History VideoGame / MegaManZero

** This series eventually answers a lingering question from ''Videogame/MegaManX:'' "WHAT AM I FIGHTING FOOOOOOOR??!" [[spoiler:The answer: "I've always fought for the people I believe in", as part of his WorldOfCardboardSpeech.]]

** Also, the music changes into the foreboding final stage theme after the first form of the final boss is defeated and [[spoiler:the Ragnarok satellite is plummeting toward the planet with Weil making a last bid by [[BodyHorror hooking up to the remains of its control system]] and directing it towards Area Zero]]. Then Zero has his WorldOfCardboardSpeech and the absolutely awesome final boss music starts up.

** Omega has [[spoiler:his true form as Zero's original body designed to bring out his full potential with a darker color scheme invoking a more sinister appearance combined with Zero's existing "devil-like" features]], reflecting his role as a [[BeastOfTheApocalypse destroyer]] as intended by his creator[[spoiler:s (both the one responsible for Omega's mind and the one responsible for Zero's body)]].
** Dr. Weil has a [[MechanicalAbomination twisted abomination of man and machine]], reflecting Weil's own twisted and self-serving lack of humanity [[CardCaryingVillain with no attempt at high-minded justification for all his villainy]], and fitting with his proclamation [[DevilComplex of being the devil]].

*** First is the option to enable a checkpoint system in the form of "Save Assist", which both replaces each game's lives mechanic and acts as a quicksave feature. If you die, quit the game, or turn off the console, you'll respawn with full health and weapons energy at the last checkpoint you passed. Any penalties you incurred to your mission ranking [[note]]aside from those you get from using Cyber Elves, etc[[/note]] are also discarded, making it easier to get and maintain an A or S rank required to unlock EX Skills and certain goodies. And lastly, turning on Save Assist does ''not'' disable achievements or otherwise penalize you for using it.

*** First is the option to enable a checkpoint system in the form of "Save Assist". If you do this, then the lives system will be ignored and instead you're given checkpoints that you need to step into. They will act as both a quick save system, in case you need to turn the game off and aren't near a terminal, and as the lives system. If you die, you just get rolled back to the last checkpoint you passed with full health and weapons energy. It will also discard any penalties you incurred to your mission ranking[[note]]aside from those you get from using Cyber Elves, etc[[/note]], making it easier to get and maintain an A or S rank required to unlock EX Skills and certain goodies. And lastly, turning on Save Assist does ''not'' disable achievements or otherwise penalize you for using it.

* GrandFinale: The first in the series to have one (followed only a few months later by ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork''). [[spoiler:The oppressive government that the heroes are fighting against is finally gone, and the BigBad, desperate, is getting ready to destroy the last hope of healing a [[CrapsackWorld dying Earth]] with a ColonyDrop. The hero confronts the BigBad, [[HeroicSacrifice passing up the chance to escape to safety]] so he can stop the ColonyDrop and the BigBad once and for all. Add the fact that the hero finally finds his purpose in fighting the war, a [[HeroicBSOD problem that has plagued him]] since the ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX previous series]]'', and that peace is ''finally'' restored after a very, '''very''' long time]].

* BleachedUnderpants: Tooru Nakayama, the main artist of the game, has at least 6 adult doujinshi to his name.

** ''1'' is the only installment of the quadrilogy where the in-game Z-Saber retains its katana-like ''X'' design, rather than the triangular shape from ''2'' onward. Promotional art has always depicted the latter, and never the former.

*** First is the option to enable a checkpoint system in the form of "Save Assist". If you do this, then the lives system will be ignored and instead you're given checkpoints that you need to step into. They will act as both a quick save system, in case you need to turn the game off and aren't near a terminal, and as the lives system. If you die, it'll roll the game back to the last checkpoint you passed. It will also discard any penalties you incurred to your mission ranking[[note]]aside from those you get from using Cyber Elves, etc[[/note]], making it easier to get and maintain an A or S rank. And lastly, turning on Save Assist does ''not'' disable achievements or otherwise penalize you for using it.

* SeriesContinuityError: In ''Zero 1'', Zero must go to the Underground Labortory where he needs to gain information, defeat the boss of the area, and escape before the level crumbles him in. In ''Zero 3'', somehow, it's completely fine before Omega Zero explodes that promptly destroys the area.

