Mega Mission 3, Conclusion

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In honor of Mega Man's 22nd birthday tomorrow, I present the final chapter of Mega Mission 3, completed.

Card No. 118	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 17 "Guhh! It seems the time has come to use this!! The other chip I created was based on this... the Sigma Chip!! Containing the very power of Sigma himself, I can use this chip to make myself into the strongest being to ever exist!" Holding the Sigma Chip high above his head, Enemice instantly felt himself being taken over by a foreign consciousness. "What have I done?! My, my mind is... eras... ing..."
This is 'Sigma' Chip!!
Title (Back):
This is the Sigma Chip!!
Notes: Enemice is on the ropes, and is forced to pull out his last resort, the Sigma Chip. Containing a copy of Sigma's data that was thought to have been destroyed for good by Doppler's antivirus, this tiny circuit not only bestows the incredible power of the would-be ruler of all Repliroids, it also infects its user with Sigma's indomitable evil spirit! Enemice has bitten off more than he can chew in applying this to himself, as his will is broken and his mind replaced with Sigma's own. What will be the result of this unholy fusion?
Card No. 119	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	NAME: SIGMA LIMITED SECT: REMEET ORDER BREAKER Remeet Order Breaker DATA: Sigma's data within the Sigma Chip has taken over Enemice's body. Even though he's a copy of Sigma, his strength and conviction are entirely identical to the real Sigma?! WEAPON: His fingers on both hands can each emit a Sabre Nail, Sigma Limited's most powerful unique special weapon!!
Sigma Limited
Title (Back):
Sigma Limited
Notes: It's amazing how long Mega Mission went without an appearance from Sigma, but no X series adventure is complete without a battle with the big guy (Command Mission not withstanding). Sigma Limited's body is an awe inspired mix of Enemice's hard mechanical motif and Sigma's over-the-top stylistic flair. His Sabre Nails certainly make an impression, they're like having little beam sabers attached to your fingertips, that can also fire energy rays from them, Emperor Palpatine style. A worthy form for the epic battle to come!
Card No. 120	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 18 "So, we meet again! X, Zero!! You may see me as nothing more than a copy of Sigma, but I assure you my power, and my will to destroy you, are nothing short of genuine!!" "Fall back, X. I hate Sigma more than anyone." Unleashing his concealed inner wrath, Zero rushes to face off with Sigma Limited, alone.
Nightmare Again
Title (Back):
The nightmare returns, and its name is Sigma?!
Notes: Watching Sigma get reborn before his very eyes, Zero has had enough. Unfurling the tempest within himself that few of his opponents ever get more than a glimpse of, Zero's inner demon lashes out at the monster he despises most. After being relegated to the sidelines for the last 3 games, Zero finally gets the chance to settle the score with Sigma on his own terms. Although Zero is certainly godlike on the battlefield, it may be that he's letting his anger get the best of his good judgment, underestimating the ruthless power of his foe. It's X and Zero's teamwork that's gotten them this far. Is it confidence or arrogance to tackle Sigma by himself? Our combatants are in peak condition like never before, both are filled with fury and the firepower to back it up. Let the ultimate grudge match of the 22nd century begin!
Card No. 121	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 19 Zero engaged in a titanic struggle before the power of Sigma Limited!! But then Sigma Limited switched to target X instead. His Saber Nails were aimed straight for X!! Seeking to protect his friend, Zero blocked the attack with his own body. Zero lost consciousness! Then the iX armor separated from his body, and converged upon X to form...
ZERO Down
Title (Back):
Zero defeated!!
Notes: Zero held his own against Sigma Limited for a while, but once these warriors were proven to be evenly matched, Sigma L switched up his strategy. Trusting Zero's quality of selfless loyalty, the cunning Sigma has manipulated Zero into taking a direct blow of deadly force. This round is won by Sigma's underhanded tricks, and as Zero lays helpless and dying on the floor, we can only imagine the intense feelings welling up inside Rockman X. Return iX's power that was inhabiting Zero begins flowing into him, reformatting his iX Armor to incredible new heights of power. Hey Sigma, are you ready for round 2?
