History Franchise / MegaMan

Various artists collaborated with Capcom to create a number of mangas and manhuas for the series, but the most famous one is ''Manga/MegaManMegamix'' by Hitoshi Ariga. ''Megamix'' made its way into the US courtesy of Udon Entertainment. An American comic book series by Franchise/ArchieComics, named simply ''ComicBook/MegaMan'', was released in spring 2011, which eventually lead to a crossover with their ''[[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonictheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonictheHedgehog comics]] in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsCollide'', followed by another, larger crossover in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsUnite'' that sadly [[FranchiseKiller killed off both comics]]. An [[ComicBook/DreamwavesMegaMan earlier American comic by Dreamwave ]] was short-lived. Brazil had its own [[ComicBook/NovasAventurasDeMegaMan grim yet off-beat take on the character]]. And ''Fully Charged'' had its own [[ComicBook/MegaManFullyCharged comic adaption]] after its conclusion.

* BossRush: A franchise staple and tradition. With the exception of the ''Legends'' series, possibly ''[=XOver=]'', and a few spin-offs, every Mega Man has to face down all of the already conquered bosses during the ''finale''. In the Robot timeline, they even go so far as to collect the bosses into single rooms all at once for you to clear.

Various artists collaborated with Capcom to create a number of mangas and manhuas for the series, but the most famous one is ''Manga/MegaManMegamix'' by Hitoshi Ariga. ''Megamix'' made its way into the US courtesy of Udon Entertainment. An American comic book series by Franchise/ArchieComics, named simply ''ComicBook/MegaMan'', was released in spring 2011, which eventually lead to a crossover with their ''[[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonictheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonictheHedgehog comics]] in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsCollide'', followed by another, larger crossover in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsUnite''. An [[ComicBook/DreamwavesMegaMan earlier American comic by Dreamwave ]] was short-lived. Brazil had its own [[ComicBook/NovasAventurasDeMegaMan grim yet off-beat take on the character]].

* ''VideoGame/MegaManX'', set [[ExtyYearsFromNow 100 years after the original series]][[note]]Except for ''Command Mission'', which [[ContinuitySnarl somehow]] takes place in 22XX[[/note]], and starring X, the last creation of Dr. Light fighting Sigma and the Mavericks (1993);

* SelfImposedChallenge: Several, but a common one is to beat all the bosses (including in the final levels) using only the Mega Buster. Or without taking any damage. This becomes the basis for several in-game achievements in ''9'' and ''10''.

** Classic was supposed to end with ''6'', hence the ending having Mega Man arresting Wily, but ''7'' was released anyway and opened with Wily breaking out of prison. After that ''8'' was the last mainstream Classic game released for years until ''9''.

** Splash Woman (from ''Mega Man 9'') and [[VideoGame/MegaManZero Fairy Leviathan]] fall into the "Mechanical Facsimile" category: their helmets frame their faces in a manner that resembles hair (specifically, a SciFiBobHaircut, with a few extra bangs in front in Leviathan's case).

* VictorGainsLosersPowers: For the most part, classic ''Mega Man'' gameplay involves obtaining a boss' SignatureMove after defeating him in battle. In ''Mega Man Battle Network'' (and ''Star Force'' by extension), the [[PowersAsPrograms Battle Chip and Card]] mechanics allow Mega Man (or his allies) to use a copy of almost any enemy's attack or technique, not just the bosses. In ''Mega Man Zero'', the EX skills mechanic allows Zero to use the techniques of the bosses if he defeats them [[GameplayGrading with enough style]]; ''Zero 4'' took the concept to its [[HoistByHisOwnPetard logical conclusion]] by introducing the Z-Knuckle weapon, which allowed Zero to use an enemy's weapon by simply ''ripping it out while the Mook is still standing there''. And ''Advent'' took it the full way by letting Grey/Ashe [[VoluntaryShapeshifting turn into bosses with their movesets after copying their DNA]].

