Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star

2009/06/22 Monday | Author: #20

The internet is alive with talk of the upcoming title that brings Battle Network out of retirement while matching it up with a sassy new partner. Reactions seem to vary from joyous excitement to disappointed disgust. I’m not sure where I stand as of yet. I remember thinking forever ago how amazing a time-travel crossover between the original and the X series would be, and about a decade later, Mega Man’s other timeline gets the treatment.

Actually, it isn’t confirmed at all that a time-travel crossover is what the plot will be about. Other Japanese fans have speculated that it might be an EXE game done in Shooting Star style, as in front-facing battles with 3-D graphics and other attributes. Personally, I’m wagering on the time-travel thing. Every Star Force game has already featured some manner of time-crossed cameo with a Battle Network game in slot 2, so the progression to full-on story element is just a quick hop away from what we already have.

I must hand it to the contractors, it does seem quite a bit calculated that they’re using EXE as the headliner and Shooting Star as the subtitle mention. Capcom makes it overly apparent that they’re trying to recapture the fame that EXE held in its heyday that the Star Force spin off has yet to fully achieve. Then again, fans of one or both series probably won’t care anyway, the opportunity to see the centuries-apart characters interact is fetching enough.

When EXE first came out, it was probably my new favorite series for quite a while. A imaginative re-invention of the original Mega Man series, reflecting our growing internet-dependent society, from the creators of Mega Man Legends? Count me in!
But a few installments later, the story seemed to spiral outlandishly out of control in favor of having multiple cart versions and replay value through forced repetitions, and the series lost a great deal of its appeal for me. When EXE 6 put a clear ending to EXE, I had a certain renewed respect for Capcom to bestow the series with a kind of dignity in closure, something games in the main Mega Man timeline never seem to achieve. But now EXE is back (and in some ways, it didn’t really leave, since side-story games continued to be made for Japanese cell phones). Whether its return was pure fan service or pure economics, has yet to be seen. Unlimited potential and unlimited disappointment could exist in this premise. I’m going to hope for the best.

Posted in exe, rockman, shooting star | 1 Comment

Mega Mission 2 Translation, part 1

2009/06/20 Saturday | Author: #20

When something is as popular as Rockman X Mega Mission became, trust Capcom and Bandai to capitalize. The sequel to Mega Mission was released in the first quarter of 1996, to an eager audience. This one takes place after X3, and introduces the Order Breakers, some very familiar seeming villains who are the heirs of Doppler’s evil legacy. Riding high on his popularity as a newly playable character, Zero has a much larger role this time, including for the first time ever, receiving his own armor from Dr. Right. It also gave fans another taste of “what if X went bad?” but without the cop-out of taking the evil clone approach. Before I give too much away, here goes part 1 of my translation.

Read more »

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Bye Bye, u-Capcom

2009/06/19 Friday | Author: #20

Might not matter too much to non-Japanese readers, but u-Capcom, Capcom Japan’s official fan site, will be closing up shop at the end of the month. I hope the site stays there and they just stop updating it, since it’s a gold mine for obscure Rockman knowledge. Among other draws, it was a place where game developers would answer questions submitted by fans. It had been running since 2005, but now it will be replaced entirely by Mobile Capcom, a site accessible by (so far as I know) Japanese cellphone only. I’ll miss you, u-Cap.

Posted in capcom, random, u-capcom | 1 Comment

Mega Mission, Part 3

2009/06/17 Wednesday | Author: #20

Continued from Part 1 and Part 2

Card No. 27 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Incept Chaser

DATA: A cutting edge repliroid who is the closest aide of Dr. Doppler. He is an Incept Chaser like Curtiss.