Card No. 122	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	NAME: ROCKMAN X (ALL X ARMOR) SECT: IRREGULAR HUNTER Irregular Hunters DATA: The iX Armor which was split between X and Zero, have fused back into a single form. Now both their power has truly become one! WEAPON: The X Buster is now borrowing all of Return iX's power! Is this awesome power truly unparalleled...?
Rockman X
Title (Back):
Rockman X (All iX Armor)
Notes: The All iX Armor is X's strongest form to appear in Mega Mission, period. It is the full strength of Return iX combined with the limitless potential of Rockman X, the ultimate fusion of two polar enemies working towards a common goal. The collective strength of these two rivals is tempered by X's strong drive for justice and the desire to save his friend Zero, whose sacrifice is the fuel that invigorates X's courageous spirit. The stage is now set for the grand finale, an all-out war between the two most extreme evolutions of Limited to ever exist, with the fate of the planet hanging in the balance. The entire series has been leading towards this, everything comes down to one final explosive battle! This toy version of the All X Armor also uses semi-transparent armor plating.
Card No. 123	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 20 Dodging Sigma Limited's Sabre Nails, X strikes back! Sigma Limited sneered at this impending onslaught! What is this cataclysmic clash brought about by former enemies who're now miraculously working together?! X and iX, when these two very different souls finally came together for a singular purpose, a buster formed at each of X's arms and...
Rockman X vs Sigma Limited
Title (Back):
Rockman X vs Sigma Limited
Notes: A battle of epic proportions between arch-enemies has ensued, and at last we see Rockman X moving at maximum force. He and iX are pulling out all the stops and running on full-synchro power, giving Sigma the fight of his life. Only one of these mighty combatants will survive this earth-shattering conflict. What is the all-out attack our combined heroes have geared up for? Fight, X! Fight, iX! The future depends on you both!
Card No. 124	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 21 His X Buster at his right arm and the Return iX buster at his left, both busters fired simultaneously to form the ultimate attack, the Double X Buster!! However, the Double X Buster consumed even more energy than X had expected. X's energy was completely drained. What now Rockman X!!
Double X Buster
Title (Back):
Double X Buster!!
Notes: The ultimate technique has been unveiled! The force of these two optimally charged busters detonating at the same time is entirely beyond compare. Putting their combined hearts and souls into this attack, X and iX have applied a devastating blow to Sigma Limited. But the whole of their energies was used up to create this devastating blast, leaving nothing left to fight with. Is it all over? Did they succeed, or will the world be engulfed in darkness forever?
Card No. 125	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 22 At that moment, Return iX had converted his entire body to energy. The iX Armor had gradually vanished! Return iX's energy was entirely used up, and as X returned to his original form, so too did Sigma Limited disappear from the Earth. "There's no way Return iX died from that. He'll be back again, I'm sure of it..."
Last of Nightmare "Sigma"
Title (Back):
Nightmare's end. The last of Sigma?!
Notes: Sigma Limited is utterly defeated. The battle is yours, X! But at what price? As the Double X Buster was firing, iX was changing himself into energy to supplement the attack. He's essentially fired his own essence as a weapon! Has this former foe sacrificed himself for their victory? X ponders this, concerned even for the welfare of his enemy. iX, dead? No, Rockman X assures himself this isn't the case. iX has survived somehow, he can feel it. But will their reunion be a cause for rejoicing or for destruction? iX is as unpredictable as he is dangerous. What was he fighting for all this time? And when he returns, will X be ready?
Card No. 125	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Epilogue X was met with a premonition. iX's body which had appeared to be annihilated was reformed, and filled with a new power. From the scarce remains of Sigma Limited, iX had absorbed the abilities of the Sigma Chip. Return iX will bide his time, reviving himself in secret! Return iX's challenge has only just begun!!
Epilogue
Title (Back):
Premonition of revival?! iX lives on
Notes: Our last card of the series shows iX reforming his body, while smiling and holding the Sigma Chip in his hand. Was this what he was after all along? We also have glimpses of X and Zero looking on, it seems they have both made it back alive. And also, an image of a Limited organism? Could it be that Limited also survived somehow? Or is iX it's legacy? The future holds the answers or...

