During today's SDCC panel, Udon Entertainment dropped a major bomb: they have acquired the master comic book license for Mega Man. Not just the classic series but also X, Legends, Zero and ZX! While Battle Network and Star Force are not part of the deal (remember, both series' rights are shared among a few different parties, not solely Capcom), fans of the "Robot Timeline" will undoubtedly be thrilled.
It's important to note that the image shown during the panel is not meant to be the cover of a single comic but represents the overall license. Udon plans to create new comics based on different series, with the first books scheduled to launch sometime in 2025. No information regarding the artists or writers has been shared yet.
Stay tuned for more updates as they become available!
I'd rather the Archie Mega Man comic series get picked up and continued rather than a whole new series get started. The Protoman arc was just getting really good when the cancellation happened.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the Udon series will have at least a reference to Archie’s run.
DeleteYeah, like one of their unique robot masters appearing.
DeleteIf Sonic's comics are any indication, it most likely won't be referencing the other comics and we're likely looking in a full reboot.
DeleteWell, the Archie Comic series was getting into Mega Man 4 when it got cancell...went into hiatus.
DeleteNot only did Archie Comic series end at the prologue of Mega Man 4, but Udon's Mastermix series finished at #4 with Mega Man 3's finale and epilogue story "Metal Heart", never going past Mega Man 4. Coincidence?
DeleteSure would be nice if we could see what happened after ZXA and Legends 2 in these... Elf Wars even....
ReplyDeleteI'd prefer actual games for that. I know folks around here will dogpile anyone who even remotely brings up the concept of Capcom making a new Mega Man game, but still. There's still a lot of room for the games to cover untold stories such as the Elf Wars and what happened in the huge gap between ZXA and Legends. Did Prometheus and Pandora make it out of Albert's secret base alive? What happened to Ciel that caused her to go missing? Where was Prairie when Vent/Aile helped Grey/Ashe get to the Ouroboros? What was society like in the time between Mega Man Classic's eventual retirement and X being discovered by Dr. Cain? What happened to Axl that caused him to go unremembered by almost anyone aside from Albert, and why was it his powers that Albert decided to appropriate for himself as "evolution's extreme"? I'd like to get answers to all of these questions in various games some day, as well as all new original tales to be told taking place between the ZX series and Legends.
DeleteI want games too, but I've got a feeling Capcom would rather use something like these comics to tell more niche Mega Man stories like Zero/Zx/Legends more cheaply, while either keeping any future games stories more surface level and classic series based, or perhaps using these comics as a testing/character designing ground to maybe adapt its deeper stories into game form later if the stories are succesful enough or something... .
DeleteEspecially with how less Zero/ZX collection sold compared to the others, the chance of a ZX3 or Legends 3 game are extremely low compared to them continuing those stories through these comics... Not to mention them trying to avoid creating too many Mega Man subseries spliter brands that compete with each other in game form, but being able to do so without brand consequence in comic form... Personally, I wouldn't mind if Capcom's long term plan for the franchise is one of the scenarios I just mentioned. It'd be a lot better than what's been happening since 2011...
Why not? Always fun to see different takes on these stories.
ReplyDeleteInteresting line up of series to represent. Curious to see how it pans out.
Yes but different takes can easily fall part if not done well. So for Udon's sake they respect the source material while also adding new and original ideas. Don't copy from past Mega Man comic stories.
DeleteI would be impressed if this is a continuation of the Archie story. But I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteArt doesn't look bad.
This seems like a fun idea! I wonder if each series will be it's own comic line or if each book will be like an anthology
ReplyDeleteMegaman comic are hype even if they don’t continue the Archie and I wonder who writing the comic
ReplyDeleteGiven their Darkstalkers stuff, it’s very likely these comics will be in the Udon SF universe.
ReplyDeleteAnything but that, we don’t need more Street Fighter crossovers.
DeleteWell rip Archie then I guess
ReplyDeleteAlso rest in peace IDW and Ian Flynn. A shame neither could get the rights for Mega Man. Hopefully the UDON comic writers are good. The art is really good.
DeleteIts blessing IDW didnt get it. They are not doing well and are in no way the same company.
DeleteNothing is stopping them from still hiring Ian Flynn. He's a freelancer, he doesn't work for just one publisher.
DeleteArchie, IDW and Ian Flynn: HEY! We’re not dead!
DeleteSometimes you can still hear his voice.
DeleteArchie, IDW and Ian Flynn: We can still hear you.
DeleteThere is someone that we all know from the fan art community that currently works at Capcom, if anyone doesn't get whom I am referring to, it's UltimatemaverickX the Mega Man fan artist. I believe could do some of the artwork for the comic rather than the previous artist at Udon.
DeleteI’m really curious to find out who’s going to be writing for it
ReplyDeleteI'm conflicted! I love that Megaman's back in comicbook form and Udon has given the brand it's well deserved love but I absolutely dislike the way Udon handles their comicbooks. Last ongoing we had is from almost a decade ago and they mostly focus on very rushed oneshots and minis with like 4 to 6 different variants for each issue. I don't see them surpassing the insanely high bar Archie's run left for Megaman comics unless they get the same creative team back
ReplyDeleteLet’s also not forget about the fact that sometimes they don’t even release things they advertise, like the Mega Missions manga that was supposed to release years ago for example.
DeleteUgh, why is there so much HOPE in the world lately?! It's disgusting!
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, this is the next best thing to Ian Flynn continuing the old comic at IDW. Udon has always done Capcom justice and the two companies go WAY back.
Amazing this is awesome hopefully they can fill in gaps for zx and legend also they can give us more lore for classic and x also they can make potential games from these stories if there original enough
ReplyDeleteWould be nice if they an comic for battle network and star force.
ReplyDeleteI think the rights to Mega Man Battle Network are held by Corocoro or something. I don't have no idea actually, they probably have like 10 different licenses but those series kind of are all over the place in terms of that.
Deletealthough I was personally never a big fan of the archie mega man comics, I'm happy to see Udon of all comic companies taking the mantle of whatever these new comics are going to be, love their work in the past and am looking forward to what they have planned. ^^ Maybe we can get some comics from series that aren't just Classic series if these are popular enough, would love to see a Legends comic someday.
ReplyDeleteUdon comics tends to follow mainline canon a little closer if their Street Fighter comics are anything to go off of, so maybe we can get some closure to storylines that never got to finish with these comics too. Whether they truly be canon or not.
Udon has not been the same since around the time Street Fighter IV came out, I think it might have messed up Ken Siu-Chong's plan for the Street Fighter series because after the Street Fighter II Turbo mini ended, it just became a mishmash of plot points and concepts from SFIII and SFIV that never really worked well together. By the time SFV released they gave us Unlimited which was an maxiseries that didn't handle the SFIII story too well. The Street Fighter vs Darkstalkers series was an incomprehensible mess and since then we've only gotten a collection of random, barely connected oneshots with varying quality and the swimsuit specials...
DeleteDon't get me wrong, recent Udon has some great stuff like the Street Fighter "Origin" graphic novels by Chris Sarracini and the recent SF6 collaboration with Capcom (although the good stuff from this one is mostly credited to Capcom IIRC). Megaman stuff could go either way although we can at least rest assured they'll excel in artwork, which has always been their forte (pun intended)
Nice to hear from someone familiar with their output!
