Part 43: The fact that BUCKETS were the best security system in the whole series speaks volumes.

Switching back to Blue version...







Oh, what do you know. This item doesn't appear here until this scenario. Jesus.

Ha, because it's not enough to mash A on every surface, you gotta do it every scenario too!



POOFBALLS! These guys only appear in Hospital Comp 3 when you kill PlantMan Alpha. The only other location in the game where you can find them is in Undernet 7. Time to use that FullCust!

If you're Australian, you'll notice these guys have quite an offensive name. I admit that these guys can be jerks, but that's no reason to use a slur like that.



OH LAWD





MORE! I WANT ALL OF YOUR CHIPS!

guys we need to be supportive of giver's chip problem







If you want to S-rank these guys REALLY easily, just use Jealousy. That's an instant S-rank.

Let cheapness reign supreme!



FUCKING SHIT! WRONG CODE!

Awww _{at least it weren't zenny}



Another good reason to use Jealousy. Look at all the defense!



Fuck off, dude.



This is a good reason not to grind for chips in the areas where the bosses spawn. You could run into ghosts and get your face kicked in. I'm only doing it because nothing in this game is a threat to me, so don't try this at home. Just go to Undernet 7.

PlantMan probably gets lonely around here though, so you should definitely visit him more often.



Rectifying that code problem by purchasing the right one from Higsby's! PoisMask A, PoisFace A and Anubis A make a fun, if gimmicky PA that poisons enemies VERY fast, racking up tons of damage.

I absolutely love that PA, you can sure get up to some cheap shenanigans with it.




Dex has moved in already, but we cannot fight GutsMan Beta whenever we want yet.

Nobody's any the wiser about why he had to move away in the first place.



Just gonna Chip Trader a couple of times to see what I get. If you ever want multiple Wood/Fire/Aqua/Elec+30's, go to this trader for the best results.



PRAISE RNGESUS! HE IS GLORIOUS!

Hey now, some of us are rngnostic.

I would explain my hype, but I'm not allowed to demonstrate until I earn this chip series outside of Chip Trader. Don't worry, give it one more update.

That chip description is pretty suspect. I never liked that about this series - it was really hard to tell what chips did before you used them, and even then, if it was one that required a broken panel it could be more tricky to figure out.





Okay, so I mentioned at some point that I'm going to be saving this money strategy for the postgame, since despite all my NetBattling, the amount of Zenny I gained might not be enough. However, I just remembered of a pretty easy way to rack up infinite amounts of Zenny. And as a bonus, it's something that players playing this on a GBA catridge can do! So, I don't need the gambler minigames any longer.

Ah, the gambling minigame. So broke, so fun.







The reward is a lie. It isn't GutsStraight H, that doesn't exist. He actually gives you GutsStraight O. The programmers simply wrote out all the rewards in Battle Network 1-3. Here's a sample of what the code looks like:

<itemGiveChip chip="49" code="15" amount="1"/>

<text xml:space="preserve">MegaMan got a chip</text>
<newline/>
<text xml:space="preserve">for</text>
<newline/>
<text xml:space="preserve">"</text>
<printChip buffer="0" chip="49"/>
<text xml:space="preserve"></text>
<printCode buffer="0" code="8"/>

As you can see, the game gives you Chip Number 49 (Guts Straight) in code Number 15 (O, because its the 15th letter of the alphabet). What the game PRINTS is GutsStraight H. Starting with Battle Network 4, they created actual data structures that the programmers simply called to give out rewards. Much more efficient way of dispensing with treasure.

It's really your own fault for trusting that gambler navi. He's a bit of a shifty character.

Anyways, what was I doing? Oh, right.

PLOT STUFFFFFFFF



We have to go over here to find out where Serenade lies. And yes, the items blocking this area that were here before JUST vanished. That is, beating MistMan/BowlMan caused these to disappear.

Cyberworld solutions to real-world problems.

Or a giant coincidence.

Whatever works!






Woaaah, awesome.

This is significantly cooler than that school trip earlier led me to believe





Looks way better than the Gospel servers!



Looks way less radioactive than the Gospel servers!







Will there be radiation leaks?

ONE CAN ONLY HOPE not







Oh look, we came out on a hidden side of Under Square. I like it when games pull that off. Makes everything look more complete.



It's nice how the battle network games do this, have a hidden area in areas you've visited before that you get to super late in the game.



To the best place in the series.

We're going to DisneyLand???







FIGHT ME! I'M AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD BOY!

AND HIS DEAD TWIN BROTHER!!





Let's hope Serenade is a reasonable fellow. After all, the world is at stake.

The dude's name is Serenade, I'm sure he's extremely reasonable.



God dammit.

