The Mega Man ZX series, known as Rockman ZX (ロックマンZX, Rokkuman Zekusu) in Japan, made its debut in 2006 on the Nintendo DS. It is set over 200 years after the events of the Mega Man Zero series, and focuses on individuals called "Mega Men" who can transform into armored warriors using Biometal.^[1]

Premise[]

The year is 25XX, and the world has rebuilt since the fall of Neo Arcadia 200 years ago.^[2][3] The new government Legion has blurred the line between Humans (now "Humanoids") and Reploids, resulting in great social unity. However, dangerous Mavericks now roam the wilderness, and mysterious artifacts known as Biometal offer special individuals called "Mega Men" the opportunity to gain great power. A Game of Destiny has begun to determine who is worthy of ruling the world with the mighty Biometal Model W, leaving it up to righteous Mega Men to stop the ambitions of evil Mega Men such as Serpent and Albert.

Mega Man ZX games[]

• Mega Man ZX
• Mega Man ZX Advent
• "Mega Man ZXC" (cancelled)

Timeline[]

Between the Zero and ZX series[]

• After Neo Arcadia's destruction and the death of Dr. Weil on Ragnarok, the Resistance and Caravan began working on rebuilding the world from Area Zero.^[4]
• Albert studied the remains of Ragnarok. Fascinated by its biomechanical power (and possibly influenced by Weil's lingering soul), Albert used the remains to create Model W, a Biometal with the potential to control the world. However, it required vast negative energies first, so Albert stored Model W underground and let its influence cause Maverick outbreaks to foster fear and hatred to consume.^[5]
• The world developed a government called Legion led by the Sage Trinity: Master Thomas, Master Mikhail, and Master Albert. To avoid discrimination, Legion established equality laws: every human of age would visit Legion HQ to become cyborg Humanoids, while every Reploid would visit to gain a limit on their lifespan similar to humans. In the process, Master Albert secretly sought suitable users for Model W, infusing those he deemed worthy with his DNA to make them "Mega Men". Additionally, the world was classified into two areas: the safe Innerpeace and the Maverick-infested Outlands.
• Ciel established the Guardians to find the source of the Maverick outbreaks. One day, her research team discovered Model W. Serpent, who was made a Mega Man, fell to its influence and killed the team to escape with a fragment of Model W. Ciel survived and went into hiding. Fearing Model W's potential, Ciel sealed the core within Area M and created six of her own Biometals, each based on a legendary hero, in hopes of countering it. Prairie (thought to be Alouette) took Ciel's place as leader of the Guardians.
• Around this time, Master Albert began perpetuating a Game of Destiny via two Reploid siblings: Prometheus and Pandora. These tortured twins would inform Mega Men of the Game of Destiny, urging them to serve Model W and compete for its power.
• With his shady past hidden, Serpent established Slither Inc. using ancient technology stolen from the Guardians. He solved an energy crisis (possibly with the Ciel System)^[6] and offered defense against Mavericks, becoming revered as a national hero. He also met Prometheus and Pandora, who got him to join the Game of Destiny and seek the Model W core.
• The Guardians discovered Girouette could Megamerge with Model Z, revealing the existence of Mega Men. Girouette started the Giro Express as a way to travel the world and monitor Maverick attacks, and hopefully find more Mega Men like himself.
• Ten years before the first Mega Man ZX, Vent/Aile visited the amusement park in Area H with their mother. It came under attack by Mavericks including Purprill the Mandroid, and Vent/Aile was separated from their mother.^[7] After the chaos, they were taken in by Girouette.^[8]
• While seeking the Model W core, Serpent discovered Model H, Model L, Model F, and Model P, splitting their power amongst eight Pseudoroids to enforce his secret crusade. He created most of them, but recruited others such as Purprill the Mandroid and Fistleo the Predatoroid.^[7][9]

Mega Man ZX[]

Giro Express is hired to deliver a package to the Guardians, but they are attacked by Mavericks. Vent/Aile is separated from Girouette, ending up near the rendezvous point where Prairie and the Guardians are also under attack. To save them, Vent/Aile uses the package - the Biometal Model X - to Megamerge. After defeating the Mavericks, Vent/Aile joins the Guardians to use Model X to find Giro.

