Date: Thu, 06 May 1999 22:54:09 -0700 ================================================================= THE ____ ____ ___ _ |_ / | ___| | \ / \ / /_ | ___| | / | O | /____| |____| |_|_\ \_/ FAQ ================================================================= VERSION 1.2 by Jason Tucker ================================================================= TABLE OF CONTENTS I. History of Maverick Hunter Zero 1. Before the games 2. Mega Man X 3. Mega Man X2 A. Version 1 - cool battle B. Version 2 - cool story 4. Mega Man X3 A. Version 1 - sucky B. Version 2 - better C. Version 3 - best 5. Mega Man X4 6. The Future II. Changes in Zero's weapons/abilities 1. Mega Man X 2. Mega Man X2 3. Mega Man X3 4. Mega Man X4 III. Mega Man X4 walkthrough IV. Rumors and frequently asked questions 1. Is Zero like Protoman X? 2. Who created Zero? 3. Is that his hair or a yellow cape? 4. What is that symbol? 5. Why "Zero?" 6. Why are Zero's abilities named in Japanese? A. Probable reasons B. Translations 7. What do you mean "Zero's not a Reploid" ?! V. Zero secrets VI. Updates and revisions of this FAQ VII. Special thanks and credits ================================================================= I. HISTORY OF MAVERICK HUNTER ZERO ================================================================= 1. BEFORE THE GAMES Zero's history is shrouded in mystery and shadow, but through flashbacks and reccuring nightmares, we can see that Zero was created by a partially-bald gentleman with frizzy hair. He was created specifically for the purpose of crushing this individual's arch-rival. He became a Maverick back in the days when Sigma still led the Maverick Hunters. They clashed, and Zero almost beat him when the blue Jewel in his forehead flashed with a "W" and he became distracted for long enough for Sigma to defeat him. Sigma ordered him to be taken to Dr. Cain's lab and studied. Later, he was repaired and eventually joined the Maverick Hunters. When Sigma went Maverick, Zero took over as their leader. 2. MEGA MAN X When X tries to confront Vile, Zero intervenes and saves X's hide. Vile retreats and they split up, Zero opting to find Sigma's fortress. When he finds it, he and X assault the citadel. When X is confronted by Vile again, Zero intervenes. He loses and is captured. Then, after a breif bout between the armor- riding Vile and X, Zero breaks his bonds and nobly self-destructs, destroying the armored walker. When X finishes off Vile, he finds Zero almost dead. (If the X-Buster enhancement was not found in Flame Mammoth's stage, Zero will give X his.) 3. MEGA MAN X2 A new group of Mavericks calling themselves the X-Hunters, Serges, Agile, and Violen, collect Zero's parts. They challenge Mega Man X to fight them for the parts. (VERSION 1) X collects some or none of the parts. The X- Hunters storm Dr. Cain's lab and steal back whatever X has collected as well as Zero's control chip. After defeating the X-Hunters, X confronts Sigma, who has ressurected Zero to fight for the Maverick cause. X defeats Zero and then goes after Sigma while Zero destroys the main computer. (VERSION 2) X collects all of Zero's parts and brings them to Dr. Cain's lab. Dr. Cain reactivates Zero, and he dashes to the central computer. Zero destroys a cheap copy of himself, saying, "You should have studied the blueprints closer. There is only one Zero!" Sigma replies, "Wait! I know your secret: You were destined to follow me!" (foreshadowing?) "Maybe so, but I still don't like you!" retorts Zero. He then sends X to face Sigma while he destroys the computer. 4. MEGA MAN X3 Zero and X are given command appointments to different units of Maverick Hunters, Zero leading a special Unit #0. Maverick Hunter H.Q. is attacked by the forces of a new threat in the form of Dr. Doppler, a reploid scientist who helped to neutralize the cause of Maverickism. Zero and X rush back to help defend their base. Zero sweeps up the enemies outside the building and then checks up on X inside, only to find him captured by Mac, a former Maverick Hunter who joined Doppler's army. He rescues X, then tells him to be more careful. Together, they assault Doppler's army, only to find that Dr. Doppler is merely a puppet who has been corrupted by Sigma, whose true form is revealed to be a virus. (VERSION 1) Zero damages his power generator, leaving X to face the remaining threats alone. (VERSION 2) Zero is injured in Doppler's fortress, fighting a bee-like contraption. He passes his Beam Saber to X. In either of these versions, Dr. Doppler absorbs the Sigma virus and self-destructs, both to atone for his crimes and to finish off Sigma once and for all. (VERSION 3) Zero and X assault Doppler's fortress, and ultimately Sigma's hideout. Zero loads an anti-Sigma program into his Beam Saber and Sigma is defeated. 