Ryuusei no Rockman 31 (Use the spoilers, Lu - I mean Subaru)

[BluntmanEXE]

Forgive my extended absence, but it took an episode as kick-ass as this to drag me away from Pokemon Diamond.

Anyway, straight to the episode.

Cutting back to the gathering of the FM Seijin, Rockman bursts onto the scene, and everyone's all like "OMG WTF, ROCKMAN!"

The FM Seijin all bum-rush his ass, and Subaru and WarRock do their usual Battle Card-chomping thing. They manage to hold their own for a while, but the combined assault proves to be a bit more than they can handle, and a Barrier card becomes the only thing standing between them and a galaxy-sized pwning.

Meanwhile Cygnus Wing is commanding Andromeda to continue drilling to the Earth's core, but Gemini Spark is watching from the shadows, and seems to have other plans.

Back under the barrier, WarRock's telling Subaru to hurry and get the Andromeda key before Earth gets fragged, and Subaru's wondering what the hell to do. Suddenly, he flashbacks to the three Satellite Admins doing their best Obi-Wan Kenobi impression, telling him to "Use the Star Force, Subaru"

WarRock's wondering how the hell Subaru met the AM Seijin, Subaru whips out the three Star Force cards, and WarRock's all like " WTF NEW BATTLE CARDS?!"

Now this part I found interesting.

At this point, WarRock's head on Subaru's left arm disappears, leaving behind Subaru's normal arm wearing his Transer. Not only does this open up possibilities, but this also proves my earlier theory about the Battle Card Predation. (i.e. WarRock slides the Battle Cards into the Transer through his mouth.)

ANywho, Rockman slides the Pegasus Star Force card into his Transer, and BAM! Rockman Ice Pegasus!

Everyone, including Cygnus Wing, is shocked to see Rockman's new form.

Ox Fire, who's not about to take this lying down, lets loose with an Anger Punch. IP Rockman dodges, counters with Magician's Freeze, and....PWNED!

Rockman performs a normal predation with the next Star Force card, which turns him into Rockman Green Dragon. (My personal favorite)

Wolf Forest, Ophiuchus Queen, and Crown Thunder all try to take him out, but GD Rockman busts loose with Elemental Cyclone, and again....PWNED!

BTW, I LOVE the CGI-rendered leaves in the Elemental Cyclone.

Cygnus Wing is surprised at how all of his fellow FM Seijin are getting the denpa beat out of them, but he isn't worried seeing as how Andromeda is about to frag the Earth anyway. But then from out of nowhere, Gemini Spark shows up and blasts him! They then steal the Andromeda Key, mentioning something about the FM King and having their own plans for Andromeda.

They make a few biting remarks before leaving to let Cygnus Wing stew in his own emo, but our favorite swan man ain't havin' it. He grabs them both before they can leave, saying that he's not letting them get away with it. Libra Balance and Cancer Bubble show up to try and help, but just then, Rockman shows up, this time as Rockman Fire Leo. Wasting no words, FL Rockman lets loose with the Atomic Blazer.

Libra Balance and Cancer Bubble....PWNED!

Gemini Spark....PWNED! (but not before dropping the Andromeda key)

And finally, the best pwning of all.

Cyngus Wing's Denpa Henkan is broken, leaving behind Utagai and Cygnus. A split second later, Cygnus himself is destroyed PERMANANTLY!

Utagai falls from the sky, but fortunately, Amachi, who had been watching the battle this entire time, shows up to catch Utagai before he goes splatarootie. (Rockman tried to save Utagai himself, but was too drained from the previous attack)

Just then, the Andromeda key falls from the sky. WarRock catches it, and clamps down with his mouth, cracking it. Andromeda reverts back to its first form, and sinks into the lava.

After all that mess, Utagai is sleeping soundly in the back of Amachi's car (and snoring loud enough to wake the dead) Subaru and Amachi exchange thanks and pleasantries, and before leaving, Amachi says something along the lines of "Subaru, it's up to you to use the power of the Star Force to protect this planet"

Subaru put on his Visualizer, and thanks WarRock for helping him pwn the hell out of the FM Seijin. WarRock's confused since Subaru was app pissed before, but Subaru's all like "It's okay. We're friends, aren't we?"