Vent/Aile reunites with Giro, discovering he is the user of Model Z and secretly already a Guardian. Shortly after, a city comes under attack by Mavericks, so Vent/Aile and Giro rush to the scene. However, Giro is overpowered by Serpent, Prometheus, and Pandora. Serpent brainwashes Giro using Model W, forcing him to fight Vent/Aile. Afterwards, Serpent kills Giro and departs to let the Mavericks clean up. Desperate, Vent/Aile Double Megamerges with Model Z to create Model ZX, and escapes.

Vent/Aile returns to the Guardians and plans to liberate the other four Biometals held by Serpent's forces. They hunt the Pseudoroids working for Slither Inc., in turn recruiting Models H, L, F, and P. After defeating four Pseudoroids, Serpent sends Prometheus and Pandora to assault the Guardian Base, but Vent/Aile repels them.

Once all eight Pseudoroids are defeated and all four Biometals are complete, Vent/Aile uses their passwords to open the seal to reach the Model W core before Serpent. However, Pandora intervenes and allows Serpent to extract the core. Vent/Aile infiltrates Slither Inc.'s Office to stop him, but their hatred for Serpent is used as the final key to awaken the Model W core. Despite this, the six Biometals urge Vent/Aile to protect what they love, and they defeat Serpent and Model W. Serpent dies, and Model W is apparently destroyed.

After the explosion, Vent/Aile is visited by the Cyber-elf of Giro, who urges them to continue fighting for peace. They then reunite with Prairie and the Guardians, promising to work for a better future.

Between ZX and ZX Advent[]

• With Slither Inc. defunct, many seek to take the company's place, starting an era of excavation known as the Tech Rush.^[10] There are two major factions: the Hunter's Guild, a Legion-sanctioned syndicate working for the good of mankind, and the Raiders, an illegal syndicate operating purely out of greed.
• Prometheus and Pandora steal Models H, L, F, and P from the Guardians. They deliver the Biometals to four new Mega Men - Aeolus, Thetis, Atlas, and Siarnaq - and recruit them into the Game of Destiny.
• Four years and eight months after Serpent's defeat, the Raiders obtain Model A.^[11] This attracts the Hunter's Guild and Prometheus and Pandora, leading to the events of Mega Man ZX Advent.

Mega Man ZX Advent[]

Unlike Vent and Aile, Grey and Ashe have different backstories. Grey is an amnesiac Reploid who awakens from a capsule and is attacked by Pandora, while Ashe is a Humanoid in the Hunter's Guild who is attacked by Prometheus during a mission. Either way, they fall unconscious and awaken in the Hunter's Camp.

Grey/Ashe boards a train to deliver Model A to Legion HQ. The train is attacked by Prometheus and Pandora's Mavericks, but Grey/Ashe unexpectedly Megamerges with Model A to repel them. They are then attacked by Buckfire the Gaxelleroid, but destroy him and learn about A-Trans.

Grey/Ashe is contacted by the Sage Trinity, who order them to repair the train. They encounter Aeolus, Thetis, Atlas, and Siarnaq, along with a group of Pseudoroids working with them. After they rescue Raiders from Atlas to repair the train, they unlock a cipher in Model A that reveals the power of Model W.

With the train fixed, Grey/Ashe travels to Legion HQ, finding the city under attack by Mavericks. They fight Siarnaq, which unlocks a cipher revealing that one of the Sage Trinity created Model W. Upon reaching the Sage Trinity, Grey/Ashe discovers Master Albert is the culprit and is in league with the rival Mega Men, but he escapes. Master Thomas orders them to stop Albert's plans.

Grey/Ashe faces more Pseudoroids and the other Mega Men while hunting Model Ws. They come across Vent/Aile, and come to blows before realizing they both seek to destroy Model W. They team up to locate Albert, and Grey/Ashe infiltrates his base to witness Prometheus and Pandora kill him to escape his control. However, the pair's centuries of hatred for Albert awaken the Model Ws, and Albert reappears in a true body. Grey/Ashe escapes while the Model Ws merge into Ouroboros.

