MegaMan.EXE
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| MegaMan.EXE | |
|---|---|
| Game series | MegaMan Battle Network series |
| First game | MegaMan Battle Network |
| Creator(s) | Keiji Inafune |
| Voice actor(s) (English) | Andrew Francis |
| Voice actor(s) (Japanese) | Akiko Kimura |
| In-Universe Information | |
| Classification | Navi |
| Weapon(s) | MegaBuster (Rock Buster), BattleChips, Program Changes |
Megaman.EXE, known in Japan as Rockman.EXE (ロックマン.EXE Rokkuman.ekuze?), is a fictional character in the MegaMan Battle Network series of video games and the MegaMan NT Warrior anime and manga. His design is based off Mega Man of the original Mega Man series. In the anime, he is voiced by Andrew Francis in the dub, and Akiko Kimura in the original version of the series.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Game
In the Battle Network version of the story, MegaMan (often referred to as "Rock" in the Japanese game and manga versions, and "Rock-kun" on occasion) has been Lan Hikari's (Netto Hikari) partner for some time, in a world where NetNavis are essential to everyday life.
At the beginning of the game, MegaMan's main goal in life seems to be to wake Lan up for school each morning. When the threat of World Three seizes upon their small town, however, the two rise to the challenge of eradicating its evils from the cyberworld.
It is revealed at the end of the first game that MegaMan is more than just a typical Navi. The reason why he is so talented and works so well with Lan is because of his tragic origins - a young Yuuichiro Hikari had long desired to create the "perfect" Navi and theorized that by combining human DNA with modern technology, he could create one that worked in complete sync with its creator, though he had not yet succeeded. At that time, he became the father of two twin boys, Lan, the younger brother, and Hub (Saito Hikari; 光彩斗 Hikari Saito), the older. Upon birth, Hub was diagnosed with a rare heart condition known as HBD, and his chances of survival were slim. In order to save his son's life, Yuuichiro used Hub's DNA, converted into data, for the creation of the first perfect Custom Navi. From this project, MegaMan.EXE came into existence.
Since Hub's DNA would be identical to that of his partner, there was the possibility that they would end up being completely synchronized and thus feel each other's pain. That would have made Hub completely useless as a Net Navi. In order to resolve this problem, Yuuichiro altered Hub's DNA by 0.001%. In the first game, the program Hub.BAT (Saito.BAT) rewrites the fraction that he had changed in order for MegaMan's life to be saved, thus enabling Lan and Megaman to become synchronized completely. This plot device is not used again until the fourth Battle Network game, but MegaMan's true identity as Hub is usually mentioned at least once per game, and in Battle Network 5 (as well as on the HubBatch (Saito) chip in Battle Network 6), we see an "under-the-armor" version of Megaman that seems to reflect what Hub might have looked like had he gone on living as a human.
In MegaMan Battle Network 6, Lan and Hub discover one of the latest inventions designed to bring the cyberworld and the real world closer together - the CopyBot (Copyroid). A CopyBot allows the user to jack a Navi (plug in) into it, matching its structure to resemble the Navi in question. In other words, it connects to a Navi's senses and allows the program to move around the real world - the Navi program itself becomes the brain. When a Navi is inside a CopyBot, however, it cannot deploy weapons unless an inhibition unit is removed (this is contrary to the anime, in which they essentially gain means of causing havoc), and the Navi only has the strength of an average human adult. At the end of the game, it is explained that, twenty years after of events in Battle Network 6, MegaMan is spending most of his time in the real world - the world he "missed so much."
[edit] Anime
In MegaMan NT Warrior (Rockman EXE), Lan receives MegaMan.EXE from his father as a sign of passage into the fifth grade. He is never referred to as "Rock" in the Japanese version, and seems to be the sole Navi who is referred to by his ".EXE" designation when entering the cyberworld. Lan and MegaMan are not related in the anime version; rather they are simply good friends, and even after knowing each other for a short time, attain the close partnership shown in other incarnations. In EXE he gains the ability to Style Change, while in Axess, the power is replaced by Soul Unison and Cross Fusion. In Beast, he is able to "Beast Out," initially with the aid of Trill, and later with chips formed from the remnants of Trill's data in his body. As of episode 11 of Beast+, MegaMan can incorporate another Navi's data into his Beast Out file to perform Cross Beast, and as of episode 14, he can perform regular Crosses as well.
[edit] Manga
A special chapter at the end of the first tankōbon details what little is known of MegaMan's history in the manga. The nickname "Rock" makes a comeback here (in the Japanese-language version only) and the story details how a younger Lan received MegaMan, who had been programmed by his father, only to be disappointed by his "nagging" personality. MegaMan wished for friendship with his operator, but was always thinking first about Lan's welfare and his own duties, ensuring that his partner got enough sleep, did his homework and got up for school on time. This treatment was seen as harsh by Lan, and after a fight, he left his PET at home when going out to play with friends. The scenario that followed was what truly cemented their friendship - during a game of hide-and-seek, Lan became trapped in a metal crate that was taken to be demolished. As Lan was suffocating, MegaMan began to search for him and located him through the computer system in the crate as it was being crushed, encouraging Lan to keep trying to get out, and pledging to stay with him even if they were both killed. MegaMan told him that there was no point of him going on without his partner. Finally, Lan managed to yell loud enough to alert workers nearby who freed him, and the two came to value each other's friendship from then on.