DeleteHearing about oneshots, it makes their apparent penta-series announcement make a lot more sense…
Really hoping that they don't limit themselves to the classic series for this comic series; I know that they have all series (except for Battle Network and Starforce) in this promo art, but it's likely they'll start fresh with the classic series. I love the classic series to death, but for story-driven media there are FAR better options. X and especially Zero would be a delight to see done in comic form.
ReplyDeleteOh right, there isn't going to be a comic for battle network and star force, sorry.
ReplyDeleteWe have been eating GOOD these past few days.
ReplyDeleteWe have?
DeleteThe bar is set very low. Capcom just mentioning Mega Man in any context warrants an article.
DeleteUnder the current climate, a majority of people generally want to know when things, however small, are being acknowledged.
DeleteAppreciate it. Most of the time the news isn't good but that's no one's here's fault and the effort is still excellent.
DeleteI mean, to be fair what else is Protodude going to make articles about other than when we get new comics or toys? Not much else is going on with Mega Man, at least not by Capcom.
DeleteRIP IDW Sonic and Ian Flynn too. His Archie Mega Man run was great.
ReplyDeleteIDW: I told you, I’m not dead.
DeleteIan Flynn: same for me!
DeleteIDW Sonic just got another issue less than a month ago and is still ongoing. Ian Flynn hasn't shown any signs of leaving either.
DeleteOne more thing, i'm an fan of the battle network timeline
ReplyDeleteMassively interested in X series comics. Especially if they spice it up and dig into the Mega Missions stuff.
ReplyDeletehope this goes better than mastermix
ReplyDeleteI’m keeping my expectations low after Mastermix was never finished and when Udon just pretended they never announced a Mega Missions manga in 2018.
DeleteI'm looking forward for this, Udon is known to be always sticking close to the timelines they made for their stories, so i got the feeling they'll do the series justice.
ReplyDeleteI was never really a fan of the Archie comic stuff, so for me this might be an upgrade. I'll keep an open mind. But the Archie Ian Flynn stuff was so melodramatic, lacked proper action sequences that made the character look cool, the original characters we're so poorly designed and I don't know I just generally didn't like it.
ReplyDeleteUdon can make some good stuff now and then so I have more faith in them.
They got their heights all skewed there's no way X and Zero are that short compared to Volnutt and Grey.... Unless that's like a slope or something...
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with the company, so I'll wait and see what they're like first.
ReplyDeleteGonna be honest, feels like you're living under a rock, since they've worked with Capcom and their products for decades, and even did the artwork for a couple of their games (Capcom Fighting Evolution and the western release of Tatsunoko vs Capcom), on top of a number of Mega Man related products, mostly localizing, but were also behind getting fans together to make an artbook of fan works.
DeleteThey are also notorious for announcing things and never releasing them.
DeleteHow about they release that Mega Missions manga they announced way back in 2018?
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to manga and the illustration book, I wish them luck and that they better stick to a faithful translation rather than a butchered "localization" and that any errors get fixed in reprints. Before someone mentions it, I know they are going to use the Mega Man terms which aren't the problem, I mean stuff like making completely new dialogue that wasn't in the original. No interest in the comics, just not interested in alternate interpretations.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to the manga and the illustration book translations, I wish them luck and that they're as faithful as possible rather than a butchered 'localization'. Before someone mentions it, I don't mean the Mega Man terms, I mean inserting dialogue that wasn't there in the original text. On the other hand, I'm not really interested in what they're offering due to all of them(comic, manga, book) being different interpretations of the characters and lore.
ReplyDeleteNo idea why my comment appeared twice. The first version was rejected on my end.
Delete@ Precursor, that’s pretty lame that they changed a bunch of dialogue in the previous manga releases. I never really saw anyone else mention it so this is new to me.
DeleteFinally! Some water in this drought. It's not a new video game, but it's something to be looking forward to. And since Udon seems to be making comics about other Capcom IPs, as well as Shantae who some people don't count as a Capcom IP, I have faith they will do the Mega Man franchise justice. Then again, I usually if not always like retellings of the classic series, and I'm not just saying that because I'm desperate.
ReplyDeleteThat's because Shantae is not a Capcom IP 😐
DeleteShantae is WayForward's IP. The character was created by Erin Bozon and her husband Matt Bozon created the games.
DeleteWhy would you think Shantae is a Capcom IP? I can't even think of a time Capcom did a collab with Wayforward involving Shantae off the top of my head.
DeleteOP might've assumed that because Capcom published the very first game, but then they never worked together again.
Delete@shrap
DeleteWhatever. People only say Bayonetta is not Sega so they can squeeze in as many Sega reps in Smash as possible. If Bayonetta, Persona, and Angry birds are Sega-not-Sega IPs, I don't see why Shantae can't be a Capcom-not-Capcom IP. And I don't WANT to see why not. Let me have this. Would you rather have me hate all indie IPs.
I'm not understanding this, Shantae is not a Capcom owned series.
DeleteYeah but Bayonetta is actually owned by Sega, like they literally own the IP, its trademark, copyright etc Shantae is not owned by Capcom at all, they temporally published it and had by virtue of that the copyright in some regions based on a specific limited contract. It's no different to Capcom publishing Grand Theft Auto in Japan, that doesn't mean they own the IP in an way.
DeleteOne time publisher != developer or rights holder.
DeleteWayforward own Shantae not Capcom and thank goodness because that would be another series dead and burried if it were Capcom. Still not sure how the original poster has no clue Shantae is owned by Wayforward.
DeleteOh man. I was hoping they would contnuing left off the Archie Comics. Now we're getting a reboot again.
ReplyDeleteLet's not also forget that Udon has announced stuff before just to quietly cancel it (Mastermix, Mega Man X Mega Missions), so while this is exciting, try not to get your hopes too far up just yet.
ReplyDeleteAlso agree with others regarding the Archie comics, not only was I bummed that they canceled the line, but that they never finished the graphic novel run.
I thought it was pretty lame of them to announce stuff in the past and not even release it. I was looking forward to the Mega Missions manga....then they pretended they never announced it. Was also hoping Mastermix would get finished instead of being dropped.
DeleteAlright udon, impress us Mega fans with your take on this franchise. I didn't finish the Archie comics because it got a little confusing, but imma read these new ones!
ReplyDeletePotential X, Zero, and ZX series comics? Count me in!
ReplyDeleteUDON… for the love of God… DON’T SCREW THIS UP LIKE YOU DID WITH DARKSTALKERS.
ReplyDeleteDon’t worry, they will.
DeleteHonestly, I think Archie ending was for the best. I didn't like the way they handled Proto man and the rules were even more inconsistent with the IC chips.
ReplyDeleteGiven how more and more people are criticizing IDW Sonic (rightfully so), I won't shed a tear if Ian has no sway here.
Could be good, could be bad, there’s not a lot to go on now. If nothing else, it’s interesting that they’re flaunting the whole main timeline right off the bat.
ReplyDeleteAnd frankly, there was no chance the Archie comics were coming back. And I’m also glad they waited as long as they did, it always feels slimy when a rights holder cuts ties with a publisher and immediately starts up again with a new one. Like Archie to IDW with Sonic, and IDW to Skybound with Transformers.
It's not slimy in any way when the publisher fails to meet expectations, as is the case with IDW.
DeleteWhat is kind of scummy is not knowing why Archie stopped publishing in the first place.
Or not releasing that last graphic novel. That kinda sucked. While I have a good chunk of them, I don't have every issue so, so I never got to read the last parts or the 2nd crossover in their entirety.
