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ultraericthered · 3 months ago

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The Lost Potential Of Dr. Regal & Nebula

I've got some thoughts to spare regarding this guy:

Dr. Regal, leader of the Nebula netcrime syndicate and Big Bad in both the Megaman Battle Network 4 and Battle Network 5 games. Regarded as the weak link among the main villains in the series, far weaker a Big Bad than his father Dr. Wily, and would be considered about as solid a Big Bad as Sean from BN2 at best were it only not for his horrid showing in BN4. While almost a total waste in the games, he was made into a far more effective villain in the anime and manga adaptations (both titled Megaman NT Warrior in the west.)

I've talked about that before, but I believe that while Regal himself got rescued from evil mediocrity by the adaptations, Regal as the son of Dr. Wily and Regal as the leader of Nebula never quite reached his full potential anywhere in the franchise. For sure the anime handled the former better than the games and the manga handled the latter better than the games, but neither got it down definitively.

In BN4, Regal drops the bombshell that Wily is his father completely out of nowhere during his nonsensical moral relativity ramble at the end of the main story, literally seconds before he drops himself to his apparent demise. Obviously that's some shit writing, but BN5, to its credit, tried to salvage the idea and make something of it by having Regal and Yuichiro play off each other, with their plot all about Regal trying to finish work that was begun by both of their genius fathers, Dr. Hikari/Light and Dr. Wily respectively, only Regal sought to abuse that work in service of his own crazy scheme for world destruction. But then the game kind of sabotages that by bringing in Wily himself at the climax, with only the Colonel Version actually giving you the full scene and showing that it's even him. There is no substantial interaction between the father and son before the former breaks the latter's mind and erases his memories. Regal becomes a goodie who joins Yuichiro's research team, and then in BN6 Wily's the Big Bad once again and Regal never shows up and is never talked about.

So I can see why the anime had Regal as one of Wily's adopted children and the manga left their connection untouched. Like if you weren't going to make much use of him being Wily's son by blood, then what's even the point of going in that direction to start with?

But the problem with Nebula might be more galling to me personally. This is what "Nebula" is named for, what Regal plans to unleash:

Nebula Gray is a malicious software program made entirely of Dark Power, embodying all the darkness within the human soul, with the power to amplify a person's darkest emotions, form for them dark thoughts, and feed their darkest impulses, even giving them tangible form. The power from it in its base form serves as the core source of the Dark Power that goes into the making of Nebula's Dark Chips. The manga takes it a step further by saying that Nebula Gray is the digitally generated vessel for an eldritch god of darkness and destruction who sourced all Dark Power. Holy shit, that is EPIC.

Didn't feel all that epic in the game, though! And honestly, that's not on Nebula Gray itself - it services as a final boss just fine. I realized that the real problem here was with the Nebula syndicate. They did not work in a way that properly built towards the threat of Nebula Gray. And unlike all iterations of WWW or Gospel from BN2, there are no notable, named, fully designed humans in Nebula aside from Dr. Regal himself. Everyone else are generic masked Mooks.

As for the “Darkloid” programs that serve the syndicates, both BN4 and BN5 put together only give us these six:

They're alright, but Laserman.EXE (Regal's personal Navi) is only present in BN4, three of them are only present in BN5, and Dark Megaman is like Negaduck in being technically two different entities.

Personally, I think these programs from the BN4-BN6 trilogy that were not affiliated with Nebula should've been Nebula Darkloida:

I feel like this would round out Nebula's Darkloids to give them a far more distinct identity. WWW had a varied lot of minion programs, while Gospel was more distinctly mechanical/metallic in their programs aesthetics. Nebula, given what it's named for and sought to unleash upon the net, should've been full horror/monster-based. I mean, it's already kind of there with the killer android, the bat-winged vampire, the dark storm genie, the abominable snowball man, the alien being, and the evil Megaman clone. Even Regal himself, as I've noted, is like Victor Frankenstein crossed with Vlad Tepes/Count Dracula. Adding some more creepy, wierd looking programs to the mix, including a literal Frankenstein's Monstrosity in Junkman.EXE, would've helped to really push and solidify that vibe.

As for the lack of human operators? I think the approach to that needed to be something along the lines of what another despicably monstrous evil scientist, one Akihiro Kurata, did in Digimon Savers with his Bio-Hybrid minions. The human operators would be unseen because they'd be directly synchronized with the Darkloids, with the Dark Chip serving as a medium between the boosted powers of the Darkloids and the soul of the human connected/merged with their programs. Not only is this extra fiendish for corrupting humans with Dark Power and really leaning more into the drug/substance abuse angle of the Dark Chips, but in creating a dilemma where if Megaman deletes any of these Darkloids he could risk killing a human being. And that in addition to what Dark Power does to programs and how Nebula gladly has programs sacrificed as cannon fodder would make the syndicate as strong as Gospel in terms of being a scary threat.

Also, Regal could've afforded to be more like his anime incarnation because that Regal was fucking GOATed in what a menace he was.

#Megaman #Megaman Battle Network #Megaman NT Warrior #Dr. Regal #Nebula #opinion #criticism #analysis #trivia #what could have been #they wasted a perfectly good character #they wasted a perfectly good plot

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ethandoesathing · 2 years ago

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Some stuff for a little thing i've been tinkering with on the side while i write Arcana. I call it "SOUL-GEAR". It's an homage to the aesthetic of late 90s/early 2000s anime/cartoons. You know, the kind made mostly to sell toys but the story is actually really good? That kind.

Its set in a world where humans and robots live together, the latter of which achieving sentience thanks to the invention of the "Soul-Core", a device that grants each robot (or "Gear" as i'm calling them) a unique personality. It's very much inspired by Medabots, with a little hint of Megaman Battle Network.

#oc art #mecha #retro anime #2000s aesthetic #robot

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milkcrow226 · 1 year ago

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Thank you for tagging me.

Cosmos new version from Armored Core Verdict Day

Shooting star V3 Sonia Strumm version from MegaMan Star Force 3

LAST IMPRESSION from Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz by TWO-MIX

Tokyo Reggie by Masayoshi Takanaka

HEATS from Getter Robo Armageddon by Hironobu Kageyama and JAM Project

Universal Dance from Vib-Ribbon

Ladyflash by The Go! Team

YO-I DON! from Taiko no Tatsujin

Moonstruck Blossom vocal cover sung by Itoki Hana original song from Kirby Triple Deluxe

1 2 3 from Pokemon Journeys by After the Rain

Big Blast Sonic from Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- by Daisuke Ishiwatari and Naoki Hashimoto

Storyteller from Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- by Daisuke Ishiwatari and Naoki Hashimoto

Freesia from Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- by Daisuke Ishiwatari and Naoki Hashimoto

The Edge of Soul from Soul Blade

Diamond Busaiku by Charlotte

I'll go ahead and tag @rustyfoxxo and @ordicat

15 songs I've been listening to lately

Was tagged by @meiyanaalexia <3 thanks sm for the tag :D These are just some songs i like in general and will probably not skip if my likes playlist is on shuffle while im on the bus like usual lmao. Included yt links too because i need everyone to listen to my music ofcourse

So You Are Tired by Sufjan Stevens

slow dance by SUNEOHAIR

Golden Fever by Keanan Eksteen

dui by estelle allen

I would die 4 U by Prince

King of Silence by Cibo Matto

enknee1 by hemlocke springs

Pills & Good Advice by Left At London

taste the rain by ippo.tsk

Planet of the Bass (feat. DJ Crazy Times & Ms. Biljana Electronica)

ART SCHOOL CRUSH by NNAMDÏ

All Dogs Go To Heaven by frog

Not Strong Enough by boygenius

Lovely Sewer by Yves Tumor

Pulp by Lime Garden

and bonus song i've reblogged, its the breast music, YU-NO PC 98 (touch). seriously why is it so good

Gonna tag (feel free to ignore): @dogboyrevenge @1989nihil @burgundyquills @a-nerdy-little-me

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godslush · 3 years ago

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I know its diff timeline and all (sadly) but have you thought about how the stardroids would react to MMV’s conclusion of Megaman’s and Sunstar’s battle, Sunstar coming to believe in Mega’s hope for peace and sacrificing himself to protect that wish?

I'm running multiple timelines in my head on the subject and a lot of them play off the big mystery of where the Stardroids come from and what happened to them before they were discovered; MMV, Mega/Gigamix, and, well, a "hybrid" setting for integrating OCs that I won't really talk about here because it is a Can Of Worms.

Also, before anyone asks, no, I didn't read Archie, so I don't work with it. Nothing against it, I just only have time for So Much.

MMV itself is a very interesting case because the Stardroids were reprogrammed to follow Wily's will, but we are never told what they would have done if Wily hadn't mettled meddled (M&B Data gives us an idea of how they might have acted). MMV-wise, I'm in the camp that Sunstar was their leader (despite various sources insisting he was not one of them), and I love to imagine they could have all been a very close in their own way before crashing on earth and going dormant (in fact, much of my writing for Antares outside of the 'hybrid' HC - that involves a text mockup for a game about it where Sunstar and Terra are the playable characters - touches on stuff like this, but it's completely separate to the comic).

I'd say that if the other Stardroids weren't destroyed for the final battle, they would have followed Sun's will for peace (perhaps reluctantly at first), but more importantly would have been able to jump in to prevent his death by stabilizing his core - who's to say none of them would have the know-how, being advanced ancient robots? As far as I can tell, Sun didn't 'sacrifice' himself, but simply accepted his fate and the fact that he wouldn't have been able to make it somewhere to be repaired in time for his core to blow.

Regrettably, games being as the games are, Wily's more of a cut-and-dry villain who barely cares for robots as more than tools for his world domination efforts, and Rock doesn't leave robot survivors (at least until later games), so we may never know. I don't really touch the games' timelines directly because of things like that. The game world is a callous world, where it's okay to put dead robots who used to be living and thinking individuals on display in museums.

Mega/Gigamix - which my comic offshoots directly - is so much different and provided me with a character conundrum; Rock does not destroy other robots needlessly, Wily cares for his metal kids (at least Giga), and everyone gets to coexist. For me, it's kind of the perfect world...

...but it's a world where the Stardroids - some of my favorite characters to think about and write - got the short end of the stick in terms of characterization and ultimate destiny, and Sunstar got it worst of all, being reduced to a barely-sentient fountain of pure hate and destruction, and nothing more (context clues in the comic itself imply that it's not Sunstar talking to Rock during that final fight, but Duo/the White Giant). It's a stark contrast to him being the one who reconciles in the game, to him being described in M&B as "bright and cheerful" (though the games screw him out of this informed characterization, as well), and leaves me with a bit of a bitter taste.

As a creative with a Very Bad Habit of pulling at loose ends I shouldn't be touching and trying to weave my own stories out of them (and usually regretting it down the road), I wanted to give them all a chance to exist and grow within my favorite iteration of that world - to show off some of the informed personalities we were given in M&B Data but never got realized beyond text anywhere canon - even if it's just in my head. But Sunstar is a tough one to redeem within the context of the setting I'd like to redeem him in, and involves writing a big backstory with alien worldbuilding and a bunch of 'nature of the soul' presumption and it's all a bit much.