* BookEnds: The first and last major missions of the series are actually very similar; the major difference is the sense of scale. Both are timed boss fights against named Mavericks where innocent lives are on the line of the timer reaches zero - in ''Zero 1,'' it's three reploids that Aztec Falcon is trying to retire. In ''Zero 4,'' it's [[spoiler: all life on the planet in the long run, as Weil tries to ram his KillSat into Area Zero, the last bastion of nature (and thus oxygen) left after Neo Arcadia was blown to smithereens.]]

* BookEnds: The first and last major missions of the series are actually very similar; the major difference is the sense of scale. Both are TimedMissions against named Mavericks where innocent lives are on the line of the timer reaches zero - in ''Zero 1,'' it's three reploids that Aztec Falcon is trying to retire. In ''Zero 4,'' it's [[spoiler: all life on the planet in the long run, as Weil tries to ram his KillSat into Area Zero, the last bastion of nature (and thus oxygen) left after Neo Arcadia was blown to smithereens.]]

*** First is the option to enable a checkpoint system in the form of "Save Assist". If you do this, then the lives system will be ignored and instead you're given checkpoints that you need to step into. They will act as both a quick save system, in case you need to turn the game off and aren't near a terminal, and as the lives system. If you die, it'll drop you down at the checkpoint with all resources restored as many times as you die.

* {{Updated|Rerelease}} CompilationRerelease: The ''Mega Man Zero Collection'' for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, which adds an "Easy Scenario" Mode for beginners, fixed some of the translation errors, brought over the Japanese-only e-Reader Mod Cards from ''Rockman Zero 3'' in the overseas release, the ability to use the DS's X and Y buttons, and a gallery with unlockable images.

* CybnerneticMythicalBeast: The "animal bosses" you fight are "Mutos/Mythos Reploids", most of them being reploids modeled and named after mythical beasts. Examples include Burble Hekelot (Heket from Myth/EgyptianMythology), Tretista Kelverian (Cerbeus of Greek myth), and Fenri Lunaedge (Fenrir from Myth/NorseMythology).

** The first game featured a {{Metroidvania}}-style world map - the only locations that aren't accessible by walking are the Neo Arcadia levels, though missions were still done in traditional ''Mega Man'' style by choosing one and immediately starting at the mission location. This feature wasn't seen in any main series Mega Man game that preceeded it and wouldn't be revisited until ''VideoGame/MegaManZX''. Also, mission selection doesn't include the Boss' mugshot, which was tradition for the past series, but was reimplemented in the second game onward.

* EndOfAnAge: ''Zero 3'' and ''4'' serve as this for both the ''Zero'' series and ''VideoGame/MegaManX''. [[spoiler: ''Zero 3'' features the {{Final Death}}s of both X, Copy X and the Four Guardians made from his reploid DNA, making it the ultimate end of X's legacy, while Zero is forced to destroy his original body to stop Omega. Then by ''Zero 4'', Zero pulls his final HeroicSacrifice to stop Dr. Weil and save Area Zero, finally bringing an end to the centuries-long conflict between humans and reploids. ]]

** The rare Cyber-elf Jackson in the first game has its effect similar to [[InvincibilityPowerup charged Chameleon Sting]] in ''X1''.

*** Again in ''4'', the setting is the ColonyDrop from ''VideoGame/MegaManX5'', ironically [[spoiler:the target of the game's own colony drop]].

** Similarly, in ''Zero 3'' (again), between the first boss set (four of the Eight Gentle Judges) and the third set (other four judges), the second set (3 bosses) and the one after the Judges are remakes of four bosses from Zero 1: Blizzack Stagroff R, Hanumachine R, Anubistep Necromanses V (the Zero 1 version was Anubistep Necromanses the Third), and Copy X Mk. 2.

** From ''3'' onwards, {{combo}}s. Typical play usually sees the player loading in an {{Elemental |RockPaperScissors}}Chip and whacking at bosses with charged attacks; combo play requires knowing the hit priority of your various attacks, what type of attacks to use in the combo, and when it's safe to do so[[note]]as comboing typically means Zero is going to be stuck doing his skill animations[[/note]]. The former is a lot safer, while the latter is a lot faster, owing to how properly constructed combos will pierce a boss' invincibility frames.

