Games | Nintendo Entertainment System | Game Boy | Mega Man Series | Fire Man
Article by wumpwoast | November 8, 2007
Thanks to the prevalence of crack cocaine in the late '80s, America became acquainted with Mega Man rather than his Japanese alter-ego Rockman. How fortunate for us, because even if Rockman 2 was recognized as a top-flight platforming experience, no self-conscious gamer would let their rock collection grow so far. I mean, it's a robot...named after a rock. At least "Mega Man" sounds like it could theoretically be the name of a heroic little blue robot-slayer who fights for everlasting peace.
Now imagine if they named the series after Fire Man. Does our misunderstood hero fight fires or start them? Does he rescue women and children from burning buildings, or is he a serial arsonist? The banal truth is Fire Man's just a simple-minded robot, the type that would live in your local incinerator and burn your garbage. It's a thankless job, but Fire Man handles it with charming gusto.
Those who stop by his company headquarters on 666 Die in a Burning Airplane Crash Avenue witness Fire Man's true dedication to his career. He's got lava, flamethrowers, even some mean-looking evil-eye embers floating down from the heavens. More so than Ice Man, the obstacles in this stage really establish the incinerator theme. Curiously, Fire Man himself is somewhat of a pushover. Presumably, it takes less energy to design a fire-resistant Mega Man then one that is immune to bottomless pits.
With two years' lead time, Mega Man for the Game Boy has more to work with in terms of interesting enemies and background scenery. The torch-bearing Hotheads from Quick Man's stage in Mega Man 2 are on tap, along with Sniper Joes that own their little one-square platforms. More than that, Fire Man's stage in the Game Boy feels considerably longer, weaving down and to the right, deeper and deeper into the furnace. Near the end, those Hotheads can get dangerous if you're low on life and don't have the Ice Slasher handy.
With Fire Man out like a candle, we get equipped with a flamethrower projectile that also generates a superheated ring of death around Mega Man. Every fire weapon (and fire stage) in the Mega Man games to follow are weaker variations on this original. Leaf Shield?, eat your heart out.
Next on NES: It Takes Guts to Be an Action Hero
Next on Game Boy: Shear Heart Attack