...or the abrupt end of the card series with no explanation given. Why was Mega Mission 3 the final Mega Mission, when it ends on such a cliffhanger?

Some fans have speculated that a fourth chapter was planned but canceled due to lower than expected sales, or because of a change in the nature of Capcom and Bandai's marketing relationship.

Others held the belief that the carddas series ending was to tie into the toy line, and that fans would then purchase the toys of X, Zero and Return iX and create their own adventures.

At the time of the cards' release however, it was commonly guessed that Return iX would be a character in X4, and that the Mega Mission story was a segue into his past, similar to how Dr. Doppler appeared in Mega Mission prior to his appearance in X3. This was "supported" when early X4 screen caps circulated in gaming magazines, showing an "R" logo that many then believed to be proof of "Return iX" as a major boss in X4. Of course, it turned out to be the Repliforce logo, and Return iX made no direct appearance at all in X4.

Despite this, some fans still refused to be dispelled, and offered the theory that in fact, iX was in X4, but as Sigma. It goes a little something like this: Return iX rejuvenated himself, then used the Sigma Chip to attain further power. Like Enemice, Sigma's consciousness swallowed him as well, explaining how Sigma survived X3's anti-virus and came to be in a new body. Proponents of this theory point out that one of Sigma's final forms in X4, the giant "Slime Body" Sigma head, bears a strong resemblance to the half-organic style of Limited. As did the melting Sigma at the very end of X5. Did Sigma absorb iX's Limited cells, enabling him to revive himself without assistance? I guess that's up to every fan's own imagination to decide!

At long last, the main translation is complete. I'll probably go back and touch up some details with them all later on. And of course, I haven't forgotten about getting high-quality scans of the entire set! Attempting to scan holo-cards has been a huge hold up, but I've not given up just yet. It'll just be... awhile. There have been many other Mega Mission card scans circulating the internet, so I don't feel too bad making everyone wait. Hopefully my versions will be worth it. I'll be on vacation for the rest of the year, and after that I hope to start up my next translation project. Happy holidays!

Mega Mission 3, Part 3

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If you've been waiting months for this, my sincerest apologies. I'll spare you the excuses, and just jump in with the action.

