out, or both. I guess it adds to the drama, suggesting that without some small edge or miracle, the good old underdog would be completely outclassed by the evil.
No posts since December…
(Warning: Misfortune levels rising!)
20: “Knowing me, same time next year!”
Hope this means a comeback!? Gotta ask Crystal Man! 😉
Crystal Man, why thou art failed me??? D:
As the subject here is from X-X3, I should have asked Crystal Snail…
Thanks for that! It’s just the answer I neeedd.
Ok, kobun you need admit this one spammer user bot use the right name.