* ContinuitySnarl: Taken from the BroadStrokes above, though an attempt was made to place all series in a fine timeline that on the surface makes sense, closer detail examination ''creates problems'', to put it gently.[[note]]The arcade Classic titles that tie directly to the X series have had their canonicity regarded as questionable even at the time, ''X5's'' BadEnding is included to lead to the ''Legends'' series as X declares his intent to create Eurasia by name, ''X6's'' ending for Zero was placed to tie into the ''Zero'' series that Inafune had already begun working on, the Zero and ZX series refuse to acknowledge any events or elements of the X series that occurred after ''X5'', the expy of Axl in Model A was confirmed by WordOfGod to have nothing to do with him, and while the Humanoid race in the ''ZX'' series seems to be a logical predecessor to the Carbons of the ''Legends'' titles it creates the issue of natural humans no longer existing when that was a large element of the ''Legends'' backstory.[[/note]] The current team in charge of the franchise has gone on record stating that they view the various chronologically-succeeding series as "possible" futures, rather than strictly-occurring ones, freeing up individual entries from ''needing'' to necessarily tie into the one to come after.

* ExtinctInTheFuture: Implied. In the future world where robots are aplenty, many of the bosses are robots themed after animals, which may imply that many animals have gone extinct. This eventually happens to [[spoiler: humans by the time of the ''Legends'' series]]

* HighSchoolAU: Dreamwave Comics, ''Battle Network'', ''Star Force'' & the Man of Action cartoon all take the franchise in this direction with all their own unique takes on the subject, from HenshinHero (''Star Force'') to making Mega Man not the lead protagonist (''Battle Network'').

All of these series have the same basic style of gameplay (Mega Man moves through a level, defeating a boss at the end and gaining a new weapon), but the first three series are more {{Platformer}}s, ''Legends'' is a cross between a ThirdPersonShooter and an AdventureGame, ''Battle Network'' and ''Star Force'' are {{RPG}}s with a very unique combat system, and ''Online'' would have been a TwoAndAHalfD [[SideView side-scrolling]] action RPG. Each game has its own unique gameplay elements. Additionally, Mega Man characters have a tendency to show up in the ''VideoGame/CapcomVsWhatever'' titles which tend to be fighting games with some rare exceptions.

Given that the series is among the most popular of Capcom's stable, several ''Mega Man'' characters have [[VideoGame/CapcomVsWhatever crossed over with other Capcom properties]].

* ''VideoGame/DragaliaLost'': Mega Man appears as a recruitable guest character and Dr. Wily appears a bossi n a limited event.

Various artists collaborated with Capcom to create a number of mangas for the series, but the most famous one is ''Manga/MegaManMegamix'' by Hitoshi Ariga. ''Megamix'' made its way into the US courtesy of Udon Entertainment. An American comic book series by Franchise/ArchieComics, named simply ''ComicBook/MegaMan'', was released in spring 2011, which eventually lead to a crossover with their ''[[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonictheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonictheHedgehog comics]] in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsCollide'', followed by another, larger crossover in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsUnite''. An [[ComicBook/DreamwavesMegaMan earlier American comic by Dreamwave ]] was short-lived. Brazil had its own [[ComicBook/NovasAventurasDeMegaMan grim yet off-beat take on the character]].

** Downplayed. No matter what the outlook at the end of an individual series or game is, almost every series in the robotics timeline is DarkerAndEdgier than the last. The classic series takes place in a generally peaceful time interrupted by Wily's periodic attacks, but the ''X'' series is constantly on the brink of warfare against either willing or Brainwashed terrorists, and the ''Zero'' series takes place during a Dystopian age. ''ZX'' shows some more hope than these last two, but ''Legends'' takes place AfterTheEnd -- way, ''way'' After the End.

* ExtinctInTheFuture: Implied. In the future world where robots are aplenty, many of the bosses are robots themed after animals, which may imply that many animals have gone extinct.

