Robo-Manus
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Robo-Manus is a character from the Battletoads Series by Rare. Robo-Manus is a "mutant biogen", a cybernetic mutant who appears in practically every Battletoads game as a second to last boss, and even as a final boss twice. Manus is notorious for being the most dangerous and tricky boss of the series, as he tends to look and act different in every game, forcing the player to adopt a new strategy each time. Robo-Manus is one of the two main guardians of the Dark Queen, the other being the morbidly obese Big Blag.
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[edit] Appearance
Since Robo-Manus almost constantly changes in size and appearance, he hardly ever looks the same in each game, although he usually retains a few regular features. Robo-Manus' typical physical features can best be described as a mix between RoboCop, a Cylon and a Xenomorph, featuring a black metal skullcap, and with a visor on the front through which he sees (and shoots laser beams from in Battletoads and Double Dragon), and often seen with a cylon-like oscillating red or purple light. Cracks on his helmet reveal what appears to be his brain. Another common feature is the set of metallic orbs that he can swivel his head on in most of the games. Robo-Manus is also known to have tentacles, though they are never seen in the game. As the games evolved, Manus began to receive more changes in his appearance, his face being the most noticeable. Rare made Manus considerably less alien, and gave him more human-like features. Manus' visor also changed, and featured two red eyes instead of the Cylon-like bar eye. Robo-Manus' facial features still remain a mystery, though some can be seen through a crack in his visor after defeating him in the arcade game. Since Robo-Manus is part robotic, he is able to survive in the vacuum of space, and has a metal penis. He is also capable of surviving after suffering normally fatal injuries, including decapitation. Manus was depicted of having wings at some point (in the intro of the first game). He is able to fly later in the series, though either by jet propulsion or levitation. Manus is also seen having large shoulders or shoulder armor in some games. In the instances that it is seen cracked, a fleshy material can be seen under the plating. It's purpose remains unknown.
[edit] Attacks/Weapons
Robo-Manus is the only one of the Dark Queen's minions, besides the Queen herself, who fights from a distance. Manus' many weapons are extremely deadly and can be tricky to avoid. He uses a wide variety of weapons, ranging from machine guns, blaster cannons, lasers, missiles, flame throwers and several others. Robo-Manus' only physical attack consists of attempting the crush the Battletoads beneath his considerable bulk (which in most cases is his most deadly attack). Manus is also seen with large, muscular arms in some of the games, but he never uses them to attack.
[edit] Game History
Robo-Manus first fought the Battletoads at the top of the Intruder Excluder, a trap-rigged elevator shaft (oddly devoid of an elevator) leading into the utility tunnels of the Dark Queen's massive Gargantua spacecraft, where he was defeated by the Rash and Zitz. After being rejuvenated by the Dark Queen after her loss on Ragnarok's World, he served as the main guard of the recently captured Rash and Pimple. Despite the well placed traps in the chasm leading up his area, the Biogen was defeated by Zitz, and was presumed to be completely destroyed. When the Dark Queen and the Shadow Boss attacked Earth several years later, Robo-Manus was discovered to be very much alive with a new upgraded form. Manus attempted to pilot a very large missile into Earth in an attempt to destroy the planet, following the destruction of the Colossus, the Dark Queen's latest space ship, at the hands of the Battletoads and the Lee Twins. After fighting across the outer and inner hull, the duo defeated him at the tip of the missile, despite his new upgrade, and the missile crash landed safely on Earth.
[edit] Origin
How Robo-Manus was created is unknown, however, judging from his species name, and quotes from the Battletoads manuals, he is the result of heavy genetic and technological experimentation. According to the Battletoads manual, he is "A genetically enhanced biogen mutated by the forces of darkness", suggesting he was mutated by the Dark Queen's evil powers and turned into a twisted being of pure evil. Robo-Manus and Big Blag, being the Dark Queen's top lackeys, never appeared in Battletoads in Battlemaniacs. This suggests that the game took place before they were in service the Dark Queen.
[edit] Position in the Dark Queen's army
Robo-Manus, both in tactics and prowess, is the most intelligent and powerful of the Dark Queen's minions, and is most likely her second in command, though the cartoon depicts General Slaughter as her second in command. General Slaughter is usually described as stupid in the manuals, making him seem unfit for his assumed position, despite his name. General Slaughter has mostly appeared as either a sub-boss or a first-level boss (He even appears as a sub-boss three times in Robo-Manus' level on Battletoads and Double Dragon). He has only come before Robo-Manus in the original Battletoads, but it is possible that General Slaughter was replaced by Robo-Manus after the Queen was defeated in that particular game.
