The Aegis Volcano Base, known as the "Agnis Volcano Base" (アグニス火山の基地 Agunisu Kazan no Kichi) in Japan, is Blazin' Flizard's stage in Mega Man Zero 3. As it says in the title, it is a volcanic-themed stage.
Description and History[]
Aegis Volcano Base is a missile support base for the army of Neo Arcadia located in an active volcano that constantly erupts. When the Neo Arcadian army gathered at the base, Zero was sent to scout the area, discovering that it was being used to support the construction of a huge missile in a nearby Missile Factory. Zero attacks the Aegis Volcano Base to buy some time for the Resistance to find a route to the missile factory, fighting against Blazin' Flizard deep in the base. While they could not destroy the missile, Zero's actions delayed its construction, and the Resistance began to calculate the transfer coordinates to the factory, but they are unable to finish it before the missile's completion.
Layout[]
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The outer area of the Aegis Volcano Base is a rocky area with a view of the sea in the background, as well as an unknown facility at the beginning. There are volcanoes which erupt as Zero passes them. After the second volcano is the area's door to cyberspace. The outer area is guarded by Heavy Cannons and Pantheon Hunters, as well as Volcaires which jump out of lava pits Zero must jump over to proceed. Immediately outside the base is a large lava pit with floating platforms Zero must use to enter the base. These platforms periodically rise as lava pushes them upwards, with the final two being directly below a spiked ceiling, and some have Pantheon Hunters on them.
The entrance to the base appears to lead into a storage area, with crates littering the background. This area is very lightly guarded, with only two Heavy Cannons and a Gyro Cannon to block Zero's path. The next area features chutes which drop metal cylinders into lava, which immediately begin to sink. There are six chutes, which drop their cylinders in a forward-moving pattern, allowing Zero - with precise platforming - to move forward. Past the two doors one must go through to exit this section is a lightly guarded hallway with a single Lamplort to block Zero's path forward. There is also a movable object near the beginning of the hallway which Zero can use the Recoil Rod to move to get some E-Crystals and a Secret Disk. Down a ladder is a short vertical thoroughfare guarded by two Pantheon Guardians, at the top of which is another movable object which Zero can push to access a secret later in the level. The next room appears to be a security chamber, containing the level's mid-boss, the Crossbynes. Zero must destroy a certain number of these whilst abiding by a thirty-second timer.
This chamber leads into another vertical thoroughfare with another door to Cyberspace. It is guarded by Pantheon Guardians and Top Gabyoalls, and leads into a hallway with Pantheon Guardians, a Lamplort, and a spike pit. If Zero moved the movable object from earlier, he can use it as a platform to more easily access the ladder needed to leave this area, as well as access to the secret mentioned before, a Secret Disk. Climbing the ladder leads Zero through a short hallway with some enemies, then a second and final section with the chutes from the beginning of the level. This time, the lava is slanted, causing the platforms to move diagonally rather than just sink and requires much tighter platforming for Zero to get across safely. There is one final Lamplort before the door that leads to Blazin' Flizard's boss chamber.
Enemies[]
| Image | Name |
|---|---|
 |
Blazin' Flizard (boss) |
 |
Crossbyne (mid-bosses) |
 |
Heavy Cannon |
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Pantheon Hunter |
 |
Volcaire |
 |
Gyro Cannon |
 |
Lamplort |
 |
Pantheon Guardian |
 |
Top Gabyoall |
Cyber Elves[]
- Sloppe
- Artan
- Boomeras
- Clokkle
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
- Aegis[1] is the name of an object carried by Athena[2] and Zeus[3], but its nature is uncertain, being interpreted as an animal skin or a shield. The modern concept of doing something "under someone's aegis" means doing something under the protection of a powerful, knowledgeable, or benevolent source. The word aegis is identified with protection by a strong force with its roots in Greek mythology and adopted by the Romans.
- Agnis may be derived from agni[4] (अग्नि, Japanese: アグニ aguni), a Sanskrit word that means fire, and connotes the Vedic fire god of Hinduism.