Card No. 108	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 11 Reborn with extraordinary power, Return iX was preparing to deliver the final blow to X when suddenly he was shot from behind! "Answer me!" demanded the sniper. "You should be our ally, and yet you attacked my subordinates! You dare to oppose me, Enemice! Why?!" "I was born for the sole purpose of defeating X! It is the only reason for my evolution! I won't let anyone stand in my way!!"
Return X Shot
Title (Back):
Return iX is Shot!!
Notes: RX's aim has been thrown by a powerful blow from behind, as another new character makes a dramatic entrance. X has once again been saved by the people who are out to kill him. Lucky him to be so popular. A strong new enemy has arrived, who claims to be the superior of the Hyper Limiteds. Who is this Enemice?
Card No. 109	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	NAME: ENEMICE-HL SECT: REMEETORDER BREAKER Remeet Order Breaker DATA: Before his death, Tackione had been working on constructing Enemice, the most powerful Order Breaker. Upon achieving Hyper Limited power, Enemice booted himself up. WEAPON: His arms are equipped with charged particle cannons, and can also deliver a devastating drill punch called the Piston Knuckle!
Enemice-HL
Title (Back):
Enemice Hyper Limited
Notes: The Hyper Limited ringleader Enemice is revealed to be the posthumous son of Tackione. He was left incomplete, but thanks to the constant evolution of Limited his body was able to finish constructing itself. The successor to the Limited throne is very mechanical looking, with large bolts, gears and wires being a major motif of his design. In addition to his raw power, he also has inherited aspects of Tackione's scientific ability, which our heroes will discover shortly.
Card No. 110	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 12 Putting his death match with X on hold, RX launched into an intense battle with Enemice. "If I don't hurry and beat this guy, I'll never get my proper bout with X... X, I'll let you borrow my power, for now!!" With a flash of light, RX's body vanished, and X and Zero found themselves equipped with brand new armors!
Fusion?! Return X
Title (Back):
Fusion?! Return iX
Notes: Return iX will do anything to get his uninterrupted death match with X... including merging himself with the one he hates most! Uh... okay! This card treats us to a scene of RX's sinister looking body combining with X. Having come so close to losing his very soul to Limited in the past, one might expect X to be weary of such gifts. Is this erratic enemy really on the level, or does he have some ulterior motive to merge with our heroes? What dangers have they welcomed into themselves? Even so, it looks like this is the best and only chance X and Zero have for survival at this point. Things seem to be happening so fast, did they really even have a choice in the matter? It's too late now, and X must once again rely on the power of Limited to end a dangerous conflict. So, what new powers have X and Zero gained from converging with this temporary new ally?
Card No. 111	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	NAME: ROCKMAN X (X ARMOR) SECT: IRREGULAR HUNTER Irregular Hunter DATA: Caught in a dire battle, X borrowed the power of RX, and this new form was created. RX has evolved his own body into an armor!! WEAPON: The X Buster is borrowing from RX's power. Its abilities now surpass even the Clear High Buster!
Rockman X
Title (Back):
Rockman X (iX Armor)
Notes: On the surface, it looks like X has made out pretty well with this new arrangement. This new armor has all the power of Mega Mission 1's Clear Armor, and then some. This time around, lets hope X stays in control. This armor is also called the EX Armor in the model kit toyline. However, it is actually "ikusu" armor. And although the images in the card series don't look it, the dark blue parts of this armor are shown to be semi-transparent in the toy version.
Card No. 112	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	NAME: ZERO (X ARMOR) SECT: IRREGULAR HUNTER Irregular Hunter DATA: In the same manner as X, a portion of RX's power has evolved into an armor and been installed. This armor should render all of Limited's attacks ineffective!! WEAPON: The Zero Buster has been amplified with RX's power! Its destructive power is now several times greater than before!!
ZERO
Title (Back):
Zero (iX Armor)
Notes: Zero has gotten the same treatment, and his first exclusively Limited-endowed armor. The only noticable changes are the buster and shoulder armor. Zero is bringing the big shoulder look back. Just like X, the toy version of this is called EX Armor, and features armor transparency in the red portions. Depending on your tastes, it may not look as impressive as the Neo Armor, but in terms of power this armor is a heavy contender for Zero's strongest form from the Mega Mission files.
Card No. 113	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 13 "What a clever trick... Now let me show you the power of this chip that I've created! Go, my four warriors! Combine!" Hearing Enemice's order, the HL foursome appeared once more. With the power of the chip, their bodies were fused together. Thus, they evolved into a single ultra-powerful Remeet Repliroid...
Hyper Limited Combine
Title (Back):
Hyper Limited Quadruple Fusion!!
Notes: Two can play at the fusion game, it seems. Enemice responds to RX's treachery with a little merger of his own design. The battered bodies of the Hyper Limiteds have united to form a new and monstrous entity. By creating such a chip, Enemice demonstrates he's got brains to back up his brawn. But how does his creature stack up against the iX-empowered Irregular Hunters?
Card No. 114	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Fusion Remeet Repliroid DATA: The combined form of the 4 Hyper Limiteds, brought forth by the power of Enemice's chip. Can it be four times as powerful?! WEAPON: It has complete access to all 4 Hyper Limiteds' weapons and abilities.
Mix Forte
Title (Back):
Mix Forte
Notes: Usually facing off with a giant mutant marks the finale of a Mega Mission story arc, but this adventure is still far from over. It's time for X and Zero to test their new abilities in a trial by fire with their amalgamous adversary. By the way, this beast has no relation to Forte/Bass from the classic series. Their names are even spelled and pronounced differently in Japanese, Forte is フォルテ "forute" (as in for-tay) while Mix Forte is ミックス・フォート "mikkusu footo" (mix fort).
Card No. 115	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 14 Mix Forte proved himself a formidable foe, wielding the powers of all 4 Hyper Limiteds. Unleashing its quad arsenal of weapons simultaneously, Mix Forte set out on a destructive rampage! However, the power of the iX Armors rendered the Limited attacks useless. Working together in an incredible coordinated strike, Mix Forte crumbled before the power of X and Zero.
Twin Hunter vs Mix Forte
Title (Back):
Hunter Duo vs Mix Forte
Notes: Mix Forte let out a furious barrage, but was no match for the power of the iX Armors combined with the skill of the two legendary Hunters. Having laid waste to the 4 Hyper Limiteds once and for all, our heroes' focus turns to this incident's mastermind, the mysterious Enemice. What other surprises might he be packing up his piston-powered sleeves?
Card No. 116	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 15 "X, Zero... Well done. Even though you had to borrow Return iX's power to do it, you two have nonetheless proven yourselves quite a nuisance... However, I am not dismayed. That is because I was endowed with supreme power by my late master, the great Tackione. I and I alone was created to be the ultimate destructive machine!!"
Rockman X vs Enemice HL
Title (Back):
Rockman X vs Enemice Hyper Limited
Notes: Enemice's villainous monologue is full of vile menace, but does he have the power to back up his big talk? The picture on this card suggests he just might, as he prepares to crush X's head in his bare hand. The inheritor of all Tackione's power and knowledge, he boasts that the other Hyper Limiteds were mere trifling experiments before himself. Have X, Zero and RX finally met their match?
Card No. 117	Description (Back):
Title (Front):	Mega Mission 3 Story 16 Enemice had X cornered with his fearsome Piston Knuckle, but his old friend Zero came through with the assist, catching his enemy off guard. With incredible finesse, Zero had turned the tables on Enemice. Then at last, Enemice finally caught the full force of X's buster and Zero's Beam Sabre.
ZERO vs Enemice HL
Title (Back):
Zero vs Enemice Hyper Limited
Notes: Enemice came out swinging, but he should have known better than to turn his back on Zero. Mighty though he may be, the tag team of X and Zero reign supreme. Can this nightmare finally be over? Or, has it only just begun? If you don't think Enemice has another trump card to play, you don't know Mega Mission! The final boss, the final fusion, and the final conclusion to the Mega Mission saga lie just ahead!