WEAPON: His hands are lethal weapons. His chopping strike is performed with great speed and agility, and can even launch energy attacks from both arms.
SCHMITT
Title (Back):
Schmitt
Notes: Schmitt the repliroid ninja fills the role of speedy little guy to complement Curtiss’ giant muscle dude and Doppler’s scheming mad scientist. These archetypes are repeated over and over in X2 and X3, and Mega Mission 1 and 2.
Card No. 28 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Rockman X Mega Mission Story 13

Rockman X and Zero were chasing the escaping Limited when the other cloaked figure appeared before them. While engaged in battle with Schmitt, X’s buster began to change again. The buster’s transformation caused excruciating pain, leaving X temporarily paralyzed by it. Watch out, Rockman X!

X VS SCHMITT
Title (Back):
X (Clear High Buster) vs Schmitt
Notes: X was attacking Boomerang Cutter, which Schmitt can deflect with his hands. This guy is no pushover. The background here remind me of some of the maps in Command Mission.
Card No. 29 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Rockman X Mega Mission Story 14

While Rockman X lay immobilized during his transformation, Zero faced off with Schmitt. Zero parried Schmitt’s blows and fired back with amazing skill. Irritated by this, Schmitt decided to strike at the helpless Rockman X instead, and fired off an attack directly in X’s path. What will you do now, Zero?!!

ZERO VS SCHMITT
Title (Back):
Zero vs Schmitt
Notes: Schmitt is able to block Zero’s beam sabre and Zero Buster as well. It seems the two are evenly matched, but Schmitt plans on fighting dirty. X is in trouble now…
Card No. 30 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Rockman X Mega Mission Story 15

Attempting to shield Rockman X from Schmitt’s attack, Zero was wounded and collapsed. But just in time, the buster metamorphosis was complete! Rockman X took up Zero’s place on the battlefield. The battle was intense, but X was driven on by a strangely powerful compulsion! Hang in there, Rockman X!!

ZERO
Title (Back):
Zero Down
Notes: Noble and selfless as always, Zero takes the hit and sacrifices himself to save X. His faith is rewarded, when X emerges stronger than ever. But, is this transformation a gift, or a curse?
Card No. 31 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Irregular Hunter

DATA: The Limited continued to mutate, resulting in the revolutionary Clear High Buster. But what does this evolution mean for X?

WEAPON: This buster can convert Rockman X’s HP into attack power.

ROCKMAN X
Title (Back):
Rockman X (Clear High Buster)
Notes: The 4th holo card. You know there’s some serious powering up going on when the background turns to laser grid. The talk of HP conversion is a little confusing, but think of it as a reverse Masamune chip from EXE. The more energy X has, the stronger his shot becomes.
Card No. 32 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Rockman X Mega Mission Story 16

Rockman X skirmished with Schmitt all across the abandoned factory, but even so he found his power wasn’t responding as he wanted.
“Haven’t I been powered up!?”
Schmitt was wounded during the fighting, and escaped back to where Mother Limited could repair him. But instead of healing Schmitt, Mother Limited swallowed him up entirely. Then a figure emerged…

X VS SCHMITT
Title (Back):
Rockman X vs Schmitt
Notes: X has won against Schmitt, but is more frustrated than relieved due to his trouble controlling his new power. But, since when is X so concerned with wanting greater power, anyway? Something bad is afoot…
Card No. 33 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Remeet Repliroid

DATA: “Rockman X data assembled.”
Limited began acting on a will of its own, and absorbed Schmitt’s body!!

WEAPON: By analyzing Rockman X, the strongest buster yet was created!!

X -イクス-
Title (Back):
X (iX)
Notes: At last, the infamous iX in all his holographic glory! The name iX has also been romanized as EX, Iks, or simply “X.” I’m using “iX” because it’s one of the most widespread adaptations on the internet. In Japanese, X is written in katakana as Ekkusu, and iX is written as Ikusu (see front title). iX is actually pronounced like the word “ekes,” or the interjection “EEKs!”
Card No. 34 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Rockman X Mega Mission Story 17

“I have absorbed Schmitt! My name is iX, and I am the strongest Doppler warrior!!”
Limited united with Schmitt and grew into a new repliroid. With all the regenerated repliroids’ techniques at his command, iX was giving Rockman X the fight of his life. All of the sudden, Rockman X felt his body change once again.

