History YMMV / MegaManZero2

* EpilepticTrees: After absorbing the Dark Elf, Elpizo goes on a triade on how Reploids can only be happy in a world only for them. Curiously enough, this is a deliberate reference to [[VideoGame/MegaManX4 Iris' last words]], which are that she and Zero can never be happy because [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters Humans Are The Real Mavericks]]. This lead to the theory that the Dark Elf has a connection to Iris, whether she's outright Iris' Cyber-Elf or, due to WordOfGod being that she was created after extensive research on Zero, that she was forged from Zero's memories of Iris.

* EpilepticTrees: After absorbing the Dark Elf, Elpizo goes on a triade on how Reploids can only be happy in a world only for them. Curiously enough, this is a deliberate reference to [[VideoGame/MegaManX4 Iris' last words]], which are that she and Zero can never be happy because [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters Humans Are The Real Mavericks]]. This lead to the theory that the Dark Elf has a connection to Iris, whether she's outright her Cyber-Elf or forged from Zero's memories of Iris.

* EpilepticTrees: After absorbing the Dark Elf, Elpizo goes on a triade on how Reploids can only be happy in a world only for them. Curiously enough, this is a deliberate reference to [[VideoGame/MegaManX4 Iris' last worlds]], which are that she and Zero can never be happy because [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters Humans Are The Real Mavericks]]. This lead to the theory that the Dark Elf has a connection to Iris, whether she's outright her Cyber-Elf or forged from Zero's memories of Iris.

** Like in the previous game, using Cyber Elves will penalize you rank. While this doesn't make holding onto at least an A Rank to get EX Skills impossible, the fact that EX Skills aren't even that amazing and you need to grind out Cyber Elves to use them make the penalty feel like a unnecessary overcorrection. The game is also difficult enough that getting a high rank with Cyber Elves while taking out the penalty would still be quite hard.

* ScrappyMechanic: The weapon proficiency system, despite being somewhat more streamlined, retains the same problem of feeling more like a chore than a worthwhile progression system. Many players feel that they need the higher level weapons in order to stand a chance against the game's considerable difficulty, which encourages grinding in the opening stage for several minutes to max out weapon levels.

* SignatureScene:
** The first level, remembered for [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic its music]] (with "Departure" even [[Level1MusicRepresents serving as Zero's stage theme]] for his [[GuestFighter guest appearance]] in ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}} Blade Warriors'') and the very cool shot of [[FlungClothing Zero discarding his cloak]] to do battle with the Pantheons trying to hunt him down.
** The surprise DualBoss in the mandatory BossRush. Notable in that [[spoiler:one of the revived Mutos Reploids is a boss that died in the ''previous'' game]], making it even more unexpected.
** [[spoiler:Elpizo stabbing X and the subsequent TransformationSequence of Elpizo in the final level.]]

* AuthorsSavingThrow: With ''Zero 2'', the developers took the opportunity to smooth out some of the issues from [[VideoGame/MegaManZero1 the first game]]:
** You can find two sub-tanks out in levels, meaning you can maintain a higher rank by not having to use cyber-elves to get them, while still having a safety net to make mistakes.
** Extra lives are more common, can be farmed reliably if you know where they are, and you can no longer fail missions if you run out of lives, as continuing sends you back to the beginning of the stage instead.
** E-Crystal requirements for Cyber-Elves are generally much lower, meaning it doesn't take anywhere near as much grinding to use them.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: With ''Zero 2'', the developers took the opportunity to smooth out some of the issues from the first game:

** The first level, remembered for [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic its music]] (with "Departure" even serving as Zero's stage theme for his [[GuestFighter guest appearance]] in ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}} Blade Warriors'') and the very cool shot of [[FlungClothing Zero discarding his cloak]] to do battle with the Pantheons trying to hunt him down.
** The surprise DualBoss in the mandatory BossRush. Even more notable in that [[spoiler:one of the revived Reploids is a boss that died in the ''previous'' game]], making it even more unexpected.

