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Robot Master
A Robot Master,[1] also known as a Number (ナンバー)[2] or often just a Boss (ボス)[3] in Japan, is a recurring term from the Classic era. It is used to describe the advanced humanoid robots who control the game's stages, being fought as bosses at the end of each.[4] They are first seen on a game's Stage Select screen, and must be defeated in order to gain Special Weapons and open the Last Stages of the game.[note 1]
Both the terms "Robot Master" and "Number" have never been used in any video game's in-game dialogue, only in supplementary Capcom sources such as game manuals, strategy guides, and encyclopedias. "Robot Master" in particular was phased out of Capcom's English media by the release of Mega Man 7. Despite this, the term remains ubiquitous within the fandom and third-party media, such as Mega Man: Fully Charged and the Archie Mega Man comic, with varying scope and definition.
In the Games
All mainline Robot Master bosses share a specific set of traits:
- A humanoid design, often with "Man" or "Woman" in their name.
- A stage on the Stage Select screen, at the end of which they are fought as a boss.
- A Special Weapon that the player receives upon victory, and a weakness to another Special Weapon.
- An assigned serial number.
Additionally, many were designed by fans in official Capcom Boss Character Contests. Although usage of the terms Robot Master and Number have been phased out, it can be assumed that all bosses matching these traits are Robot Masters, unless primary sources contradict this. This section only contains Robot Masters from the numbered entries in the Classic era Mega Man games.
Mega Man
Robot Masters were introduced in the first Mega Man, though the term wasn't used until Mega Man 3 (these ones are retroactively called Robot Masters in Mega Man: The Wily Wars).[5] The game has six bosses who are all industrial robots in the DLN (Dr. Light Numbers) series, or DRN (Dr. Right Numbers) in Japan. They were kidnapped by Dr. Wily and reprogrammed into his evil servants.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cut Man | Rolling Cutter | DLN-003 | Capcom | |
Guts Man | Super Arm | DLN-004 | Capcom | |
Ice Man | Ice Slasher | DLN-005 | Capcom | |
Bomb Man | Hyper Bomb | DLN-006 | Keiji Inafune | |
Fire Man | Fire Storm | DLN-007 | Capcom | |
Elec Man | Thunder Beam | DLN-008 | Keiji Inafune |
Mega Man 2
In Mega Man 2, the eight Robot Masters[5] were created by Dr. Wily to challenge Mega Man in combat. They are part of the DWN (Dr. Wily Numbers) series, though their numbering begins at the ninth entry, where the DLN from Mega Man left off.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Metal Man | Metal Blade | DWN-009 | Masanori Sato | |
Air Man | Air Shooter | DWN-010 | Yōji Kanazawa | |
Bubble Man | Bubble Lead | DWN-011 | Takashi Tanaka | |
Quick Man | Quick Boomerang | DWN-012 | Hirofumi Mizoguchi | |
Crash Man | Crash Bomber | DWN-013 | Akira Yoshida | |
Flash Man | Time Stopper | DWN-014 | Tomō Yamaguchi | |
Heat Man | Atomic Fire | DWN-015 | Toshiyuki Kataoka | |
Wood Man | Leaf Shield | DWN-016 | Masakatsu Ichikawa |
Mega Man 3
In Mega Man 3, the eight Robot Masters[6] were created together by Dr. Light and Dr. Wily, and are deployed to collect eight Energy Elements in space. Some Japanese sources describe them as the DRWN (Dr. Right & Wily Numbers), though they are more commonly included as part of the DWN since Dr. Wily hijacks them for his own evil gains.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Needle Man | Needle Cannon | DWN-017 | Nobihiko Akatsuka | |
Magnet Man | Magnet Missile | DWN-018 | Nagashi Kii | |
Gemini Man | Gemini Laser | DWN-019 | Yoshihito Hattori | |
Hard Man | Hard Knuckle | DWN-020 | Kazuhiko Oguro | |
Top Man | Top Spin | DWN-021 | Yasushi Konjiki | |
Snake Man | Search Snake | DWN-022 | Yuhjiro Ishitani | |
Spark Man | Spark Shock | DWN-023 | Mikihiro Suzuki | |
Shadow Man | Shadow Blade | DWN-024 | Takumine Yoshida |
Mega Man 4
In Mega Man 4, the eight Robot Masters[7] were created by Dr. Cossack for a variety of purposes. However, when Dr. Wily blackmailed Dr. Cossack into challenging Mega Man, he also altered his creations into fighting robots and inducted them into his own DWN series. In the manga Mega Man Megamix, they are instead listed as the DCN (Dr. Cossack Numbers).