* DifficultButAwesome: The Triple Rod's downward stab. While using the thing as a pogo stick can be incredibly awkward, doing so is required to obtain a couple of Cyber-Elves, as well as being the safest way to destroy some of the bear traps in the desert (in particular those that are lower than you, as stabbing downward at them presents a minor risk of walking into them). Where this actually comes into play heavily is against the first intermission boss, Hittite Hottide. Given your position at the start of the fight you can immediately dash jump and stab downward to pogo jump on its back, attacking it repeatedly. If you know the amount of hits it takes to destroy the bomb launcher (sixteen), can count those hits without mixing them up with hits to the hatch right next to it, and can position yourself to deal with the bat-like enemies (Gli-Eyes) from the hatch and para-bombs from the bomb launcher, you can destroy that bomb launcher nearly as soon as the battle starts, making it that much simpler to deal with the other things it can do. Better not destroy that hatch just yet if you want the associated Cyber-Elf and all the points in your Enemy ranking, though...

** If you don't have a guide ready, be ready to use guesswork for most of the ItemCrafting recipes in ''Zero 4''. At least you can gather recipes from talking to people (even your elf!), but not every chips have recipes.

* PlatformingPocketPal[=/=]LiveItem[=/=]{{Mon}}[=/=]EquippableAlly: Cyber-elves that Zero use.

* ChainReactionDestruction: Most bosses, when defeated, give off numerous small explosions before a big one at the end.

* DenialOfDiagonalAttack: Averted with the Rod weapons and Z-Knuckle, while the Z-Saber does hit enemies above you, and the Shield Boomerang flies in a circular arc when thrown. This is only played stright with the Buster Shot.

* DrillTank: One of the bosses in ''Zero 1''. You have to destroy it before it reaches the Resistance Base.

** In the third game, you can use the downward charged Recoil Rod on enemies' heads to propel Zero upwards very high. This can be used even on bosses. One of the Sub-Tanks also require you to do a "Recoil Rod jump" from a certain enemy's head.

** Part of the gameplay in ''Zero 3'', supposedly caused by the arrival of Omega. Entering it will cause some certain Cyber-elves in your possession (marked with "A") to activate at once, making you more powerful; it's AwesomeButImpractical, however, because 1) you can't get Secret Disks in Cyberspace, 2) entering it will cut some precious points off your score, 3) you'll eventually have to exit it before the stage's finish, so don't expect it to be useful on bosses. [[spoiler:Except for Phantom, as you need to enter Cyberspace to even encounter him in the first place. Speaking of Phantom, he implies that cyberspace is a mix of MagicalDatabase and a place where AIs of dead Reploids and cyber-elves go.]]

* CharacterTitle: The series [[SubvertedTrope isn't]] [[EpisodeZeroTheBeginning a prequel of any sort]], [[ArtifactTitle nor is Zero himself really a Mega Man]], but [[MyHeroZero he's still our hero]].

* AllThereInTheStinger: ''2'''s stinger features a disembodied voice telling his "creation", Omega, that it's the "right time to attack." This leads directly into the events of ''Zero 3'', in which Omega appears in the intro level, and we're introduced to the likely source of the voice: the BigBad Dr. Weil.

* OneWheeledWonder: Kerberos
* OneWingedAngel: Pretty much every single final boss, three out of the four members of the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Guardians]] (Phantom has one in concept art, but is dead by the time the others use theirs in-story), ''all'' of the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Eight Gentle Judges]] (though some of their transformations are only slightly bigger than their human forms), and, finally, a [[{{Mook}} Pantheon]]. Boy, did Capcom go overboard with this one. The Guardians' transformations are referred to as [[AllThereInTheManual Armed Phenomena]]; {{fanon}} has come up with similar terms for the other transformations.
** Though in several cases (the Pantheon, Elpizo, Omega [[spoiler:before crossing the BishounenLine]]) this is explicitly a power-up granted by the [[ArtifactOfDoom Dark Elf]], not something they can innately do.