Mega Man Zero 2
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| Mega Man Zero 2 | |
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| Developer(s) | Inti-Creates |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy Advance |
| Release date | 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 |
| 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.
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[edit] Gameplay
This game follows almost the exact same game-play 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 Shot, and the Shield Boomerang. Zero's skill levels with these weapons are minimal at first, but they will strengthen with repeated use.
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 reappearance 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 two 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 return, although you can only select from four at a time. Unlike in Mega Man Zero, none of the stages are linked.
[edit] Forms
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 twenty enemies in a stage with a dashing slash technique to getting twenty-five energy capsules in one stage.
- Normal Form (Red)- Zero's basic form. The player starts the game with this. It has basic stats in all areas. No glaring weaknesses or strengths. It uses the standard 3-hit Z-Saber combo of "back, forward, overhead".
- Energy Form (Yellow)- This form makes energy crystals appear more often. The Buster Shot and Z-saber gets an attack boost, while sacrificing some speed. Grab 25 energy capsules in mission to awaken this form.
- X Form (Blue)- The Buster Shot gains an attack boost, and also allows a rapid fire capability. Like the Erase form, it cannot perform Z-Saber combos and instead uses only the forward slash. It is named after X because of X's fighting-style (which relied heavily on the buster) in X series. Zero also uses the Z-Saber the way X uses it in Mega Man X6. Kill 50 enemies in mission with the Buster Shot to awaken this form.
- Defense Form (Green)- Zero's defense is increased to its maximum, as well as sacrificing attack power in the process (except for the shield boomerang, which gains an attack boost). Kill 20 enemies in mission with Shield Boomerang to awaken this form.
- Erase Form (Pink)- The Erase Form allows the Z-Saber and Shield Boomerang to nullify enemy shots. It cannot use saber combos, instead it always uses the forward slash. Ricochet 30 shots back at enemies with the Shield Boomerang in mission to awaken this form.
- Active Form (Orange)- Zero's speed is increased to the maximum.The Z-Saber cannot perform combos, and will instead use only the back slash. However, this form enables Zero to perform rolling attacks with the saber while jumping or dashing. The rolling attacks, while not very powerful, can strike multiple times. Kill 20 enemies in mission with the Z-Saber while dashing to awaken this form.
- Power Form (Purple)- Zero's power is boosted to its limit, while sacrificing some speed in the process. This form also negates the three-hit Z Saber combo in favor of a single overhead slash. Pull anything 30 times in mission with the Chain Rod to awaken this form.
- Rise Form (Grey)- More or less identical to the Normal form, but the 3rd (overhead) slash in the Z-saber combo is replaced by the rising slash, which is a little faster, and is given an attack boost. Kill 20 enemies in mission with the jumping slash to awaken this form.
- Proto Form (Black)- Zero gains an attack increase to all weapons, but besides the Shield Boomerang none of them can be charged, and the Z-Saber cannot perform combos. It will use only the back slash. Zero also takes twice the normal damage from enemy attacks. Unlike other Zero series Hard modes, Zero2 makes you use only the Proto Form, limiting all weapons to their base attacks. The one thing that deviates is that the Charge Shot(S) is absent in it, as all other Hard Modes have it.
Unlike the Galacta Armor of Zero4, it doesn't deal 2x damage.
- Ultimate Form (Glowing Crimson)- This form gives all of Zero's weapons an increase in power, as well as raising his speed and defense. This form also allows the player to input simplistic Street Fighter-esque commands to execute charged attacks instantly. This Form also appears in Mega Man Zero 1, 3 and 4. Level up and use every single cyber-elf in game, then complete the game to awaken this form. (can be gotten at the same time as the Proto Form.)
[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 Skills 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 skills 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 G.B.A.s 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
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 sand-storm 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 are 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 savior.
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, leads a failed assault on Neo Arcadia, from which he is the only survivor. Driven mad by this, he declares his desire to harness the power of the legendary Dark Elf, which had brought about the Elf Wars a century ago.
Elpizo, using the powers granted by unsealing a portion of the power of the Dark Elf, invades Neo Arcadia and single-handedly breaks into the temple where the body of the real X, revered by all in the utopia, is 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's resistance, Elpizo succeeds in destroying X's body, which unseals the Dark Elf, and Elpizo begins to absorb its powers.
Zero manages to stop Elpizo from unleashing the Dark Elf on the world. As Elpizo lies on the floor dying, he apologizes for everything he's 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 made 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, sons of Dark Elf.
- 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.
- Poler Kamrous - Boss of one of the first four selectable stages, Computer Zone. He is weak to Fire elemental attacks. Defeating him gives you the Ice Chip. If you are at A or S rank, he also gives up the Triple Shot EX Skill.
- Panter Flauclaws - Boss of one of the first four selectable stages, Neo Arcadia 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 Room. 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.
- Kuwagust Anchus - Boss of the second Neo Arcadia strike stage, Bombardment Aircrafts, 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 Anchus/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.
- Leviathan/Fairy 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/Sage 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, Crystal Cave, 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.
- Fefnir/Fighting 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 four cannons.
- Rainbow Devil MK2 - Boss of the Neo Arcadia entrance stage, Neo Arcadia Temple. It has no elemental weakness. Defeating it at A or S rank gives you the Filter Shield EX Skill.
[edit] Critical response
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A common remark is that the game has not changed much in its formula 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 four past bosses from the X series to attack him. These bosses are Vile (in his Mega Man X form), X-Hunters member Agile (Mega Man X2), Nightmare Police member Bit (Mega Man X3), and the Colonel (Mega Man X4).
[edit] References
- ^ Mega Man Zero 2 Instruction Manual
- ^ Avi Fryman. GameSpy.com: Review. GameSpy. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.
- ^ Craig Harris. IGN: Mega Man Zero 2 Review. IGN. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.
- ^ Frank Provo. Mega Man Zero 2 for Game Boy Advance. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.
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