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bright Man | Flash Stopper | DWN-025 | Yoshitaka Enomoto | |
Toad Man | Rain Flush | DWN-026 | Atsushi Ōtsuka | |
Drill Man | Drill Bomb | DWN-027 | Masayuki Hoshi | |
Pharaoh Man | Pharaoh Shot | DWN-028 | Takayuki Ebara | |
Ring Man | Ring Boomerang | DWN-029 | Hiromi Uchida | |
Dust Man | Dust Crusher | DWN-030 | Yūsuke Murata | |
Dive Man | Dive Missile | DWN-031 | Suguru Nakayama | |
Skull Man | Skull Barrier | DWN-032 | Toshiyuki Miyachi |
Mega Man 5
In Mega Man 5, the eight Robot Masters[8] were supposedly berserk robots led by Proto Man. In reality, they were all created by Dr. Wily and led by the impersonator Dark Man, in an attempt to frame Proto Man and conquer the world. They belong to the DWN. Dark Man is not part of the main eight bosses, and therefore won't included as a Robot Master.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gravity Man | Gravity Hold | DWN-033 | Yukiko Mori | |
Wave Man | Water Wave | DWN-034 | Hideyuki Monno | |
Stone Man | Power Stone | DWN-035 | Kenta Ōnishi | |
Gyro Man | Gyro Attack | DWN-036 | Katsunari Oguri | |
Star Man | Star Crash | DWN-037 | Tatsumi Saegusa | |
Charge Man | Charge Kick | DWN-038 | Toshiaki Sugiura | |
Napalm Man | Napalm Bomb | DWN-039 | Shinichirō Seki | |
Crystal Man | Crystal Eye | DWN-040 | Yūsuke Murata |
Mega Man 6
In Mega Man 6, the eight Robot Masters[9] were created by scientists from all around the globe and entered in the Robot Tournament. They were then hijacked by the tournament organizer, Mr. X, who was later revealed to actually be Dr. Wily in disguise. They belong to the DWN. In the manga Mega Man Megamix, they are instead listed as the MXN (Mr. X Numbers).
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blizzard Man | Blizzard Attack | DWN-041 | Hirofumi Ogawa | |
Centaur Man | Centaur Flash | DWN-042 | Kazuki Kidoguchi | |
Flame Man | Flame Blast | DWN-043 | Noritsugu Kurokawa | |
Knight Man | Knight Crusher | DWN-044 | Daniel Vallée | |
Plant Man | Plant Barrier | DWN-045 | Nobuhiro Hoshino | |
Tomahawk Man | Silver Tomahawk | DWN-046 | Yoshinobu Suda | |
Wind Man | Wind Storm | DWN-047 | Michael Leader | |
Yamato Man | Yamato Spear | DWN-048 | Rai Ichikawa |
Mega Man 7
In Mega Man 7, the eight bosses were all created or stolen and modified by Dr. Wily, at some point prior to his imprisonment. Six months later, they were activated to free Wily and conquer the world. They belong to the DWN.
