Explosive Freefall

Chapter 1 : Explosive Freefall Make a Good Mega Man Level: Episode Zero

SELF DESTRUCT SEQUENCE ACTIVATED!

Overview Creator(s): snoruntpyro Composer(s): Tomoya Ohtani Statistics Rank: Chapter 1 Collectables: 001: Zero Enemies: Bomb Thrown Croaker Flying Shell Metall New Shotman Peterchy Skeleton Joe Vitreous Walking Bomb Gimmicks: Cossack Platform Glass Platform Hazard Platform Meteor Sub-Bosses: Mega Man

Theme Music Sonic Forces - Network Terminal 1 Stage Order Next: Surveillance Canyon

Explosive Freefall is the prologue level in Make a Good Mega Man Level: Episode Zero. Based off of Objective: Vain Space from the original Make a Good Mega Man Level, and chronologically occuring at said game's climax, it follows Zero falling from the exploding wreckage of the Wily Castle. The level is comprised of a short platforming section in space, bookended by two freefall sections where Zero must dodge meteors, enemies, and platforms.

Strategy

The stage opens with a small tutorial that teaches a freshly-awoken Zero basic movement - running, dashing, airdashing, firing his Z-Buster, stomping, and stompdashing. After coming across two Glass Platforms, Zero confronts Mega Man in a "battle" that skips ahead five minutes and ends with Zero's defeat. At this point, the Wily Castle starts to explode and the stage itself really begins.

A: Rising Cossack Platforms can help with crossing gaps or reaching the level's CD.

B: An example of Vitreous later on in the platforming section.

C: As seen in the end of the second freefall, obstacles are well-telegraphed.

While the level of inspiration could easily be completed with no button input, Explosive Freefall requires keen attention. The level's beginning freefall segment starts with a series of meteors and Metalls, telegraphed by exclamation points. Shortly thereafter the freefall introduces slow-falling indestructible platforms, clusters of Walking Bombs that home in towards Zero's direction, and New Shotmen. General weaving on both the horizontal and vertical axis are required, but the slow telegraphs and minimal damage leaves plenty of room for learning error.

Zero is soon pulled to the right, reaching a checkpoint and a small platform section (A) with Cossack Platforms, Peterchies, and Vitreouses from Glass Man. The explosions here are purely cosmetic, but can be distracting when paired with dealing with the Vitreous' glass shields and the more spacious platforming requiring basic dash usage. Down a ladder and moving towards the left, Skeleton Joes and more Cossack Platforms are brought into the equation, and since Zero lacks the Z-Saber upon the first playthrough of the level, the player can only temporarily crumble the bone-throwing Joes. Once far enough to the left on the second stretch (B), Zero will drop down to a checkpoint, and the next screen will send Zero back into freefall.

From here on out, larger rows of meteors become common, and paired alongside more Shotmen, smaller platforms and the addition of Flying Shells, Bomb Throwns, and Croakers, Zero will require more careful weaving and mid-air dashes to get to the opposite side of the screen quicker. A final rally of accelerating telegraphed meteors (C) and a cluster of background explosions cap off the level, as Zero touches down (painfully) on Earth.

Z-Phone Dialogue

	Contact	Transcript
	Dr. Wily	Explosive Freefall? Wait, what? My castle is exploding AGAIN?! What did you do?! Just get out of there as fast as you can! I don't want you to break something and have to walk back all over again!
	Agent Krantz	Krantz: Explosive Freefall? What are you doing in space? Zero: Extreme skydiving? Krantz: You need to find safer hobbies... Just make sure to avoid obstacles on the way down. You should probably be able to see them heading towards you. There also seems to be Vitreous from Wily's old castle. They create large glass shields that protect them. However, they'll also throw them at you, leaving them exposed.
	Galaxy Man	You're missing one that should be in plain sight, shouldn't it be?? Just ride up one of those platformy thingies and you should be able to grab it!
	Knives	Knives: Hey, what the heck are you doing? We can't have a date if the date's site is EXPLODING!! Zero: Maybe that would spare me. Knives: Come on! Find a better spot or something!! One that ISN'T an exploding REUSED castle! Yeah, I'm on to your budgetary cuts, Mister Doctor Professor WILY!! Anyways, yeah, no explodey-whatever. Might blow your face off! And that would be bad!!

Trivia

• During the freefall sections, Flying Shells and Metalls use standard enemy projectile graphics instead of their usual unique ones. This is to prevent them from blending in with the starry background.
• On subsequent playthroughs of the stage, the beginning tutorial segment is skipped entirely, and Zero begins the stage in the first freefall segment.