Mega Man 8's Middle Stage.
Middle Stage (中間ステージ Chūkan Sutēji),[1] also known as Special Stage (特殊ステージ),[2] is a type of stage in the Mega Man franchise that is played in the middle of the game. It is usually played after defeating half of the bosses in the Stage Select Screen. The Wily Castle in Mega Man II could be considered a prototype middle stage, but it's just a room with four teleporters and no enemies, so it essentially serves as a stage select screen rather than a real stage. Middle Stages were introduced in Mega Man III.
Mega Man series[]
Mega Man 7[]
The Museum Stage (博物館ステージ Hakubutsukan Sutēji) is a robot museum attacked by Dr. Wily. Wily steals the Guts Man display to later convert him into Guts Man G, before sending Mash to fight Mega Man.
Mega Man 8[]
The Middle Stage is a rocky area near the Wily Tower found by Mega Man as he follows the recently awakened Duo. This level has two Bolts. In the Sega Saturn version, one of the Bolts is replaced by Cut Man as a secret sub-boss, who drops the Bolt upon defeat.
Enemies:
| Image | Enemy |
|---|---|
 |
Duo (boss) |
 |
Cut Man (optional boss, only in Sega Saturn version) |
 |
Dodonpa Cannon |
 |
Joe Classic |
 |
Metall SV |
 |
Monopellan |
Bolts:
- In the beginning, take the ladder above (using Mega Ball or Tornado Hold) and go to the right area. Use Thunder Claw to avoid the spikes.
- After taking the first Bolt, return and go to the left area. (Except the Sega Saturn version)
- After taking the ladder at the beginning, take a ladder on the left and then go to the hidden area to the right to fight Cut Man. After defeating him, a Bolt is dropped. (Sega Saturn version only)
Mega Man III[]
After defeating four Robot Masters, Mega Man invades the Wily Castle. Appearing Blocks and Drop Platforms are found here, ending in a fight against a Giant Suzy. Mega Man then leaves to face the other four Robot Masters.
Mega Man IV[]
After the defeat of four bosses, Mega Man follows Dr. Wily to his Wily Station. He almost corners Wily, but Ballade intervenes and fights him instead. Mega Man then leaves to face the other four Robot Masters.
Mega Man V[]
After defeating the first four Stardroids, Mega Man goes to the middle stage, which takes place in a space port on Earth. Only consisting of a cutscene with no actual stage, Mega Mega runs into Terra for the second time, and the latter sends Dark Moon to fight him before returning to space. Upon defeating Dark Moon, Mega Man returns to Dr. Light to upgrade Rush with Rush Space, so he can fight the second wave of Stardroids.
Enemies
| Image | Enemy |
|---|---|
 |
Dark Moon (boss) |
Mega Man X series[]
Mega Man X4[]
The Memorial Hall Stage (メモリアルホールステージ) is a Repliforce assembly hall where Colonel challenges X to come for a duel. When playing as Zero, Colonel's boss battle in this stage is replaced by a cutscene taking place in the same location.
Mega Man X5[]
The Hunter Base is where X or Zero fight against Dynamo. Rather than consisting of one encounter after defeating four bosses, the player encounters Dynamo twice: once after two bosses, and again after six bosses. If Eurasia crashes before defeating that many bosses, however, then Dynamo can be skipped entirely.
Mega Man Zero and ZX series[]
Missions replace stages in both of these series, but there are story-important missions that occur after four missions against four bosses, similar to Middle Stages.
Mega Man Zero[]
After completing the four selectable missions given by Ciel, Zero must stop the approaching Hittite Hottide before it reaches the Resistance Base. If Zero fails, then Hanumachine instantly launches his attack on the base.
Mega Man Zero 2[]
After completing the four missions given by Elpizo, Zero is forced to rescue Elpizo from a residential area after his failed Operation Righteous Strike. Then, Zero must stop Kuwagust Anchus from performing a retaliative air raid on the New Resistance Base.
Mega Man Zero 3[]
After Zero defeats the first four Weil Numbers, Neo Arcadia locates the Dark Elf in a residential area and plans to launch a missile carrying Omega to capture it. Zero infiltrates the missile itself to stop it, but he is delayed by Crea and Prea and fails to stop the impact.
Now in possession of the Dark Elf, Copy X tries to get the Resistance to give up the Ciel System. When they refuse, Copy X deploys three resurrected Mutos Reploids - Anubis Necromancess V, Blizzack Staggroff R, and Hanumachine R - to lead assaults on the New Resistance Base. Zero defeats all three in missions, before going to Neo Arcadia and defeating Copy X himself. Afterwards, he returns to fight the last four Weil Numbers.
Mega Man Zero 4[]
After defeating four of the Einherjar Eight Warriors, Zero has to stop a Neo Arcadian attack in Area Zero and repel Craft. However, Craft kidnaps Neige, forcing Zero to then rescue her from a Neo Arcadian prison.
Mega Man ZX[]
After defeating four of the Pseudoroids, the Guardian HQ is directly attacked by a Slither Inc. air fleet led by Prometheus and Pandora, ending in a boss fight with Prometheus.
Mega Man ZX Advent[]
After defeating the first three Pseudoroids and repairing the train, Grey/Ashe travels to Legion HQ and is ambushed by Siarnaq. They then witness Master Albert's true colors, initiating the middle act of the game.
After investigating four Model W cores, Grey/Ashe enters the Quarry for the last hidden Model W, and gets into a fight with Aile/Vent due to a misunderstanding. This initiates the final act of the game.
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Rockman 8: Metal Heroes Hisshou Kouryakuhou
- ↑ Compendium of Rockman X, Memorial Hall Stage (X4) and Hunter Base (X5). However, the term is also used for Secret Lab (X6) and Palace Road (X7), which are considered penultimate stages in the book.
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