This game was the first to avoid the term Robot Master in its English material. These bosses fulfill the same criteria as previous Robot Masters, and so are categorized as such.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Freeze Man | Freeze Cracker | DWN-049 | Shiegeaki Sakamoto | |
Junk Man | Junk Shield | DWN-050 | Jun Akiba | |
Burst Man | Danger Wrap | DWN-051 | Keishi Tsuchiya | |
Cloud Man | Thunder Bolt | DWN-052 | Isao Nakagiri | |
Spring Man | Wild Coil | DWN-053 | Akira Ito | |
Slash Man | Slash Claw | DWN-054 | Yoichi Amano | |
Shade Man | Noise Crush | DWN-055 | Tetsuya Watada | |
Turbo Man | Scorch Wheel | DWN-056 | Takashi Kino |
Mega Man 8
In Mega Man 8, the eight bosses were created or stolen and modified by Dr. Wily. They are all powered by his newfound discovery, Evil Energy, and Mega Man challenges them in order to confiscate it. They belong to the DWN.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tengu Man | Tornado Hold | DWN-057 | Capcom | |
Tengu Blade | ||||
Astro Man | Astro Crush | DWN-058 | Capcom | |
Copy Vision | ||||
Sword Man | Flame Sword | DWN-059 | Keigo Matsuo | |
Clown Man | Thunder Claw | DWN-060 | Hiroshige Sakai | |
Search Man | Homing Sniper | DWN-061 | Yūta Hata | |
Frost Man | Ice Wave | DWN-062 | Akifumi Nomura | |
Grenade Man | Flash Bomb | DWN-063 | Kenichirō Komaki | |
Aqua Man | Water Balloon | DWN-064 | Morito Kuriki |
Mega Man 9
In Mega Man 9, the eight bosses are robots created by Dr. Light who supposedly went berserk. It is later revealed that they rebelled due to the tampering of Dr. Wily, who convinced them that Light planned to dismantle them someday and reprogrammed them. They belong to the DLN, though their numbering begins where the DWN from Mega Man 8 left off.
Fake Man is not part of the main eight bosses, and therefore won't included as a Robot Master.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Concrete Man | Concrete Shot | DLN-065 | Capcom | |
Tornado Man | Tornado Blow | DLN-066 | Capcom | |
Splash Woman | Laser Trident | DLN-067 | Capcom | |
Plug Man | Plug Ball | DLN-068 | Capcom | |
Jewel Man | Jewel Satellite | DLN-069 | Capcom | |
Hornet Man | Hornet Chaser | DLN-070 | Capcom | |
Magma Man | Magma Bazooka | DLN-071 | Capcom | |
Galaxy Man | Black Hole Bomb | DLN-072 | Capcom |
Mega Man 10
In Mega Man 10, the eight bosses are robots from around the world who went berserk after being infected by Dr. Wily's Roboenza. Though not personally altered by Wily, they are considered part of the DWN series. The bonus track in Rockman 10 Image Soundtrack, where Wily lists the Robot Masters and their abilities, implies that he may have chosen these specific robots to make berserk.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blade Man | Triple Blade | DWN-073 | Capcom | |
Pump Man | Water Shield | DWN-074 | Capcom | |
Commando Man | Commando Bomb | DWN-075 | Capcom | |
Chill Man | Chill Spike | DWN-076 | Capcom | |
Sheep Man | Thunder Wool | DWN-077 | Capcom | |
Strike Man | Rebound Striker | DWN-078 | Capcom | |
Nitro Man | Wheel Cutter | DWN-079 | Capcom | |
Solar Man | Solar Blaze | DWN-080 | Capcom |
Mega Man 11
In Mega Man 11, the eight bosses were created by various manufacturers from around the globe, but seem to regularly visit Dr. Light for tune-ups and hold him in high regard. They are kidnapped by Dr. Wily and reprogrammed into his servants, installed with the Double Gear system. They belong to the DWN.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Block Man | Block Dropper | DWN-081 | Capcom | |
Acid Man | Acid Barrier | DWN-082 | Capcom | |
Impact Man | Pile Driver | DWN-083 | Capcom | |
Bounce Man | Bounce Ball | DWN-084 | Capcom | |
Fuse Man | Scramble Thunder | DWN-085 | Capcom | |
Tundra Man | Tundra Storm | DWN-086 | Capcom | |
Torch Man | Blazing Torch | DWN-087 | Capcom | |
Blast Man | Chain Blast | DWN-088 | Capcom |
Other Games
These Robot Master bosses originate from games that are not part of the original numbered Mega Man series, but that were officially developed with Capcom and are referenced in ongoing material.[4] Thus, their canon status is debatable but very possible.