Various artists collaborated with Capcom to create a number of mangas for the series, but the most famous one is ''Manga/MegaManMegamix'' by Hitoshi Ariga. ''Megamix'' made its way into the US courtesy of Udon Entertainment. An American comic book series by Franchise/ArchieComics, named simply ''ComicBook/MegaMan'', was released in spring 2011, which eventually lead to a crossover with their ''[[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonictheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonictheHedgehog comics]] in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsCollide'', followed by another, larger crossover in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsUnite''. An [[ComicBook/MegaManDreamwaveComics earlier American comic by Dreamwave ]] was short-lived. Brazil had its own [[ComicBook/NovasAventurasDeMegaMan grim yet off-beat take on the character]].

All of these series have the same basic style of gameplay (Mega Man moves through a level, defeating a boss at the end and gaining a new weapon), but the first three series are more {{Platformer}}s, ''Legends'' is a cross between a ThirdPersonShooter and an AdventureGame, ''Battle Network'' and ''Star Force'' are {{RPG}}s with a very unique combat system, and ''Online'' is a TwoAndAHalfD [[SideView side-scrolling]] action RPG. Each game has its own unique gameplay elements. Additionally, Mega Man characters have a tendency to show up in the ''VideoGame/CapcomVsWhatever'' titles which tend to be fighting games with some rare exceptions.

Various artists collaborated with Capcom to create a number of mangas for the series, but the most famous one is ''Manga/MegaManMegamix'' by Hitoshi Ariga. ''Megamix'' made its way into the US courtesy of Udon Entertainment. An American comic book series by Franchise/ArchieComics, named simply ''ComicBook/MegaMan'', was released in spring 2011, which eventually lead to a crossover with their ''[[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonictheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonictheHedgehog comics]] in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsCollide''.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'': Mega Man appears as a GuestFighter as of the fourth game. X, Volnutt, [=MegaMan=].EXE, Star Force Mega Man, and as of ''Ultimate'', Proto Man and Bass make cameos.

''TabletopGame/MegaManTheBoardGame'' [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1821440755/mega-mantm-the-board-game?ref=discovery_category was funded]] through Wenbsite/{{Kickstarter}} by Jasco Games.

* PowerCopying: A staple of the series, to the point where the trope used to be called MegaManning.

* OutOfFocus: With Keiji Inafune having left Capcom, the entire ''Mega Man'' franchise has become borderline non-existent. ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' have been pushed as the new "crown jewels" of the company, with Ryu supplanting Mega Man as the new Capcom Mascot. Capcom has been giving the series much more attention recently, however, releasing the ''Mega Man Legacy Collection'' and ''Mega Man Legacy Collection 2'' in 2015 and 2017, respectively, and the classic series received its first game in 8 years with ''VideoGame/MegaMan11''.

* {{Precursors}}: Usually of the [[AbusivePrecursors Abusive]] sort. Amusingly, the fact that the series' timeline branches [[ForWantOfANail split only a few decades before 200X]] means that both the Robots timeline and the Network timeline should have all the ''same Precursors''.

** The first Dark Man-type boss of Proto Man's Castle stage is similarly a torso on treads. This version of the Dark Man shows up in the background of the Mega Man-themed [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom Marvel vs. Capcom]] stages.

''Battle Network'' and ''Star Force'' was planned with merchandising in mind from the beginning, thus they got long-running animated series, along with other supplementary materials. The ''Battle Network'' anime was localized in English as ''Anime/MegaManNTWarrior'' (2002), while the ''Star Force'' one was retained its name, though the latter received the English dub only for some of the first season. Most recently, Creator/ManOfActionStudios produced another cartoon inspired by the Classic series named ''WesternAnimation/MegaManFullyCharged'' (2018). Outside of borrowing some features from the series, it establishes its own continuity instead and has its own cast of humans and robots.