That's not to say, however, that I don't have plans to do it.

In fact it's already fully outlined and ready to be set in motion.

I just... need the time and energy.

But his reconciliation is only two steps away.

#dai's mega man dump #long post #sorry for the textdump but i've been thinking about this a lot #they're two VERY big steps sadly lol

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roseprincesskristina · 3 years ago

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Axl's First Exciting Mission ((Revamped))

((Hey everyone! Princess Tina here once again with a previous fan fic for you guys today! I understand it's from a few years ago, but this is a revamp version of it just to make the novel very nice and clear for y'all. Anywho, the story follows a young prototype of Red Alert named Axl, who is now a Maverick Hunter, hopes for a very exciting task to come his way here in order to shut off his boredom. Until then, he may have discovered an unexpected "foe" with a powerful element of cruel arctic that'll freeze his opponents in one strike. So without further ado, please enjoy the story! 😊✌))

Pairing: Zero/Axl

Franchise: Megaman X

Location: Abel City

Abel City. One of the most clearest yet peaceful places on Earth, home to all kinds of beings both flesh and synthetic such as humans as well as reploids who live altogether in absolute harmony, sided with peace. No matter the differences, negligence or other, everyone who is new to the city are freshly more than welcome to attend alongside all individuals. Before the roaring stampede of Mavericks would attempt to ruin tranquility for their own satisfaction or otherwise, to kill off mankind from the face of the world, commanded by the gruesome but merciless overlord formerly known as the commander of the Maverick Hunters created by Dr. Cain, Sigma.

During the first reconnaissance given by his creator to locate the dangerous red maverick, the unstoppable Wily Virus have taken control or finds its way within his core, reestablishing his loyal morality immediately. Forcing him to surrender to its unforgiven power as it revokes everything belonging to him, erased right quickly. The growling aura within him shouts of victory, unleashing the new and improved villain to all who have feared more than their own weaknesses. Accumulating multiple irregulars to make an army, destroying the town, slaughtering several innocent humans in their path, painting the whole planet with his soon-to-be dreams bursting into reality of rearranging this previous universe into a new world inauguration for only the strong and powerful reploids to rule with a golden fist.

However, it was thankfully interrupted by the righteous dynamic duo of the Maverick Hunters, X and Zero, who will gladly silence the false fantasy once and all by defeating 8 bosses including the crazed menace. Time and time again. Regardless of how many times that he would return for vengeance with more of his invincible forms due to his manipulation of other reploids such as Dr. Doppler, Repliforce, Gate, and the rest, the irregular busting crime stoppers will always put an end to his wretched schemes for a new life to proceed. After his defeat, tranquility has regain its true colors once more, and the meaningless conflict between robots and humanity have been silenced. All thanks to the hopeful hunters that every civilization will always look up to.

Not only if there were two android defenders that could battle against more threats other than the malicious maverick king himself, but a third hero that arrives to the scene. One that possesses such a great ability like no other being. A compassionate young soul, lacking the capability of maturity yet not the interest of helping those in need when it comes to danger. His name is Axl. Armor themed of the navy blue color striped of red lines, detailed with an X shaped scar across the face by an unknown accident, orange spiky hair and helmet design with a camera lens type inside the crystal.

Departed from the group organization known as Red Alert by his decision on his own to become a hunter due to the view of his friends and the scythe wielding leader Red changing their desires of using the briefcase full of chips stolen from Cedar and the boss for limitless power. Chased by a large mechaniloid, met and teamed up with the crimson sword slasher by taking it down, mistakenly arrested by the brass headed expert, refused by the indigo pacifist of being or becoming a full pledged hunter, facing off against his old colleagues and adopted one eyed father, dueling with the previous mastermind from the beginning and saved the earth again. Still refused, an emergency has been briefed by the blonde navigator, calling to the young gun shooter to race into action.

A new generation built by a blue print, enhanced with the special kind of item known as the Copy Chip. With it, it access the DNA of all reploids even to resist various types of pestilence from every corner. Sadly, the least have chosen to become corrupted as a maverick, including the flesh hating ex commander, at will. None of them have ever experienced such a miracle bestowed upon them. But it doesn't mean that they're immortal. The generation have the same mortality as a few reploids and humans alike, making them quite special within their own way possible. Posing them including the spike haired youngster as hopes of the future as well as protectors. For the land will finally relax in complete quietness while the heroes do the rest.

Somewhere at Hunter Base, a secret government domain of skilled hunters, the autumn haired youngling rests around the table with both legs crossed, seating into the chair slightly bored after the war has ended. Blowing a mist of a whinny sigh. Of course, there are no crimes of fire that would be happening right now, but nothing very exciting could ever seek for his attention. For he is lingering in his own boredom by daydreaming.

"Man... This is so boring... Couldn't there be anything fun around here for me to do so I wouldn't die in my own sleep?" Groaned the teenage prototype, tilting the side of his head against the hand. Slowly collapsing into a tired state until the Class A expert would arrive at his direction, folding his arms while looking at him with a slight stern on his face.

"Listen, Axl. I know you're furiously bored when there's no casualties or invading threats coming to screw up everyone's day, but you have to learn to be patient and let disaster come to us first when duty calls." He explained toward the young android.

"I know... But it's just no fun sitting around the base to do ABSOLUTELY nothing. Sigh... This is so lame..." He griped silently.

"We get it, kiddo. There isn't a speck of villainy around these parts, but it's not the end of the world that quickly, ya know."

"Well.... I guess you're right, Zero. Don't know why I was whining about since we took care of that maverick jerkface. I mean, the three of us, taking the toll on him." The soon-to-be future hunter slowly change his bored expression into a smile due to the previous battle against the former commander who is now an insane maverick.

"Heh. I know, and you even single handedly knocked out Sigma with your special copy ability to save our asses."

"Darn right! Heh. He didn't know what hit him! Thanks to you guys, the legendary Maverick Hunters!"

"No, kid. Thank YOU. Without your help, we would've been dead right now. You're the real hero that the world needs."

"You think so?"

"I know so. But you still got a lot to learn when you're a hunter. Facing with tougher baddies, saving the innocents and all that."

"You got it, boss! Thanks again." Grinned Axl, given the ace instructor a salute.

"Anytime." The blonde smiled also.

Both of them stare into their peers for just a moment until the reploid teen would lean closer, accidentally deepens his lips into the long haired senior with a longing kiss. Laying his hands onto his cheek when he blush with surprise.

"Mmmph?!"

"Mmmm... Mmmmm..."

"Mmmmmph...!"

"Mmmm... Hmm?! Oh shoot! Sorry Zero!" He pulled himself away, realizing that kissing in public is illegal in headquarters.

"Axl! What the hell are you doing?! We're not supposed to be doing something inappropriate in public!" He yelled while wiping the smooch right out of his mouth, angrily flushed.

"Oops... He he he... My bad... Didn't know what got over me."

"Ugh... Look, just try to control yourself, OK? Cause it's getting too weird." The crimson mentor sputtered, wiping off the accidental kiss continually until it's all gone. "By the way, X told me about an unknown maverick yesterday."

"Really? There's a new bad guy?"

"Mhmm. He's incredibly dangerous than most maverick threats. Not to mention as a vampiric version."

"A vampire?"

"Yes. The creature of the night that drinks the blood of mortals to survive, like in the movies. But this baddie is far more different. He poses as an incubus of some sort. Flirting with both female reploids and humans all at once. Or perhaps secretly someone else... He acted very sultry in his personality, but enhanced with an elemental use. Like ice for starters."

"Whoa... Is he really dangerous?"

"Precisely. He had both vampiric and incubus personas, but with a calming expression. Also with sneaky eyes."

"Wow.... "

Furthermore, he continuously explains more of the mysterious figure's tricks and powerful elements aiding his claws, warning the rookie hunter about what he could do anyone with the unavoidable "secret weapon" that he tells the B Class gunner and the crew. Unlike the young gun slinger, everyone is quite aware of this deadly strategy.

"Is that so?" He asked.

"Yeah. It's an impossible trump card that no other reploid would be able to escape from. Once being controlled, there's no chance of resisting against it before the..." Unable to say the last part out loud, he finish it by speaking into the kid's earport which made him jump of shock.

"NO WAY! He seduces them?!"

"Not so loud. But yes. He performs a sexual lip locking thing with most females of all kinds. Endlessly."

"Holy crap.... And I thought that a succubus would do the same thing to a guy."

"Exactly. Plus, he would even get a taste of their bodies if necessary..."

"Ewww..."

"But anyway, there's nothing to worry about it now. We've already sealed him underneath the containment basement built with preventable locks." He assured to the wild child, patting his shoulder. "So all is well."

"Heh. Guess so. I was getting a little frantic there. Say, what if he would do the same to me?" He said curiously. But on the inside, quite scared.

"Come on, Axl. There's no way that he would ever get to you. Or is there?" Smirked the golden headed saber wielder, teasing him.

"Uh oh...."

"Oh, I'm just messing with you, squirt. So long as you stay put, far away from that containment cell. I'm counting you to remain on your post. Understood?"

"Yes sir! I'll try my best!" He saluted.

"Good. I'll be in the meeting room if you need me. Make sure to do your best, Axl." Ordered Zero as he nodded.

"You got it!"

"One more thing... If anything happens when you're in danger, be sure to contact me or X by the earport."

"Roger that!"

"Oh. And one last thing..." He went up to the energetic teen boy, grabs him by the head to return the sinking kiss aggressively from earlier. Calling it a little payback.

"Mmmph!!"

"Mmmmmmmmmwah. There. Now we're even."

"Ack! *Cough cough* What the heck, Zero!? Bleh... Guess that'll teach me a lesson!"

"Just giving back the favor. Try to continue your duty, got that?" He chuckled teasingly, before leaving for a meeting.

"Yes sir...." Spat the young begginer.

With the whole examination talk about a deadly maverick aside, he walked off to attend a meeting with other hunters and navigators. But then, he had stopped for a quick second before advancing on, pondering slowly about the lad in dark blue due to the kiss. Standing there into the middle of the hall, he felt the affected warmth of the youthful shape shifter's passionate kiss melting away the stubborn coldness in his armored being by touching his lips. Even though he haven't experienced nor practice empathy towards anyone but to his friends that he deeply trusts before.

"Huh... What's this weird tingling I'm getting? Sure it was an accident, but... it feels so soft... And tense..." He imagined. "Maybe that kiss wasn't such a bad accident after all. Actually, it's kinda hot too..."

As the serious crimson upperclass swordsman himself, he lacks the emotional affection of others since the morality from the dreadful past has changed to good. Yet, due to the accidental kiss that was given by the pistol wielding teenage prototype, he felt its warm appearances smothering across his lips.

"Mmmm... Axl... He really is a good kid, even though his immaturity annoys the hell outta me a little."

