- "A Maverick Hunter!? Here!? Who in the world are you? Why are you here? Who am I?"
- ―Optic Sunflower, Mega Man X8
Optic Sunflower, known as Optic Sunfloward (オプティック・サンフラワード Oputikku Sanfurawādo) in Japan, is a New Generation Reploid from Mega Man X8 based on a sunflower.
Sunflower was originally responsible for running Troia Base, a virtual Hunter training facility stationed in Europe. When he became a Maverick, he caused the management program of the training area, "Helios", to go haywire. The Maverick Hunters have to complete training sessions to advance, with the difficulty of the next area changing based on the score received from the previous area.
Characteristics[]
Optic Sunflower was a tall and thin Reploid with an appearance based on a sunflower plant. This was most notable with his head, which actively resembled a flower and was connected to his body by a long, stalk-like neck. His shoulderpads and fingers were also reminiscient of flower petals, and his armor was colored green and yellow to resemble a plant.
Optic Sunflower was a flamboyant yet reasonable individual. He showed some signs of losing his sense of self, even wondering out loud about his own identity, but seemed to understand his goals and believed the Hunters had no right to stop him. He understood that he was not perceived as a "good guy," but refused to be perceived as a monster.
Strategy[]
Optic Sunflower's main attack is by warping about, rearranging the blocks in the room while doing so, making doubles of himself, and shooting his Shining Ray. In overdrive, he'll shout "Earth Crush" and fire massive laser beams from above (like Tenshouha). Sunflower will also shoot a bouncing orb of light that will immobilize the player for a brief moment if successfully hit. Optic Sunflower is weak to the plant-based weapons derived from Bamboo Pandamonium.
|
Change Space (チェンジスペース Chenji Supēsu)[3][4]) |
|---|---|
| Optic Sunflower alters the layout of the arena's platforms. | |
| Damage: 0 | |
|
Ray Sphere (レイスフィア Rei Sufia)[3][4] |
| Sunflower throws a wire sphere that bounces off of surfaces. If it touches the player, it catches them inside, forcing them to use Escape Capture. | |
| Damage: 0 | |
|
Ray Gun (レイガン Rei Gan)[3][4] |
| Sunflower throws his face, which shoots a laser upwards before turning around at the wall to shoot downwards, returning to Sunflower. On Hard mode he may throw two at a time. | |
| Damage: 4 | |
|
Shining Ray (レイガン Shainingu Rei)[3][4] |
| Sunflower rotates his head clockwise while shooting a laser from his face. | |
| Damage: 6 | |
|
Earth Crush (レイガン Āsu Kurasshu)[3][4] |
| Optic Sunflower's Overdrive Attack. He summons a laser sight to target the player, then calls down a beam of light. He performs this attack three times consecutively. On subsequent uses of this attack, Sunflower only calls one beam at a time. | |
| Damage: 8 |
Data[]
Stage[]
[]
Alia: I've taken a close look at the area that the target is in, but... I see evidence of the shape having been changed many times by the program in charge. The target itself likely possesses the ability to alter proportional features.
Layer: The management program of the training area is named "Helios," after the sun. I've detected the energy used by "Helios" in the target. Apparently, the target can alter its surroundings. It'll try to use the environment to its advantage. Be careful!
Quotes[]
Dialogues[]
Before defeating four Mavericks[]
Optic Sunflower: A Maverick Hunter!? Here!? Who in the world are you? Why are you here? Who am I?
X: He's gone totally berserk! We've got to stop him!
Optic Sunflower: A Maverick Hunter!? Here!? Who are you? Why are you here? Who am I?
Zero: Aw man... He's gone off the deep end.
Optic Sunflower: A Maverick Hunter!? Here!? Who in the world are you? Why are you here? Who am I?
Axl: This guy's outta control.
After defeating four Mavericks[]
Optic Sunflower: X... Since you made it this far, you must have figured it out. You must have an inkling as to what we're after here.
X: You Mavericks... You're under Sigma's control, aren't you?
Optic Sunflower: Zero... Surely you've figured it out. You must have an inkling as to what we're after here.
Zero: What would I know about how you Mavericks think?
Optic Sunflower: Axl... The shape-shifter. The prototype of the Reploids who will lead the new age...
Axl: So what? You sayin' I should join you? Tough luck, chump!
In-battle quotes[]
| Action | Romaji | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burrowing out of the floor | Koko da! | ここだ！ | Over here! |
| Change Space / phase change | Ahahaha! | ヤハハハ! | AHAHAHAHA! |
| Change Space / phase change | Watashi no kachi da! | 私の勝ちだ！ | Victory will be mine! |
| Ray Gun | Haah! | ハッ！ | Haah! |
| Ray Gun | Chire! | 散れ! | Wilt! |
| Shining Ray | Shainingu Rei! | シャイニングレイ！ | Shining Ray! |
| Shining Ray | Kieusero! | 消え失せろ！ | Go away! |
| Earth Crush | Āsu Kurasshu! | アースクラッシュ！ | Earth Crush! |
| Earth Crush laser hits floor | Kore de owari da! | これで終わりだ！ | I'll finish this! |
| Hit with weakness | Nani!? (What!?) | 何っ！？ | Huuuaargh! |
| Defeated | Kisamara gotoki! | 貴様らごとき！ | Can't lose to the likes of you...! |
Other media[]
Archie Comics[]
Optic Sunflower appeared as part of the Maverick army who attacked the Sky Patrol on the orders of Sigma-2. Afterwards, he departed through a Genesis Portal to help set up a plan to conquer the multiverse.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
The device shown in the boss battle shooting a beam.
- When Sunflower uses his strongest attack, a device similar to Final Weapon is seen in the background. Given the nature of Troia Base, it is unknown if that is a real or virtual object, and if it is the source of Zero's Tenshouha.
- Optic Sunflower is one of the few Mavericks in the series to be based on a plant, the others being Wire Sponge (at least by his Japanese name), Spike Rosered, and Tornado Tonion.
- Strangely, despite having a plant design, Optic Sunflower is weak to wood/leaf-based weapons and techniques.
- Optic Sunflower is sometimes mistaken as female because of his high-pitched voice and flower design.
- Optic Sunflower is the only of the eight bosses that will actually refer to Axl by name, whereas the others will just discard him as a simple prototype.
- Optic Sunflower is one of the few Reploids shown to be able to purposedly separate the head from the body, along with Illumina and Dr. Psyche.
References[]