CAN'T OR WON'T, SERENADE?



Oh, great. The Chosen One arc thing. This was first mentioned back in MMBN2's postgame by PlanetMan when you defeated him. Little spoiler? That goes nowhere! No game in the series expands on what the hell that meant!! Just ignore it.

Yeah, a really fat navi that was also a Planet told me that I was the chosen one. Then I hit him with a Gater.





Blink animation, you really, really have a way of conveying my thoughts. I love you, too.

Step it up, MissEchelon!

_{I kid, I kid}

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Blink animation is the commentator we all wish we could be







This tiny little program appears from the void. Quick! S-rank it for a BattleChip!

Well it'll have to be a fight, right?? I mean Serenade did say it couldn't be given.



:...a Chosen One, and can wield the program. However! If you are not chosen, you will immediately suffer the effect of the program. You, MegaMan, will be frozen for all eternity! No power will ever be able to awaken you! Now, then. Grasp the program and discover your destiny!











Just press Ctrl+Alt+Del

Oh geez, somebody get out the mallet, it's time for some percussive maintenance.











Wow MegaMan, you're a dick.



On the other hand, when is it ever not appropriate to prank your twin brother??



_{update: tried to prank my twin on steam, failed. will try again later.}





Too bad it isn't a GigaChip. It would be the most ridiculous thing ever.

Too bad it isn't a GigaChip, we could use more ridiculousness.

Lan, deciding their mission is complete, jack out.



OOOOOO

Oooooooominous!



Hmm, now who is this?

A new best friend???!







AAAAA EVEN BETTER! IT'S AN OLD BEST FRIEND!!







Everything's coming up great!







Awwww man! Now we're not the only ones with a suspiciously helpful father.






If you can believe it, this was foreshadowed. Mamoru's name means the "Protector". Yoka's Japanese counterpart is Ura, which could mean "reverse side" or "undersurface." The UnderNet in Japanese is called Ura Net. Mamoru also had a fast-access code to an area of the hospital that was connected directly to where a TetraCode was laying around. Yes, that wasn't random nonsense.

Admittedly, a lot of that is lost in the English version. Though, not entirely their fault since the Undernet existed since Battle Network 1 and there is no way the translators would have known this in advance.

What he's saying is that if you were a big enough Sailor Moon fan you may totally have seen this thing coming.



As much shit as we give Battle Network story, most can agree this part was the highlight of the series in terms of story.

Even those of us who don't like Mamoru taking our chips agree. And those of us who think Mamoru is such a little trooper best friend everrrr







Capcom! You're clearly capable of competent writing. I will be the first person to say that. You just gotta bring it out, man.

Hey now, give them time to screw it up.









The NPCs were actually competent. What. I am convinced that the writers know what they're doing and simply make everything else look stupid as a means of surprising you later. Either that, or someone else wrote those previous scenarios and this right here is by the writing lead.

Either that, or they wrote the whole thing in one binge, this part was written first, and the rest as they grew progressively drunker.





Excellent point, seeing as IT security does not exist anywhere else in this world, for any reason.





EVERYTHING bad comes from SciLab.

Hey nowww what about the. ummm... hm.



The alarm starts to go off.

Not the fire alarm, I hope? I'm not sure this place is entirely wheelchair accessible.









Crap, and JUST when we got the weapon.

Urgh, all these people, wanting us to do things.





HOLY FUCK THAT'S ALPHA

That's clearly a drill with crazy eyes.





This whole time Alpha was in front of our faces... Nice job.

Oh. You mean... that's where Alpha was? Wait THAT'S where Alpha was? For fuck's sake who connected that critical piece of whatever to the net?

fucking IT security, I swear to god







SciLab's security is presumably still a bit weak from what Mr.Match did. Otherwise, DrillMan would have had a much tougher time breaking through. You see what you did, Lan!?

I thought we weren't admitting to that crime







DrillHead you cheating bastard. I WANTED TO DO THAT.





RUN AFTER HIM!

And now the player resumes control.



WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU STANDING AROUND

Probably overawed by how cool DrillHead is DID YOU SEE THAT THOUGH he just drilled straight through that internet!



Oh shit, DrillMan made a hole all the way to Undernet 5. This is great as a shortcut, but it's also good from a storytelling standpoint as it drives the point that the Undernet is simply on another side. It's just right below the regular Net.

Also it's fantastic as a shortcut.

In this scenario we have:

A) Lots and lots of payoff -- Although most of the other stuff is handled in the usual Battle Network way, the bits with the Undernet and Alpha are done well considering. The last game didn't really explain too much about the Undernet, and this game filled in the blanks.