Smiling slowly from the straight stern written on his face, the idea has driven to his mind for a moment. Granting him the opportunity to pose as dangerous yet sexy winged maverick for his young friend to "fight off" with. He quickly walks into the room while no one is looking, morphing his original armor into an Absolute transformation to act as the unknown maverick.

"He he he~... Perhaps I'll give the brave little hunter a special solo mission he'll never forget~ A chilling "battle", that is~...." He plotted, cycling his tongue around the pale lips, tasting the smooching marks led by the novice hunter from the former organization of assassins. For a surprise trick will never fail to get the jump on him.

Meanwhile, outside into the garden fields behind HQ during midnight, the emerald eyed gun blaster is relaxing his butt off from all the boring worries dancing across his head all cheered up from the conversation he had with the die hard blonde, arms at the back of his head and boots crossed. Watching above the glittering stars of the night skies, so beautiful and sparkly to his pupils.

"Ahhh... Man, what a beautiful night... No wars, criminals or intruding crooks around at bay... Just some good ol' fashion peace at last...." Sighed the dual wielding lad, succumbed by the wonderous brighten dots as well as the graceful moonlight. The decent opposite of daytime for every or less generations to witness, secondly to lay back and watch. Everything that the red violet ex maverick have said about peace is very true, no worries, miscreants or anything too risky for that matter. It is a cesspool of non violent freedom to swim about all the time without ever getting out.

"I really miss Red... He's like the true father I never had, before going all bonkers from those stupid case loaded with corny chips that changed him and the rest... Sigh.... But, his DNA will always be carried within my mimic enhancement... And in my memories too..." Tears have descended from his eyes, remembering of his foster father that caused him to grieve. However, as the new recruited hunter, he wiped them off by fist to get his fighting spirit together.

"*Sniff...* What am I sobbing for...? Big boys don't cry. They would stay valiant and kick the crap outta fear! Heck, I'm a brave man now! Heh! In fact, I'm a Maverick Hunter! Yeah! Those creeps are gonna be very sorry if they first took a gander at me!" Cheering himself up with self encouragement, he would practice his kicks into the middle of the garden, fantasizing of him shooting multiple enemies who are robbing banks, abusing civilians and more. Hearing the applause washing all over him, women admire his fearlessness by delicate smooches. It will be his wonderful dream come true.

"Yeah.... That's right, ladies... There's plenty of me to go around... He he he..." Imagining within his thoughts have made him caress his entire body all over, purring softly. The raining kisses of all females began to surround him, but to comfort his needs and emotions endlessly with an all out embrace. Blowing a moan in satisfaction due to the rapid massages upon his armor. Even his own crotch.

"Purrrrrrrr~...." Groaned the blaster bearer with a tense of consensual feeling pouring upon him, anatomy and more by repeatedly polishing himself. Patting his cute little booty repeatedly just to imagine someone in his life, like Red for instance. Pounding his adorable buttocks as a pair of bongos to play out the perfect rhythm has made him meow a sweet moan from his mouth, punishing himself.

"M.....Mmm~.... Oh yeah~.... It feels so....so......good~... I... I'm not even sure why, but I can feel Red's gentle palms all over me~..." He fantasized of his adopted father in arms, caressing his every need until he call his name. "Unh~... U....Unh~.... Oh Red~.... Red~..... Please spank me~ Spank me more~...."

Until suddenly, a ringing buzz has disturbed his daydreaming sequence. It could be either an emergency or some other threat. Or worse, he might have done anything disrespectful by switching the report papers. He then respond by the ear port.

"This is Axl."

"He he he he~.... Well hello there, Maverick Hunter Axl~...." Then, a sudden deep voice has reached to him with a comely yet seductive vibe. "How are you in this delightful evening~?"

"What the-! Who is this?! Where's Zero?!" Replied Axl, demanding for a certain answer.

"There's no need to be angry, boy~... I'm sure that he's perfectly safe with me~... For now~... He he he~..." He replied.

"You bastard! You better tell me where he is or I'm gonna blast your maverick kiester wide open!"

"Mmm~... Filled with rage, I see~? I like that in a boy~..." He purred underneath his breath. "Truly I would admire a woman, but never mind them~... For I already found someone right in front of me~..."

"Found who!?"

"You~..."

What the young pistol user didn't know, despite of a mysterious call, is that a dangerous "maverick" was quietly behind him the entire time. He have felt his chilling presence speaking to his ears until he jumped back from the "enemy".

"What the?! Who are you?!"

"He he he~... Haven't your precious red friend ever warned you about me~?"

"So you're that scary looking maverick jerk he told me about!"

"Precisely~... But enough of the meaningless introductions~ My real goal is to have some fun with you~..." Approaching the incubus themed reploid, making his way to the youthful ward of the hunters.

"W...What the heck are you doing?! Back off, ya creepo!" He quivers slightly, reversing himself from his opponent while trying to gulp his pride whole. "Y..You're suppose to seduce women, not men!"

"You're correct, my young plaything~ But...." He teleported for moment. Seeing as kind of a magic trick, the former member of Red Alert was infuriated by that. But, giving him a chance to draw out his trusty Axl Bullets just in case the malicious "intruder" reveals himself again.

"All right. This is it. Time to take out some maverick tr-" Then, something vernightsible has happened to him. He was interrupted by the disappearing individual, now visible, by placing his clawed hand upon his innocent cheeks. Rubbing them for a quick second until the touch has intrigued his interests.

"Ohhh~... Your face is so passionately flawless, even with your delicious figure~..." He examined viewingly, circling his palms very slowly. "Better yet, you look like a nice little treat for me to snack on~ Mmmm~...."

"H...Huh...?!" He frozed.

"Mmm he he he he~... Like you said, I do have a desire for females, but in secret, I love males as well~ That's why I found you, little boy~..." The unnamed enemy grinned of interest, pulling the gun expert closely to him. "Now, why don't we go someplace dark and private, so we can have our little.... one on one battle~? Just the two of us~ Alone~...."

"Are you insane?! Why would I wanna date a-" Stopped once more with a hungry kiss had made the adolescent reploid dropped his weapons. Defeated by something very consensual that he had never seen or felt before.

"Mmmmph! Mmmph!"

"Mmmmmm~...." He quietly moaned while sinking a kiss to his victimized opponent. "Just relax~ And let go of your unwanted fury you've kept for so long~...." Whispers the goth colored vampire, staring at his leaf colored eyes to hypnotize him while caressing both of his baby cheeks. "Let me cherish your adorable young body~ So gently~...."

"Mmmmm...." At last, he was fully compelled to the deadly spell that Zero mentioned earlier. He tried to fight it off, but it was too late. Now he has becoming a playful slave without any kind of will to help him escape from.

"Good boy~... Now, let's retreat into a secret place to have our little mission together, shall we~?"

"Yes, master..."

Teleporting both him, along with his mind controlled captive carried in his arms to a darker basement cell underneath the base to continue their "battle" in peace, they can finally have a much more privacy zone to make some love. Setting the youngling onto the bed gently while pinning him down softly, he began to sip his longing kiss once again into a seductive way.

"Mmm~... Mmmmm~... My, your lips are so young and tasty, but beautiful~ I love it when they shine brighter than a diamond~...." He was fascinated by his pure and polished lips, but could never get enough of everything about him.

"Mmmm..." The future hunter would conduct the same thing while hugging around his master's neck, giving into the pleasurable lip mashing. Connecting both of their armored bodies with approach to began the intensive grinding imaginable. Gripped tightly of their embrace to never release each other or to be separated. Finally alone together, into the dark underground area filled with nothing but lights which will be activated automatically by clapping. But it's probably best to have them off for a special night just for two.

Their anatomy would polish one another into a normal pace, meeting face to face. Or perhaps chest to chest. Jointed into a pleasurable condition as the demonic ice maverick tilted his head towards the thinly neck of the rambunctious prototype, running up and down of his snake like tongue to please him.

"U...Unh~.... Mmm~...."

"He he he~... You like that~? Then how about this~?" He downward his tongue a little further, licking all over his body, lips, cheeks, and mostly, his little private briefs. Gaining the endless taste of him in any way possible.

"Mmmm~... There's nothing more sweeter than the taste of your succulent little body getting moist all over~ So young, yet so...... Deliciousssssssssssssss~....."

"U...nh... Unh....!" The flustered expression has appeared in his face.

"That's it~ Just let it all out~..."

"Unh.... Unh... Unh.... Oh man.... It's so good... Unh..."

"Aww~... You're even more cuter in person, little boy~ In fact~...." Closely as the pale incubus would venture in front of the teen pistol user by whispering something metaphorically sexual in his ear of the helmet. "A sweet little lollipop like you deserves to be licked by my hungry tongue~ All~ The~ Way~...."

He continued to taste more of the youthful newbie, onto the legs, even the chest and mouth. Then returns for a thirsty tongue on tongue action to juice up the peaceful mood.

"Mmmph~...." Moaned the pea shooting individual.

"Mmmmm~ Ahhh~... God, I love your sweet little lips~......"

Their tongues were performing a tango during a kiss, enjoying a perfectly evening at meek for a desirable dance. Dipping one of them after a dazzling twirl. Outside, the incubus would place his clawed hand upon the dual wielding lad's cute little buttocks for a casual spanking.

"Ahh~....!"

"My, you've been a very naughty boy, Axl~" He said playfully, gripping the squishy little keister hungrily.

"Ahh~...! Yes, master~..... Unh~.... Ha~.... I'm a very....unh....bad boy~...." He moaned again, but with an enjoyable act. "And I wanna be punished so badly for misbehaving~ ...."

"That's right, cutie~ And you know what happens to bad little boys~? They deserve a good spanking~..."

He then gives him a very good slap to the ass, not too hard but lightly. Patting it like a beloved pet.

"Mmm~... U...nh~.... More master~... I want more~...." Begged Axl.

"That's more like it~..." He rapidly punishes the tiny little rump. Just to give him more desires and a pleasurable spanking. "Yes, you may have another~..."

"Unh~... Unh man~...." He panted with an intriguing expression, sided with a blush.

This was his first special mission he had with the shadowed themed hunter unlike any kind. Thrilling and exciting for a boat load of duels awaiting for his call when it comes to danger. He asked for something dangerous, now it arrives to him and was purposely delivered. Endlessly lingering by his ice user's grasp, but an a lustful way. Flushing away his tired boredom along with the annoyed whining down the toilet for good. For the new memories of his new friends have replaced the previous one from his mind, straighteningly stored to inherit it forever.

And finally, the true excitement shall finally commenced.

"Now then~ Are you ready~?" Questioned the winged hunter.

"Ready when you are, master~." He replied, lending his neck closely to him with his dipped head.

"Gooood~...." He grinned, revealing his white diamond fangs for a scrumptious dinner filled with preparation. "Cause I'm gonna enjoy this more while I pleasure you~....." The spunky child was a little bit nervous, but not afraid to allow his mentor to seduce his sexy neck. Hissing very quietly with a purr, he gently bit it, inserting his fangs into the synthetic flesh.

