Lack of time and scanner issues means a fast and dirty replacement special treat! Enjoy this web page translation from Capcom Japan’s Official Rockman X4 site.
This time we’re going all the way back to 1997, and the release of Rockman X4 for Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. The success of Rockman X’s hobbyist products like the Mega Mission card series and Mega Armor toy line led to the establishment of a new marketing cross-fusion X-travaganza: the Rockman X4 Special Limited Pack. Included with the game for your system of choice was a brand new Mega Armor model of Rockman X, touted as the most powerful of X’s armors ever to be invented. This “Ultimate Armor” was even featured as a secret unlockable inside the game, where players could input a code and get to see X’s newest duds in action. The model itself was to be available only and exclusively through this pack, although years later it would be sold on its own with the Mega Armor series re-releases, in plated and non-plated versions. What makes the ultimate armor so great? As this page explains:
ULTIMATE ARMOR’S CONFIGURATION
 | This is the ULTIMATE ARMOR! |
| DESIGNATION | ULTIMATE ARMOR |
| DEVELOPER | UNKNOWN |
| DESCRIPTION | Different from ordinary parts, this armor was developed purely for the purpose of increasing combat capabilities, rapidly boosting X’s latent powers for battle.
However, because this armor pushes X’s abilities to their limit while equipped, prolonged use may be dangerous for X’s health. Furthermore, perhaps due to concerns over the incredibly overpowered nature of these combat capabilities, it would seem that the developer of this armor labeled these parts as forbidden and sealed them away. |
| SPECIFICATION | Because it was designed solely around combat use, this armor’s abilities are extremely high and thoroughly beyond comparison to other parts. Of particular interest, the parts equipped in the arm allows energy from the X-Buster to materialize in the form of a blade. This ability to put out a constant substantiation of energy is a radically different approach from the design concept used by previous parts. Also worthy of special mention is the fact that these parts by themselves can be combined to form a single independent mecha unit which demonstrates some unique abilities. The primary uses of this completed fusion mech is listed below: |
1. Standing atop this ride mecha form, X is able to travel extremely long distances with incredible speed.
2. When stationed on X’s back, this unit becomes a jet booster that grants X an astounding flight mobility. |
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
Part 1
The Ultimate Armor even appears in the game!
Part 2
The black costume known as “Kuro Zero” also appears!
The method for unleashing them is revealed!
“Kuro Zero” just literally means “Black Zero”. It’s only my personal opinion but I think it has a nicer ring to it.
Of course, I think we all know how to unlock Ultimate Armor and Black Zero in X4 by now. What they don’t make clear on this page but did in the next is that all of the features mentioned for the Ultimate Armor description are for the toy only; the energy blade, the ride unit, and the free flight capabilities don’t appear in the game version. Some think this is why Dr. Right mentions the armor is incomplete in his speech.
Perhaps the game developers didn’t have time to implement it all. Or maybe they thought unlimited Nova Strikes was broken enough? I think it would have stood out even more for me if they had given it more of those features though, blade especially. What do you guys think, is the Ultimate Armor really the ultimate armor? Sound off!
It certainly SOUNDS like the ultimate armour. 🙂 Now I know why there’s art of X riding it like a hoverboard (always suspected that you couldn’t do that in-game).
Nice info translation. That was very interesting. So basically, The TOY came before the actual In game Armor. hah, Ultimate DOES look like something that would make a great toy. All spiky with gold accents and stuff.
And its interesting how that “dangerous to X’s health” has made it to the games, all the way to even the Iwamoto X4 mangas, where it actually causes X to become this nuts berserker.
Thanks 20
Mega Armor descriptions have always piqued my curiosity, so thanks much for this special treat!
The Ultimate Armor is pretty broken as-is, but there are perhaps some ways that Capcom could have souped it up even further. Cutting the limit to your hover-time and allowing some sort of charged saber attack in X6, for example (Blade Armor kinda steals the energy-blade thing, though).
Also, as I’ve said *MANY* times, starting X5 with the Stock Charge so that Ultimate could have called the Plasma Charge its own for that game would have gone a long way.
@RADIX: Now I want more hoverboard! Guess I should go pick up the 25th Anniversary Back to the Future Trilogy.
@Flame: You’re welcome! I don’t know how much you can really blame the armor for X’s RAAAAGE in the manga. X was going power-crazy from his failure with Blizzard and General before he even got it. Good to be talking to a fellow Iwamoto X fan!
@Hypershell: Infinite hover would have been a blast! Combined with infinite special weapons like Twin Slasher it would have owned every stage! And they definitely could have given it some saber action in X6 at least. Right there with you!
Could you make an article about Merti the Pirate Queen from the noting the highlights of her role in the Iwamoto manga?
I would like to know the nature of her relationship with X. Was it a one sided Romance? Was it just good friendship? Could you translate the scenes with her in it?
Many thanks!!
Funny. The later released model kits are horrible looking unless you paint them. The one here though looks good except for the clear blue parts. You would think they would have plated it. The gray limbs look lame too. I look at mine alot and wish I would have painted it purple. I always see this on Ebay but I didn’t know it had a special book to it too. Thanks for the trans.
Cool thing is that on the art, the blue is transparent as well. It’s not just a toy thing. =)
Ah, just reading this for the first time… cool stuff! I figured the hoverboard was a toy-only feature, but I didn’t know the energy accessory was meant to be a blade! I thought it was just a plasma shot attachment.
But how does using it affect X’s health in-game (potential recklessness aside)?