Various artists collaborated with Capcom to create a number of mangas for the series, but the most famous one is ''Manga/MegaManMegamix'' by Hitoshi Ariga. ''Megamix'' made its way into the US courtesy of Udon Entertainment. An American comic book series by Franchise/ArchieComics, named simply ''ComicBook/MegaMan'', was released in spring 2011, which eventually lead to a crossover with their [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonictheHedgehog ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' comics]] in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsCollide''.

** Capcom DID use the "Alert" sequence from that game during later Mega Man games when you are entering a boss battle (see Krion Conquest's trope page). You know that "Warning" sequence that takes place that started with Mega Man X4 on (and even appeared in VideoGame/MegaManPoweredUp, the first time it appeared in a "classic" Mega Man game)? Krion Conquest actually did that first.
** ''VideoGame/{{RosenkreuzStilette}}'' is basically a Mega Man homage with magic instead of robots ([[SchizoTech for the most part]]).

** Creator/EdmundMcMillen's upcoming sequel to ''VideoGame/TimeFcuk'' is very blatantly one of these, as Edmund always wanted to make a Mega Man game.

* ArcNumber: Almost all of the main series games have eight main bosses, sometimes supplemented by something in a group of four.[[note]][[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Mega Man 3-6]] has eight robot masters, and in those games there are also two fortresses with four levels each (VideoGame/MegaMan3 has only one fortress, but there are four Doc Robot stages after the first eight). ''VideoGame/MegaManZero 1'' has eight main bosses and the Four Guardians, while ''3'' has the Eight Gentle Judges and four bosses returning from ''1''. ''VideoGame/MegaManZX'' has eight Pseudoroid bosses, from which you obtain four Biometals, while ''Advent'' also has eight Pseudoroids and four other Mega Men to fight in the Game of Destiny.[[/note]]

* ArtifactMook: The infamous Metools. In the original Mega Man game the little hard hat guys appeared only on Guts Man's stage, which had the look of a quarry/construction site (Guts Man himself appears to wear a hard hat). However, they have since appeared in every Mega Man game on multiple levels and in massive numbers to the point that Metool variants are the most common enemy encountered.
* AsskickingPose: Can't have a BossBattle without one.
* AstralFinale: Most of the UsefulNotes/GameBoy series have their final levels take place in space (the fifth game does not count due to half the boss roster residing in space levels, and the only game to completely avert the space setting is the third one). As for the main games, ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' has the [[spoiler: alien]] FinalBoss take places against a backdrop of stars [[spoiler: although the whole set-up including both the boss and the arena are revealed as just a hologram created by Dr. Wily]], ''VideoGame/MegaMan10'' saves its very last stage for this trope, right after the usual four stages of a traditional endgame castle. ''VideoGame/MegaManX8'' uses this for a fight on the moon, ''VideoGame/MegaManZero''4's final level is on a space station, and ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'' uses this in its first and third games.

* HighSchoolAU: Dreamwave Comics, Battle Network, Star Force & the man of action Cartoon all take the franchise in this direction with all their own unique takes on the subject from HenshinHero (Star Force) to making mega man not the lead protagist(Battle Network).

** The Dreamwave comic set the stage for a Mega Man/Mega Man X crossover story, but [[AuthorExistenceFailure Dreamwave shut down]].
* MissionPackSequel: Most sequels within any given series, especially platforming sequels, rely on the same basic engine with only variations in available weapons and stages, so this is closely related to its CapcomSequelStagnation.. Downplayed with ''Battle Network'', which experimented pretty liberally with its combat mechanics between installments.

* OutOfFocus: With Keiji Inafune having left Capcom, the entire Mega Man franchise has become borderline non-existent. Street Fighter and Resident Evil have been pushed as the new "crown jewels" of the company, with Ryu supplanting Mega Man as the new Capcom Mascot. Capcom has been giving the series much more attention recently, however, releasing the ''Mega Man Legacy Collection'' and ''Mega Man Legacy Collection 2'' in 2015 and 2017, respectively, and the classic series received it's first game in 8 years with ''VideoGame/MegaMan11''.