Grey/Ashe and Vent/Aile use the Guardian Base to infiltrate Ouroboros. Vent/Aile fights the four rival Mega Men while Grey/Ashe faces Albert, who reveals that Grey is his creation/Ashe is his descendant. Undeterred, Grey/Ashe destroys Albert, but falls unconscious. With Ouroboros crumbling, Model Z holds off the Mega Men while Vent/Aile saves Grey/Ashe. With Model W apparently destroyed, Grey/Ashe bids Vent/Aile farewell and moves on to write their own stories.

In the secret ending, Master Thomas reveals to Master Mikhail that he has plans for the leftover human bodies and Reploid data from Legion's equality procedures. While he disagreed with Albert's methods, he agrees that the world must be reset.

Other Media[]

A manga by Shin Ogino was serialized in Fami2 Comic from August 2006 to August 2007, and published in two tankōbon volumes (each with 7 chapters) by Enterbrain in Japan in 2007, and by UDON in the US in 2010.

A second manga, Rockman ZX Advent, was serialized in Fami2 Comic between September 2007 to April 2008 spanning eight chapters. However, unlike it's predecessor, this manga was never collected or officially translated. On 17 December 2019, it was announced that both Rockman ZX manga's would be reprinted by Fukan in 2020.^[12]

The Mega Man ZX series' timeline was briefly seen in Archie Comics' Mega Man series in Mega Man #55 as one of Dr. Light's visions of the future.

Trivia[]

• During a Christmas livestream featuring the respective president and designer of Inti Creates, Takuya Aizu and Yoshihisa Tsuda, it was revealed a third entry in the ZX series, simply known by its codename "ZXC" was well under development. It was cancelled by Capcom's decision, likely due to Mega Man ZX Advent's poor sales.^[13]
• Before getting the "find the Legendary Pickaxe" mission request from Kidd in Mega Man ZX Advent, go into the room closest to him. There are posters hanging on the wall, which shows the Guardian Base, what is most likely a Mechanaloid or a large Maverick, and Slither Inc.
• Vent/Aile and Grey/Ashe have caused discussion over whether or not they exist in the same timeline as each other, or exist in place of each other depending on the playe'rs choice. It is the logical answer that they exist in place of each other, meaning that only one exists at a time (between respective partners, such as Vent may exist instead of Aile, but not instead of Grey or Ashe). This is evident in the fact that Vent and Aile have identical back stories and appearances, and Grey and Ashe fill identical roles with Model A and Master Albert. Differences in story between respective partners is for the effect of exploring alternate areas of the same conflict as a creative direction by the creators of the game, instead of actual concrete canon.
  • However, in Ashe's story from ZX Advent, it is noted that there was a fight at the bridge near the Mysterious Lab. This may indicate that Grey was simply killed by the giant Mechaniloid. Also, the fact that Ashe does not appear in Grey's story could mean that she and other Hunters died during the first moment of her story, and the group Grey meets with found the Biometal lying somewhere on the ground.
  • Concept/Artwork and some videos show Aile and Vent together. The pictures most often show Vent and Aile working together with Giro, or hanging out in human form, leading to a theory that they both do exist in the same time, but perhaps only one becomes a Mega Man, depending on the character chosen. Where the other is at the time, is left to the players speculation. The videos however, such as the Japanese trailers, show Vent and Aile Rock-On or Megamerging at the same time.^[14] This leads to a theory that both of them canonically become Mega Men, but the game only follows the story of one of them due to limitations, as the player can only control a single character at a time.

• Mega Man ZX is the shortest Mega Man series, having only two titles.
  • Excluding spin-offs like The Misadventures of Tron Bonne and Rockman DASH: 5tsu no Shima no Daibouken!, the Mega Man Legends series also has only two main titles. Mega Man ZX and Legends are both currently on a hiatus with no definitive conclusion.
• Mega Man ZX is the first series within the Mega Man franchise to allow the player to choose to play as a male or female protagonist.

References[]

External links[]

• Rockman ZX series official site (archive)