5. MEGA MAN X4 Zero has a reccuring nightmare about his creator and the slaughter of innocent people. He awakens to an alarm - Repliforce has occupied the Sky Lagoon, and all Hunters must scramble! At the Sky Lagoon, he finds Magma Dragoon of the 14th Unit. Learning that the Lagoon will soon fall, they escape, only for Zero to find the city below in ruins after it comes crashing down. In the city, he finds Iris and rescues her, much to the gratitude of the Colonel of the Repliforce, who is Iris' brother. A question and answer session between two friends turns ugly when Colonel assumes that Repliforce has already been branded as Mavericks. Back at Maverick Hunter H.Q., Zero learns that Repliforce has started a coup to gain independence for a Reploids-only nation. Iris pleads with him not to fight them, torn between her brother Colonel and Zero, the one she loves. As Zero fights Repliforce, he learns that someone is working behind the scenes, pulling the strings of some Repliforce officials. This someone also offered the traitor Dragoon the chance to fight Zero if he joined Repliforce. Colonel tells Zero to meet him at Memorial Hall. They battle breifly before Iris stops them. Even in the conclusion of this episode, both side refuse to budge in their positions. Repliforce leaves for space, and Zero persues them. He reluctantly battles Colonel and wins. Zero then discovers that Iris has left with Repliforce for their Final Weapon, and he persues. He is then forced to face Iris. She confesses her feelings for him, and he, fond of her too, laments that he was unable to prevent this. He fights General, and discovers that the pupet master behind the MH-Replifoce war was none other than Sigma! His past as a Maverick is revealed, and he destroys Sigma. General sacrifices himself to stop the weapon from firing on Earth, and Zero ponders wether it is the fate of all Reploids to become Mavericks. Zero is later shocked when X asks him to "take care of him" should X ever go Maverick. He dismisses the question, himself uneasy in facing that possibility. 6. THE FUTURE This is all conjucture, but it is foreshadowed in several games that Zero and X will have to face each other. Perhaps X will be the bad guy. Perhaps Zero will be. They will fight each other at some point, though, and the fate of all humanity will hang in the balance. ================================================================= II. CHANGES IN ZERO'S WEAPONS/ABILITIES ================================================================= 1. MEGA MAN X Zero's original weapons and abilities consisted mainly of an extra-powerful X-Buster. 2. MEGA MAN X2 When Zero was ressurected, he gained the ability to charge energy in both arms, giving him a double shot. Also, this game marks the first appearence of his Beam Saber, which was able to fling a crescent-shaped wave of energy. Zero was able to dash while slashing with his Beam Saber, and was able to punch the ground, causing debris to fly upward. Lastly, he could block shots from X's X-Buster. 3. MEGA MAN X3 This is the first time Zero was actually playable. His Zero-Buster was chargeable to five levels. 1. Press button - fires a shot 2. Hold button less than 1.5 sec. (begins flashing blue) - fires a larger shot 3. Hold button 1.5 to 3 sec. (flashes blue, charging tone steadies) - fires a big shot 4. Hold button 3 to 4.5 sec. (flashing purple) - fires two big shots 5. Hold button 4.5 sec. or more (flashing green) - fires two big shots and slashes with Beam Saber In this game, Zero has 28 cells of life, and once he is defeated, he cannot be brought back. He cannot collect enhancements or fight bosses or half-bosses (except for the bee half-boss in Doppler's fortress). He cannot use or collect ride armors, either. 4. MEGA MAN X4 This is the first game that features Zero in his own story and the first that does not allow Zero to use his Zero-Buster. Also, his Beam Saber is now a Z-Saber. His learning system of sword techniques is also introduced, allowing him to win attacks from the bosses. Here are detailed descriptions of what he can do. BEGINNING - Tap the button for a single-hit slash. Rapidly tap a second time for a single-hit horizontal slash. Rapidly tap a third time for a six-hit double-handed slash. In the air, press the attack button for a two-hit wide-range slash. From a ladder, he does a two-hit slash and from the wall, he has a three-hit slash. WEB SPIDER - Press the special button when Zero is on the ground for Raijingeki. It's an electrical attack that can score up to twenty hits, plus up to eight hits on enemies close behind Zero when he whips is Z-Saber out! It has greater range than any normal slash. CYBER PEACOCK - Press the Giga-Attack button on the ground for Rakuhouha. Sends nine energy blasts to the sides and upward at all angles. It's the only technique that has