Archie pretty much stopped publishing anything unrelated to their own ips at the time. There was a big push to modernize all their original books into something more aligned with the show Riverdale. This included a pretty controversial kickstarter which (and this next part is hearsay from memory), upon flopping meant they had to pay totally out of pocket to begin this initiative. Rumor has it that the money came from dumping all their Archie Action titles, which started to fade at around the same time. But also, pretty much from the get go, the mega man book was fighting for its life lol
DeleteWell, it’s good to know the Archie-SEGA “breakup” was more-or-less mutual, even if I still don’t like IDW Sonic conceptually.
DeleteAnd yeah, Archie Mega Man was a lot of things, but it sure as hell wasn’t timely. Though Udon isn’t in a much better spot for the series themselves. Sure, Capcom is trying to keep Mega Man stuff coming more with collections and other appearances, but at least Archie came out way closer to an actual new game, Mega Man 10.
Ironically, the Dreamwave comics probably had the best chance to succeed, they just stopped since Dreamwave imploded!
@Jark Spore
DeleteHuh, really? Is it because it was coming out in an area where MM was still relevant to Capcom in regards to games? I didn't hear anything good about it.
That should have said 'era' and not area. My mistake.
DeleteSure, I'm game. First decent Mega Man news in some time.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who draws anime-style art that makes me happy, i might just buy it.
ReplyDeleteDo you have socials with your art?
DeleteThis isn't even close to being anime style art if going by the promo image.
DeleteNo thanks lol
ReplyDeleteIf done right, this could literally revive the franchise on a surface level while satisfying us diehard Mega Man fans to some extent story-wise. We could literally see the Elf Wars or the Elder System incidents in this format without risking the Tsujimotos' 50th mansion payment or whatever they'd be afraid of losing with a game that would only sell 500,000 copies or less. Characters would be designed, plot elements would be introduced, and with luck those could even be used in future games.
ReplyDeleteThen if Capcom is too afraid to make a new Mega Man game that isn't Classic (or maybe X), they can satisfy those of us who wanna see those characters again while actually giving us new games in the form of classic sequels that can maybe have X and Zero as a DLC or some side story. That way the comics take care of story and the games take care of gameplay. Then eventually years later Capcom can use the assets and concepts established cheaply in the comics, to make some kind of game(s) or some bonus side mode in a classic game that adapts some comic stories from the other eras into game form in a way that would break even.
But of course if Capcom refuses to invest in anything that won't sell 5 million copies or more then we're screwed anyway lol
This won't revive the brand, it's the fans basically keeping the series alive at this point not Capcom.
DeleteCapcom is throwing a meager transparent bone to milk what's left of the fans again. It won't work and they'll take that as validation for "lack of interest". The elf wars were such a stupid thing as it is even back in Zero's original release.
DeleteIt will mostly likely be par-for-the-course Capcom treatment of Megaman. The cheapest and most surface level retreading possible followed by quick cancellation they probably knew they were going to do from the beginning.
@ Anon August 1, 3:50 pm. It’s basically the Mega Man cycle at this point.
DeleteBetter call Inti and get those ZXC story notes to adapt into these XD
ReplyDeleteAnd there's no Gigamix? 🥺
ReplyDeleteNope, Udon wants to pretend they never announced Mastermix or the Mega Missions manga. Very few of us even remember.
DeleteOwwwww, dang it! 😢
Delete...lord knows we're finally getting a good Mega Man Zero adaptation that isn't that terrible jokey manga.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much I want to see from the Zero series! Copy X's birth and descent into becoming the tyrant he is today, why Dr. Weil snapped and became the monster he is, an adaptation of the Elf Wars explaining what became of Axl, Alia, Signas, and the rest of X and Zero's support crew, as well as the final showdown with Weil and Omega, the tragic downfall of Commander Kraft...
Man, the Zero series really needs that love! And merchandise, too! The designs translate scarily well into toy format, so if they'd only just run a figure lineup to go with a comic series...
The designs for the Zero series always tank Mega Man toylines, they aren’t as popular as you think compared to X and Classic.
DeleteThey literally don't but you can lie and exaggerate It's fine.
DeleteI'm not super big on the Zero manga. I remember noping out on ZX's manga because they made one of the models into a pervert.
DeleteI derped. I forgot to ask what makes the Zero manga "jokey".
Delete@Anon July 29 5:49 pm, the Zero series always tanks Mega Man toylines, where have you been the last 10-15 years?
DeleteNah, no it doesn't. But I don't think you're trying to convince me at this point, maybe you should keep trying to convince yourself.
Delete@July 30 9:56 am, keep on telling yourself that and living in your little bubble. The Zero series toys never sell well.
DeleteOK bet. The Kotobukiya line continued after the release of Zero (MMZ) with X, Max Armor, Zero, Mega Man EXE, Sigma etc etc it is still going to this day.
Delete"The designs for the Zero series always tank Mega Man toylines"
Making this statement literally evidently factually untrue. But are you aging to break your delusion? Nope. You move the goal post and when I address that new goal post like MMZ the character usually immediately sells out and is reintroduced multiple times over in many toy lines and hobbyist toys throughout the years and even to this day and show you categorical proof of this. You will change the goalpost again. Like I said convince yourself not me.
Finally, someone else who realizes that the Zero series isn't cursed.
DeleteAlso as a Zero series fan I personally enjoyed the Zero manga when I read the first few chapters of it, I haven't finished it yet tho...
DeleteThe series is cursed.
DeleteUh, don’t you mean someone who realizes MMZR took place between MMZ4 and MMZX?
DeleteYes, once again, I am making a reference to MMZR. You can still go check it out.
Delete"MMZR", Mega Man Zero Revengeance?
DeleteNo, it’s Mega Man Zero Resurrection! That fan game took place after the events of Mega man zero 4.
DeleteI know I was just kidding lol
DeleteHeh… yeah… I have already known the whole story of that fan game as of today. Everyone thought Zero died during that horrible incident with Ragnarok… but he actually disappeared as the war between Neo Arcadia and the Resistance came to an end… reported missing in action. Ciel was in so much grief about what happened to him and made a promise to him about the peace between Humans and Reploids until he returns someday. I even have notice that promise including the construction of the city of the Inner Circle and the foundation of the Telos and mentioning that Humans may go through the same life extension process that Dr. Weil underwent a long time ago. Until the scariest regime of Mavericks calling themselves, the Neo Repliforce came along… they have been responsible for the attacks since the Great Repliforce War. Zero just lost his memory due to hibernation sickness, that’s all. He really is the legendary hero who ever lived alongside Mega Man X!
DeleteSee, the pieces have came together. This Legendary Reploid everyone kept referring to is Zero and he… died! And some unknown circumstances brought him back… Zero must be reincarnated after his final showdown with Weil! Then it’s clear he will show Neo Repliforce the hero behind the legend!
DeleteExpectations are next to dinosaur bones. If they are just going to rehash the already-awful game stories, there is nothing to look forward to. No nuance, no understanding of the characters, no growth, nothing. Zero and ZX were nothing but soulless rehashes of X and nobody every learned or accomplished anything in all those hundreds of years. Unless they stole one of the two good fanfictions out there.
ReplyDeleteIn what way were they soulless rehashes?
DeleteMmm, I have my distaste for the Zero series but what do you mean by growth? Humanity not learning anything is frankly, nothing new.
DeleteI mean I didn’t care for the character designs at all and still don’t like the designs but I thought the Zero games were pretty good once I got past that.