"A...Ahhh~...."

"Mmmmm~... Oh yeah~..."

"U...Unh~.... Unh~...."

"Mmmmmmmmm~...."

Like any other vampire whose patiently desperate to quench one's blood in order to survive, but instead, he is desperately interested into necks. One of his favorite sexual parts of the body that will never cease to amaze him by the slightest. It really inspired his needs even more than talon his enemies with one strike. Plus, he even dreams in his slumber. And now, he finally had a chance to permanently suck on the thin yet strongly part of the new gen teenager.

"Mmmm~... Tasty~...." He moaned comely, wiggling the tongue to clean off the blood from the marks on his disciple's neck. "Ahhhh~ That really hit the spot~..."

"Ahhh~..." He moaned yet again, puffing out a warm steam from his mouth. Enjoying his solo mission to the fullest than just lounging around at his post. "Oh God~...."

"Mmm~..... Your blood is so sweet and energetic~ Just the way I like it~ I really appreciate it so much, Axl~..." Licked the unknown maverick, who later showed his true identity by removing his helmet. The rookie gunner gasped, knowing it was...

"Zero!?"

"Hey, kiddo~ Liking your new mission so far~?" Said the pale blonde upperclassmen. The plot twist has shocked the scarred youth by surprise.

"You're the unnamed maverick?!"

"That's right~... Just giving you a new lesson when this is all over~..."

"No freaking way! I...I'm really sorry for kissing ya like that! It's not like me at all! I..." He was silenced by his friend's deep smooch as his forgiveness for the accident that occurred from the start.

"Don't worry about it, ya cute little runt~ Accidents happen sometimes when you're new~ So no need to get all apologetic about it~..." Understood the high ranked mentor, placing a smooch on the young gunman's cheek.

"Well... You're right, Zero. Thanks for understanding." He cheered up.

"So~ Ready to continue our little private mission together, partner~?"

"You know it, boss~."

"Good~ Then show me what you really got, boy~...."

"Purrrr~.... With pleasure, master~...."

And so, two hunters have resume their reconnaissance by kissing into the lips once more, making out in peace with the saber wielding senior's wings folded across them for more comfortable terms. Their lips have been reconnected yet again, along with their bodies also.

"Oh Zero~"

"Axl~"

"Zero~...."

"Axl~...."

"Zero~....." He whispered.

"Axl~......" Same goes to the summer haired slicer.

Tranquillity has comfort the town of Abel City during the return, free from the dreaded master and his army of mavericks pillaging amok by trying to scare humanity from the face of existence, all dealt with by the fearless Maverick Hunters. And not to mention Axl as well, the third hunter that the world will look up to and will always count on. He may have lack maturity unlike X and Zero, but has the potential will for caring about his trustworthy friends and saving everyone from certain devastation invading the earth.

But for now, all is peace once again. And their thanks belong to the true hero for his bravery to protect mankind at all cost and his pure of heart. Thank you, Maverick Hunter Axl, for your limitless generosity and protection of all humans and reploids living in equality, as well as harmony.

The End

#megaman #mmx #zero #axl #absolute zero #vampire #yaoi #fan fic #revamp version

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game-boy-pocket · 3 years ago

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Well, now that they're all finally out... my feelings on each of the new Smash Bros characters is this.

Inkling was inevitable. But that doesn't mean I wasn't thrilled to see them. Splatoon is a great new IP, though I personally worry about how similar the games seem to be 3 main entries in, but that's nothing to do with Smash. Fun to play but hard to learn. A- ( the minus is for no Octo alt ).

Ridley felt like he should have been inevitable, but was fighting against some pretty strong biases. But he finally made it and i'm very happy. I do think he could have been a tad bit bigger though. Even if they had to slow him down a bit. A

Simon very happy with this character, and honestly surprised he didn't get in sooner. Castlevania may not be as strongly associated with Nintendo as it used to be, but it's one of the first games that come to mind when you think of the NES as well as the SNES. He was in a TV show with Megaman and Pit for goodness sake. And I enjoy using him. A- ( minus is only for no chronicles alt )

Richter was a cool addition, if there was one other Belmnot to be added, i'm glad it's him... but I am more of a Simon guy. Side note, I wish they took the echo fighter character a little further. It seemed like branding clones as echo fighters is all it took to make people more accepting of the idea, only for them to just stop short of three or four new ones, and not even include super obvious ones like Shadow the Hedgehog or Blood Falcon. Anyway A- ( minus is for no symphony of the night alt )

King K. Rool being revealed was one of my top five Smash moments. Donkey Kong is not a neglected Nintendo franchise. But it has undergone some changes that long time fans don't care for, including the removal of the main antagonist, this guy, who has a gigantic personality. He's a very fun character and it's so good to see him come back ( pls appear in the next DK game pls pls pls ) He also happens to be very fun to play as. A++

Isabelle is where Smash reveals kind of started to lose me a bit. Animal crossing is a big series and all but I really felt like the one villager is all the game really needed to properly represent the entire series. You don't need a lot for Animal crossing. And the fact that Isabelle was a relatively new character, who seemingly snatched the role of series mascot from Tom Nook, well it kind of rubbed me a little wrong. She seemed unnecesary... but she is actually more fun to play as than villager, and she's cute. So I don't totally hate her. B

Incineroar was a poor way to end the base game lineup for me. Pokemon just isn't a very respectible series anymore in my eyes and Sun/Moon was the first game in the series that I found too boring to finish. Pokemon just doesn't excite me, and with each new announcement, I'm becoming actively disgusted by it. I would have loved a wrestler character in the game, but the fact that it had to be a pokemon kind sullied it for me. Yeah, I just can't pretend to like this inclusion even if it is a huge Nintendo IP. C-

Dark Samus is a character I am kind of indifferent too. I didn't think we needed her, but I think she's a cool addition to the game. A bit of a waste to make her an echo though, her abilities are very different from Samus in the games if I remember right, I honestly don't remember much of Metroid Prime besides the first one. Still, she's cool. B+

Daisy is an oddball for me. I know she is in Super Mario Land, but her main identity comes from the Mario Spinoff games, and I just don't play those games. They don't appeal to me. I like Mario platformers. And to me, if a character is in spinoffs almost exclusively, they don't count as core Mario cast members. And frankly it's a little odd to me that she's plucking turnips and summoning Toads. The citizens of Sarasaland are not Toads. And she wasn't in Mario 2... but she's not hurting anything I guess so B+, needed "Hi i'm Daisy" taunt.

Chrom is a Fire Emblem Lord alright. He's also an echo. So I don't care. C

Piranha Plant honestly felt like a little bit of an insult to me. I've always hated when Mario games start featuring low level mooks without names as playable characters in the Mario spinoffs while ignoring the likes of Wart, Tatanga, E. Gadd, or th extended DK/Wario cast or RPG characters. It's part of why I don't care about Mario spinoffs. That being said... it is, at the very least, extremely fun to play as. B-

Joker may very well be the most out of place character in this series. He's certainly one of them. Maybe I would feel different if I played Persona, but I don't. So to me he's like the worst thing they added to this game. D-

Hero felt like he should have been in Smash Bros before cloud did. Dragon Quest may not be as popular in the west as it should be. But it's definitely the most important and influential JRPG to the history of video games... that being said, I wish the DQ3 hero was the default costume. I really enjoy playing as him. A+

Banjo and Kazooie finally getting in is without a doubt my favorite moment in Smash History. Not even Sonic got me as hyped as they did. I wish there was a way to make younger fans see this character the way us old timers do without seeming like we're trying to force them to like him, but it is what it is. I love these guys and they're my most played character. A+++

Terry is a character i'm not familiar with. He just kind of looks like a bootleg Ken to me. I think they could have picked a better SNK rep. Metal Slug would have been nice, shooters are sorely under represented in Smash. Do we have anybody besides Samus representing shooters? And she barely qualifies. C

Byleth is a Fire Emblem Lord alright. But you know what, they're honestly the only FE character that feels like they're representing the gameplay of Fire Emblem particularly well while the others were just kind of generic sword slingers... that being said... was this the best way to end fighter pass 1? B-

Minmin was not a character on my Radar. I thought it would have been Springman or no Arms character at all... I am just happy ARMS made it in at all... but really, it should have been base game content. If only to support the new IP. A-

Steve was a character I was opposed to at first. I saw him as a rival to Banjo. And I also saw Minecraft as a dumb zoomer game. A joke. But people made compelling arguments for the importance of minecraft, how successful it is, I actually downloaded Minecraft on my Switch, played it, had a relaxing time, I still play it, and I was actually able to play with my friends who don't own Nintendo consoles. It has cross play. The cross play is really what won me over as it being really cool to have in Smash, as it really brought me together with friends. Steve is tough to use, but great fun, as long as it's against a computer. I can't fight humans for shit, hah. A- ( the minus is for that cursed short enderman alt )

Sephiroth rubbed me the wrong way. Another Final Fantasy character wouldn't have been so bad, but did it have to be another FFVI character??? Couldn't it have been something from before FF made the jump to total steampunk/sci-fi to better represent the series roots? He's fun to use but idk, I just take no joy in him... at least we got more FF music I guess. C-

Pyra/Mythra is a character I have zero opinion on. B ( for booba )

Kazuya is not a character i'm familiar with, and if there had to be another fighting game character, one from Namco, I feel like Soul Calibur should have been it. Bring the Link crossover back around. It seems Tekken has no presence on Nintendo as well... but whatever. I have no strong feelings. He's fun to combo with but I suck as him. B-

Sora makes me sad. I don't dislike Sora. He has a fun design. I like the idea of Kingdom Hearts... I just think the story of those games is very weird and dumb and confusing, so the games themselves are kind of overrated. I really think people only like it for the pretty character models and intricate costumes. I thought people liked it for the Disney stuff but I'm suprised to hear most KH fans seem to want more FF stuff and less Disney stuff??? The only thing that makes the game unique??? Should be dialed back??? That being said... I don't like Disney. It is an evil company. And Disney getting in bed with Nintendo makes me very anxious. D

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eligos-venator · 5 years ago

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Favorite Characters

RULES: list 10+ of your favorite characters from 10 different fandoms and then tag 10 people.

1. White Glint - Amored Core 4A

2. Vergil - Devil May Cry 3

3: Laharl - Disgaea

4: Hiei - Yu Yu Hakusho

5: Professor Stein - Soul Eater

6: Emet-Selch - Final Fantasy XIV

7: Dracula - Castlevania

8: Tony Stark - Marvel Comics

9: Richard - Looking for Group Webcomic

10: Zero - Megaman X series

Tagged by: @twofaced-xiv and @kich-rp [Thank you both for the tags!]

Tagging: @ivyffxiv @uurkhilen @healeremeline @liltingskies @yokasaris @lilac-memorials @sharlayanwanderer @sigridderioslainn @roleplay-aficionado @thegoldenlark @lighttheabyss @voidtouchedduelist @miqojak @captainkurosolaire @lace-and-steelxiv @kugane-bois @shroudkeeper @wreathes-of-laurels @misorastraus @catnip-smuggler-radio @astralera and anyone else who wants to do this!