[edit] Personality
MegaMan is sometimes accused of being uptight by his partner and best friend. Realistically, he is looking out for Lan's best interests, and the two of them have a solid friendship. He is usually optimistic even in the worst of times, and extremely determined. His biggest weakness (anime only) is ghosts, the mere concept of which he is scared by, occasionally to the point of near-incapacitation when he must face his fears in episodes featuring the appearance of ghosts or ghost-like entities. The last incident detailing his fear before the end of the series occurs in episode 4 of Beast, in which he is forced to sit through a scary movie with Roll and Trill, the latter of whom repeatedly torments him with frightening disguises.
[edit] Relationships
Lan - MegaMan's closest friend and partner. They have a detailed history and share a strong relationship, repeatedly risking their lives to protect the one another.
Roll - The most frequently-appearing female Navi in the series, and an important one by far. In the game, Roll cares very deeply for MegaMan (or "Rock-kun" as she calls him in the Japanese version), but focus on the human world and natural dialogue limitations to keep the game flowing limit players to having to guess at what their relationship really stands for. In the anime, the coupling is considered near-canon, as Roll becomes incredibly jealous whenever MegaMan's attention strays too much. Aki-chan and Meddy (Medi) are two females who appear as somewhat-rivals for Roll, though the latter's intentions are on the same level with her own. Roll as she appears in the manga is not explored in much detail; it is difficult to tell from the exchanges between the two whether they are close friends or something more.
GutsMan - Though Gutsman and MegaMan are clearly intended to be rivals, it is presented on multiple occasions that they are not just out to fight. GutsMan is extremely envious of Roll's affection towards MegaMan, a fact that sometimes comes between them, but in storylines which one must come to the other's aid, it is apparent that they are, indeed, friends. GutsMan as he appears in the manga is particularly self-sacrificing, and his deletion at the hands of NumberMan in the first volume brings MegaMan's power to its limit. In the anime, a quest to retrieve the remnants of MegaMan's data from deletion results in near-destruction for GutsMan, who is crushed as he prevents a boulder from falling on Roll.
ProtoMan / Blues - As Chaud is to Lan, ProtoMan is MegaMan's rival, though it is notable that MegaMan would rather have him as a friend. Fortunately, as Chaud warms up in all versions, ProtoMan as well is freed from his "perfect soldier" attitude, and though he is still confident to the point of cockiness and more than slightly disapproving of MegaMan's "soft" ways he seems to consider MegaMan a formidable ally. ProtoMan's relationship with MegaMan is explored more often in the manga than in other versions, though none are very in-depth - it is emphasized that he wishes to be better than Megaman, but he is humbled by MegaMan's incredible courage and determination in the face of defeat.
Trill - In Beast, MegaMan is a big-brother figure to little Trill, a child Navi created by Tadashi Hikari of Beyondard. Though he eventually comes to like Roll and others, Trill initially responded only to MegaMan, and cried whenever the blue Navi was not close by. He enjoys scary things (to MegaMan's dismay), and possesses the ability to initiate MegaMan's "Beast Out" transformation, as he is known as the "Synchronizer." It is later revealed that, because Trill and MegaMan were created similarly, that "Beast Out" is possible.
Bass / Forte - Due to the fact that MegaMan and Lan share a very close relationship, their bond is confusing to Bass, who hates humans and believes that they only see Navis as tools. While he respects MegaMan's strength, he does not understand why he cares so much for Lan, and (in the games) believes that if MegaMan continues to protect Lan and humans, that he (Bass) has no choice but to delete him. MegaMan and Lan constantly try to reason with Bass, but almost always end up battling him.
Haruka Hikari - Lan (and Hub)'s mother is referred to as "Mama" by MegaMan in most incarnations. It is she who initially encourages MegaMan to pursue friendship with Lan in the manga, and though her appearances are limited in the other versions, in the game she is always looking out for both her sons' well-being.
Yuichiro Hikari - In the anime, Yuuichiro's main role was at first to repair MegaMan and upgrade him. Later, as Yuuichirou appeared more often, his duty shifted towards explaining the science behind the plot of Axess and Stream. In the manga he is mostly absent, but is shown thinking of MegaMan in the first volume when he is being tortured, and begging MegaMan and Lan to watch over Haruka. In the game, Yuuichiro and MegaMan's relationship is more founded. Unfortunately most of their history together takes place prior to the first game. The dialogues and interaction that occurred when Yuuichiro was creating, programming and testing MegaMan must be left to imagination. Yuuichiro is always encouraging of MegaMan and Lan, seemingly having come to terms with the fact that the two place themselves in danger all the time. The emotional speech about Hub that occurred at the end of the first game is about all the insight players are given into Yuuichiro's relationship with his elder son.
