Code: Island Attackers

Inconsistencies in the ZX Series 2
Written by Rebel40000
The Mega Man ZX series is a pair of great games with a crappy plotline. Numerous facts introduced in the second game is inconsistent with the first. Of course, if you (the reader) have already read my article about this, then you already know that. So why am I wasting my time talking about it again? Simply because there are so many inconsistences that one article isn't enough to cover it all!

Now, last time I realize I became rather nitpicky on certain details, specifically on Model W, the bulk of the problems. This time I am going to attempt to be a little more constructive with my remarks, so bear with me.

First and foremost, is the entire concept behind the "Game of Destiny", which was introduced vaguely in ZX by Prometheus and Pandora. ZXA expanded upon the concept moreso, basically citing it as a "war" between all of the Mega Men, and whomever is left standing is capable of wielding Model W's power. While this is all said and good, the problem lies at the man who constructed this sick and twisted game--Master Albert of the Sage Trinity. For those who have completed ZXA, everyone knows that Albert was the primary antagonist in the game and that he was the one pulling all of the strings. He himself stated that he developed the idea behind the Game, but this is the problem... why would he bother? Albert is shown to be, at the very least, a Mega Man. He uses Model W at the end of the game and he built Model A, so there is enough evidence to support this. Furthermore, as he himself stated numerous times throughout the game, he planned on using Model W to make himself a GOD. So why would he go out of his way to build a silly game that he planned on winning? It baffles the mind.

Think about it this way: If you had something that could make you ridiculously rich, what would you do? Would you use it to make you ridiculously rich, or would you develop a pointless game and include others to take away the chance for you to become ridiculously rich? Any sane (and greedy) person would choose the former, but I think Albert must not be right in the head or something. He purposefully locates potential Mega Men (as stated in the game, he had the contacts given his position) and has it that they beat the daylights out of each other. Since the rules of the Game include all Mega Men, this means that he is susceptible to death as well. Heck, Aeolus even said near the end of ZXA that he and the others would take care of Albert! So why would Albert make a game that could both potentially take his power AND his life away?

Another bizarre inconsistency is Albert's relationship with Model W. Albert declares in ZXA that he was the one who built Model W... but wait, wasn't it stated that in ZX Model W was formed from the wreckage of Ragnarok back in Zero 4? What happened to Weil's spirit being trapped within it? The game makes no mention of it whatsoever, only stating that Albert created it. Furthermore, in ZX it was shown that Model W can drive people insane, which is the reason why Mavericks still exist (and psychos like Serpent). Yet in ZXA none of that is ever mentioned, only that Albert is the one behind it all, and it never implies that he is under Model W's control. This is what I do not understand--How can it go from one to the other? It is one thing if the characters themselves actually mention this inconsistency in the games, perhaps as a way to question if they were correct in their original assumptions to begin with... but it is not. It looks as if Capcom simply cast aside their original idea and replaced it with something else with little regard of keeping on track with the facts.

So what is it? Is Albert under Model W's control or not? Did he in fact create Model W like he claims to have done? If so, then their better be some damn good explaining as to why Prairie fed us so many lies in ZX in the next installment, because I am officially stumped. I actually have a great idea as to how they could fix this mess... Say that Albert was under Model W's control and only thought he was the true mastermind. That is to say, what if Albert was summoned by Model W itself to salvage it from the wreckage of Ragnarok and was thus influencing Albert from the very start? This would help reinforce Model W as a pure evil sentient being that can easily control living creatures and explain why Albert seems to lack any common sense whatsoever. Unfortunately, this would be considered consistent with the facts and we all know Capcom doesn't like to go that route.

Last, but most definitely not least... Where in the world did the Sage Trinity come from? They're made out to be really important in ZXA, so why is it that we never heard about them in ZX? Or the Hunter's Guild? Heck, Legion as a whole is not once mentioned in the original ZX and yet they pop out of nowhere in the sequel, with Capcom expecting us to just nod our heads and act like we should already know about how important these characters and organizations that we have never even heard of before are. Let me tell you, I nearly did a double take when I first heard about this during the development of ZXA. I was perplexed at their sudden inclusion... not even the Zero series did anything quite like it. Neo Arcadia was always there and Weil was even forshadowed at the end of Zero 2. So what about these guys? I don't recall anyone from Inner Peace mentioning anything about a "Sage Trinity".

That's another thing! Why does Inner Peace suddenly feel secluded from this? In ZXA it was stated that the Sage Trinity governs over pretty much everything. Yet Inner Peace is governed by... Serpent? How in the world did this happen? Serpent owned his own private army in ZX and used it well, to the point that he was able to fool the entire city. Where was Legion and the Sage Trinity during all of this mess? Why weren't they there to lend a hand with the sudden increase in Mavericks? I have heard that Guardian is supposedly a part of Legion but I do not recall ever hearing anything like that in the games so I cannot say for certain. If that is the case then at least this clears up one mystery.

...To conclude this two-part article we have gone over many inconsistencies. Some are minor, such as Model W's differences with the other Biometals, while others, like Albert's Game of Destiny, are much larger. Whether or not Capcom themselves have planned these contradictions or not is unclear at this point in time... so all we can do is hope that when/if a ZX3 is created it will solve these mysteries in the future. While it is true that some people may not agree with the points I have made, I still feel that it is necessary to address these issues in an otherwise great, brand new series, which I hope succeeds as well as its predecessors. Plus, if anyone ever wants to prove my points wrong then they are free to try--I'll be waiting.

In all: The ZX series' plot is a mess. With a little elbow grease, however, it can be as good as new. You just have to try!

Code: Island Attackers is not associated with Capcom; Mega Man and all other related characters are copyright © to Capcom Co., Ltd.
Island Attackers and other related materials are copyright © to Rebel40000, founder of the team. All rights are reserved.