#asks and memes #big old wall of tags #thank you for the tag!#favorite characters meme #was hard to decide who gets on the list #too many characters I enjoy #from too few series

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monsterboyblood · 3 months ago

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Rock’s AU design is finished, he's got a profile under the cut :)

Rock Light / Mega Man:

Construction Purpose: Rock was built for housework and lab assistance after Light was severely injured in the 28/XX incident. After the first Wily Takeover, his fabricator was altered for combat, and his house duties fell to Roll.

Biggest Strength: He knows exactly what he fights for, and why.

Biggest Flaw: He tends to lose sight of himself in battle, focusing solely on his motivations regardless of what happens to him.

Weaknesses: His armour is built to withstand a variety of situations, but his Helper Unit origin makes him particularly susceptible to high voltage attacks.

Battle Style: Rock tries to be diplomatic and tactical about fighting, trying to talk his opponent down until the last possible moment. If talking isn’t an option, he likes to get things done as quickly and painlessly as he can. After all the battles he's fought, he's gotten quite good at spotting the weaknesses of Wily's robots.

Misc Notes:

Due to a malfunction in his colour changing software, the bottom of Rock’s hair has permanently turned blue-black.

He’s a very avid scrap-booker.

He stopped attending school in person after becoming Mega Man. Too much attention.

After Light became more self sufficient again, Rock started helping design the Robot Master’s cosmetics instead of helping to build them.

He gets along well with all the Light Numbers, but he’s closest with Cut Man.

The rollerblades aren’t retractable. He’s just that good on skates.

Despite insisting he doesn’t see any of the Wily bots as rivals, he actually does. It’s Top Man.

Even though he doesn’t really enjoy being Mega Man, he does like that people see him as a hero.

----

Rush Notes:

Roll built him, technically as a birthday present for Rock.

He’s a based on a border collie.

He was built from the broken pieces of item 1, 2 and 3, whilst Rock was recovering from his battles with Wily’s first numbers.

His serial number stands for Light Companion Number.

#The next one to get a profile like this will probably be Roll #I might try to format the profile bit a little differently? idk #mega man #megaman #rock light #my art #Megaman Soul Core #Mega Man Soul Core au #the au name might change but I like Soul Core for now :)#man I have so much lore for this already it is overwhelming #I will be making a lore post to explain some stuff at some point

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lunar-ribbon-mmx · 5 years ago

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Please read my first ever Zerox fanfic~

Over the edge

This started as a simple headcannon and then the damn story just wrote itself. The first draft of a possible fanfic I want to write, I’d like your feedback!!!! Maybe I’ll publish on Archive of Our Own? OwO

Summary: Zero enters a Dr. Light capsule during X5 and has a special request for Dr. Light.

Prompt: Zero being emotionally vulnerable # Hurt and comfort # It hurts so GOOD # Contemplating my life and crying over gay robots # Everyday

Headcannons to keep in mind • In X5 while you play as Zero collecting the armor parts from Dr. Light’s capsule in Slash Grizzly’s stage: Zero was asking Dr. Light “I keep having strange dreams about an old scientist, do you know him?” And looking apprehensive, Dr. Light told Zero “sorry, I don’t…..” • Dr. Light doesn’t want Zero knowing who Dr. Wily was (would bring up bad memories and give Zero knowledge about his original programming, which was really destructive). Plus, X would be absolutely devastated to find this out. Dr. Light wants his son to live in peace, so he lies to Zero. • Dr. Light trusts Zero to give the armor parts to X, he knows it’s a very secure process. The fact that Zero even asks Dr. Light about his dreams shows that he trusts him • Dr. Light is a cyber ELF. I mean think about it; he is able to create an android with the ability to think, worry, and have free will and even have a Turing test inside a capsule for 100 years. Don’tcha think a man like that could also upload his consciousness into a hard-drive before he died to interact and help his creation navigate the world? How else do you think he knows X’s location EVERYWHERE and knows about Zero and Alia? o MMX 4 wiki: “In some games like Mega Man X7, Dr. Light's messages appear to be recorded reproductions, while in Mega Man X5 and Mega Man X6 it appears he is sentient and aware of his surroundings, interacting with the person that found the capsule and talking about recent events.” • X’s room is well-organized and only Zero is allowed in there • X and Zero sleep together to stop Zero’s nightmares • X never getting to process what’s actually happening. No wonder he behaves the way he does in X7. Zero feels bad for the way he’s been treating X….

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Scene 1: The fated meeting

-At Grizzly Slash’s stage in X5; Zero arrived at a Light capsule and entered. He seemed so confused and eyes heavy with questioning. Dr. Light’s hologram illuminated the inside of the capsule, atoms integrating.-

Zero: “I keep having strange dreams about an old scientist, do you know him?”

-Dr. Light knew EXACTLY who Zero was talking about, his old colleague; Dr. Wily, who reprogrammed all the original robot masters into doing his evil bidding. This ruined the integration of robots into human society and made humanity even more afraid of technology. That was never what Dr. Light wanted. Dr. Light hated lying but decided this would be for the best. He had no idea how to answer that question without hurting Zero and possibly helping Zero remember about his original destructive nature.

Dr. Light: “It pains me to see you suffer….but I’m sorry, I don’t know who that is.”

Zero: “It’s ok, I wasn’t expecting an answer…..I’ll give X the armor program then….”

–Zero looks over dejectedly and his frown grew deeper but he hid it or at least he thought he did but Dr. Light caught on. If anyone knew the answer, it should have been Dr. Light. Zero’s past was shrouded in so much pain and mystery, he wishes he could find out who his creator was and what his purpose is.

-He also wishes deep within his core for the ability to understand something deep inside of himself and that he can’t put into words, but that he feels only around X.-

-Maybe, just maybe X’s creator would know….- -Zero glances around hopefully before leaving the capsule.-

Zero: “Dr. Light; I understand that you don’t have the answers I’m looking for and you can’t give me any armor upgrades because you don’t know my internal schematics and construction. And that’s ok, I’ll keep downloading the armor parts for X because I care about him. But I have one specific request.”

–He looked over at the hologram of Dr. Light tentatively. The red ripper’s thoughts swirled in his head, words leaving his mouth before he could stop them.-

Zero: “Can you program me with the ability to feel deeply and cry? I want to be able to f...feel the same way X does so I can understand him better.”

-Zero looks away hesitantly, feeling vulnerable and wondering if he should dash out of the capsule. Is this what humans call embarrassment? The crimson hunter felt his face heat up, but he wasn’t even sure if he had the ability to blush. But all the embarrassment in the world was worth it if he had the opportunity to understand the sweet azure hunter that always fought alongside him.-

-Dr. Light looks surprised and contemplates; then he smiles brightly at Zero, a secret only the 2 of them share.-

Dr. Light: “I’m glad both you and X found each-other, it truly is miraculous. Of course I can fulfill your request Zero, I am honored! This is the very reason I entrust you with X, I know you’ll take great care of him. I know you understand that downloading the armor parts and then uploading it into X is a very secure process and not everyone can be trusted to do it. As we both know, X is very innocent and naïve and I’m glad he found someone like you to guide him.”

Zero: “T…thank you Dr. Light…X means the world to me and I would do anything to keep him safe, including sharing his sorrow.”

Dr. Light: “It is safe to step into the capsule. Zero, just close your eyes, relax, and let the data flow through you.”

–Zero felt his core thrumming, filled with energy and warmth. He felt safe being bathed in the light of X’s creator. Dr. Light’s cybernetic hands reached into the deepest parts of his mind, new lines of code being etched and woven into his very existence. His body felt like he was floating into a different dimension, ethereal and at the same time, very comforting. As soon as the process finished, Zero stepped out of the Light capsule with a subtle smile on his face.-

Zero: “I’ll make sure to deliver the armor parts to X, and thanks for everything.”

Dr. Light: “I wish for your journey to be in peace, farewell Zero.”

-The mere bonds of these 2 reploids were iron-clad, the biggest irony was that his rival’s masterpiece ended up being the best friend of his creation, Megaman X.

“That’s the biggest fuck you to Dr. Wily if I’ve ever seen one!” Dr. Light chuckled to himself.

With these 2 together side by side, nothing could stop them and the world could finally achieve peace by having reploids and humans being together in harmony.

–And with that, the molecules of data that made up Dr. Light’s body dissipated back into cyberspace.-

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Scene 2: Sync and share

-Zero and X go back to Hunter HQ after a long mission, into X’s room to rest and recharge. It’s more spacious and comfy and feels more like a home than Zero’s room. X is into human culture; so his room is well-organized with furniture, books, and a bed. It’s their own private space, and Zero is the only one allowed into X’s room.-

Zero: -lightly jabbing X’s side- “So X, I found your dad on my mission. He gave me some more armor parts for ya.”

X: -giggled as he was ticklish- Thanks Zero, you’re the best! –his bright emerald eyes and shy laughter made Zero’s pulse quicken. The crimson hunter lived for moments of peace like this, seeing X smiling and relaxed. They both sat on X’s bed, removing other parts of their armor, but leaving their helmets on. Their intricate circuitry was filled with tactile sensors, muscles taut from all the battles they’ve endured together.-

-They both leaned into each-other, receptors coming alive; hands melding into each other for warmth and closeness-

-As X and Zero’s forehead gems pressed together, deep pools of azure blue gazed into verdant emerald green. This was an intimate way that reploids connected. It was a trusting gesture used to interface thoughts, memories, data, and share ideas.

-They both felt their cores thrum gently; a pleasant pulse of heat enveloping both of them. Usually, this was their ritual almost every night to either help X download his armor parts or help Zero fall asleep because of his constant nightmares, but today felt different.-

-An intense wave of emotions suddenly washed over Zero’s body, making him dizzy. He was swept into X’s unconscious mind, which was usually blocked off. All the memories that replayed flowed deeply within X and himself; he felt them at every atom of his being, ingrained into soul. Guilt, sadness, pain, anguish, regret, memories of Zero smiling, laughing, dying, all the Maverick wars, Sigma, Vile, broken reploid bodies, the virus, all of X’s friends that he used to work with turning into Mavericks and him having to retire them, everything.-

-Zero was shocked, beneath the kind-hearted smile of X was…..all of this darkness. The crimson hunter felt absolutely overwhelmed; he felt so much concern for X, that this was the true extent and nature of X’s emotions and suffering. He felt ashamed for getting mad at X for not wanting to battle anymore, he wished he could be more supportive.-

-X was exhausted, he didn’t realize the mindlink they were establishing was letting Zero into the innermost parts of him, parts that he buried and repressed, as he knew no one else would understand. He trusted Zero so much that he subconsciously let his guard down around him.-

-That was the difficult part about being the father of all reploids…he had no one to talk to about his feelings or else he would get ridiculed. He had to be strong for everyone, fighting in so much wars he never got a chance to process his feelings, as well as losing Zero multiple times. That would break any human, but it was considered normal for reploids…..A sad but true fact X had to accept in order to keep fighting for the utopia he wanted.-

-The most painful of X’s memories were of Zero’s death; he saw X fighting tirelessly to reclaim his body parts from the X-hunters who tried to defile Zero’s body and revive him as a Maverick. And after the Eurasia incident, he saw X clenching on to his z-saber every night, crying himself to sleep until his tear ducts ran completely dry and his voice synthesizer was hoarse from screaming. He refused to be near anyone. He lay in his room as a lifeless shell of his former being.-

-And coming to a huge realization, Zero thought to himself “is this what Dr. Light enabled me to feel?” The revelation came to him with such shock that his breath hitched in his throat. He clenched at his chest, never realizing how much of an impact his absence had on X. He always thought the world would be better without him, since he was the original carrier of the Maverick virus and he hated himself for that. All the bloodshed, wars, engaging in pointless conflict; for what? He just wanted all of it to be over, by sacrificing himself for the greater good of the planet.-

-X could feel all of that in his soul as well.-

-Zero gasped and pulled apart.-

“…X, I h….had no idea…that you’ve been going through all of this. I’m s..sorry for e…everything. I’m s..so sorry.”