B) Storytelling Through Gameplay -- GutsMan using a Program Advance, and the neat little shortcut here are nice little ways the story integrates itself into what the player sees and does. It's a very Mega Man-y aspect, and it's a shame we don't see more like that.

C) Loads of Difficult Fights -- More of a personal plus for me, but finally the game removes its gloves and starts treating you with some respect. We also get four bosses in this scenario.

Now let's compare this to a similar-point-in-the-game scenario from the last game. FREEZEMAN.

That one had:

a) BACKTRACKING

b) Breaking blocks of ice all over the internet with no real forwading of the story

c) An incredibly, insultingly easy navi boss (the aforementioned FreezeMan)

...I'm probably being a bit too harsh on that scenario. It had a lot of cool NPCs _{(even the ones who weren't frozen in ice)}, and FreezeMan's design is rad as hell, even if he's so stupid easy it should be a crime.



This is gonna be way too easy. Even the weak folder I have is too much.

Hey wait I was the one talking about easy fights, you said this would be difficult...



WE'RE GONNA USE A STARTER FOLDER FOR THIS AW YEAH

Haha yeah buddy! I gotta admit, running a starter folder in lategame areas can be a lot of fun. I unloaded one on Bass last game



With the exception of this chip. So, let's review: DesertMan sends hands out straight down on the top or bottom rows if you stand in the middle, or ONE hand will fly down the middle if you summon DesertMan while standing on the top or bottom rows.

DesertMan's just desperate for high-fives.

Hmm, if only there was a way to make it a bit more viable...





This explains why DrillMan didn't just immediately jack out. Why jack out and revive Alpha back at his base, when he can revive Alpha in the Undernet and destroy the only way their plan can be stopped?

MAYBE... he forgot.





"drill a hole"



that's what she said!

wait

shit that doesn't work



FUCKING BUBBLEMAN IS STILL TROLLING FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE

I for one happen to think BubbleMan is JUST SWELL

_{if only for the reactions he provokes}







Check 2:15 for the command code, or view the GIF below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uHg0jDzSdM



If you press Down-Right and A, or Up-Right and A RIGHT when the hands appear, but before they launch, you can control where they will fly. When the hands meet, the damage is combined, effectively dealing a solid 240 damage at Version 1! This is only possible when you summon DesertMan from the middle row. Hopefully, this will help you get the most out of your chips. Only a handful of people in the world know this, and now I'm sharing it with all of you.

huh....

...What, you thought I was running low on super-hidden/obscure secrets? Please. Credit to the development team, they knew chips like BubbleMan would have huge damage potential, so they made command codes like these to make one-hit wonders not totally suck.



_{i'm onto you, robot}




The posts that I write ain't the cleanest

I promise to stealthily edit out the weirdest parts where possible.

Also please don't make weird jigsaw sadism a part of the gameplay of chrono x

please allow the bad players a chance to not get mangled




But when I use chips I'm the meanest




Giver336 is a genius




A bad motherfucker, from the wallet to the penis

Guys I think Giver's ego just hit critical mass. We're going to need to stop feeding it, or it's going to go all Audrey II on us.





Oh, fuck. The last time that happened... QUICK! GRAB ALPHA!

No no, I want to see where this is going







GRAB ITYOU IDIOTS! STOP STANDING AROUND!



Oh boy! Here it comes-!







Hahaha how could this have happened?

BECAUSE YOU STOOD AROUND AND LET HIM HAVE IT!



Yep, our hereos are desperate. They got absolutely stomped the last time and now Bass is holding Alpha. It's the worst case scenario.

Wait, you didn't beat Bass last time? Hahaha



Time to go Goku on his ass.







And MegaMan throws it.





I'm sure we did! I'm sure it's fine! IT'S FINE OKAY DON'T SCROLL DOWN



Welp, that's game. The weapon that can freeze the entire Internet doesn't work on Bass. GG.



I tried, MissEchelon, I'm so sorry. Dodging for 4 minutes won't work here.

No... nooooooooooooooooooo! Not the internet! That's where I keep all my... things!





This wouldn't be happening if you had grabbed Alpha, dammit.

But then how would we have found out something something chosen one?







Your mistake, man. Letting the protagonists live always comes back to bite you in the ass.

Bass would never make a mistake. It's fine. I'm sure it's fine. Everything's going to be fine...

....right?







"Hey Chaud, we screwed up."

Well at least it's not as bad the time we set SciLab on fire...

....right?


Okay, I admit that DrillMan is quite a different boss from the norm. You can't simply attack him head on and expect to get anywhere. You have to rely on unorthodox strategies and play the waiting game. So, to hopefully give a sense of catharsis, I've put together a short video of destroying DrillMan in various ways. Have fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so2vItV2CHo