Part 50: Pierce the Heavens

Ahem. I might have, er, gone a bit overboard. The world is still here, right?

Shit WHAT YEAR IS IT





It takes around 120 fights to get BugStop, and 200 fights to level it up to max.



BugStop is gigantic, and if I'm going to be honest here I don't like it. It's a massive, MASSIVE commitment just to rid yourself of bugs. There are a few NaviCust programs that come with bugs attached even if installed correctly. In those niche cases, BugStop is useful. Outside of that? Eh.

It also takes a long time to level up, as well.







Note that this guy's inventory cost about 400-odd bugfrag. MORE! GIVE IT ALL TO ME!

Calm yourself.



And Higsby lets us order BlkBomb3 in L code, because I just acquired an original copy.

You'd be really hard-pressed to find certain chips, so that's why Giver's always going back to the Chip Order system. It costs a lot of money, but there has so much virus busting that it's honestly not an issue.





And that is one of the programs I was talking about. BusterMAX's implicit bug would be resolved with BugStop.



You bought Speed+1? PFFFT



Back to adventure!



Of course, Lan. Where's Blinky when you need him?



What, doesn't the Bugfrag-getting count enough? Do you want me to slaughter every innocent little virus on the Net? Because I'll do it. The combat in this game is surprisingly visceral and rewards getting good at it.

Ugggghhhhh stop fighting Giver we've seen enough of this



Suddenly, rock!





Suddenly, fire!





Looks like Chaud is a little bit... hot

_{it is a joke because Chaud is french for hot}





All right, bye!

Sure, let's... Hey, wait, how is that fire even burning? There's no fuel for it!





I'm not, don't worry.



This right here just echos all the development we've seen in the first 3 games up until this point. We get a whole lot less of this in the next 3 installments, which is a given considering this was supposed to be the last game in the series.

Well Lan I think that maybe if the world fucking EXPLODES your friend will be dead too





And with a new tank signals a new fight. To make things more interesting Epee Em and I have changed the fight a little...



God. Damn. It. He's not even in trouble, you idiot! The fire isn't even... GAH. FUCK. SHIT. He could literally just jump through the fire!

Battle Network's isometric viewpoint isn't one to be taken literally. The art style, coupled with the technical limitations make showing scenarios like that quite...inadvisable. Yes, you are supposed to fill in the blanks with your imagination, which all goes back to these games requiring copious amounts of suspension of disbelief.



Ahem. It's easy enough to start out, I guess. We've dealt with this stuff before.



These sentries around; just follow the direction that they move and you're in the clear. Aside from the Alpha Blob on the right, but by this point y'all should know about Alpha and shortcuts.

Alpha Blob sounds like the name of either A) a really bad indie band or B) the nickname of someone's DM.



The fourth of the elemental search series. This one, fairly obviously, searches for Wood-elemental viruses like Mushies and Plantman and other rare viruses!



Hahaha I see you there Mr. Blob. You can't get me, I'm wise to all your



God damn it!

Hah, tricked.



If we take the time to stay between these two sentries...





...we receive our plot item of the dungeon and move on.



Boo.





Spikeys AGAIN!?



At least you can make a useless trade for Rook F from that guy inside DNN Studio.



Hello, there. Basher is fantastic for one single reason:



MAGNUM BABY! AAAAAAA

This chip is actually important. Make sure to grab this one in particular. Yes, Magnum1 A.



Why.



Yeesh. Honestly, it's not all that bad; there are a few spots where you're safe and can just plan out your path. Make a savestate if you're coward like Yeti.

Bite me, asshole.



This fight is actually an endurance round composing of PlantMan Version 1, and FlamMan Version 1. Being the disappointment it is, I asked EPM to change their fight, as I mentioned earlier. We'll see what I mean in just a moment.





I'm fairly certain that FUCK YOU AND YOUR DUNGEON Plantman



Anetta, are you still following these fucks? How stupid can you-

An in-Carnation? Eh? Eh?

This is the last time I will make a pun.







CUNTBAG! I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD ON A PLATTER

See, this is a Good Example^TM of Villainous Gloating. Lan did all that stuff accidentally and almost killed his dad, so... Yeah, probably still a little sore about that.





Pfft. I kinda like the idea of Plantman just randomly going up in flames while Annetta flails around, trying to put him out. It amuses me.

That's probably what's implied here. Their lack of cohesive teamwork gives Lan the edge he needs to win the day.







It's probably more like a "Half Synchro," to be honest. The villians presumably (again, Battle Network) don't have any sort of deep, hard-earned connection to their Navis, so their mental states probably aren't fully synced up, contradicting the term in question. They do get SOME power boost, but definitely not to the degree that Lan and MegaMan do. This is compounded by the fact that MegaMan soundly beats them anyway.

Someone in the thread brought up the idea that the Full Synchro here is only because both the Navi and the Operator are in the Cyberworld. I still find it annoying and out of nowhere.







Yeah. ...For them.









HELLO MISTER FLAG

What the hell is that flag for?

I'll get to that. Out of respect for the challenge that EPM gave me by editing this fight...