** Somehow, Harpuia got ''easier''. Besides his EX Attack, he heavily telegraphs every attack he makes, and while his A.I. isn't as [[ArtificialStupidity broken]] as it was in [[VideoGame/MegaManZero1 the last game]], he can ''still'' be knocked into a predictable, easily dodged combo. The only way he'll pose any threat is if you let him set up his Options and do ''nothing'' to immediately destroy them... which more or less means standing there and doing nothing.
** The [[OneWingedAngel Armed Phenomenon]] forms of the the Guardians take away their maneuverability and generally heavily telegraph every single move they have. Fairy Leviathan's ''does'' have some issues with certain tells for when she charges, but otherwise all of them are easier than the normal forms of the Guardians, which is fairly impressive for Harpuia. (The story itself at least implies Harpuia [[ICannotSelfTerminate is trying to]] [[FightingFromTheInside fight off the Baby Elves' influence]] and invoke [[SuicideByCop Suicide by Maverick]], but still.)

* ThatOneAchievement: Like with the first game's Ultimate Mode, earning Ultimate Form requires you to use all Cyber-elves before finishing the game, and this form is earned upon loading that game's save file. Unfortunately, that means that your Cyber-elf use from the previous game is carried over, and therefore getting anything higher than D Rank is impossible. Worse, unlike the other games, there is no option to start a completely new game with this Ultimate Form, meaning you cannot have both A/S Rank and Ultimate Form ever, no matter how many times you start a NewGamePlus from that same file. Only in ''Collection''[='s=] Easy Mode can you have both Ultimate Form and a rank above D. This is probably why the requirement for Ultimate Mode in ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero3 3]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero4 4]]'' [[AuthorsSavingThrow completely dropped]] the need to use all Cyber-elves and simply required each game's respective collectibles (plus fully growing your Cyber-elf in the case of ''4'').

** The [[OneWingedAngel Armed Phenomenon]] forms of the the Guardians take away their maneuverability and generally heavily telegraph every single move they have. Fairy Leviathan's ''does'' have some issues with certain tells for when she charges, but otherwise all of them are easier than the normal forms of the Guardians, which is fairly impressive for Harpuia. (The story itself at least implies Harpuia [[ICannotSelfTerminate is trying to]] [[FightingFromInside fight off the Baby Elves' influence]] and invoke [[SuicideByCop Suicide by Maverick]], but still.)

** The [[OneWingedAngel Armored Phenomenon]] forms of the the Guardians take away their maneuverability and generally heavily telegraph every single move they have. Fairy Leviathan's ''does'' have some issues with certain tells for when she charges, but otherwise all of them are easier than the normal forms of the Guardians, which is fairly impressive for Harpuia. (The story itself at least implies Harpuia [[ICannotSelfTerminate is trying to]] [[FightingFromInside fight off the Baby Elves' influence]] and invoke [[SuicideByCop Suicide by Maverick]], but still.)

* ScrappyMechanic: The weapon proficiency system wasn't substantially changed from the first game, and retains the same problem of feeling more like a chore than a worthwhile progression system. Many players feel that they need the higher level weapons in order to stand a chance against the game's considerable difficulty, which encourages grinding in the opening stage for several minutes to max out weapon levels.

* ScrappyMechanic: The weapon proficiency system wasn't substantially changed from the first game, and retains the same problems. Namely that many players feel like they need the higher level weapons in order to stand a chance against the game's difficulty, which in turn encourages spending half an hour or more at the beginning of every playthrough getting all their weapons maxed out before they can begin the game.

* AnticlimaxBoss: Elpizo. If you can avoid his six-orbs energy absorption attack, you can pretty much dodge anything else he throws at you. His second form is arguably even easier, basically being a large floating target in the middle of a large empty walled room with easy-to-dodge attacks. Compare this with the spike-laden stage that you have to traverse to get to him, as well as the BossRush in between. A few blows from your charged Z-Saber will destroy his second form in a matter of seconds.

