Mega Man Zero 2

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Mega Man Zero 2

Developer(s)	Capcom
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Release date(s)	May 2, 2003 (JP) October 14, 2003 (US) October 31, 2003 (EU)
Genre(s)	Platformer
Mode(s)	Single player, Multi player
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone
Platform(s)	Game Boy Advance
Media	Cartridge

Mega Man Zero 2, known in Japan as Rockman Zero 2 (ロックマンゼロ２, Rokkuman Zero Tsū^?), is the second video game in the Mega Man Zero subseries of Mega Man video games from Capcom.

1 Gameplay
2 Story
3 Characters
- 3.1 Resistance
- 3.2 Neo Arcadia
4 Critical response
5 Trivia
6 References

[edit] Gameplay

This game follows almost the exact same gameplay rules as its predecessor, Mega Man Zero. Once again, players take control of the Reploid known as Zero, and lead him through various levels in the battle against the forces of Neo Arcadia.

The controls are identical to that in the previous game, with players given the option to assign functions to the buttons they are most comfortable using. Once again, players are given a variety of weapons that include the Z-Saber, the Buster Gun, and the Shield Boomerang. Zero's skill levels with these weapons are minimal at first, but they will strengthen with repeated use.

Zero using the new Chain rod agaist Polar Kamarus

The Triple rod from the previous game, however, has been replaced with the Chain Rod. It can be used to pull enemies or objects closer, pull shields off enemies or if latched on to an immovable object, to swing over chasms.

Cyber Elves also make a reapparance and once again, they come in three types, Nurse, Animal and Hacker. Unlike the previous game, where all of the Sub-Tanks could only be obtained from using four special Nurse Cyber Elves, two Sub-Tanks are hidden in the game in one of the eight selectable stages.

Instead of selecting from a list of missions, the traditional Stage Select option found in the Mega Man and Mega Man X games makes a comeback, although you can only select from four at a time. Unlike in Mega Man Zero, none of the stages are linked together.

[edit] Forms

See also: Zero (Mega Man)#Form system.

The second game in the installation introduces the concept of various forms, which can be earned by meeting certain criteria throughout the game, ranging from killing 20 enemies in a stage with a dashing slash technique to getting 25 energy capsules in one stage.

[edit] EX Skills

See also: b:List of Mega Man attacks#Mega Man Zero

Absent in the previous Mega Man Zero game are the EX Skills. They are abilities or techniques that can be earned from defeating a boss, which were a staple of the Mega Man games. The only catch is that to earn the EX Skills in Mega Man Zero 2, Zero must be at A or S Rank when they defeat the boss, as that is the only time when the bosses will use their EX Skills.

As in Mega Man Zero, the rank is dependent on how well you finish a particular stage with points being awarded for not taking damage, for defeating enemies and for being quick and for not using Cyber Elves.

[edit] Modes

Just like in the first game, a "New Game Plus" can be played by beating the game and loading the completed save file. In the new game, Zero will start with all activated Cyber Elves used from the previous game still in effect (the penalties, however, will still remain). Zero will also get to keep any EX attacks and alternate forms that he earned in the previous game as well.

Additional modes can also be unlocked under proper conditions.

Hard Mode is unlocked by beating the game once. To play, hold L when selecting to start a New Game. In Hard Mode, Zero is in his "Proto Form", which doubles his attack strength but halves his defense. In addition, Zero's weapons cannot increase in strength. Also, Zero cannot earn any EX attacks or alternate forms.

Beating Hard Mode will unlock a special "Image Gallery" option. Hold L and Select when selecting New Game to enter it.

Unlike the other games in the series, there is no Ultimate Mode to be unlocked. However, an "Ultimate Form" can be unlocked by leveling and using every Cyber Elf in the game. It increases all of Zero's stats and also allows him to use full-charge attacks instantly by means of simplistic button combos.

[edit] Two Player Mode

If you have two cartridges and a link cable, you can link two GBAs and take part in a two player game. There are three modes available to take part in:^[1]

Time Attack - Set a goal somewhere in the stage. After three tries, the player with the shortest time to the goal wins.
Enemy Battle - Defeat the most enemies from the generator within the time limit.
Get Item- Collect the most items from the map within the time limit.

[edit] Story

Zero engages the boss "Mega Scorpio" in the opening level

One year has passed since Zero defeated Copy X. He has since spent his time wandering the desert defeating wave after wave of Pantheons. As the game opens, Zero wearily makes his way through a sandstorm wrapped in a tattered cloak. As the sands die down he realizes he is once more being chased by enemies. Despite being in disrepair, with cracked armor and broken weapons (his rod and shield were useless), his cloak is thrown to the winds and his Buster Shot is drawn in defense.

"This isn't fun anymore." he says, after dispatching the first of an endless wave of enemies.

Elsewhere, the three surviving members of the Four Guardians (Phantom self-destructed trying to stop Zero's assault on Area X) assumed command of Neo Arcadia, with Harpuia as the leader. Copy X's death was covered up, as the humans revered him as their saviour.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Some time later, a barely-functioning Zero is brought to the newly-completed Resistance Base (strangely, by Harpuia), and Zero learns that the conflict between Neo Arcadia and the Resistance has still continued during his absence. While he was gone, Ciel was working on a way to solve the energy crisis that led to all of the problems with Neo Arcadia in the first place. However, the Resistance leader, a reploid named Elpizo, believing that Ciel's search was futile, led a failed assault on Neo Arcadia, from which he was the only survivor. Driven mad by this, he declared his desire to harness the power of the legendary Dark elf, which had brought about the Elf Wars a hundred years ago.