DeleteYeah I am not a big fan of Legends and humanity is all but extinct in that one and all roads (mainline at least) leads to that weaksauce outcome.
Delete@Anon August 1, 2024 at 11:13 PM
DeleteIf it makes you feel better, there's a dispute between Capcom and Inti Creates.
On Capcom's side: According to their Rockman Perfect Memories sourcebook, Legends takes place 100 years after X making it a direct sequel while Zero and ZX are an alternate timeline coming after X and not ending on Legends.
On Inti Creates's side: According to their Rockman Zero Official Complete Works book, Zero and ZX will somehow end on Legends. But again, this statement only comes from Inti's side.
Mega Man fans that don't like the Mega Man Zero designs will always seem weird to me. To reach their own though. I think they're some of the high marks of the franchise preventing it from looking kind of generic in general. It's like one of the few flavorful art styles I think and designs that you can't immediately associate to some other mainstream shonen manga/anime look, but still looking cool in the process.
Delete@Precursor Different anon from anyone else in this discussion, but everything I've ever heard about Legends' placement in the timeline has it being at least 1000 years after Mega Man Classic, if not even potentially even longer so as for it to be totally and completely removed from those events. As far as I have heard there's nothing giving it an exact placement, but that's also generally true for Zero/ZX as well as all we know is that Zero takes place 100 years after whenever the X series ends, and ZX takes place 200 years after that. Presumably, this means Zero takes place somewhere around 22XX through 23XX and ZX takes place somewhere around 24XX through 25XX. Legends would then happen around 30XX at the earliest, if not even potentially much later.
DeleteZX Advent's hard mode ending did hint towards events leading in the direction of the catastrophe that lead to the state of the world in Legends, but that doesn't mean that the world would have to "end" during the course of the ZX series timeframe and it could well be that multiple whole new series could be made taking place in the time in-between. It's just that the events hinted at the end of ZXA would have been the early catalyst that leads the the world eventually being flooded down the line and pureblood humans going to space while Carbons remain on the surface.
Zero looks comparatively young in the newer series, imo.
DeleteHim looking younger in the future and the Omega body not actually being his OG body bothers me. It's possible I'm missing something but idk man.
Delete@Anon August 4:48 pm. That’s a extremely narrow minded take towards people who don’t like the Zero series character designs. Maybe to you they are peak character designs but to a lot of X series fans they were a major step backwards with the child like proportions. The games are great, the character designs not so much. However you can’t seem to accept that not everyone fanboys over the Zero series designs.
Delete@RS Proto Man: Omega's body is actually the OG body, he's just not wearing the OG armor.
Delete"That’s a extremely narrow minded take towards people who don’t like the Zero series character designs."
DeleteYeah sure... Uh huh.... sigh...
"Maybe to you they are peak character designs"
Maybe.
"but to a lot of X series fans they were a major step backwards with the child like proportions."
I don't get where those fans are coming from, but like I said before, to each their own.
"The games are great"
Agreed.
"character designs not so much"
I don't compare the character designs to the gameplay(assuming that is what you mean by game), they are both good but apples and oranges... Actually apples to cement. Two totally different things.
"However you can’t seem to accept that not everyone fanboys over the Zero series designs"
Which is why I said "to each their own" (yes I know it said reach but that was a clear typo) right?
I don't care or mind you holding onto your opinions on Mega Man Zero designs, that doesn't mean it will be any less weird to me. Like someone liking Navy Blue and absolutely hating Marine Blue or Cyan . It's fair to have preferences but outright disdain? Uhm.. Like I said, Just cause I don't understand it that doesn't mean I can't stand it.
Your opinions don't bother me for 2 logical reasons. 1. Mega Man Zero is fully established and completed, you complaining about it has no effect considering that. 2. I think the series (and its visuals) speak for itself and if you are able to impede its success than it didn't have strong enough merits to succeed in the first place. Based on the continued use of the designs and enduring large visible fanbase, the game has moved past the aforementioned impediment to succeed already.
Does that clear things up for you?
@Anon August 2, 2024 at 6:30 PM
DeleteLooking closely, Legends is described as thousands of years after X "数千年". What's curious is that the text doesn't mention it continuing from the Zero series, but rather the X series unlike it does with Classic and X or X and Zero.
It also mentions "Fans will also be delighted with the subtle links to the worldview of the previous series!!!"(Google translation, Deepl gives an almost exact translation).
Compare(at the top):
https://ia800107.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/26/items/Rockman_Perfect_Memories/Rockman_Perfect_Memories_jp2.zip&file=Rockman_Perfect_Memories_jp2/Rockman_Perfect_Memories_0070.jp2&id=Rockman_Perfect_Memories&scale=8&rotate=0
And:
https://ia800107.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/26/items/Rockman_Perfect_Memories/Rockman_Perfect_Memories_jp2.zip&file=Rockman_Perfect_Memories_jp2/Rockman_Perfect_Memories_0044.jp2&id=Rockman_Perfect_Memories&scale=8&rotate=0
With(also at the top):
https://ia800107.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/26/items/Rockman_Perfect_Memories/Rockman_Perfect_Memories_jp2.zip&file=Rockman_Perfect_Memories_jp2/Rockman_Perfect_Memories_0064.jp2&id=Rockman_Perfect_Memories&scale=8&rotate=0
Kobun 20, has a different translation regarding the subtle part, but Classic & X were always connected to Legends:
https://kobun20.interordi.com/2011/04/06/dr-datas-dash-dissertation/
Keep in mind CFC STYLE FAN-BOOK CAP! Vol.5 AUTUMN 1997 was released prior to the first Legends game. Rockman Perfect Memories was released on December 2002(some sources say 1 of December, others say 3)
The "Heaven"(Elysium) that X talks about in X5 is the same one from Legends:
https://web.archive.org/web/20041206035702/http://www2.capcom.co.jp/dash/bbs/past/pslg30554.html
Man, finding that took hours, what a pain.
Someone mentioned there are craters in Manda Island that could've been caused by Eurasia(I'll have to check). It is theorized Area Zero doesn't exist in Legends. There are also other reasons as to why Zero is considered an alternate future for X. Such as, all of Zero's routes in the X series being canon to the Zero series but not to X(Zero is the one that kills Colonel and General). Zero's saber in his series is the same one from X2(with different properties from the X series). In the X series, Zero had multiple sabers instead. And, in X DiVE(yes the events original to X DiVE are not canon however the already established canon is still described there) the Zero series is straight up called "another timeline". Again, Inti Creates wants it both ways, Zero's backstory in his series is different from the X series and somehow(?) it'll lead to the Legends series.
For @Anon August 1, 2024 at 11:13 PM, a possible alternate path is to take from X6's ending where you don't rescue Zero so he stays a ghost and continue from there.
@Precursor simply splitting off Zero into another timeline after X6 doesn't work because Axl still existed at some point in relation to the Zero events, eventually leading to Albert using him as his primary inspiration to create Model A and his own powers. It's more likely that little inconsistencies are just a result of different dev teams not talking to each other enough. This was also the reason why the Zero series got a major retcon after Zero 1. Originally, Zero was meant to be waking up from the stasis he was put under in X6 at the beginning of Zero 1 which included his body "remembering" that the original X was stronger than Copy X, but then they suddenly had Zero return in X7 and so it was retconned to be him waking up from a different stasis while in a copy body while Omega has his original body. This retcon in and of itself points towards the intention to have been for it to be one unified timeline, and anything hinting otherwise most closely makes sense as coming from individuals who don't know all the details. There's a very similar phenomenon documented in regards to the DC Animated Universe in that many of the prominent people within the company have very contradictory statements regarding what is and isn't canon and when things take place and etc. Different teams not talking to each other can lead to weird things happening with a canon and the parent company easily ends up falling all over itself trying to explain the inconsistencies.