** Somehow, Harpuia got ''easier.'' Besides his EX attack, he heavily telegraphs every attack he makes, and while his AI isn't as broken as it was last game, he can ''still'' be knocked into a predictable, easily dodged combo. The only way he'll pose any threat is if you let him set up his Options and do ''nothing'' to immediately destroy them; which more or less means standing there and doing nothing.
** The Armored Phenomenon forms of the the Guardians take away their maneuverability and generally heavily telegraph every single move they have. Fairy Leviathan's ''does'' have some issues with certain tells for when she charges, but otherwise all of them are easier than the normal forms of the Guardians, which is fairly impressive for Harpuia.
** For normal bosses, Phoenix Magnion ''if'' you figure out his gimmick. He'll only ever counter your attempts to hit him; so if you just use a weak slash and then catch him with a charge shot when he retaliates, you can completely control the flow of the fight. If you have the lightning chip, it's entirely possible to stop him from ever once attacking.
* MoralEventHorizon: Elpizo crosses it when he destroys X. This even applies InUniverse, as he is the only final boss with no dialogue between changing forms for Zero, while Zero does talk a little with Weil, Copy X and Omega.
* PlayerPunch: Elpizo aims for getting the Dark Elf, and to do so, he had to destroy the [[SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan seal]], X's body. [[spoiler: When Zero finally catches up to him near the seal, he [[ForcedToWatch forces Zero to watch]] by binding him with the Baby Elves' powers as he stabs X's body, destroying it and releasing the Dark Elf.]]
* SignatureScene: The first level, remembered for its music, the surprise DualBoss in the mandatory BossRush, and [[spoiler:"Elpizo stabbing X" and the subsequent TransformationSequence of Elpizo]].
* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: While ''Zero 1'' overall is considered a decent game, it also has its issues both gameplay- and story-wise and many consider it the weakest, not the kind of game that would reach the all-time greats as a whole. Luckily, ''Zero 2'' streamlines the grinding issues ''Zero 1'' has in both Cyber-Elf and weapon skill department, introduces EX skills you could acquire by beating a boss with Rank A or S (thus giving actual incentive to go for such ranks and suffer the wrath of an entirely new attack outside of being a hardcore player), replaces the divisive Triple Rod with a more convenient Chain Rod and includes two additional Sub-tanks meaning you don't ''have'' to risk any Cyber-elves and thus lower the rank. It also puts a much larger emphasis on the story and characterization compared to the rather bare-bones plot in ''Zero 1'', something the later games would follow up on and which the series as a whole would be known for.
* ThatOneAchievement: Like with the first game's Ultimate Mode, earning Ultimate Form requires you to use all Cyber-Elves before finishing the game, and this form is earned upon loading that game's save file. Unfortunately, that means that your Cyber-Elf use from the previous game is carried over, and therefore getting anything higher than D Rank is impossible. Worse, unlike the other games, there is no option to start a completely new game with this Ultimate Form, meaning you cannot have both A/S Rank and Ultimate Form ever, no matter how many times you start a NewGamePlus from that same file. Only in ''Collection's'' Easy Mode can you have both Ultimate Form and a rank above D. This is probably why the requirement for Ultimate Mode in ''3'' and ''4'' completely dropped the need to use all Cyber-Elves and simply required each game's respective collectibles (plus fully growing your Cyber-Elf in the case of ''4'').

** Kuwagust Anchus becomes nigh-impossible on Hard Mode if you have an A or S rank. He moves quickly and his grab moves are hard to avoid, especially one that comes after he sucked you in with his tornado. His A/S rank attack is really hard to dodge: He has to be attacked, ''in-flight'', to avoid taking damage, while you're troubled with the wind blowing against you. You have to attack him ''enough'' or you'll eat quite some damage. [[GuideDangIt The game doesn't hint at that at all.]] Or you can just hit him once with Chain Rod with right timing to derail his attack, as shown [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiQm2R4PcXQ here]].