Elpizo, using the powers granted by unsealing a portion of the power of the Dark Elf, invaded Neo Arcadia and single-handedly broke into the temple where the body of the real X, revered by all in the utopia, was kept. As it turned out, X had ended the Elf Wars by sealing the Dark Elf away with his body, thus leading to his disappearance. Despite the Guardians and Zero trying to put up resistance, Elpizo succeeded in destroying X's body, which unsealed the Dark Elf, and began to absorb its powers.

Zero manages to stop Elpizo from unleashing the Dark Elf on the world. As he laid on the floor dying, he apologized for everything he'd done. Amazingly, the Dark Elf saves him by turning him into a cyber elf and convincing Elpizo that she is not truly evil. As the two elves depart, X arrives and tells Zero about the Dark Elf. She was originally created to be a savior, but was cursed by a man named Dr. Weil, and used...

Meanwhile, in a mysterious area, a voice calls for someone named Omega to act.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Resistance

Zero - Hero
Ciel - (Human) An Energy Researcher
Alouette - Reploid girl, looks up to Ciel as a motherly figure.
Cerveau - Reploid Weapons Developer
Elpizo - (Reploid) Resistance Leader (and Antagonist)

[edit] Neo Arcadia

Dark Elf - The most powerful Cyber Elf created.
Creer and Preer/Crea and Prea - Baby Elves.
Hyleg Ourobuckle - Boss of one of the first four selectable stages, Forest of Dysis. He has no elemental weakness. Defeating him at A or S Rank gives you the Laser Shot EX Skill.
Panther Flauclaws - Boss of one of the first four selectable stages, Train. He is weak to Ice Elemental attacks. Defeating him gives you the Thunder Chip. If you are at A or S rank, he also gives up the Spark Shot EX Skill.
Phoenix Magnion - Boss of one of the first four selectable stages, Power Facility. He is weak to Thunder Elemental attacks. Defeating him gives you the Fire Chip. If you are at A or S rank, he also gives up the Tenshouzan EX Skill.
Poler Kamrous - Boss of one of the first four selectable stages. She is weak to Fire elemental attacks. Defeating her gives you the Ice Chip. If you are at A or S rank, she also gives up the Triple Shot EX Skill.
Kuwagust Anchortus - Boss of the second Neo Arcadia Strike stage, which occurs in between the first and second set of four selectable stages. He is weak to Ice Elemental attacks. Defeating him at A or S rank gives you the Sengatotsu EX Skill. He is actually the brother of Herculious Anchortus, from the first game. During the final stage, Zero must face both of them at once.
Burble Hekelot - Boss of one of the last four selectable stages, Forest of Notus. He has no elemental weakness, but the leaves near the top of the screen can be burnt with the Fire Chip to improve visiblity. Defeating him at A or S rank gives you the Energy Chain EX Skill.
Fefnir - Leader of the Jin'en Army. Boss of one of the last four selectable stages, Shuttle Factory, and of the Temple of Fire stage. He is weak to Thunder Elemental attacks. Defeating him at A or S rank in the Shuttle Factory stage gives you the Blast Shot EX Skill. In the Temple of Fire stage, he takes on the form of a tank with three cannons.
Leviathan- Leader of the Makei Army. Boss of one of the last four selectable stages, Computer Zone 2, and of the Temple of Ice stage. She is weak to Fire Elemental attacks. Defeating her at A or S rank in the Computer Zone 2 stage gives you the Sharp Edge EX skill. In the Temple of Ice stage, she takes on the form of a gigantic, robot stingray.
Harpuia - Leader of the Rekku Army and ever since Copy X's death, leader of Neo Arcadia. Boss of one of the last four selectable stages and of Temple of Wind stage. He is weak to Ice Elemental attacks. Defeating him the first time at A or S rank gives you the Kougenjin EX skill. In the Temple of Wind stage, he takes on the form of a bomber plane.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Critical response

**Review scores**
Publication	Score	Comment
GameSpot	8.6 of 10	"difficulty will discourage many players"
GameSpy	4 out of 5 stars	"sleek and challenging sequel"^[2]
IGN	8.0 of 10	"worthy follow up"

A common remark is that the game has not changed much in its forumula since its predecessor, though they do acknowledge that improvements have been made to the stage select menus.^[3]

A general complaint is the difficulty of the game, with one reviewer expressing concern that the difficulty would put some people off the game.^[4]

[edit] Trivia

Two areas of the game have names inspired by Greeks. The first one is the forest of Dysis, which is the Greek word for sunset. The second one is the forest of Notus, from the Greek god of the south wind of the same name.
Phoenix Magnion has an attack in which he lifts Zero in the air and while Zero is immobilized, Magnion creates illusions of 4 past bosses from the X series to attack him. These bosses are Vile (in his Mega Man X form), Counter Hunters member Agile (Mega Man X2), Nightmare Police member Bit (Mega Man X3), and the Colonel (Mega Man X4).