X: -getting closer to Zero- “It’s ok Z, I’ll be alright~” –The gentle azure android looked up at Zero with a pain filled smile; his emerald eyes glistening with torment.-

- And in that moment, Zero lost his composure. Something inside of him broke.-

- He felt something raw and foreign overtake him, a sudden wave of sadness that threatened to spill over and consume his very being. He felt powerless and didn’t know how to stop it.-

-Zero panicked when he felt something warm and wet at the corner of his eyes. Small tears pricked at his eyes and he couldn’t even react in time to hide from X.-

-Zero started sobbing.-

- X’s emerald green eyes opened wide; he never in a million years would have imagined this was possible for the crimson warbot. What X saw broke his heart and amazed him at the same time.-

-X immediately wrapped his strong arms around Zero, trying to calm him down. Zero struggled in his grasp, trying to break free at first and then relaxing in X’s hold. He slumped against him and buried his face into X’s neck, holding on to him for dear life. X tried his best to comfort his friend by rubbing circles against his back. He gently held the sides of Zero’s helmet so that Zero could look up at him, wiping away the tears from his sapphire eyes with his thumb. X was surprised at how soft Zero’s synth skin was.-

X: “Z…Zero, I’ve always wanted you to know, it’s not your fault, you’re not that same person, so please don’t hate yourself. You’re worth it. You’ve always been worth it to me. You’ve always done your best to protect me and everyone else on this Earth. And for that, I truly appreciate everything you’ve done.”

-Zero continued to cry, his voice slightly quivering.-

X: “Together, we can do anything. Just stay by my side, p..please don’t go again, I missed you so much. Everyday, I thought of you and wanted you back more than anything else in this world. I don't want to be alone Zero….I don’t want to be in a world without you. I’d do anything, even go to the depths of hell itself to find you and I mean that.”

-X cradled Zero’s body closer to himself, trying to absorb as much of the crimson hunter’s existence as he could. His emerald green eyes were dull. His voice cracked and he started crying as well. He couldn’t even process how Zero came back and that he was alive and in his arms at this very moment.-

Zero: “X….X, I didn’t know you felt that way about me; I also care about you too. I’ll do anything it takes to keep you smiling. I’ll fight by your side to make that utopia a reality.”

-They both held on to each-other through the stormy ocean of turbulent emotions, feeling all the grief they’ve held on to for too long, all the unspoken words, all the trauma, all the anger. Everything just came out into a spiraling whirlpool. But they had each-other, so they wouldn’t get lost at sea.-

-Even though they were both crying, Zero wholeheartedly felt happy. Truly, genuinely happy for the first time in his life since he was created. He didn't even know it was possible for a warbot like him to have these types of feelings. The whole world could have ended today, but that was all right as long as he had X by his side. Smiling, laughing, holding him softly, comforting him, willing to fight through anything.-

-Zero pulled X into his lap without a second thought; gaining a startled response from him. X’s face was flushed; shimmering, expressive green eyes trickling with tears and mouth slightly open. He gently wiped away X’s tears, smiling at him; face leaning in closer, breath making their synth skin tingle. All their circuitry was tuned in to each-other, their cores synching, warmth filling every mechanical fiber of their being. Eyes half-lidded, Zero tilted X’s chin up, rubbing the bottom of his lip with his finger, tracing how supple it was.

-Their lips met in a soft, tender kiss; a moment feeling more right than anything else in their existence.-

#mmx #megaman x #zero #zerox hard #zerox everyday #fanfiction #i cried writing this #sobbing over gay robots #i love them so much #hurt and comfort #angst #they love eachother more than anything else in this world

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megamangx · 5 years ago

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Megaman christmas beat down

megaman was in doctor light house playing switch with roll protoman and megamangx “sonic is best chartactyer i can beat you easy” megaman said as he spindished around the level and protoman got annoyed and went for a drink

on the tv there was some arcologists who dug up a frozen sleeping chamber and a bit man smashed out of it and killed the arcologists “I AM BORIS JOHNSTON YOUR NEW ETERNAL PRIME MINISTER AND RULER OF THE WORLD NOW I WILL BAN CHRISTMAS PRESENTS SO ONLY RICH PEOPPLE CAN GETTING THEM NOW AND FUN FOR PEOPLE IS ANOT NOT ALLOWED NOW” he said and killed the police and took over the govment building

“what the hell?” megman sad

dotor light typed computer to find records “he was an evil tory man who runned uk in the olden days and m ade people slaves who had to die in food banks and they brainwished people to vote them forever so nobody could get them out of govnment” said light

megaman was angry and gotted his mega buster “not today we live in a better future now and i wil;l not let that blowbag take back over” he shed and teleportaled into battle

people tryed to fight but boris had revived mark zuckerberg as a robot master called networkman “make them bow to me” boris ordered

“of course i am the tech god and can do what i want nothing can stop me and the sheep will bend” network man said and used a fake news beam to beam lies into peoples brains

“i can’t fight it” said a man as his face turned red like gammon food and his hair was blad and he turned ugly and then HE WAS A BOOMER “i love boris i love boris and the earth is a cube because facebook told me so and the moon and is made of pizza i read it on the internet im have the truth knowledge the mainstem media cant infulance me haha” said the boomer and everyone was turned into boomers by the fake news attack

“this is bad” megaman said

protoman came to he;p but the boomers attacked “we can’t fight them they are hiumans and even if brainwished we have to find another way”

then boris sumoned bbc and laurna kassenburg “do not fighting boris it is extreme you must be good centrist like us and let him become dictator forever it is moderate thing you must doing!!!” she said

protoman facepalm harded “you are just a useful fool for evil governments and use fake nautral logic to trick people into supporting right wings you are just a right wing yourself but coward to say you are one” protoman pointed and she was angry and takened an uzi machinepistol out “die you fucking prick” l aura kassburg said but roll roundhouse kicked her “leave brothers alone”

boris turned on a machine as he drained the money from every family turning them even poorer and fed the money to rich people who got richer “only rich people have human rights now you will all go back to workhouses where you belong and i will CREATE THE FINAL BREXIT TO BRING THE VICTORIAN TIME BACK HAHAHASGHA” laughed boris as buildings rotted and people where made homeless

“i don’t like this” said a local man but then network man shot him with the news beam “i like this now its my own fault if i vote boris forever i can be rich one day the facebook told me so so it must be truth” said the brainwished man.

boris drained so much money he got fat and blaoted on all the money until he was so rich he was the only rich person “i need more cash” said boris

“THIS ENDS NOW!” megaman gx point and fighted but boris sent out rupert murdoch with the sun newspaper and the daily mail head to fight him but megaman gx destroy them in one hit “your lies do not work on me boris johnston i have the heart and soul of justice in me” megaman gx swore

but then a fleet of death ships rised out of the ground “AT LAST THE FINAL BREXIT IS READY” said borius as the ships started attacking citys with big laser bombs

the boomers where straving to death and had all catched the whooping cough “this is good for us brexit is all that matters i dont care if i die lets get brexit done” said the head boomer who died of the cold

boris felt like a tory god as he was mad with money and power and steven banon was there to “network man make the young serve us to we need a new army of teenager boomers” bannon said

network man then used his news beam to beam nazism into there brains “hitler was a good man and we need to kill all the not white people that way we will not die of being poor and not having cough medicines” said the young hip new age nazis

“soon i will privateize the sun and air and everything will be better that way” boris said but then things got bad

“no will be the new god i have social medica tech and can do everything and no one can stop me and people will do what my website tells them to die I AM BETTER THAN JESUS NOW” said network man as he spread fake news around the planet

“if we all kill ourselfs and let mankind die then we can bring the jobs back” said the boomers as the news beams melted there brains more

“I CAN DO ANYTHING I CAN DO ANYTHING” netowkr man bouncing around like mad

network man shot more powerful beams into young people “misery and pain is good for all of you hahahahahaha” said network man

“i dont care about health food having a future or being alive i just want to trigger people hahaha” said the nazis

darkness rised so much that MEGA HITLER ROSE FROMT HE CRACKED EARTH AND THINGS GOTTED BAD “i will merge with mega hitler now” said network man as he turned into the mega hitler core and looked like a mix of galatius and hitler

“i am so powerful and control information and money that i can make people do what i want just by thinking it this is power sxo good i do not be needing army now” laughed mega hitler

megaman fired buster shots but then megamangx got the hchaos emeralds “i’ve had it with this lOSER HE TALKS AND WANTS TO BREK SPRITS BUT THAT IS ALL HE IS JUST A MAN NOT A GOOD THEY ARE ALL JUST A MAN” said megamangx as golden wind played on his i pod and he went INTO CHAOS GOLDEN EMERALD FORM

“you are a man not a god”

mEGA HITLER WAS TERRORFYED OF THE POWERFUL TRIO OF MEGA SIBLINGS “take this EMERALD SHOT FINAL MUDA 1000000 BILLION PAGES” megaman gx shouted

then he punched mega hitler 100000000000000000000000000000 times “MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA”

then the armor cracked as mega hitler blew up and died forever as network man was exposed “no have mercy i will let you buy ads on facebook you can tell any lies you want” network man said

it just made megamangx even more angry “YOU ARE SLEEZE MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA”

network mans robot master parts hwre blown away as he turned back into the skinny mark zucerberg “owwwwwwwww” zuck cry

“MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA”

megaman gx was so angry at what the scumbag had did with his rich friends and his planet ego that he gained the power of GOLDEN EMERLAD REQIUM “MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA”

the muda where so hard that it broke time meaning mark zuckerberg could feel a singl muda 100 times and then “FINAL MUDA MUD AMUD AMUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA” megaman gx screamed opunching him so hard he broke time and blasted into the sun but due to marks broken time he fell into the sun over and over forever and would always feel the sun burning him forever as he would forever be punched into the sun

everyone was cured of the bad information andevil media bioth mainstream and stupiud online crap “i did i turn into a boomer what come over me i need to be a better person” said a middle aged man abd everyone went back to there lifes and rebuilded the city again and boris johnston and all his rich friends went to jail “you too eh?” sighed doctor wily who shared a cell with him.

megaman megaman gx protoman and roll all went to doctor lights for a big christmas party and ate good food and played the switch and had all there friends over and it was a good time “nothing is hopeless if we hold justice hard and keep the light alive” megaman gx said

“AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THE FANS”

#megaman #megamangx #fanfiction #boris johnson #facebook #fake news #mark zuckerberg

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kapanbenernya · 5 years ago

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A Hat in Time -- Cute as Heck

Yeah, I don't know where to start on this one. I mean I did liked Spyro: Year of the Dragon and that similar muppet video game when I was a kid. But I was never really into the 3D collect-a-thon, because the PS1 was the only console I had at the time, and most of those games were on the Nintendo 64. Hell, I didn't even know there was a Nintendo 64.

