I’ve been playing quite a bit of the Mega Man game series, lately. This morning, I had an epiphany.
Dr. Wily is a moron.
Don’t get me wrong: He’s a brilliant (fictional) mad scientist. His skills and proficiency in engineering is without match. No mad scientist has ever created as many varied creatures as Dr. Albert W. Wily, and certainly not in the quantity that he has.
In the 10 Mega Man games from the original series, Wily has created around 80 different Robot Master bosses (MM2-10 and Mega Man & Bass — Dr. Light created the MM1/Powered Up!! Robot Masters), plus dozens of regular enemies to fill each of the Robot Masters’ stages. But only one of Wily’s creations has what it takes to stand up to Mega Man:
The Metool.
Also known as “Mets” and “Hardhats,” the Metool is unique amongst the enemies in the Mega Man games. Mega Man can only damage a Metool by shooting its face or feet. A shot to the hardhat portion of the Met will bounce off, with a “tink!” sound effect, indicating the weapon’s uselessness. When it is hunched into its hardhat “shell,” a Met becomes COMPLETELY invincible. Nothing can harm a crouching Metool. Even the mighty Sniper Joe, who hides behind an invincible shield before assaulting you with a barrage of shots, pales in comparison to the Metool.
So, given all that, why do I think Wily is a moron?
BECAUSE HE DOESN’T MAKE ALL OF HIS ROBOTS OUT OF THE SAME MATERIAL AS A METOOL’S HARDHAT!
If Wily REALLY wanted to destroy Mega Man, he would have enough COMMON SENSE to make everything he built as INVINCIBLE as the Metool!
But, because he isn’t that smart, Mega Man will defeat Dr. Wily, again and again.