Robot Fever

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Just something I was mulling over in my head. For those yet unspoiled, Mega Man 10's story concept involves our heroes battling against a robot virus called Robotenza, the etymology of which I suppose would be Robot+Influenza. I'm fine with Capcom avoiding the traditional "the _____ Virus" naming convention that the X and EXE series swore by, but it still sounds a bit off to me somehow. A little awkward, doesn't really roll off the tongue. More creative than simply "Robot Flu," I'll give them that. It'll probably grow on me as I hear it more. But I started to wonder if I could do a better job at naming a robot virus. Probably not, but here goes anyway!

• Robola
• Robotitis
• Mechalaria
• Gearengitis
• Robolio
• Robomycosis
• Robopox
• Mechatitis
• Roboculosis
• Roborrhea
• Mecholera
• Robotulism
• Cybermitosis
• Robotella
• Mechlamydia

And, I'm spent. Knowing where some of those disease names originated from, of course, there's no way they'd be appropriate for a E rated video game. I'm not sure which of those I favor at this point, they've all run together in my brain. Maybe Robotenza isn't so bad after all.

For Chrono Trigger Fans

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I picked up the latest Chrono Trigger port recently, and I've been falling in love with the game all over again. It's as if the DS were my Epoch, taking me back to 1995, where the SNES was king and Toriyama a god. (Well, if you were a teenage nerd in the continental US like I was, that's probably how you remember it?)

It inspired me to take on a little side project, a translation of the Chrono Trigger Character Library, a promotional mini-game that came out for the Super Famicom via Satellaview, also back in 1995. Gamefaqs is now hosting it. (Man, it's been so long since I contributed anything there that I had to create a new login!) So if you're a Chrono Trigger fan, go check it out!

Has it really been over a year already?

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Not since my last blog entry, I mean since Mega Man 9 came out. Feels like less time somehow.

Mega Man 10 news is all over the place, and I must say I'm not surprised. The developers were talking sequel possibility before MM9 was even out as I recall, and I'd hardly expect a company like good ol' Capcom not to follow up on one of the most successful WiiWare titles ever.

Am I excited about it? Yes. Do I think it will connect to the X series in any meaningful way? No. Am I upset that it's 8-bit graphics all over again? Nope. Actually, now that Inti's gotten their retro-game feet wet with MM9, I'm optimistic that MM10 has the potential to surpass it. I suppose that sums things up the basic reactions.

Bass seems like a dead ringer for the third playable character slot, although with all the attention she's been getting lately, I wouldn't be too shocked to see it as Roll either. But after his absence last time, I'm really curious to see how Bass will look and play in the 8-bit realm.

Now that it's been announced, I imagine we'll be getting a steady trickle of new info, though I doubt I'll be reporting on any of those details (that's what the big fansites are for) unless they really pique my interest enough that I have to rant about them.

Between this and the Mega Man Rush Marine mobile game (which I'm still waiting to get my hands on, hurry T-Mobile!) it seems to me that the 8-bit style of O.G. Mega Man is here to stay. At least, for the foreseeable future. And I don't mind it a bit.