** The Bombardment Aircraft. You start off leaping between moving shuttlecraft which ''shoot at you'' while you're using them as platforms, on top of Pantheons shooting at you on top of them, requiring perfect timing so as to not to be knocked into the massive BottomlessPit. Once past that section, you have to fight a miniboss who fires fast-moving, area-damage missiles at you until you hit it. When you hit it, it drops a row of bombs which can only be avoided by standing exactly where it was previously hovering. Then you navigate through a series of timed stage hazards that will eat right through your tiny lifebar and require expert timing to pass unharmed. ''Then'' you have to do a HoldTheLine section protecting Ciel for 90 seconds, which counts for basically your entire mission score. If she gets hit, goodbye A or S rank. Naturally, this is a BulletHell sequence plus the Pantheons who you have to hit while blocking every bullet. This also ends with a very powerful boss.[[note]]It should be noted that the miniboss, a gunship styled after a ladybug, is ''extremely'' weak to Ice, to the point that if you're not playing on Hard Mode, it's possible to [[OneHitKill off it in one shot]] by using the Chain Rod's charged attack and the Ice Chip. Defending Ciel also becomes trivial if you simply park yourself right behind her and hold out the Shield Boomerang, which will deflect the vast majority of the crap that section throws at you.[[/note]]

* AntifrustrationFeatures:
** ''Zero 2'' tones down on the LevelGrinding with the weapons and Cyber-Elves. However, it wasn't until the next game that these systems have been removed and revamped, respectively.
** This game marks the return of PowerCopying (as Ex Skills) after their absence in the first.

* ThatOneAchievement: The acquisition of Ultimate Form most. Like with the first game's Ultimate Mode, earning it requires you to use all Cyber-Elves by the final boss, and this form is earned upon loading that game's save file. Unfortunately, that means that your Cyber-Elf use from the previous game is carried over, and therefore getting anything higher than D Rank is impossible. Worse, unlike the other games, there is no option to start a completely new game with this Ultimate Form, meaning you cannot have both A/S Rank and Ultimate Form ever, no matter how many times you start a NewGamePlus from that same file. Only in ''Collection's'' Easy Mode can you have both Ultimate Form and a rank above D. This is probably why the requirement for Ultimate Mode in ''3'' and ''4'' completely dropped the need to use all Cyber-Elves and simply required each game's respective collectibles (plus fully growing your Cyber-Elf in the case of ''4'').

** Phoenix Magnion is also positively confusing. He'll avoid your initial attacks and then counterattack with one of his own, at random. He's fond of TeleportSpam, especially after you attack him. He can only be attacked while he's launching an offense of his own. Worse, the area has "holes" where blasts of magma will shoot out at intervals; during your first fight, depending on which room you're fighting him, the holes are either scarce or covering the entire floor. During the rematch, the design is ''always'' the latter one.

** There's also the Shuttle Factory, which is also long, contains lots of lava and other stage hazards, and a tough fight against Fefnir at the end.

* ScrappyMechanic: While the Form System of ''Zero 2'' is most certainly not this, the acquisition of Ultimate Form most definitely is. Like with the first game's Ultimate Mode, earning it requires you to use all Cyber-Elves by the final boss, and this form is earned upon loading that game's save file. Unfortunately, that means that your Cyber-Elf use from the previous game is carried over, and therefore getting anything higher than D Rank is impossible. Worse, unlike the other games, there is no option to start a completely new game with this Ultimate Form, meaning you cannot have both A/S Rank and Ultimate Form ever, no matter how many times you start a NewGamePlus from that same file. Only in ''Collection's'' Easy Mode can you have both Ultimate Form and a rank above D. This is probably why the requirement for Ultimate Mode in ''3'' and ''4'' completely dropped the need to use all Cyber-Elves and simply required collecting each game's respective collectibles (plus fully growing your Cyber-Elf in the case of ''4'').