Delete@Anon August 3, 2024 at 1:19 PM
DeleteThe problem with Model A(either for Albert or Axl) is that they purposely left it ambiguous if he was Axl because Inti wouldn't have communication with the team making X5-X8. They would find out what the other team was doing based on press releases(source: Rockman Zero Complete Works). So Model A is based on Axl, but story-wise so far he isn't Axl(even though design and personality-wise he is closer to Axl than Albert) in order to not step on X team's toes due to them not knowing Axl's fate:
https://www.rockman-corner.com/2020/04/the-making-of-rockman-zx-series-part-5.html
Going by the documentation and differences already presented and X DiVE, Zero(along ZX) is an alternate timeline.
@Precursor
DeleteI don't know if this is the correct place to ask, but given that you're rather knowledgeable about the JP side of things, what would you say about the script and writing of Japanese X6? I've read some things about it having odd moments, such as Zero and Dr.Right both speaking in an unusual manner for their characters in the Yammark stage capsule dialogue, but I've been curious as to how it is in general, as well.
And, if there are things of note you'd like to note, what things were particularly lost in the overseas translation? I can name many things I've noted from just trying to compare, like weapon/technique descriptions being more detailed in the Japanese version, Sentsuizan being explained with the ingame input where-as US just reuses Rakukojin's, Dynamo and X's dialogue in Mijinion's stage seemingly being rewritten with Dynamo's being turned into a reference to "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy", dialogue with Mijinion himself also differing, Zero and Turtloid's dialogue with Zero's last line, but I don't have enough knowledge to speak about it properly, so I don't know much more than that and if I am wrong on certain things. Thank you either way!
C'mon now, we all know the only canon Mega Man game is Mega Man Soccer.
Delete@Precursor Model A isn't Axl, but he's directly inspired by Axl in-lore. Albert specifically designed the looks and powers of Model A with Axl in mind, with the devs even going so far as to say that the reason for the gem cover is because of Lumine's attack of Axl in X8. This and the retcon around Zero's body in the Zero series after he reappeared in X7 means there's a chronological through line in which the events of Zero/ZX depend on the events of X7 and X8 to happen before them, and as such cannot be within a split timeline.
DeleteIt’s kind of sad that people get defensive and angry over other Mega Man fans not liking the Zero series character designs.
Delete@Anon 1:47: It doesn't look like anyone got defensive and angry that people don't like the Zero designs, actually it seems like the opposite and people who don't like the Zero designs are projecting anger they feel, when people do.
DeleteI don't know how many people are unique, but one Anon said he doesn't like the Zero design, The other said he doesn't understand that, but it is fine to hold that opinion. Then seemingly the same one that disliked the designs said that the one that does is "angry" that people do. Then seemingly the same one that said he doesn't understand why people don't like the Zero designs, corrected and said he doesn't mind people not liking it, he just finds it strange.
Then you came (assuming you're not the same Anon that dislikes the designs previously) and say people are angry and defensive about people not liking the Zero designs, which there is no evidence for in this thread. Then I came and stated it seems like projection.
@Anon August 4, 2024 at 10:30 AM
DeleteReferences don't equal connections.
Using the X7 retcon isn't compelling because it's essentially a broken retcon.
Here's what Rockman Perfect Memories on page 61 tells:
"X6はマルチエンディングを採用。進め方によって、3つのエンディングが存在する。そして、このなかには、ファンに衝撃を与えた「ゼロが102年間の眠りについてしまう」というエンディングが隠されている。彼が封印されるというエンディングは、後に続く「ロックマンゼロ」に続くストーリーのようにも見えるのだが･･････。はたしてゼロは「X7」でどのように登場するのか? 是非、注目してもらいたい!!!"(Left rectangle) Japanese provided due to there being no fan translation.
"X6 features multiple endings. Depending on how you progress, there are three endings. Among these, there is a hidden ending that shocked fans, in which Zero falls into a 102-year sleep. The ending in which he is sealed away seems like a continuation of the story in the subsequent 'Rockman Zero'... How will Zero appear in 'X7'? Be sure to keep an eye out!!!"(Google Translate)
"X6 uses a multiple ending[sic]. Depending on how you proceed, there are three different endings. And hidden among these is the ending that shocked fans: 'Zero goes into a 102-year sleep.' The ending in which he is sealed away appears to be a story that continues in the 'Rockman Zero' that follows. ・・・・・・ How will Zero appear in 'X7'? We hope you will pay attention!"(Deep)
"「ロックマンゼロ」で100年の眠りから覚めた･･････とされていたゼロ。「X7」には登場するのか? もし登場するのであれば、眠りにつくのはいつ? 謎を解く鍵は「X7」にある!"(Right rectangle)
"In 'Rockman Zero,' Zero was said to have woken up from a 100-year slumber. Will he appear in 'X7'? If so, when will he fall asleep? The key to solving the mystery lies in 'X7'!"(Google Translate)
"Zero was supposed to be ・・・・・・ awakened from a 100 year sleep in 'Rockman Zero'. Will he appear in 'X7'? If so, when will he go back to sleep? The key to solving the mystery lies in 'X7'!"(Deepl)
It was never brought up in X7. Apart from Zero's dream of seeing a more robotic X, Snipe Ariquick says this:
"I've seen a glimpse of your data that has been heavily protected... Are these memories of the future, or false images of the past?"
"The world that is ruled by a fake - blue. And the sealed destroyer - red..."(JazzTellsStuff translation)
Ariquick is guessing based on the glimpse of Zero's heavily protected data. Nothing concrete.
Compendium of Rockman X has this to tell:
"How did Zero sealed himself 100 years ago? It's a mystery, but there's a work about his future. In 'X6', there is an ending where Zero goes to sleep for 100 years, it seems that the next chapter of this story belongs to the 'Rockman Zero' saga." - Compendium of Rockman X, page 10(My translation based on Rockyou78, yes I know Spanish)
In case anyone doubts that translation:
"It is a mystery how Zero was sealed away 100 years ago, but there are works about the future. 'X6' has an ending where Zero falls asleep for 100 years, and the 'Rockman Zero' series on the right is thought to be the episode that follows after that."(Google Translate)
"How Zero was sealed away 100 years ago is a mystery, but there are works about the future. The ending of 'X6' has Zero sleeping for 100 years, and the 'Rockman Zero' series on the right is thought to be a later episode."(Deepl)
Even in all translations the line "it seems to" or "is thought to be" points to Zero's series being a possible future, but not THE future.
Zero's chronology has this block of text between X6 and X7:
"Zero seals himself for 100 years?" - Compendium of Rockman X, page 11
Have you checked the DS Zero Collection timeline post-Zero Complete Works?
Deletehttps://megaman.fandom.com/wiki/Rockman_Zero_Collection_Timeline
"1XX years ago: The Nightmare Incident
'The Nightmare Incident' occurs, an event where a subspecies of the Sigma Virus that attracts attention as the Nightmare Virus spreads throughout the world. It became clear that the source was Zero, as he was a carrier of the Sigma Virus, and was contagious to his surroundings as he worked across the world as a Hunter. In finding this, the human leadership decides for Zero to be sealed away, but the scientists studying the Sigma Virus remove his cognitive program from his body so the two could be researched separately."