Mega Man V
In Mega Man V, the eight Robot Masters[10] are a group of alien robots known as the Stardroids. They are led by Terra, who works with Dr. Wily to help him take over the planet. They belong to the SRN (Stardroid Numbers).
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mercury | Grab Buster | SRN-002 | Capcom | |
Venus | Bubble Bomb | SRN-003 | Capcom | |
Mars | Photon Missile | SRN-004 | Capcom | |
Jupiter | Electric Shock | SRN-005 | Capcom | |
Saturn | Black Hole | SRN-006 | Capcom | |
Uranus | Deep Digger | SRN-007 | Capcom | |
Pluto | Break Dash | SRN-008 | Capcom | |
Neptune | Salt Water | SRN-009 | Capcom |
Mega Man & Bass
In Mega Man & Bass, the eight bosses are robots who agreed to join or were constructed by King and his rebellion against humanity. They belong to their own KGN (King Numbers) series. Their ranks also include Tengu Man and Astro Man from Mega Man 8, who were evidently reconstructed and chose to join King.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dynamo Man | Lightning Bolt | KGN-001 | Hitoshi Ariga | |
Cold Man | Ice Wall | KGN-002 | Kōji Izuki | |
Ground Man | Spread Drill | KGN-003 | Iwamoto Yoshihiro | |
Pirate Man | Remote Mine | KGN-004 | Iwamoto Yoshihiro | |
Burner Man | Wave Burner | KGN-005 | Hitoshi Ariga | |
Magic Man | Magic Card | KGN-006 | Iwamoto Yoshihiro |
Mega Man Powered Up
In the remake Mega Man Powered Up, two new bosses were added to the original game's six for a total of eight. The first Mega Man was originally planned with eight bosses, which was reduced to six during development.[11] They are part of the DLN, but their exact numbering varies between early promotional material for Mega Man Powered Up (listed as DLN-009 and DLN-010) and the Archie Mega Man comics (listed as DLN-00A and DLN-00B).
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Serial No. | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Time Man | Time Slow | DLN-00A[12] | Keiji Inafune[13] | |
Oil Man | Oil Slider | DLN-00B[12] | Keiji Inafune[13] |
Spin-Off Games
These bosses match the description of mainline Robot Masters, but originate from third-party video games that are not directly developed by Capcom and are never referenced in official timelines. Some are even set in completely alternate continuities. Therefore, their canon status is dubious at best.
Mega Man (DOS)
In Mega Man (DOS), the three Robot Masters[14] are controlled by Dr. Wily and the supercomputer CRORQ.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Designer |
---|---|---|---|
Sonic Man | Sonic Wave | Stephen J. Rozner | |
Volt Man | Force Field | Stephen J. Rozner | |
Dyna Man | Nuclear Detonator | Stephen J. Rozner |
Mega Man 3 (DOS)
In Mega Man 3 (DOS), the six Robot Masters[15] are again controlled by Dr. Wily and the CRORQ.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Designer |
---|---|---|---|
Torch Man | Torch Arm | Stephen J. Rozner | |
Bit Man | Bit Cannon | Stephen J. Rozner | |
Blade Man | Blade Launcher | Stephen J. Rozner | |
Shark Man | Shark Boomerang | Stephen J. Rozner | |
Oil Man | Oil Stream | Stephen J. Rozner | |
Wave Man | Water Shooter | Stephen J. Rozner |
Rockman & Forte: Mirai Kara no Chōsensha
In Rockman & Forte: Mirai Kara no Chōsensha, the six bosses are a group of robots from the future called the Dimensions. Led by Rockman Shadow, they seek to destroy the world of the past.