** Kuwagust Anchus becomes nigh-impossible on Hard Mode if you have an A or S rank. He moves quickly and his grab moves are hard to avoid, especially one that comes after he sucked you in with his tornado. His A/S rank attack is really hard to dodge: He has to be attacked, ''in-flight'', to avoid taking damage, while you're troubled with the wind blowing against you. You have to attack him ''enough'' or you'll eat quite some damage. [[GuideDangIt The game doesn't hint at that at all.]] Or you can just hit him once with Chain Rod with right timing to derail his attack, as shown [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiQm2R4PcXQ here.]]

** There's also the Shuttle Factory, which is also long, contains lots of lava and other stage hazards, and a tough boss fight against Fefnir at the end.

* EvenBetterSequel: This game fixes many of [[VideoGame/MegaManZero1 the first game's]] faults while retaining all of its predecessor's positive parts. The end result is a ''Mega Man'' game that plays as smoothly, but is a massive improvement in pretty much every department, from expanding the story to better weapon introductions.

* EvenBetterSequel: This game fixes many of ''VideoGame/MegamanZero1'''s faults while retaining all of its predecessors positive parts. The end result is a ''Megaman'' game that plays as smoothly, but is a massive improvement in pretty much every department, from expanding the story to better weapon introductions.

** Kuwagust Anchus becomes nigh-impossible on Hard Mode if you have an A or S rank. He moves quickly and his grab moves are hard to avoid, especially one that comes after he sucked you in with his tornado. His A/S rank attack is really hard to dodge: He has to be attacked, ''in-flight'', to avoid taking damage, while you're troubled with the wind blowing against you. You have to attack him ''enough'' or you'll eat quite some damage. [[GuideDangIt The game doesn't hint at that at all.]] Or you can just hit him once with chain rod with right timing to derail his attack, as shown [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiQm2R4PcXQ here]].

* EvenBetterSequel: This game fixes many of ''VideoGame/MegamanZero1'''s faults while retaining all of its predecessors positive parts. The end result is a ''Megaman'' game that plays as smoothly, but is a massive improvement in pretty much every department.

** Kuwagust Anchus from becomes nigh-impossible on Hard Mode if you have an A or S rank. He moves quickly and his grab moves are hard to avoid, especially one that comes after he sucked you in with his tornado. His A/S rank attack is really hard to dodge: He has to be attacked, ''in-flight'', to avoid taking damage, while you're troubled with the wind blowing against you. You have to attack him ''enough'' or you'll eat quite some damage. [[GuideDangIt The game doesn't hint at that at all.]] Or you can just hit him once with chain rod with right timing to derail his attack, as shown [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiQm2R4PcXQ here]].

** Kuwagust Anchus from ''Zero 2'' becomes nigh-impossible on Hard Mode if you have an A or S rank. He moves quickly and his grab moves are hard to avoid, especially one that comes after he sucked you in with his tornado. His A/S rank attack is really hard to dodge: He has to be attacked, ''in-flight'', to avoid taking damage, while you're troubled with the wind blowing against you. You have to attack him ''enough'' or you'll eat quite some damage. [[GuideDangIt The game doesn't hint at that at all.]] Or you can just hit him once with chain rod with right timing to derail his attack, as shown [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiQm2R4PcXQ here]].
** Phoenix Magnion from the same game is also positively confusing. He'll avoid your initial attacks and then counterattack with one of his own, at random. He's fond of TeleportSpam, especially after you attack him. He can only be attacked while he's launching an offense of his own. Worse, the area has "holes" where blasts of magma will shoot out at intervals; during your first fight, depending on which room you're fighting him, the holes are either scarce or covering the entire floor. During the rematch, the design is ''always'' the latter one.