It could be argued that X6 was ambiguous as to when Zero sealed himself if one ignores Compendium, but the way it's described here makes it sound like it happened during the Nightmare Incident instead of later and it wasn't his decision, but the human leadership instead. Specially contradictive considering X7-X8 make no mention of the Nighmare Virus still being a problem. In fact, X7 introduces the Sigma Virus 02 in the form of a drug, Virus Program Sigma-02 to be exact according to Golden Days which in turn makes it very suspicious how's there no mention of it in the Collection's timeline:
https://megaman.fandom.com/wiki/%C5%8Cgon_no_Hibi
Dates:
Zero Complete Works - 2006(Japan) - June 4, 2008(USA) - June 11, 2019(USA Re-release)
Zero Collection website redesign with the timeline - April 9, 2010
Zero Collection website redesign without the timeline - April 16, 2010
Zero Collection - June 10, 2010
That timeline also states the Nightmare Incident happened approximately a 100 years, but the Zero/ZX Collection states:
"A few hundred years after Mega Man X, Zero awakens." - Zero/ZX Legacy Collection website:
https://www.megaman-zzxlc.com/us/about/
The Japanese text states the same thing.
Inti Creates will keep flip-flopping, it's just their thing. Capcom has its own contradictions, but not as close as Inti Creates.
And that isn't the only contradiction:
"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 destroyed in the battle with Sigma, also becomes infected with the virus."
Zero never had his armor destroyed in X4's flashback and it would be a huge reach to call being thrown into barrels, thrown to the ground and crashing his head into the ceiling as "having his armor destroyed". His crystal was destroyed, but only after his body was employing counter-measures and again, only the crystal on his forehead.
"When he sealed the Dark Elf, the shock forced X's soul from his body and split it into 5 Cyber Elves. Eventually, 4 of these souls were incorporated into the Four Guardians of Neo Arcadia, while one continued to wander the world."
That's funny because Complete Works tells they are made from X's DNA, but nothing about their souls being X's originally. Also, the drama tracks make it clear they met the real X before which is impossible:
"Created based on the DNA of the original X, these masters of air, land, sea, and blade were gathered from various areas to counter the Resistance efforts." The Four Guardians term - Mega Man Zero Complete Works, page 165
RTRZ TELOS Drama Tracks 07- Will 3: Stand and Fight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Og3g43qgU
There is also the saber contradiction:
Delete"Because it was created using the same technology as the X-Buster, it also has the ability to vary its effects and shape." Z-Saber term - Mega Man Zero Complete Works, page 167
Serges created a custom-made Z-Saber(Zed-Saber) for Zero in X2:
https://www.rockman-corner.com/2020/03/rockman-zero-setting-collection.html
In X2 and X3, Zero uses the Beam Saber and then in X4 he uses the Z-Saber(Zed-Saber) already contradicting the Zero series' timeline, not to mention the Z-Saber(Zeta-Saber) from X7 and beyond. This can be backed up by both the games and Compendium of Rockman X on pages 44, 59 and 159.
I want to rectify the part about Inti finding out about the X team plans. It wasn't Complete Works, it was this article:
"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.'"
https://web.archive.org/web/20150508140932/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/companions-through-life-and-death-time-and-again-the-story-of-inti-creates-and-mega-man
https://www.vg247.com/companions-through-life-and-death-the-story-of-inti-creates-and-mega-man
That article has an error though. Tsuda worked on X2 and 7 as a concept designer and Aizu was one of the programmers of Breath of Fire 2.
Hakaider is being referred to as an anime spin-off instead of a live-action film spin-off(alternate universe). This could be either a bad translation or Aizu misremembering since this article came out on April 22, 2015 and Hakaider came out on April 15, 1995. 20 years ago!
"he's directly inspired by Axl in-lore. Albert specifically designed the looks and powers of Model A with Axl in mind"
I just went through the entire English script and there's no mention of this anywhere.
This is what is said:
Grey: Why do you have the same copy ability as Model A?
Albert: I told you that you were made in my image. But my real power is not in
my copy ability. The spirit of everything Model W eats lives on inside me. The
power to control all life. That is the power of the ultimate Mega Man. The real
A-Trans! They're waiting for you inside with their new bodies. Please go in and
play with them. If you can make your way to me, I'll tell you everything, on
how, even being incomplete, you can still use A-Trans, and who you really are.
-·-
Albert: *laugh* How cruel you are... Grey, I'll tell you the truth. You are my
successor! I made you in my image to be like a son. If anything were to happen
to me, this throne would be yours! The ultimate Mega Man I created, that spare
body... That was your identity, Grey!
Grey: Me...!? A spare ultimate Mega Man!?
Albert: You see, I created Model A to tell you, the Chosen One, about the
plan... A backup system that contains my plan and my knowledge. Model A... In
other words, Model Albert.
Model A: I hate that name!
Albert: Don't say that. Soon that name and what it stands for will be gone.
"the devs even going so far as to say that the reason for the gem cover is because of Lumine's attack of Axl in X8."
No, that's why Model A has a cover, not that Axl will definitely have a cover post-X8. That's the thing, it's an interpretation and speculation of what happened post-X8 based on the information they have.
The whole timeline is a bit of a mess, innit?
DeleteTelos… isn’t that the organization named after… the Drama Track?!
DeleteTbh after X5 the X series has a confusing continuity as is, so who cares?
Delete@Precursor when it comes to contradicting information, ultimately what appears in the games themselves is going to trump everything else when it comes to what is canon and what is not. Guidebooks and dev statements and what not can be helpful in some cases, but when they start to become a contradictory mess and more importantly when they start to contradict what's in the games themselves, the games themselves are always a higher level of authenticity because they are the direct media players are experiencing. Because the games themselves make it apparent that Axl existed at some point in the past for ZXA, Occam's Razor insists that X7 and X8 had to have happened before the Zero/ZX series rather than something outlandish like a timeline split. Sometimes you just have to accept the fact that video game timelines or indeed fictional timelines in general are going to have inconsistencies and plot holes instead of trying to explain them away with crazy timeline splits that create alternate histories, especially when the devs themselves can't even be consistent on whether there is one or not. The simplest explanation is always the best one, and the simplest explanation is that it's one unified timeline that happens to have some plot holes and inconsistencies.
Delete@Anon August 6, 2024 at 1:50 PM
DeleteThe games already contradict themselves. None of the endings in X5 connect with X6 properly, for example. The X ending with Zero not awakening has X alone 3 years after the events of the ending(you even have a hunter say: "Since that time, Captain X's eyes have changed... ...and sharpened..."), but X6 has Zero coming back after 3 weeks. By the way, they aren't guidebooks, they are sourcebooks.
"make it apparent that Axl existed at some point in the past for ZXA"
You went from "Albert specifically designed the looks and powers of Model A with Axl in mind" with nothing to back it up, to this. Ok, then. This is coming off as bait at this point.
"rather than something outlandish like a timeline split."
Why would it be outlandish? If anything, it would be logical. Occam's Razor isn't always the answer. It's also possible each series take from alternate versions of past series.
@RS Proto Man
Yeah, even separated they still have problems. As a single timeline it'd be much worse though.
@Sprite Recreator
I haven't checked X6's script yet. If I can, I'll give it a go one day. I don't really know Japanese, all I know is katakana, hiragana and a really small amount of Kanji, and that "Japanified" English words don't really mean the same thing in Japanese than what they do in English.
