| This article is about Bright Man's Special Weapon in Mega Man 4. For the weapon obtained by defeating Flash Man, in Mega Man 2, see Time Stopper. |
Flash Stopper (フラッシュストッパー Furasshu Sutoppā) is Bright Man's Special Weapon. This is not to be mistaken as Flash Man's power, Time Stopper. The Flash Stopper emits an intense light that activates a safety device in the camera eyes of robots and blinds them for a short period, which makes them unable to move and leaves them open for attacks.[1] However, when used in the games, it appears to stop time, being able to stop projectiles and paralyze enemies without eyes such as Super Ball Machine Jr. and Pakatto 24. Flash Stopper does no damage to enemies directly, but it has a bonus effect: unlike the Time Stopper, Mega Man can still fire Mega Buster shots while the paralysis is active, and it can also allow him to attack shielded enemies, like Shield Attacker and Skeleton Joe, without the shots being deflected.
This weapon is Pharaoh Man's weakness, as it makes him unable to do anything until he's no longer paralyzed. He will also take damage faster when Flash Stopper is activated, as he does not flash while it is active and consequently does not have the brief invincibility period. Although the stopping effect itself does not damage him, he can be held in place with it and Mega Man can quickly defeat him with barrages of shots. No bosses besides him can be paralyzed by this weapon if it is used against them.
In Mega Man IV, the Flash Stopper can also temporarily stop hazards, including stone platforms, the crystal dispensers in Crystal Man Stage and the collapsing bridge at the end of Napalm Man Stage.
In Mega Man (Game Gear), it is called Bright Weapon, and the weapon now damages all enemies on the screen.
Damage data chart[]
Damage values in units in Mega Man 4.
 Flash Stopper
| |
| Boss | Damage |
| Bright Man | 0 |
| Toad Man | 0 |
| Drill Man | 0 |
| Pharaoh Man | * |
| Ring Man | 0 |
| Dust Man | 0 |
| Dive Man | 0 |
| Skull Man | 0 |
| Mothraya | 0 |
| Square Machine | 0 |
| Cockroach Twins | 0 |
| Cossack Catcher | 0 |
| Metall Daddy | 0 |
| Tako Trash | 0 |
| Wily Machine 4: 1st Phase | 0 |
| Wily Machine 4: 2nd Phase | 0 |
| Wily Capsule | 0 |
- *For Flash Stopper, Pharaoh Man is the only boss that is vulnerable to it, thus more damage can be inflicted on him with this weapon than on other bosses.
Capacity[]
The Flash Stopper uses 4 units of weapon energy in Mega Man 4 and 3 units in Mega Man IV, even if less energy is available. With the weapon energy gauge full, it can be activated a total of 7 times in both Mega Man 4 and Mega Man IV. Neither version requires energy to fire the Mega Buster when activated.
Bosses weak against Flash Stopper[]
- Pharaoh Man: Mega Man 4 and Mega Man IV
- Napalm Man: Mega Man (Game Gear)
- Star Man: Mega Man (Game Gear)
Other media[]
Flash Stopper is used by Mega Man in the Mega Man animated series and in the Rockman 4 manga. In the cartoon, Mega Man uses it like Bright Man does by protruding a light bulb from his buster and shining a continual bright light, unlike the brief flash used in the games. Humorously, Mega Man also manages to use sunglasses to block the Flash Stopper's optic disabling effect.
The Flash Stopper made its debut in Issue 40 of the Mega Man Archie Comics serial, where Bright Man was modified by Mega Man on Dr. Wily and Dr. Cossack's orders (the latter being extremely reluctant to have him undergo the modifications). Upon the modification's completion, he used its full power to halt the Wily Walker in its tracks. The ability, however, caused some damage to Pharaoh Man, requiring that his creator inspect him.
