As soon as he goes to leave his room however, Lan hears a scream. Hurrying downstairs, we see that despite the fact that Haruka just had everything inspected, the kitchen’s oven is on fire! Since Haruka does nothing but run around fretting, it’s up to Lan and Megaman to see what’s going on. Lan’s clothes are apparently flame-retardant, given how jacking in requires standing not two feet away from the inferno. In we go!
Inside is the Oven Computer, our first real stage of the game. Speaking to the Programs hanging around the starting point reveals that viruses have taken over the control system. Time to bust them! However, parts of the path are blocked by flames. Another Program suggests going to the thawing section of the network, so why not? Detouring to a clear path has Megaman pick up the signature of a WWW virus. Lan reflects that this is just like what Mayl was saying earlier, and now we have to delete it. So, given that this is a set encounter, this must be a tough miniboss, right?
Nope, it’s just a single, lone Mettaur. Lame.
After a bit of travel we reach the thawing section, which is denoted by its green floor. A Program there gives us the Ice Block item, allowing us to disperse individual flames. Yeah, I don’t get how ice should stop fire either, but this is par for the course with this series. We have seven uses before we have to return to this section to get another set of Ice Blocks, but if we do so the flames will reignite. It’s not really much of a problem though, all we have to do is basically stick to the main path.
What is a problem though is the fact that as soon as Megaman tries to leave this section fire starts raining down on him. In the real world this corresponds to the oven fire getting even worse, and Lan losing contact with Megaman. He does, however, get a taunting phone call from the totally-not-evil technician from before. All he has to say is that he works for the WWW and how Lan and Megaman have no chance to survive make your time and such crap. However, Lan has an idea of how to help Megaman. So we have to run back upstairs to his room and examine his dresser to obtain the Water Gun item.
… I don’t think Lan realizes that using water to put out what is likely an electrical fire is a real bad idea, let alone using a supersoaker to do so. But, nevertheless it works. The fire dies down in both real and Cyber World and Megaman is freed up. Now with the Ice Blocks in hand, we can put out a fire that’s blocking the way to the teleporter that leads to the next area.
Area 2 has more fire than 1, but again it’s not that difficult to pick one’s way through. Regardless since it's been a while since I last played, I messed up and had to backtrack to get more Ice Blocks. Despite all that soon we reach a Program that warns us that someone’s Navi is at the oven’s control core. You know what that means! Boss time!
The Navi is Fireman, who’s amused that a kid operator and Navi are going against him and his operator, Mr. Match.
◊ Time to do this.
Fireman
◊
HP: 300
Element: Fire
Attacks:
- Fire Arm – Fireman shoots a sustained blast of fire down one row for 20 Fire damage.
- Fire Tower – Fireman creates a series of flame bursts that travel down one row while tracking Megaman’s movements for 15 Fire damage.
- Fire Bomb – Fireman crouches down before firing three bombs from his head into Megaman’s area. These bombs explode upon impact, leaving behind fire rings on the panels which deal 10 Fire damage.
Fireman’s not that difficult, being the first real boss. All of his attacks are easily dodged and clearly telegraphed. About the only thing you have to worry about is if he uses Fire Tower right after Fire Bomb, as you won’t have much room to move then. I got lucky in getting two Swords and a Wide Sword right off the bat, so he didn’t last very long.
Winning gives us 1000z.
Mr. Match is shocked that Fireman’s been defeated, but quickly shrugs it off since he’s already gotten from the oven what he came here for: the Fire Program. He cheerfully informs Lan that war will soon be upon the world before signing off, leaving Lan and Megaman confused as to what he means by all of this.
But at least the incident’s taken care of. The house hasn’t burned down, and the kitchen is somehow back to being completely spotless and immaculate. The snack that Haruka was making for Lan didn’t make it, though.
Anyway, that’s all for now. Time to finish things up by heading to bed. This signifies the end of a “chapter” of gameplay, gives you a chance to save, and is a handy place to end this update.
Virus Listing
- Volgear
- These guys usually stay immobile unless Megaman comes into their row, upon which the'll move up or down to get out of his way. They attack by spewing fire down the field at Megaman: the staple Fire Tower attack. Later on they have an Aqua variant that uses an Aqua version of it called Aqua Tower.
Soundtrack
- Incident Occurrence!
- Plays whenever something bad is going down in the immediate vicinity.
- Fire Field
- The theme for the oven network. Sounds like it fits better for something more...grandiose and important than a kitchen stove but it works well as stage music.
- Net Battle
- The boss battle theme. I think it sounds kinda retro.