an energy meter. You get four shots when it is full. The energy meter refills when you collect weapon energy, life energy, take damage, or use the Weapon Tank. Zero is invincible while doing this. STORM OWL - Tenkuuha. The Z-Saber changes from green to violet. It allows you to destroy energy projectiles from enemies. MAGMA DRAGOON - Press up + special button on the ground for Ryuenjin. It is a jumping upward fire slash. This technique allows you to burn certain tree trunks in the Jungle and the ice ceiling in the Snow Base. After slashing, you are able to move, slash, or do whatever as you fall. It has multiple- hit capabilities. SPLIT MUSHROOM - Press jump while in the air for a double jump (Kuuenbu). While in the air, press attack for a spinning slash (Kuuenzan). Kuuenzan has less range than the standard air slash, but it covers more area above, below, and behind Zero, and has the ability to hit up to six times. JET STINGRAY - Press dash or tap the direction button twice for an air-dash (Hienkyaku). While in the air, either falling or jumping, you are capable of only doing ONE of the following: (1) Kuuenbu, (2) Hienkyaku, or (3) jump out of a ride armor. SLASH BEAST - Press special while dashing for Shippuuga. It is a triple-hit slash, but as you slash, your dash immediately slows to a halt. FROST WALRUS - Press down + special while in the air for Hyoretsuzan. It is a diving ice attack that can hit up to three times. (At least, three hits is all I've managed to score on a single target.) Press left or right while using this to steer Zero's fall. You can't steer it all that much, but you can exert some control. ================================================================= III. MEGA MAN X4 WALKTHROUGH ================================================================= I'd like to say that this is my order for playing the game with Zero. Your order may differ, but I have tried to develop as efficient an order as possible, allowing for as few revisits as possible. First, do the first stage. Then... 1. WEB SPIDER Kill Web Spider and get his Raijingeki. Avoid his webs by dashing under him when he throws them. 2. SPLIT MUSHROOM Use Raijingeki against the drilling insect half-boss. To nab the Heart Tank in Area 2 after the spiraling staircase, let the machine drill the first chunk of bridge. Let it slide a little and climb up before it falls. Against the fungus, slash him while he spawns Soul Bodies. While he spins in the air, dash to the opposite corner and jump the first Body. Then, duck the second and continue the pattern. When he splits, watch him as he divides. The fake will be transluscent for a moment as they fall. Only the real Split Mushroom is vulnerable. Zap him with Raijingeki. Get Kuuenbu and Kuuenzan. 3. JET STINGRAY In Area 1, just don't jump right before the Heart Tank, and you'll land right on top of it. In Area 2, you can get the Sub Tank on the platform by dash-jumping from the platform before. To beat Stingray, just use Kuuenbu and then Kuuenzan right next to him. If timed correctly, you can slash him continuously and destroy the Ground Hunter shots. Dash over him when he dives. Get Hienkyaku. 4. MAGMA DRAGOON The Heart Tank is in the middle of Area 2, after a vertical climb. Dash-jump or Hienkyaku to the left. When the time comes to abandon the ride armor, don't. Go under the ledge and destroy the blocks. Use the ride armor against Dragoon, and then Raijingeki after it is destroyed. Get Ryuenjin. Watch the movie. It's cool. 5. WEB SPIDER REVISITED In Area 2, after a climb and drop through some spider- generating webs, use Ryuenjin to burn a section of tree trunk. 6. FROST WALRUS Climb the wall at left when you begin the stage. You'll find power-ups and a 1-up. After that, double back and enter the cave. Use Ryuenjin to break the ceiling and get the Heart Tank. After the appearing and disappearing slopes, before the path goes downward and leftward, climb the wall to the right. Use Kuuenbu to get the Life-Adding Doohickey. Use Ryuenjin or Kuuenzan against the ice claw half-boss. In Area 2, use Ryuenjin to burn all the ice blocks and get the Weapon Tank. To beat Frost Walrus, use Ryuenjin and then triangle jump off the wall to avoid him when he slides. Whenever he uses ice to attack, use Ryuenjin to destroy the projectiles. 7. CYBER PEACOCK In Area 1, get through every part as fast as possible. Use Kuuenzan to destroy the yellow eyeball thingies only when they block your path. Otherwise, avoid everything. The first part will net you a 1-up, the second gets you a Heart Tank, and the third gives you the Sub-Tank. In the third area, save time by dashing under the spiked ball robots as they appear from portals. To kill Cyber Peacock, use Ryuenjin before he can attack. Get Rakuhouha. 