...I'm only going to use these two programs: Reflect and AirShoes.



And we're going to be rocking Normal Style for this fight.

I saw this video, you can't call that respect in any way, shape, or form. It barely qualifies as being a tolerable human being. Honestly I'm pretty sure it violates something from the Geneva Conventions



Flag: This is a PvP-only gimmick. This only appeared in "Heavyweight" mode in Battle Network 3. A flag would spawn on either player's side and either NetBattler could choose to delete the opponent, or aim for the flag. The flag had about 1,000 HP. However, the flag did not have ANY mercy frame activation upon getting hit, therefore it is absurdly easy to combo it to oblivion. Furthermore, the flag is a sitting dick, forcing players to either let the flag take a hit, or defend for the flag in some way. This mode only appeared in this game.

EPM was really, REALLY trying to do me in. FlamMan's yellow candle would essentially mean instant-death if it spawned at all, and the addition of permanent hole makes fighting a lot harder. However, I took it upon myself to make sure the flag doesn't lose a single hitpoint.

There's an appropriate smilie here somewhere... Where is it... Ah, there we go. "Hi I'm Giver and I'm going to kill two bosses at once without getting hit"

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

And yes, Omega Navis always drop the V5 of their Navi series. V5 chips -- silly enough -- are GigaChips. Most of them aren't worth it at all, so don't expect to see too many of those in this LP. They are simply slightly stronger versions of the V4 chip. I honestly think they made V5 versions a GigaChip just to reach a certain quota.

It's a shame they're trash, really, since it's a really cool idea. Maybe if they had given the chip a different attack? In MegaMan Star Force, there are a few GigaChips where the enemy does one of its other attacks, and I always thought that was really cool. GeminiThunder was amazing, by the way.

But anyways, we will be seeing them more later. Just...pretend you didn't see that.



Please. Alpha is a puss.



When I take it over, yes.





Don't worry, I got this. I didn't lose a single hitpoint!





Did you suffer horrible injuries? If not, I don't see why you can't come.



This picture is a metaphor for the thread's population. Yeti, we need to increase your schedule. Maybe two times a week.

Every week? Hey asshole I still have finals. Maybe think of your commentary partner once in a while. Fuck, you're lucky I'm getting this shit done right now - I have like three tests coming up that I should probably study for.

Pfft, finals. Be like Lan and don't study.



Who can find the Blues Clue?

Augh right in the nostalgia. I used to watch that show as a kid.



Nope.

I'm really hoping it's stain in the 'wood stain' sense, otherwise that raises a question I'm not sure I want answered.



Nope.



Hmm...





I'm quite surprised there's nothing interesting about that flashing panel. That's practically unheard of. No items, no jack-in, no nothing!

Wait, seriously? But...but it's a computer! In Battle Network! I'm pretty sure they're supposed to have prizes by law or something.

Also I just noticed that Lan tore down all those hanging cables by himself. Guy's got some moxie.





It's been so long, I can't believe we're almost here.





You know, we should probably wait for everyone to come. Then we can kick Wily's ass 4-on-1.

You're acting like friends are ever useful. And that the friends in this game could possibly be any help in a fight.





Remember Lan's dream earlier in the scenario? Yeaaah, well, Lan's still uneasy about all that. Not to worry, Lan. So long as your IQ doesn't drop below 5, we'll get out of this just fine.

...Fuck.

Man, Giver, why'd you have to jinx it? You should know by now not to say anything like that. If something happens it's all your fault.





There's some sort of rumbling going on and the screen starts to shake.





SHIT! WE'RE DEALING WITH GURREN LAGANN NOW.

His is the drill that will pierce the wall! Believe in the Lan that believes in you!

_{that's all I know I've never seen Gurren Lagann} Edit from the future: I've now seen Gurren Lagann!

So have an updated joke: BUST BEYOND THE S RANK AND KICK VIRUSES TO THE CURB! That's how Team Giver/Yeti rolls!





Uhh, DrillMan? Why not just keep going and pierce Lan's body completely? You have a fucking tank with a drill on it!

Cutscene-level incompetence.



And this is surprising to you, WHY!?

Eh, BubbleMan came back but that could be explained by Japan's love of stupid speech ticks.





Literally every other tank kept trying to attack after missing its target, why not this one





Final computer.

Again, imagine how this looks in real life - Lan's just kinda leaning against the drill tank, and Wily's tapping his foot impatiently on the other side of that door. "Could that kid be any slower? He's... Oh, now he's leaving to go get chips? What is with him? Obviously his grandfather's intellect skips a generation."



You'll have to hide in the alcoves to make it all the way to the end of the first segment. See the very next alcove that MegaMan is facing? ALPHA BLOB



This time the Alpha Blob locations aren't as obvious.



Fuck equipping Alpha, honestly. I'd rather get sent back and have to trek all the way back and power my way through Trial and Error. That way, I'll get an excuse to get into more fights.



I wasn't born yesterday, you know.

Shortcuts! They lie!



Garbage.



This one is like a race, I like it.



