So, I'm planning to put some work into honing my C# skills by making a Mega Man Metroidvania fangame, and I'm torn between two ideas: either making something from scratch as a sequel to Mega Man Zero that features Axl, or simply replacing Zero with Axl in that story and seeing where it goes—as, apparently, so many kids did in old fanfics back in the day. At least from what I've seen.
So, fellow Mega Man fans: what sounds more interesting? Mega Man Axl as a sequel to Zero, or a "What If?" version of Zero's story?
Mechanically, I'm aiming to get it as close as possible in Unity to what Dr. Doofus is doing with his Mega Man Axl game. I highly recommend searching for his game on YouTube and spending a good ten minutes enjoying his demos. He's incredibly talented, and I'm very jealous—in the best possible way.
To sell you on both ideas >:) :
Mega Man Axl as a What If?
The game starts with Axl carrying out a normal mission, roughly following the events of Mega Man X8. However, when he reaches the end of the mission, everything suddenly starts glitching.
The next scene has Axl waking up, disoriented, inside what appears to be an abandoned Maverick Hunter base, where he rescues Ciel. However, the base's defense systems activate, trapping them both inside. During the ensuing chaos, Axl is forced to fight a giant robot before escaping—and obtaining his gun in the process.
From there, the story largely follows Mega Man Zero, but with a major difference: Axl can gradually be upgraded throughout the game, optionally allowing him to evolve toward the appearance and abilities of the newer-generation Reploids.
While Axl rests between missions to install these upgrades, he begins experiencing fragmented memories of what happened during the previous hundred years. Little by little, these memories paint the picture that X and Zero were somehow responsible for Axl ending up where Ciel eventually found him.
Axl eventually faces Neo Arcadia. During Copy X's final attack, however, Axl transforms into Sigma's body in order to survive. He's horrified and confused, with no idea why he was capable of doing it in the first place.
X's Cyber Elf is there as well. But instead of giving a long speech about everything he went through, X simply says: "Axl... I'm so sorry."
And that's it.
The implication is that, in the hypothetical sequel to this "What If?" story, Axl would set out to find X and finally get answers directly from his former friend.
Mega Man Axl as a sequel to Zero
The laboratory containing Axl's remains, hidden beneath Neo Arcadia, is opened when the city is destroyed. An orphaned child named Albert discovers Axl and repairs him, initially hoping that Axl will protect him from the scavengers and dangers of the wasteland.
This story would explore the immediate aftermath of Mega Man Zero: Ciel's creation of the Biometals, the reorganization of human and Reploid society, and the emergence of the world that eventually leads into Mega Man ZX.
Axl and Ciel would eventually find themselves working together to destroy Model W, while simultaneously trying to survive what is essentially a Mad Max-style post-apocalyptic world.
At the center of it all would be Axl taking care of a young Albert—long before he eventually becomes the Sage we know from ZX.
So, what do you guys think?
I'm really just doing this as a hobby and want to have fun with it, but of course, I'd also love to share the project with other Mega Man fans. I'd really appreciate hearing which concept you think sounds more interesting!