I told you, I was a dumb fuck when I was a kid

I picked this up because a friend kinda recommended it to me. I asked him about this game, and he said "it's pretty good, but the light-hearted-fun kind of good". Well shit, that's something I haven't heard in a long time to describe a video game, what with everything gotta be "gritty" and "realistic" but they end up edgy and depressing. After all of those things considered, I thought to myself, why not?

Let's have some light-hearted fun!

The first thing I noticed when I googled it is that it was a kickstarter project. I'm not gonna lie, I was kind of pessimistic. What, with your Mighty No. 9 and Yooka-Laylee ending up being one of the most expensive disappointment in the history of kickstarted games. But between the two, Mighty No. 9 was the one that caught my attention the most. I mean Keiji Inafune was in the team behind it. And that guy was the father of Megaman. This is like if BombTag was made by the guys who made Bomberman but also being a lot more shit than the current version of BombTag. So you can clearly see why it was a cruel twist of fate that it turned out to be crap, it had all the pieces and all the money it needed to be the homecoming diva of the year that will receive all the scholarships, and look how it ended up: a 60-pound crack-whore that sucks dick by the nickel. Well I decided then that wallowing and speculating about how this game might be another pile of shit is just wasting my goddamn time, so I moved on to finally playing the game.

The first time I started it, I wasn’t impressed

I’m just gonna be honest and upfront about this, I think the graphics sucked. I understand that you’re angry, but this is my paragraph, so shut the fuck up. Ok, how do I explain this? I mean the graphics are cel-shaded, which actually compliments the theme this game was going for, I’ll give it that much. But it’s fucking bad, even for indie. There are clipping issues everywhere, shading that went crazy and mis-matched, and a few more minor issues. They didn’t disturb the game though, not at all. I just think that if you’re making a game that’s on kickstarter and a few projects like this one has failed miserably, maybe don’t make it look like Wind Waker went a few rounds with a semi truck. But again, as I have said, it does not affect the game in any way, just a minor complaint from me really. The graphics aren’t the strength of this game anyway.

To be fair, graphics wasn’t Wind Waker’s strong suit either

To me, the strength of the game lies in the gameplay

The story is that you are some alien kid in a spaceship fueled by thingies called Time Pieces. On your way home some mafia guy asked you to pay the toll, in a blue suit, in outer space, without rockets. You gotta admire his dedication. Anyway, he fucks up your ship and as a result all your time pieces got scattered across different themed worlds. And thus begins your journey of collecting all 40 macguffins so you can kickstart your magic spaceship-home-base-thingy! Now please relocate your eyes back to it’s original place after rolling it so far backwards from hearing the sub-par theming of the game. Don’t worry, I promise everything gets better, because I will finally talk about the gameplay in the next paragraph

The gameplay at it's core is a simple 3D platformer. You jump, you slide, and you attack enemies. Pretty basic shit on the surface level, if not deceptively so. Thing is, there are moves that you can get from a combination of jumps, slides, and wall hops that can get you further than your little minds can handle. And like it or not, this is a thing that you have to master becuase the platforming will only get more and more challenging as you progress throuh the levels, especially the secret levels that can be hard as balls. Thankfully, they usually teach you how to do things by introducing a mechanic in a story first, and only after then do they allow you to go wild.

The second part of the gameplay is the objective, which is to collect all the scattered time pieces thingy to re-fuel your spaceship. This is achieved through a set goal depending on the levels of the game. And since there are 5 unique worlds in total, each with levels of their own, you can bet your ass that there’s a lot of gameplay variety. This is in one hand, a good thing since a lot of variation can be a guarantee that you will not get bored by doing the same thing again and again. I guess this is a thing that comes from being a kickstarted game. This dev guy wants this, that dev person wants another thing, and the everybody just frankenstein’d all the different concepts into one big ball and hope for the best. Thankfully, it worked in favor of the game, since the interchanging themes and mechanics means that every level feels fresh and novel. Although I must say, this also results in one particular level that’s very different in tone from the rest of the levels. I mean for comparison, In one level I was in a town full of bald Mafia men, pushing them off cliffs and ledges for fun. Meanwhile, in the next level I was being chased by the lordly ghost woman in a haunted mansion. Now, since the other levels are anything BUT scary, I thought that this horror-themed level is just children level of scary. You know, like your talking bones or bed sheet ghosts. What I didn’t expect was a sincerely terrifying level that made me genuinely scared.

Wow, I never expected that my pants could be so brown.

I gotta tell you though, that level wasn’t some kind of genius design or some avant-garde breakthrough. It’s just your generic scary enemy chasey chasey sequence you’ve seen a million times. It’s just that you can really feel the horror because you didn't expect it to be there. It’s like walking into Disneyland to find everything has been replaced by spiders and mickey had hung himself on the main attraction.

One thing that I felt is that the game is very short. 25 levels in total (excluding the DLC) with bonus missions for extra time pieces that amounts to 40. That may seem to be a huge number, but trust me it isn’t. The reason why is because the game is a bit of a cakewalk. The bosses themselves aren’t hard, except for the purple ghost guy that can spam AoE attacks like it’s going out of style. After playing it fully, I get the feeling that I’m not quite the intended audience for this game. I feel like A Hat in Time is made to be played by children. It’s just a feeling I had though.

In Brief

You know what I felt when I played A Hat in Time? Joy. Pure innocent child-like joy that leaves a grin on your face. The kind of grin you used to get when you played in the yard with your friends or family. It’s a different kind of joy from the triumph when you defeat a hard boss in Dark Souls or when you get the top frag in shooter games. It’s warm and optimistic and leaves you content. If you’re a kid looking for a good kiddie game, this one’s for you. If you’re just looking for some good old fashioned nostalgic platformer game, this one’s also for you.

Hey we don't judge things over here my guy. A game's a game, and what matters is you enjoy what you're playin'.

#pc games #steam #a hat in time #ps4 #xbox 360 #switch

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sepiadice · 6 years ago

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Art Direction of Tabletop RPGs

Dungeons and Dragons is good at being Dungeons and Dragons.

That shouldn't be a controversial opinion, and it's not worded as one, yet I have one friend who derisively labels it as a war game, and another friend who believes D&D is all you need in regards to TRPGs. These two are from distinct eras of my life, and have never met.[1]

My moderate view is such: Dungeons and Dragons is good. It's not the ultimate system, but if you want a western fantasy built on the framework of Tolkien, Fifth Edition is the way to go. You could use a different system, in theory, but no other system has the same reach and stability. Everyone knows D&D, which is valuable.

Its combat and mechanics are a good balance of grit and function, and it's mostly teachable. My friend's 'wargaming' derision is because he believes it doesn't support role-playing well. Something about the guy who wrote Dungeon World saying if it's not in the rules, it’s not in the game.[2] But I've always felt that D&D makes the right decision in not bogging it down with structure and dictating the 'correct' way to role-play.

However, if you want to do anything else (Sci-fi, non-european fantasy, superheroes, Slice of Life), best case scenario the seams will creak in the attempt. D&D is good at being D&D, and that's the limit.

I appreciate D&D. I'll play D&D, happily!

There's a reason I bristle when “DM” is used as the generic term.

That said, I've always had a sort of tonal disconnect when I play D&D, and it's because of the art.

Fair warning, what follows is a lot of personal interpretations and vague mumbling trying to relay a point. I’m not actually an authority on anything.

(Dungeons & Dragons owned by Wizard of the Coast . Image sourced from Wikipedia)

Dungeons and Dragons does not have pretty art. It’s technically well done, and far from ugly, but it’s not actually inspiring. Above we have the cover of the Player’s Handbook, the first thing most new players see. Setting aside that the focus of the cover art for what should be the book about Player Characters is a giant monster man[4], the cover is very orange. The actual people are composed of muted, neutral colors, and the background is vague and out of focus.

It’s not really conveying an air of fantastic worlds and larger-than-life characters (giant wearing a dragon skeleton aside). It coveys oppression, monotony, and “realism”.

(Pathfidner owned by Paizo. Image sourced from Wikipedia)

Pathfinder’s core rulebook, on the other hand, is colorful. Look at that big, bright dragon![5] Sensibly dressed Fighter Man’s brown clothes are still bright enough to pop him out from the green-grey dungeon background[6], and Fantastic Sorceress’s red dress is also bright and helps frame the Fighter as her hand glows with magic.

While both covers feature a woman with an orb of magic, D&D’s cover shows magic as contained and lighting a small space, while Pathfinder’s magic is big and trailing, hinting at movement.

Actually, D&D’s mage girl doesn’t have a cohesive movement. Is she falling from above? Jumping in from the left? Where is she going? It doesn’t really follow in a meaningful way.

Anyways: color. Yes, yes, I know the plague of brown and and muted tones is a much whined about criticism, and it might seem odd from someone calling himself SepiaDice, but neutral tones have their place; usually as background and supporting other colors to pop more.

Besides, Sepia has a noble history in film, the brown range isn’t a common image color, and Sepia is fun to say.[7]

Color choice is very important. Bright colors draw the eye and make visuals more distinctive. Bright colors also denote and bring energy to things. Dull colors are used for locations meant to be calm and sedate. If you want the characters and locations to seem fun and full of life, you fill it with bright colors.

Everything breaths, adventure can strike at anytime!

Dull colors, and it’s hibernation. People are around, but they don’t seem to enjoy it.

But let’s turn to the visual storytelling: what does each cover tell you about life in their setting?

D&D: lots of posing to look fancy, but there’s no real sense of energy. Jumpy Magerson’s weird Megaman hop has been mentioned, of course. The Giant has a look of dull surprise as he drops Jumpy Magerson,[8] as he holds a sword in the non-active hand. Foreground fencer man is wide open, holding his own foil up and away from where it might accidentally jab anyone. The locations is… orange? Looks like there might be lava geysers?

Patherfinder: A dragon roars at its enemies! Teeth bared, tongue coiled, tendons on display! Wings unfurled to make it seem larger! The fighter is yelling back at the dragon, his weapons mid-swing! Shoulder forwards to defend the rest of the body! The Sorceress is holding a firm stance as she casts a spell that crackles with arcane energy!