X -エックス- VS X -イクス-
Title (Back):
Rockman X vs iX
Notes: So, iX is Limited having taken over Schmitt’s body and transformed it according to all previously collected data. For the moment X is outclassed, but the Limited inside him has another trick up its sleeve.
Card No. 35 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Irregular Hunter

DATA: Limited has formed an armor to protect Rockman X. But Rockman X has lost control of his body!

WEAPON: Has the ability to absorb enemy attacks and instantly repair any damage.

ROCKMAN X
Title (Back):
Rockman X (Clear Armor)
Notes: Our final holo card, and X is overflowing with bright shiny power! Too bad it’s coming at the price of his soul…
Card No. 36 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Rockman X Mega Mission Story 18

Limited fusion has spread further over Rockman X’s body. The Limited inside Rockman X adapted during the battle with iX to suit their needs, but is taking over X’s body as well!
“Is Limited trying to control me?!” Mustering the last of his power, X prepared for one final all-out attack against iX!

ROCKMAN X
Title (Back):
More Power!? Rockman X
Notes: X has learned the hard way that Limited’s organic cells can, given enough time and energy, regenerate their own cores. X must act fast to avoid becoming Limited’s puppet. Battling both internal and external forces, X is put to the ultimate test of strength and willpower. Can he conquer his inner demon in time, or will iX the ultimate soldier destroy him first?
Card No. 37 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Rockman X Mega Mission Story 19

Rockman X and iX attacked simultaneously, each targeting the other’s chest with enough power to destroy one another for good. Just as it seemed their mutual destruction was assured, Rockman X was able to use iX’s buster shot to tear away the Limited from inside his body and gain control of himself and escape at the last moment. X was free, and iX was defeated! Well done, Rockman X!!

X -イクス-
Title (Back):
The End of iX
Notes: In the story’s heated climax, Rockman X pulls a risky maneuver and comes out on top, against all odds. That the Limited was destroyed but X’s body remained intact seems a bit too convenient or miraculous, but then, he’s Rockman X. He was destined to win.
Card No. 38 Description (Back):
Title (Front): Rockman X Mega Mission Story 20

The true villain, Dr. Doppler, finally appeared from behind Rockman X.
“You’re Dr. Doppler!?”
“Correct. How dare you destroy my dear Limited! Behold our wrath!”
In the center of the room, Mother Limited started to move.

Dr. DOPPLER
Title (Back):
Enter Dr. Doppler
Notes: X and Doppler meet at last. The game dialogue suggests that the first time they met was in X3, but let’s not worry about that at the moment. Mother Limited is coming to life, and X will have to face this monster without the power of the Clear Armor. The final battle awaits!

On to Part 4

Posted in mega mission, rockman, translation, X | 3 Comments

Megamix and Bondman

2009/06/16 Tuesday | Author: #20

I’ve been reading a lot from Japan lately about the new Megamix compilations. The most interesting thing I’ve read so far has to do with the “Rockman Tanjou Densetsu,” or Rockman Creation Legend section where Ariga and Inafune discuss the behind-the-scenes secrets surrounding Rockman’s birth.

One interesting story about the first Rockman game is that of the boss that never was, Bondman. Originally, it is said, the proposal for Rockman 1 included 8 robot masters, but due to time constraints and disk space concerns, that number was scaled back to 6. Of the two that got the axe, one boss was still undecided, while the other was to be an adhesive themed robot named Bondman. This boss’s special weapon would have been used to stop enemy robots in their tracks. When Bondman was canceled, this power became an attribute of Iceman’s Ice Slasher instead. It seems the concept sketches of Bondman were hopefuls to appear in R20, but tragically, the art was seemingly lost years ago.

I’ve heard that this story is but one of the topics touched upon in the article. I don’t own the books myself yet, but when I can get my hands on them, I hope to do some kind of write-up about it. My birthday is coming up, so maybe…

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