** In the ''[[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork Battle Network]]'' games, virus battles give battlechip data to [=MegaMan.exe=] to use, while boss Navis drop much stronger Mega chips that feature them being summoned for the duration of the attack. The latter half of the series also has Double Soul and Cross Fusion, which work like more traditional Power Copying (defeat bosses, get alternate form based off of boss).

** The ancient alien super computer Ra Moon from ''VideoGame/SuperAdventureRockman'' , which crashed to Earth 20,000 years before the events of the game.

** The Atlampean Civilization (which is only 3000 years old, by comparison) of ''VideoGame/{{Mega Man Battle Network}}'s'' ''[[GaidenGame Legend of Network]]'' title and the more well-known Murian civilization from ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce 2''.

* SelfImposedChallenge: Several, but a common one is to beat all the bosses (Including in the final levels) using only the Mega Buster. Or without taking any damage. This becomes the basis for several in-game acheivements in ''9'' and ''10''.

## Robot Master: Mostly able to make their own decisions, but are bound by [[ThreeLawsCompliant Asmiov's Three Laws of Robotics]] and thus need a human supervisor.

** Guts Tank, aka Guts-Dozer, is a boss in ''[[VideoGame/MegaManClassic MegaMan 2]]'''s Wily Castle. He is essentially a giant version of Guts Man from the first Mega Man with his legs replaced with tank treads. A comparatively smaller version appears in later games.

** The classic series uses [Motif]-Man for the name of most of its robots, with very few exceptions. The Battle Network series inherits this.

* VictorGainsLosersPowers: For the most part, classic ''Mega Man'' gameplay involves obtaining a boss' SignatureMove after defeating him in battle. In ''Mega Man Battle Network'' (and ''Star Force'' by extension), the [[PowersAsPrograms Battle Chip and Card]] mechanics allow Mega Man (or his allies) to use a copy of almost any enemy's attack or technique, not just the bosses. In ''Mega Man Zero'', the EX skills mechanic allows the Zero to use the techniques of the bosses if he defeats them [[GameplayGrading with enough style]]; ''Zero 4'' took the concept to its [[HoistByHisOwnPetard logical conclusion]] by introducing the Z-Knuckle weapon, which allowed Zero to use an enemy's weapon by simply ''ripping it out while the Mook is still standing there''. And ''Advent'' took it the full way by letting Grey/Ashe [[VoluntaryShapeshifting turn into bosses with their movesets after copying their DNA]].

** Averted in ''Battle Network''; though he has quite a lot to do in in the franchise itself, Wily has no influence on the ''Star Force'' sequel series.

On September 2, 2015, The Tracking Board [[http://www.tracking-board.com/tb-exclusive-a-mega-man-movie-is-a-go-at-fox/ announced]] that Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox had secured the rights to do a ''Mega Man'' feature film. Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman of ''Film/{{Catfish}}'' are in talks to write and direct this one.

* VictorGainsLosersPowers: For the most part, classic ''Mega Man'' gameplay involves obtaining a boss' SignatureMove after defeating him in battle. In ''Mega Man Battle Network'' (and ''Star Force'' by extension), the [[PowersAsPrograms Battle Chip and Card]] mechanics allow Mega Man (or his allies) to use a copy of almost any enemy's attack or technique, not just the bosses. In ''Mega Man Zero'', the EX skills mechanic allows the Zero to use the techniques of the bosses if he defeats them [[GameplayGrading with enough style]]; ''Zero 4'' took the concept to its [[HoistByHisOwnPetard logical conclusion]] by introducing the Z-Knuckle weapon, which allowed Zero to use an enemy's weapon by simply ''ripping it out while the Mook is still standing there''.