Name | Image | Special Weapon | Designer |
---|---|---|---|
Dangan Man | Rock Vulcan | Bandai | |
Forte Vulcan | |||
Konro Man | Flame Shower | Bandai | |
Flame Mixer | |||
Aircon Man | Barrier Wind | Bandai | |
Forte Cyclone | |||
Komuso Man | Doppel Crash | Bandai | |
Doppel Attack | |||
Clock Men | Time Switch | Bandai | |
Time Bomb | |||
Compass Man | None | Bandai |
Rockman Strategy
In Rockman Strategy, there are twelve bosses who are extraterrestrial robots based on the Western Zodiac signs. They are led by Apollo and Luna, who seek to conquer the planet and end up teaming up with Dr. Wily. The twelve Zodiac robots each have one of four elemental alignments, directly corresponding to their sign's element in the Zodiac.
Name | Image | Element | Designer |
---|---|---|---|
Aries | Fire | Dream Come True | |
Taurus | Earth | Dream Come True | |
Gemini | Air | Dream Come True | |
Cancer | Water | Dream Come True | |
Leo | Fire | Dream Come True | |
Virgo | Earth | Dream Come True | |
Libra | Air | Dream Come True | |
Scorpio | Water | Dream Come True | |
Sagittarius | Fire | Dream Come True | |
Capricorn | Earth | Dream Come True | |
Aquarius | Air | Dream Come True | |
Pisces | Water | Dream Come True |
Rockman ✕over
In Rockman ✕over, one new boss and several new Battle Memories inspired by Robot Masters were added to the game after a contest.
Pachislot Rockman Ability
In the alternate canon of Pachislot Rockman Ability, six bosses are created by Dr. Wily, all of whom are themed after the pachislot format.
Other Media
These Robot Masters originate from non-video game media, and are almost definitely non-canon to the main Classic era timeline.
Captain N: The Game Master
In Captain N: The Game Master, there is one original boss robot who does not appear in the games.
Mega Man: Upon a Star
In Mega Man: Upon a Star, there are two original robot bosses created by Dr. Wily.
Mega Man (Dreamwave Productions)
In the Dreamwave Mega Man comic, Robot Master-like bosses are commonplace like criminals.
Mega Man (Archie Comics)
In the Archie Mega Man comic, there are several original Robot Masters. In the "Worlds Unite" arc, there are also Roboticized Masters, who are created in a combination of Dr. Wily and Dr. Eggman's technology by capturing characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe.
Mega Man: Fully Charged
In Mega Man: Fully Charged, the main villains of the series are called Robot Masters. Most of the Robot Masters are based on pre-existing Robot Masters from the Classic era, though there are several original ones.
Notes
- ↑ Many fan websites include other characters, such as Mega Man, Bass, Dark Man, or Buster Rod G, as Robot Masters. However, such characters have never officially been referred to as Robot Masters nor do they fit the common criteria of Robot Master bosses. Some sources, such as the Mega Man: Robot Master Field Guide book, outright exclude them as Robot Masters. Therefore, such characters will not be included as Robot Masters on this wiki.
References
- ↑ Game manual, Mega Man 3. 1990.
- ↑ Kodansha Manga Hyakka #6: Rockman & Rockman X Daizukan. November 1994.
- ↑ "What Are Mega Man “Robot Masters” Called in Japan?" by Clyde Mandelin. Legends of Localization. September 10, 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mega Man: Robot Master Field Guide - Updated Edition. UDON Entertainment. 2020.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Wily Wars PAL version manual.
- ↑ Mega Man 3 North American manual.
- ↑ Mega Man 4 North American manual.
- ↑ Mega Man 5 North American manual.
- ↑ Mega Man 6 North American manual.
- ↑ Mega Man V North American manual.
- ↑ "English Translated Mega Man 1 Design Documents". Rockman Corner. July 2023.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Mega Man. Archie Comics.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Mega Man Official Complete Works.
- ↑ Mega Man for DOS North American manual.
- ↑ Mega Man 3 for DOS North American manual.