Gallery[]
References[]
| Time / Space / Holographic Special Weapons and Techniques | |
|---|---|
| Special Weapons | |
| Mega Man series | Time Stopper (2) • Flash Stopper (4) • Gravity Hold (5) • Star Crash (5) • Centaur Flash (6) • Astro Crush (8) • Black Hole Bomb (9) • Black Hole (V) • Copy Vision (M&B) • Time Slow (PU) • Doppler Attack (R&F) • Time Switch/Time Bomb (R&F) |
| Mega Man X series | Gravity Well (X3) • Soul Body (X4) • Dark Hold (X5) • Squeeze Bomb (X8) |
| Zero's Techniques and EX Skills | |
| Techniques | W-Shredder (X5) • Dark Hold (X5) • Twin Dream (X5) |
| EX Skills | Time Stopper (Z4) |
| Light/Laser Special Weapons and Techniques | |
|---|---|
| Special Weapons | |
| Mega Man series | Gemini Laser (3) • Flash Stopper (4) • Centaur Flash (6) • Laser Trident (9) • Spark Chaser (V) • Optic Laser (SFxMM) |
| Mega Man X series | Chameleon Sting (X) • Ray Splasher (X3) • Aiming Laser (X4) • Flash Laser (X5) • Ray Arrow (X6) • Shining Ray (X8, X's) • Ray Gun (X8, Axl's) • Ray Claw ( Xtreme 2) |
| Zero's Techniques | |
| Techniques | Rakuhouha (X4) • C-Flasher (X5) • Rekkoha (X6) • Tenshouha (X8) |
| EX Skills | Laser Shot (Z2) • Kougenjin (Z2) • Reflect Laser (Z3) |
| Mega Man IV | |
|---|---|
| Bosses | |
| Bright Man • Toad Man • Pharaoh Man • Ring Man Stone Man • Charge Man • Napalm Man • Crystal Man "Satellite Cannon" • Ballade • "Bridge" • Hunter • Wily Robo Iron Golem | |
| Special Weapons | |
| Flash Stopper • Rain Flush • Pharaoh Shot • Ring Boomerang Power Stone • Charge Kick • Napalm Bomb • Crystal Eye • Ballade Cracker | |
| Support items | |
| Rush Coil • Rush Jet • Beat | |
| Locations | |
| Dr. Light's Laboratory • Bright Man Stage • Toad Man Stage • Pharaoh Man Stage • Ring Man Stage Wily Station • Stone Man Stage • Charge Man Stage • Napalm Man Stage • Crystal Man Stage • Wily Battleship | |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Damage Data Chart • Enemies • Script | |
| Mega Man (Game Gear) | |
|---|---|
| Robot Masters | |
| Bright Man • Stone Man • Star Man • Napalm Man • Wave Man • Toad Man | |
| Other Bosses | |
| Wily Capsule II | |
| Mega Man's Special Weapons | |
| Mega Buster • Flash Stopper • Power Stone • Star Crash • Napalm Bomb • Water Wave • Rain Flush | |
| List of Enemies | |
| 100 Watton • Apache Joe • Asteroid • B Bitter • Baby Metall • Battan • Bomb Thrown • Bounder • Changkey Maker • Dachone • Daidine • Dompan • Gas • Giree • Gyotot • Hirarian 427 • Irucan • Jet Bomb • Lyric • Metall Cannon • Metall Mommy • Minoan • Mizzile • Mousubeil Power Muscler • Puyoyon • Rackaser • Ratton • Rider Joe • Rock Thrown • Rolling Drill • Scworm • Sniper Armor • Space Metall Springer • Swallown • Subeil • Sumatran • Taban • Tatepakkan • Teckyun • Tondeall • Toss Machine • Totem Polen Twin Cannon • Yudon • V | |
| - Sub-Bosses - | |
| Escaroo • Octoper OA | |
| Locations | |
| Bright Man Stage • Stone Man Stage • Star Man Stage • Napalm Man Stage • Wave Man Stage • Toad Man Stage | |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Mega Man (Game Gear) Damage Data Chart | |