[edit] Game Appearances and Strategy
[edit] Battletoads (NES/Genesis/GG)
Robo-Manus is encountered on level 8 "Intruder Excluder." His pattern is simple. He jumps around and attacks with a machine gun, which can kill the player if all three bullets hit. If the player is under him when he lands, he/she is instantly killed. A key to beating him is keeping him in the air (AKA Juggling). The genesis version is a lot easier, and fires much slower, but still kills instantly if he manages to land on the player. He speeds up as he takes damage. Players would do well to begin the fight on the left side of the screen, as starting on the right will cause instant death as Robo-Manus lands on the player before the battle even starts.
[edit] Battletoads (GB)
This is the first game that features Robo-Manus as the final boss. Taking up half of the screen, the player must take out both of his arms and his head with the mallet, seen laying on the ground, to win, while avoiding firepower from the blaster cannons on his arms, as well as a fireball launcher on his back, both of which deal VERY high damage (The fireballs will take the player down in two hits). The lower he gets on health, the faster he shoots Fireballs. Against common belief, Manus will keep shooting fireballs, even after he has been decapitated.
[edit] Battletoads and Double Dragon (NES/Genesis/SNES/GB)
Each Robo-Manus in BTDD varies from system to system. They all use a similar fighting pattern, but vary in damage and health. His standard pattern consists of three laser shots, one high shot, one low shot, and one middle shot, after which he jumps away to another spot. Again, juggling is a key factor to beating him. Here are the differences in patterns between each one:
NES - The hardest of the bunch. His laser shots take away two blocks of health, as does him landing on the player's character. His pattern changes slightly when he gets lower on health. He also goes faster. Tends to dodge attacks when he gets highly damaged
Gameboy - Slightly easier than the NES version, but still considerably difficult. An odd programming bug in the Gameboy version causes him to use varying attack patterns, although he still uses the typical pattern.
Genesis - Exactly like the NES version. The only big difference is his appearance, which is more akin to the well known SNES depiction.
SNES - The easiest of the bunch. His laser shots only deal one block of damage, while him landing on you deals two. He stays in one spot until he's hit. Upon defeat, the spheres connecting his body fly off, along with his head (which has a comically surprised look), as opposed to defeating him in the previous games where he just flies off into space. While his attacks are easier to avoid, he seems to take longer to defeat.
[edit] Super Battletoads (Arcade)
The second Battletoads game with Robo-Manus as the final boss. Topping in at 76'8 tall and weighing 6 & 1/2 tons, he is the biggest boss character in Battletoads, and also probably the toughest fight in the series. Robo-Manus is fought in a number of four phases. The first includes him attacking with missiles, fireballs and exploding drones. Players simply need to shoot at him when he appears on the sides of the screen. The second involves him shooting large numbers of fireballs from his hands, which must be destroyed. The third is where Robo-Manus uses a cannon on his back that fires rising shots. Robo-Manus' head must be targeted during this phase. After taking sufficient damage, the top part of his helmet breaks off, exposing his cerebrum the target of the fourth and final phase. Players need to shoot his brain while dodging more shots from his back cannon. A monitor at the bottom of the screen appears that shows the state of Manus' brain as it is hit. After receiving enough damage, Robo-Manus begins to mentally degrade, and, after offering coffee and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, he explodes, but not before firing off several more shots, damaging the Battletoads' ship, and causing them to crash (but, due to the Battletoads being the heroes of the game, they survive.)
The only two games Robo-Manus is not in is Battletoads in Ragnarok's world for the Game Boy, and Battlemaniacs for SNES.
[edit] Quotes
Robo-Manus talks very little, but his few quotes reveal a bit of his personallity, which is generally sinister and evil. Robo-Manus' actual voice is heard once during the Arcade game, which is a hissing, high-pitched, but still masculine, voice with a bit of feedback noises thrown in. He also tends to speak in a far more intelligent manner than most of the Dark Queen's lesser minions.
[edit] Battletoads and Double Dragon
Main Dossier: "*Bzzt* you fleshzy foolsz will beg for mercy *fzzt* when I'm through with you!"
Level Intro: "You'll never get to me in time! *Fzzt* THE EARTH IS DOOMED!
Level Defeated: "Bzt! I wasz flying that misszzile! *Bzzt* Now it'sz going to *Fzzt* craszh! (Not seen in the SNES version)
[edit] Battletoads Arcade
Level Introduction: "You'll still have to beat my robotic rabble before you've won you fly eating foolz!"
Dying Quote: "I'll be back!"
[edit] Future Appearances
Robo-Manus is without a doubt the most malevolent and unique boss in the Battletoads series. It is highly likely he will appear in the next Battletoads game, if another is ever made. Besides, his dying quote (see above) should say all.
[edit] References
All information comes from events witnessed in the Battletoads games and from the Battletoads manuals.