8. STORM OWL In Area 1, after you get the ride armor, destroy the gun turrets and big missile-firing enemies, then ditch the armor. It's far easier to collect the Heart Tank without the armor, since as much speed as possible must be used. At the end of Area 2, use Ryuuenjin against the half-boss. You only get four shots of Rakuhouha, so make them count. If you have a full Weapon Tank, then hit him eight times. If it is not full, wear him down with other sword techniques and use Rakuhouha when it is unavoidable. You can gain extra shots, but you must get hit twice for each one. Note that you can hit him multiple times with a single Rakuhouha attack if more than one of the energy blasts hits him. Doing this requires close proximity to the Maverick. 9. SLASH BEAST To destroy the half-boss at the end of Area 1, maneuver so that you are next to the bottom spike. Use Raijingeki on it, then Ryuenjin on everything else. In Area 2, the Heart Tank is in plain view. To fight Slash Beast, dash under him when he jumps and use Kuuenzan whenever possible. You can jump over or dash under his Twin Slasher attack. Do not attack him when he stands charging his claws; he will immediately counter-attack. When he dashes at you, use Hienkyaku or Kuuenbu to avoid him. 10. SPACE PORT When fighting Colonel, jump straight up into the air. Time it right, and you'll avoid his swordslash. Come down on him with Hyoretsuzan. When he throws energy waves from his sword, dash under the first, jump the second, and Sippuuga under the third. 11. FINAL WEAPON When you fight Iris, don't hit her any more than you have to. That'll generate little floating enemies, and she won't take damage. Destroy the purple octohedron. Watch the movie. It's sad. (Iris smiles cutely before dying. Now that's tugging at the heartstrings!) You have two possible routes to take after that. The higher road has lots of spikes and big ship-destroying lazers like the ones in the Air Force stage. The lower road has few places to stand and an eagle ride armor. When fighting General, just cling to the wall when he's flying around and slash at his head. When he launches his fists at you, climb to the higher fist and let it carry you to his head. Kuuenzan his face, being careful to avoid the energy bubbles. Then, jump and Hienkyaku away. When fighting the eight Repliforce soldiers again, defeat them the same way you did before, with the following exceptions: MAGMA DRAGOON: Avoid his attacks as best you can and use Raijingeki. JET STINGRAY: Use Kuuenbu immediately whenever he appears so that you can get high enough to use Hyoretsuzan. Continue this so that he has no chance at attacking. WEB SPIDER: Use Shippuuga to destroy the spider drones. It does some nice damage against the Spider himself, too. Fighting the Sigma Reaper, just keep using Ryuenjin. Every third attack will be a sweep with his energy sythe, so climb the left wall and jump over him as he passes. Fighting Sigma's second form, leap over the sythe when he twirls it, then strike him with Raijinkegi from a distance. When he throws his sythe again, jump to spoil his aim and make him toss it into the wall. Slash him two or three times, then Kuuenbu to the far wall when he uses his eye lasers. Repeat this pattern as neccessary. Be careful not to get too close, as doing so will make him spawn invincible boomerangs. The third Sigma forms are difficult, but not impossible to fight. Whatever form attacks first, the pattern will continue in a cyle: Colored head, laser gun, colored head, and wind face. YELLOW HEAD: Start underneath it and make your way to one of the other heads. Climb atop the head and jump through the lighting balls. RED HEAD: Go right. Climb the heads to avoid the first two fire waves, then jump over the second wave, fall beneath the third, and dash under the fourth. BLUE HEAD: Climb the heads at left and ride the Blue Head. WIND FACE 1: Dash right as the tornados blow leftward. Use Shippuuga. WIND FACE 2: Avoid the "sucking in" debris as best you can and retreat up the right wall to avoid the "blowing out" debris. LASER GUN 1: "The end..." Scramble up the heads as fast as you can. LASER GUN 2: Climb the heads or jump to misdirect the aim for his first shot, then use Raijingeki to destroy the Red Head. After that, stand under his lowest aim and hit the face with Ryuenjin. Don't stand too close when using it, as you may get hit by direct contact. Watch the ending. ================================================================= IV. RUMORS AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ================================================================= 1. IS ZERO LIKE A "PROTOMAN X"? No. Zero is not a future version of Protoman. Many have suggested this, but it is not the case. Protoman and Megaman were created by Dr. Light, who modified Megaman into Megaman X. Zero was not created by Dr. Light at all. 2. WHO CREATED ZERO? No one can say for sure. His origins are mysterious. However, it is very, very, VERY strongly hinted in Mega Man X4 that he was, in fact, created by Dr. Wily! This is reninforced by Sigma's dying words in Mega Man X2, saying that "He is... last of the doctor's creations..." Before anyone suggests that Zero is a "Bass X" I am compelled to say that, in my opinion, he appears to be more of an original creation than a modification of a previous robot. 