Pathfinder’s cover tells a story of epic combat, fizzly magic, and energy. D&D’s cover tells a story of two adventurers existing in a space also occupied by a giant.

Now, both of these systems have the same ancestry, as Pathfinder is an iteration on D&D 3.5.[9] But one sparks more joy when I look at it.

But let’s do another case study. I’ll need an audience volunteer, and my brother’s the only person immediately on hand.

I’m going to make him list three qualities of goblins real quick:

Green

Wimpy

Sneaky

Awesome. Don’t know if the green text translated, but those are what he wrote. Give him a hand!

So, with those three traits in mind, let’s look at a goblin picture from D&D Beyond:

(Owned by Wizards of the Coast. Source here)

Like, you can’t say D&D doesn’t call that a goblin, it’s literally on the goblin page.

This guy is yellow. He’s built like a four foot tall WWE Wrestler. He’s defending with his advancing arm as he rears up to smack ya!

(Okay, “Sneaky” is a hard one to argue.)

Moving on, what does Pathfinder call a Goblin:

(Owned by Paizo. Source here)

Look at this charming miscreant! Green. Big ole head. Good mix of of ugly and oddly adorable. Probably two feet tall, and happens to want your two feet, please, but you could step on him if you’d like.

He also looks like a Gremlin

(An adorable little chaos monster owned by Warner Brothers. Source)

Point is, Pathfinder’s more cartoony take on the classic monster feels more in the spirit of the thing. Every time I see one of those goofy faces, I feel like I’m in for an enjoyable time.

Bringing us back around to the point of this essay: the art direction of D&D bogs down my theater of the mind. The art in the rulebooks don’t inspire creativity or fantastic visions. It inspires… dull, lifeless people walking through dirt roads flanked by dead grass.

I don’t enjoy looking at D&D’s art. Relatedly, I don’t like looking at the art of Magic: the Gathering, whose style I can’t help by see in every D&D sourcebook cover I see. Neither game invokes an inviting world, but utilitarian ones that exist to give quick, forgettable visual flair to represent mechanical card effects.

To save making this long essay even longer and unfocused, I’ll save talk of actual ‘canon’ lore for another time.[10]

So why do I, a semi-professional funny man and sad dreamer who can’t actually draw, want to talk about rulebook art?

Well, I’ve always felt a disconnect when I play D&D. I make the characters, I roll the dice, I attempt to role-play, but I’ve always had an emotional gap between me and the character I’m playing. I like the concept, but when I use my theater of the mind, the character feels stiff and divorced from everything. Kind of like the 5th Edition rulebook.

Then I saw this:

(Source tweet. All of this artist’s work is great and I wish I could hire them.)

This half-elf showed up on my twitter timeline, and my first thought was ‘How come my characters don’t look like that?’

Soon followed by ‘Why couldn’t they?’

Then I completed the trilogy with ‘Why haven’t I imagined my characters in a style appealing to me?’

As I was deep into contemplating what sort of aesthetic I consider my “brand”,[11] it was entering a mind primed to start overanalyzing.

So, how do I imagine my characters? In the neighborhood of the D&D art, if I have firm concept. Micah Krane always was mentally nebulous to me, just kinda being a generic half-elf dude. Trix (who was created for the brightly colored Pathfinder) is green-haired and wears a tail coat, but otherwise is also normal looking in my mind’s eye. In the last two D&D campaigns, Tybalt was also vague in appearance, and Teddi had Goat horns, but those were meant to stand out on a generic rogue character.[13]

But you know what I’ve never put on a character I’ve played? Glasses.

I hope that those who read my various media reviews[14] don’t need this overly explained, but I like glasses. I, myself, don’t wear glasses, but I find them to be great accessories in character design. Frames the eyes, come in a variety of shapes, adds bit of extra visual interest. I always point out Meganekkos and pay them extra attention.[15] I really, really like girls with glasses.

But I’ve never made one. Because there’s no cute design in D&D rulebooks. Just a range of handsome people to ugly halflings.[16]

That is the effect of art design in a system. It sets tone, expectations, and aesthetic for the players. It’s so ingrained that everytime I see art of players’ characters that break the standard, it always takes me aback. It’s inspiring to see artists who manage to divorce D&D the game from D&D the art.

I want to imagine fun, personally appealing characters. But the subtle direction of the insert art as I look through to rulebook, or the provided character portraits of D&D Beyond does not suggest things I like to see. It infects the mind, and leaves specific molds. People in practical, mundane clothes, walking down drab, uninteresting roads.

It’s the same lack of escapism that makes Western (Video Game) RPGs super unappealing to me.[17] Dark Souls, Elder Scrolls, Bioshock don’t look like fun places to be, they look tiring and full of splintery furniture waiting to do 1d4 nonlethal damage.

So I have to talk about anime now.

My mother was staying at my home a little while ago, and I turned on My Roommate is a Cat. This prompted her ask me about what about anime was appealing. I couldn’t form a competent answer for the question at the time, but it’s had time to churn in my head.

Anime is a good middle ground between cartoon and realism. It can broach deeper topics and more mature storytelling than children’s cartoons,[18] without sacrificing a light visual tone and fantastic imagery. Also, the fact that it’s produced by a non-American, non-European culture lends a degree of separation with cultural expectations and tropes. Enhances Escapism.

Luckily, in (very) recent years, after generations of exchanging video games and animation back and forth, Japanese Tabletop RPGs are starting to join in on the fun.

Which means I can look at Ryuutama.

(Image copied from DriveThruRPG. Brought over the pacific by Kotodama Heavy Industries. Buy this book.)

I love this system.

Watercolor art direction. Layout evokes a spellbook. Two Characters and a Dog take the focus on the cover, while the road signs and tiny shrine in the background invoke the emphasis on travel and wonder.

The interior art?

(Taken off the Ryuutama (english) website. Buy this book.)

Well, that makes the game just look like fun. Cartoony characters fighting cat goblins. Conflict, but it doesn’t make life feel like a constant struggle. A world I wish to inhabit. There’s also more detailed images of dragons and other world-establishing pictures mixed in to give the art range, but it’s this sort of charming that makes Ryuutama the first rulebook I actually sat and read cover to cover.[19] It’s a good system I already reviewed. Buy this PDF, maybe they’ll reprint the physical book.

Anyways, I’ll admit, the art’s a little too simple for D&D. Perfect for Ryuutama, and the end of the scale I want my mental image to be, but overshoots the sweet spot. And it’s difficult enough to find players for the much more popular 5e, so Ryuutama exclusivity would grind my playtime to zero.

Still, Ryuutama does a great job of setting it’s light, fantastic tone, where D&D has failed me. The art direction of the books, and years of exposure and defaulting to what I assume D&D should look for establishes a mental habit that’s hard to break. Wizards of the Coast has drowned nerd spaces with its particular kind of art, especially with MtG plastered all over hobby stores, deck boxes, dice, playmats, and even D&D sourcebooks.

That’s not even accounting for fanworks and the speculative fiction art in online spaces.

So what do I want to look like? Were I blessed with talent or with patient to actually learn to draw well, what would I be referencing?

What about what set my expectations of fantasy years before IndigoDice invited me to that fateful Traveller game?

(Screen cap of Tales of Vesperia grabbed from here.)

Well, okay, what I’m actually thinking about is Tales of Symphonia, but Vesperia’s graphics are kinda what nostalgia tells me Symphonia tooked like, as opposed to what it actually looks like.[20]

Look at that verdant town! Warm lighting, bright characters, leaves growing to depict life. A hotel built into a tree. This is a fantasy world that is unashamed about life thriving.

Forget solarpunk. This is my aesthetic.

As for the party members…

(Okay, Judith’s a little gratuitous, but The Definitive Edition lets me put her in a suit, and she’s awesome. Art stolen from here.)

Oddly enough, as far as JRPG outfits go, these are pretty tame with details.[21] Mostly bright, popping colors, even Yuri’s dark clothes are done in such a way to not feel grim and edgy, hints of personality, and I just enjoy looking at them.

The Tales series as a whole does a good job of taking European fantasy and applying Japanese whimsy to the design. Also yukatas. Every member looks like the hero of their own story, while still being part of a cohesive whole.

Which is, you know, the ideal way to operate as a TRPG party.

So, what’s the take away?

Artists, keep being creative. Pull inspiration in from things besides the rulebooks and Critical Role. Look at the other things you love and bring visual flare and whimsy to your art. Then share it. Ignite the passions of those of us who can’t do the draw-good thing.

Players, play with the tropes. I love doing it narratively and mechanically. My favorite rogue is still my neutral good stage magician who would never do a crime. Explore what’s possible in the freeform world of tabletop games, both in play and your Theater of the Mind.

Game designers, branch out with the art. And stop using Powered by the Apocalypse as a crutch.[22]

Hope this long ramble was enjoyable and cohesive. If you want more of this, my other works, and maybe to allow me to make an actual play podcast, consider supporting me through Patreon or Ko-fi.

Until next time, may your dice make things interesting.

[1] Though I would love to read a transcript of the two discussing it. It'd be a fun debate. [2] I don't like Powered by the Apocalypse for precisely this reason. Every actual play I've heard with the system has players talking about their characters in the abstract, because they're just pressing the buttons on their character sheet.[3] [3] I maybe should do a breakdown of PbtA one day. [4] Which is pretty poor direction. Do an epic group shot of characters battling a horde around them. [5] None of the D&D core books has a dragon on the cover. Come on, that should’ve been a gimme! [6] Similar note as footnote 5. [7] Also CornflowerBlueDice is too long to be catchy. [8] I figured it out! [9] I haven’t looked at at Pathfinder’s forthcoming second edition. Fifth Edition reclaimed it’s throne as The ubiquitous system after fourth lost its footing, so I don’t think there’s much point. [10] TL;DR: I ignore it. [11] Pulp Fantasy is too mundane. Steampunk is too victorian-y. Sci-fi fractals into so much. Solarpunk has appeal, but isn’t quite right.[12] [12] Haven’t really found the term. [13] Let’s not examine that I put more thought into female character design than male for the moment. [14] Which you should. Validate my efforts! [15] And desperately pray it’s considered innocent enough of a fetish that I don’t have to stop. [16] Never liked halflings. Gnomes are fine. Halflings, in art, have always been off-putting and malformed. [17] That and the emphasis of character customization kneecapping the Player Character’s narrative involvement. Can’t give them a personality if that’s the end user’s job! [18] Even Avatar: The Last Airbender felt like it had to sneak the narrative depth it achieved past corporate. [19] I do need to give it a reread, though. Relearn the system. [20] It still looks good, especially the environment, but the characters are kind of… leaning towards chibi. [21] This, specifically, is why I chose to highlight Vesperia over Rune Factory. [22] Technically nothing to do with this essay, but I can’t stress this point enough.

#SepiaDiceRants #ryuutama #Fifth Edition #Dungeons and Dragons #pathfinder #tales of vesperia

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