No, it's much worse as a split timeline. It arbitrarily muddies things up with multiple histories to keep track of for absolutely no good reason. Fiction's already enough of a headache with plot holes, we don't need plot holes across multiple timelines on top of that.
DeleteThat's your prerogative. It wouldn't be completely split timelines, more like branches. My prerogative is that there's more evidence to there being branched timelines based on the games than to a single continuous timeline and even then there's more consistency between Classic and X than X and Zero.
DeleteIn Zero 2, Phoenix Magnion can summon illusions of past foes. Agile being among them makes no sense because by the time Zero is finished X already destroyed him. Bit shouldn't be there either if taking the games as they are. Could've happened off-screen or it couldn't have, but X3 never shows this. In contrast, in X5 Shadow Devil transforms into Wily Machine 6 without contradicting past events. Now, why could it be branched timelines? Easy, for contradictions like these(when taking only the games):
Why does the Z-Saber effect other weapons([Cerveau]: It could also have an effect on other weapons.) when that was never a thing in the X series? Well, you could say it's because Zero branches from a different X2 where Serges made this possible and the Beam Saber never existed.
When did Zero fight Agile? Well, you could say in the Zero series Zero was finished before X could destroy Agile and Zero could've been the one that fought and destroyed him instead(or just fought him without destroying him). The same with Bit.
Why does X7 star Zero when his ending in X6 has him sealed away for 102 years? Well, you could say in the Zero series Zero went to sleep in X6 and completely different versions of X7, X8 or anything in between happened with only some elements being shared between serieses.
Zero's sealing away leading into the Zero series literally can't be the sealing from X6 because he's in a copy body while Omega inhabits his original body. X and Zero battled Omega together before Zero's sealing away as well, which definitely didn't happen in X6. In general you're at best thinking way too hard about plot holes and at worst trying to force your headcanon to make multiple timelines work. It's not that complicated bro, it's just an imperfect work of fiction. There's plot inconsistencies. So what? That doesn't create timeline splits in the vast majority of fiction, so why should it here? It's already an established fact that the real world dev teams weren't communicating with each other properly, which was why retcons needed to happen to begin with. They make it clear multitudes of times between things already mentioned about the games and in dev interviews (which you have even linked) that the intention was to make it one unified timeline. They may not have succeeded in doing this without creating plot holes and inconsistencies, but it is what it is. That happens in fiction a lot, especially when it's not all just one team working on a franchise.
Delete"Zero's sealing away leading into the Zero series literally can't be the sealing from X6 because he's in a copy body while Omega inhabits his original body."
DeleteThat would still fit with a modified version of everything that happens after X6's events that would still fit with the Elf Wars. That's what I was getting at.
"Headcanon"
That's why I said a prerogative, you really ARE arguing in bad faith.
"that the intention was to make it one unified timeline."
Not all sources agree with this like Compendium.
"That doesn't create timeline splits in the vast majority of fiction"
Too bad X5 was already pointing to that with the two endings.
Honestly, idk why y’all are so defensive about Precursor’s comments. It’s just headcanon, they’re not actually trying to convince anyone of anything. If anything, stuff like Model A supports an intention from the devs for some things to be ambiguous, letting the player come to their own conclusion. It’s not like Capcom or even Udon are gonna see their comments and make wild new stories that contradict everything… But, I suppose fandoms are destined to become obsessed with “proper” canon. =_=
DeleteThere wouldn't have been a need for the "copy body while sealed" retcon to begin with if the intention was for multiple timelines, they could have just gone with the original plan from Zero 1 and had him still be in his original body after being sealed away in X6. The fact the retcon happens at all means that the deliberate intention was to try to make it one timeline and they made changes as necessary to make this work as best as they could.
DeleteAlternative official sources saying different things about whether something exists in a split timeline or not doesn't mean anything. This happens all the time when a body of fiction is owned by a large company rather than a single small team and you have different groups working on different projects. You end up with all kinds of crazy contradictory statements in regards to how everything does or doesn't fit together. It's not something you should take overly seriously. The only thing that actually matters is the games themselves and statements on why certain choices are made, and we have those. The deliberate intention of the devs was to continue the storyline from the X series as best as they could while remaining vague about details now and then to avoid doing anything that could contradict future stories so that it could all remain cohesive as one long story. They might not have done a particularly fantastic job of it, but they did a plenty good enough job for the average player who isn't obsessing over every single minor detail that might not add up.
If anything, reckless statements about split timelines you can only find in alternative media guides only serve to confuse things even further and result in pointless arguments. You get cases like this where someone develops their entire headcanon about it and then starts overanalyzing everything to make the idea fit when the individuals saying it certainly didn't think it through that far and were just using it as a way of handwaving off the plot holes and inconsistencies instead of having to address them properly.
Wait… This “Omega” you all keep referring to is the Original Zero… and he was destroyed… and Zero retained his original soul, in a copy of his body…
Delete"There wouldn't have been a need for the "copy body while sealed" retcon"
DeleteTell that to Inti then since they are the ones that wrote that timeline on the website where Zero goes to sleep during the Nightmare Incident and said timeline was much after X7's release(almost 6 years). You do realize Zero can go to sleep with his original body then his body is changed while he either is asleep(they chose this) or awake prior to or during the Elf Wars and then he goes back to sleep in his new body?
"The only thing that actually matters is the games themselves and statements on why certain choices are made"
Yet, the games and statements both contradict themselves and each other. X6 implies Zero's ending happens shortly after Sigma's defeat. That cutscene could be re-contextualized to take place on the last X game yet Inti chose the former. It's clear you haven't read majority of the sources, if any.
"every single minor detail"
Endings leading to different outcomes in X5 isn't a minor detail or a major character like Axl never being mentioned by neither Zero or X during the Zero series.
"Alternative official sources"
Hah, it's published by Capcom themselves.
発行 株式会社 カプコン - Issued by Capcom Co., Ltd. (Page 200)
At this point, you are just replying for the sake of it.
Again, you don't seem to understand that if there's a definitive statement from Capcom as a whole that it is indeed a single timeline then I'll accept it, but even in that case there would be a lot of errors to patch up which they can do by modifying the text like they did with X5 in a re-release or make a remake that takes over a specific game's placement. All I'm saying is that since there's no statement then there is more evidence to it being branched timelines and Inti is always making decisions that later get contradicted by Capcom anyways because they are on a lower tier due to not owning the IP. Like, they can split from the X series and then all merge with Legends. That's also an option. I'm willing to also accept that the X series doesn't necessarily has to be the definitive continuation of the Classic series if Capcom declares it as such in the future.
>Capcom’s new official Rockman site description says the Rockman Zero series takes place approximately 100 years after the X series.
https://www.capcom-games.com/ja-jp/series/megaman/
>2020’s Zero/ZX collection website & marketing was first to state that it happens a few hundred years after X.
>Always in motion is the future.
>yeah man there's like definitely a single timeline
>no we're not even sure what goes where but there is only a single timeline trust the plan
@Jack Spore
On one hand, I agree videogame stories tend to be window-dressing in order to make sense of the world of the game and canon is not that big of a deal. On the other hand, if a company bothers putting a story then it also should be bothered with having the overarching story make sense. There is nothing wrong with caring about the canon though. Take Disney for example with Star Wars. They annihilated every single detail of the canon and have lost thousands if not millions of fans apart from the quality of storytelling, but that's a different type of franchise and medium where story is pretty much everything.