3. IS THAT HIS HAIR OR A YELLOW CAPE? What is that yellow stuff that seems to flow from his neck area? It's hair. Long, blonde hair. One of my firends suggested that it was originally a cape in the first Mega Man X game, and it gradually became hair. Wrong. It was always hair. Yes, he has long hair, and yes, he is a boy. Get over it. 4. WHAT IS THAT SYMBOL? Under Zero's life meter in X3 and X4, there is a symbol that looks like an X. The same symbol appears on his shoulder. That emblem is, in fact, not an X, but a very stylized Z. "Z" for "Zero." 5. WHY "ZERO"? My guess would be that he is supposed to be some kind of counerpart to Megaman X. It's like Tic Tac Toe... One player is the X's and the other is the 0's. 6. WHY ARE ZERO'S ABILITIES NAMED IN JAPANESE? A. PROBABLE REASONS Well, the game was originally programmed in Japan. That may have something to do with it. All of Megaman's special weapons are in English, even in Japan. This could be an attempt to add to the X-and-0 contrast by making X more "Western" and Zero more "Eastern." B. TRANSLATIONS Raijingeki = Raijin Attack. (Raijin is the Shinto thunder god.) Rakuhouha = Fallen Phoenex Crush. Tenkuuha = Heavenly Mandate. ("ten" = "sky" or "Heaven") Ryuenjin = Dragonfire Blade ("ryu" = "dragon" and "jin" = "blade" or "slash") Kuuenbu = Air Dance ("kuu" = "air") Kuuenzan = Air Slice ("zan" = "sword thrust") Hienkyaku = Flying Kick ("kyaku" = "kick") Shippuuga = Spinning Fang Hyoretsuzan = Ice Burst Stab ("restu" = "burst") 7. WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "ZERO'S NOT A REPLOID"? Just that. Zero's not really a Reploid. Reploids are robots who can think, feel, and make their own decisions. Reploids were given rise to when Dr. Cain tried to replicate (hence, "Reploid") the technology of Dr. Thomas Xavier Light. Since Zero was not built by Dr. Cain or, apparently, anyone in that era, he was not designed with Reploid technology. He was designed by Dr. Albert Wily, with Wily's own schematics and technology. By the same token, Mega Man X is not a Reploid. He *is* the orignal technology of Dr. Light that Dr. Cain tried to replicate. ================================================================= V. ZERO SECRETS ================================================================= 1. MEGA MAN X3 You can give Zero's Beam Saber to Mega Man X! All you have to do is not fight Vile in the Maverick stages. Then, in the second Doppler stage, switch to Zero before fighting the bee half-boss. Defeat it, and it will crash into Zero, leaving him with one cell of energy. He will pass on his Beam Saber (restored to its Mega Man X2 power) to X. 2. MEGA MAN X4 If you are playing the Japanese version of the game, then at the title screen, put the curser on Zero. Hold R1 and press right six times. Then release R1, hold X and press START. Zero will have his black super armor! The American version has this feature, too, but it's done differently. Put the cursor on Zero and hold R1. Press right six times and release R1, then hold O and press START. It's probably important for me to note that the super armor is not neccessarily all that super. It's just cool-looking. ================================================================= VI. UPDATES AND REVISIONS OF THIS FAQ ================================================================= VER. 1.2 Fine-tuning of translations, thanks to Ursa. Corrected the hit count for Raijingeki and added hit count for Kuuenzan. Detail about Zero's invincibility in Rakuhouha added. Shippuuga strategy for Web Spider added. VER. 1.0 Pretty much everything was new. ================================================================= VII. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS ================================================================= Rough translations of Zero's Z-Saber techniques courtesey of Max "Metool" Hadgehorn's Mega Man X4 FAQ. Help fine-tuning translations of Zero's techniques thanks to Ursa. Zero's super armor for Japanese version courtesey Valentino Bhudidharma and his Mega Man X4 FAQ. Zero's super armor for American version courtesey Max "Metool" Hadgehorn again. Information about passing on the Beam Saber in Mega Man X3 courtesey Moses "Mr. X" Gomez. Extra special thanks to God for letting me finally finish this. =================================================================