And, we're actually done with this dungeon! Those security probes are no real threat to you since they're easily bypassed and don't come anywhere near the center. Just head on over to the right...



Ta-daa!

Is it just me, or do most of the later dungeons come in sets of four?



The direction MegaMan is standing towards is actually an optional part of this dungeon. Let's see where it goes.

Remember, kids, this is still nominally an RPG. Take the RPG approach to things like this - determine the correct way to go, and then fuck off and don't take it until you've finished exploring everything else.



This is a somewhat commonly missed HP Memory, given the exit was right there.

And the viruses...?






Nothing new that we haven't seen. Not much to say, but if you find some of the formations in here easier than in other locations, by all means pitch your tent and roast some marshmellows.

At this point, your chip folder should be powerful enough to make short work of these guys. Honestly, the Momogro is probably the only one that should give you any trouble, and using Magnum or some other panel-cracking chip will make short work of them.

This being said, when I fight the Mole family of viruses I don't use things like that because . I just circle around them and use a WideSword.



Today, we're going to re-examine FlamMan's chip. Earlier in the LP, I posted a hidden command for it:




Visual depiction.

I think we all know what's about to happen.

For those of you playing along, it does take a little bit to change direction. Change it ahead of time like Giver did at first, or just hope that your command worked correctly.





Last security probe challenge in the game. You just wait for some of the security probes to de-sync, and then run, run, run.

Mama always said 'Life is like a box of AA batteries. You never know what you're gonna get or when it'll fail on you without warning'.





Too easy. Even Giver's letting the joke slide.







Honestly, this dialogue is giving me deja-vu.





Sadly, DrillMan is in his first version. No Alpha form rematch.

Which is a shame, really. I mean, not having to deal with this guy at a harder level? Yes, please. But, I really wish they'd upgraded him just a little bit.



Okay goons, let's say you're in a position like this: You have multiple targets on the same column and you want to hit both. The problem with FlamMan's command is that it only goes straight, so enemies on the same column are generally safe. So what do we do?

Well theoretically we'd just wait for them to get in the same row before



We use the even more obscure second command code!

Oh what the fuck.

FlamMan's first command involves holding A. If you hold a completely unrelated button, you can use a second one. Hold B and press the directions on your D-pad in a clockwise manner. You may need to make a few complete rotations to get the full 7-square range. Hold B and press Up, UpRight, Right, RightDown, Down, DownLeft, Left, UpLeft (repeat about 3 times). If you don't get the full 7 squares, then simply perform more rotations on your next try.

If you have a sharp memory, you'll remember that FlamMan himself can manipulate his fire in the exact same formation as this. It's really nice that there exist commands that make our attacks exactly like the boss.



You and the thread, buddy.

Is it niche? Yes. But that's what I like about Battle Network 3! There are many attacks that fit into specific and gimmicky setups to accommodate a wider variety of players. Some may argue that BN3 has too many hidden commands -- and I haven't even revealed the most obscure one, to be sure -- but I don't agree. Years after this game comes out, and we're still uncovering nice little gems. That has to account for something.

I'm still not sure how you're getting the commands. Yeah, some are in the game and some are from the show, but there's things where you're just a wizard.



Okay, and this is a problem? If MegaMan deletes you, the tank stops. If you blow yourself up, the tank stops. Uhhhhh...?

Because the explosion will take out MegaMan because we can't jack out while in a cutscene, you fool!



Er, I don't think DrillMan should have his picture there. Unless he's literally making the sound?



Why? Just jack out!!



I agree, Blinky. I agree.

I know we say this far too often, but Blinky is consistently the best part of these LPs. _{better than Giver at any rate}





Oh, excuse me. Me letting the battle drag on while my HP bug took its toll really hurt me!

Are they trying to say that MegaMan fighting so many battles in the previous computers caused him to overheat and stress his processes? Welp, I guess we can't beat Wily then. Because unless MegaMan would take a break, he'll just overheat again in the final battle!

No no no see what they're trying to say is... Uhm... They're saying, that, uh... Eh, I got nothing.



HE IS DEFEATING HIMSELF BY BLOWING HIMSELF UP!

Oh, he's blowing up the tank, along with himself? Why didn't they say so!? Even still, jack out and RUN!



For fuck's sake. You can jack him out, run and still be together. How hard is that!?

Remember, Giver, jacking out takes energy and MegaMan is running out of that because of the battle damage



DrillMan is the most meta member of https://www.





Hooray, more Plot Induced Stupidity forcing us to get saved!

I'm pretty sure ProtoMan is the equivalent of a DMPC. Powerful, appearing out of nowhere to save the day, and the regular protagonist is reduced to just stage dressing when he appears.





He's dead.

So? There are Navi ghosts in the Internet. It's not like that's going to stop him.



Don't forget that ProtoMan can operate himself. Isn't it like a plot point in BN1 or 2 or something?



Apparently not. We're kinda screwed since apparently he took "so much damage."





And they jack out.





Yes, we will. But that's an update for another time.

Specifically, after we defeat Wily.

We're almost there, guys. Almost there. I'll bring it all home.