Inti's 2010 timeline as a branched one still makes sense though:
Delete->Zero goes to sleep after Sigma's defeat and is set for 102 years
->His program is put in a copy body
->X creates the Mother Elf
->Weil steals it and alters it into the Dark Elf starting the Elf Wars
->Zero is interrupted from his sleep
->All this happens in the same year with the capsule
->4 years later the Elf Wars end with Omega sent to space and Zero goes back to sleep
->Zero's sleeping capsule could have 98 years left or reset entirely back to 102 but the former is more likely
->This fits both of X's statements in Zero 1 and Zero 3 as well as the computer in Ciel's room
Zero 1:
[Unknown-X]: Since you disappeared I've been fighting this war alone
against an uncountable number of Mavericks for
nearly a hundred years...
Zero 3:
[Cyber-Elf X]: Dr. Weil...
Will he try to repeat the tragedy of the Elf Wars,
that ended a century ago...
[Dialogue Box]: File #945388 == Elf Wars ==
[Dialogue Box]: While use of the Dark
Elf brought the war to
an end in four years...
The fact that they willingly chose the Nightmare Incident at all points to them agreeing that the timeline takes from X6.
In X8, all the New Generation Reploid Bosses including Lumine are surprised being referred as Mavericks compared to past entries. Lumine implies Sigma willingly became Maverick. This hints at the virus not being the cause, but rather it amplifies Maverick thoughts. Was he honest and correct or was he bluffing or got that thought due to New Generation Reploids chips being derived from Sigma's DNA? Unless a future X game clears it up, it will remain unknown. Even with Makoto's comments, Axl being alive or not doesn't affect Model A because Biometals are based on data and inspired by legends past the Zero series(check the official guide made by Capcom itself, page 101). They aren't the characters from back then.
There's already a precedent for split timelines all the way back to X5. X remembering Zero with Zero's awakening or not leads to two completely different outcomes and character arc for X. However, in both timelines Elysium gets made with X making it his dream in one ending and Legends 2 devs confirming in forums that it is the same Elysium back when Inafune wanted X5 to be the last game and for it to lead to the Zero series prior to X6. All timelines would unify by Legends as implied in Perfect Memories. It's an expansion of X4 having completely opposite stories for X and Zero and even with the possible paths of X2 and X3 so pretending it's impossible for there being branched timelines is the most disingenuous argument you could possibly make. It is plausible.
You keep insisting that fiction should not be complicated. Well, that's the nature of entries continuously being added to a story. You just have to accept that fiction sometimes is that complicated.
Developer commentaries up to date: They keep pointing to details that imply branched timelines like the Z-Saber that was an intended concept before the first Zero game and has been kept all the way to said comments on Official Complete Works. I'm guessing dev comments are headcanon now /s.
Sourcebooks: They imply different timelines.
Guidebooks: Possibility of different timelines.
Website: Inti's 2010 one straight up takes from X6.
Games: Possibility of different timelines.
GG
@Precursor
DeleteAbsolutely, I’m not saying story doesn’t matter, even in a “gameplay first” series like Mega Man. But considering that they can’t even keep one sub-series story straight, and that there hasn’t been major output by Capcom in over a decade (MM11 was 100% only made to spite Inafune and get easy nerd-cred points), I think alternate takes and fanon are as important as anything else.
In a way, I almost wish Capcom would TOTALLY abandon the series so it would only be in the hands of fans. To use a somewhat adjacent example, I think the Bionicle fanbase is in the best spot right now than it’s ever been, and that line and anything resembling it has been full-on dead before MM11 was even announced. But since Mega Man was so seminal for Capcom, they still wanna have their cake and eat it too…
@Sprite Recreator
DeleteYou can check Dr. Right's dialogues here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160927023958/http://3rd.geocities.jp:80/wonth_dp/rock/sp-x6b.html(Blade Armor)
https://web.archive.org/web/20150828054151/http://3rd.geocities.jp:80/wonth_dp/rock/sp-x6s.html(Shadow Armor)
Here are all the URLs(they have all the dialogues and other kinds of info):
https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://3rd.geocities.jp/wonth_dp/rock/*#
Not all of them work though.
There's a biased atwiki webpage that lists all the negatives of the game including text complaints. One of them is about how Dr. Right addresses Zero claiming he uses both kimitachi and omaera instead of sticking to one of them, but this is untrue. Looking up the text Dr.Right only uses omaera as おまえら. Kimitachi is never used neither by searching きみたち nor 君たち. Both translate to "You guys" or "You(plural)" by adding -ra and -tachi to omae and kimi. Even if it was true, I'm not sure what the problem would be. I'm not that savvy when it comes to Japanese so a native or an unbiased dedicated translator(that knows Japanese culture at large) can tell you why using both would be awkward. Thank you too for some of those dialogue facts that I didn't know about and you're welcome!
@Anonymous August 3, 2024 at 8:29 AM
Delete"I don't get where those fans are coming from, but like I said before, to each their own."
You do get it, you're just playing dumb. Even svc chaos makes fun of the fact that Zero looks like a child. Those designs are terrible for a continuation, they're fine on their own though.
"I don't care or mind you holding onto your opinions on Mega Man Zero designs, that doesn't mean it will be any less weird to me. Like someone liking Navy Blue and absolutely hating Marine Blue or Cyan . It's fair to have preferences but outright disdain? Uhm.. Like I said, Just cause I don't understand it that doesn't mean I can't stand it."
Nah, you do understand it which is why it bothers you so much you have to imply anyone that doesn't like them is a weirdo.
"Your opinions don't bother me for 2 logical reasons. 1. Mega Man Zero is fully established and completed, you complaining about it has no effect considering that."
If that anon's opinions didn't bother you, you wouldn't have written this:
"Mega Man fans that don't like the Mega Man Zero designs will always seem weird to me."
Not to mention the original designs for original and the X series(X1-X3) don't look like mainstream shonen manga/anime. Gotta love how you're trying to pass your weak defense as logical when it has nothing to do with it.
"I think the series (and its visuals) speak for itself and if you are able to impede its success than it didn't have strong enough merits to succeed in the first place. Based on the continued use of the designs and enduring large visible fanbase, the game has moved past the aforementioned impediment to succeed already."
Right... because that worked so well for the Zero collection, right? Oh wait, it bombed? Never mind then, hah. That's *then not than, also. Not to mention the designs were discontinued since Zero 4 or ZX Advent(although they're slightly different so it may not count).
"Does that clear things up for you?"
You should ask yourself that question.
If they hire Ian Flynn to write or send Mega Man to high school, I'm gonna be real pissed!
ReplyDeleteLike a Dreamwave Comics redux, eh?
DeleteAnything but that.
DeleteThe art style looks a bit amateurish... But hey, I hope they turn out to be good...
ReplyDeleteAgreed, it doesn’t look appealing at all in the promo art.
Deletei will pay $75,000 just for a sliver of a page of this comic please please please please
ReplyDeleteThis is such exciting news for Mega Man fans! The car parking multiplayer apk for pc addition of Hub Style and Dark MegaMan.EXE to the Capcorom plush collection is a fantastic choice—it's great to see more characters from the Battle Network series being represented. I also love the nostalgic nods with the Rockman-themed UFO catcher prizes and the Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival updates. It’s incredible how these classic gaming franchises continue to find new ways to engage with fans both new and old. I'm definitely looking forward to getting my hands on these collectibles and playing the new rhythm game tracks
ReplyDelete