Now, this part is pure speculation, so Numbergirl, feel free to correct me if I mangle this.

WarRock: "Umm, I promised I'd tell you the truth about your father, so..."

Subaru: "Don't bother. I know you didn't kill him. I know he's still alive out there somewhere."

Then Subaru apologizes for being an emo git before, and they stare at the sunset.

But back at the factory wreckage, Tsukasa finds the damaged Andromeda key, and says something along the lines of "Rockman, this game isn't over yet."

All in all, I'd say this ranks right up there with the finer eps out there, and leave us with quite a bit to look forward to. Andromeda's down but not out, the FM King has yet to make his grand entrance, and Bob only knows what Gemini Spark has planned.
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This kick-ass sig banner created by X-Shunin

[Nenji]

Are we sure Cygnus is really dead? Or just defeated like the other FM Seijin were and will pop up later.

Edit: Game Spoiler Cepheus ressurects the FM Warriors in the game, so this could happen in the Anime as well I suppose.
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Previously known as "HiKaizer"

[Tachyon360]

Well, he didn't get all rainbow-y - rather, there was a bright flash. There's good reason to believe he's dead, at least for the time being.
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[Rock Miyabi]

Tough to say if he's really gone. True, they didn't show him with the same rainbow effect as mentioned, and his laser light show did start from his crest area/midsection. Don't know if the break from his host was enough to weaken him so much that he couldn't escape, or not. Don't think we have an effect to compare it to in order to be sure he's gone. But I kinda think he might show up again, somehow.

I really don't get why the Key got left behind afterwards. Even with it being broken (I assume War Rock said doing so was the only way to stop Andromeda by the looks of things), why would he be so careless to leave it there? We don't even see anything like that, so when the heck did that happen?

Well, some nice new attack scenes, like Wolf's Puppy Power, the Star Force slot in, etc. Doing these caps has made me notice more and more when scenes like that are replayed again, even if it's not the same art director (like Crown Thunder's double skull attack, which clearly was from Ep. 23, only minus the rollercoaster). Problem is I still end up capping them again, hoping I've got a different frame this time around. ^^;

You can't say I don't try to show the whole story with these caps! Sorry, too many to Imageshack, this is new record total.

Ep. 31 Link, 221 Total Caps: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NBMUXL7C

Edit: Here are your pans for the week. Less than I thought I had. But at least you can have nearly full body Star Force pics. Hopefully cloning out some of the glowy effects doesn't look so obvious.


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Avatar art thanks to toberboobap, animated gif thanks to Dr. Wily II

[Miyabi on DA] [Ryuusei Pans all in one thread!](Last Updated on 4/6, TRIBE COMPLETE!)

[ComicX6]

Hah! They finally mentioned the FM King's name! You can clearly hear Spark White say ''Cepheus.''

From what I gather, the reason Gemini Spark took the Key was because only the FM King, Cepheus, can wield the power of Andromeda. I'm pretty sure that was the gist of the converstation. So I guess Gemini Spark was going off to deliever the Key, but hadn't counted on running into Leo Rockman.

I guess Warrock left the key because he thought that it was harmless after chomping down on it, but I guess Tsukasa is going to prove him wrong.

As for Cygnus... I think he was deleted. He didn't 'Wave Out' like the others, was seperated from Utagai, and had that agonized scream. Of course, we don't have an animation in Ryuusei that says DELETED, like EXE did, so I suppose it's up in the air for now.
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' I don't care if the buzz isn't real- I can roleplay being drunk!'

- Balmung, .hack vol. 1

I now have a site! Web page rather: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1048042/

[cccd-erckie]

It's pretty safe to say that Cygnus is dead. (it's about time)
The animation was nice, but it still was just sorta...bleh...I guess...or maybe I'm just nuts. *dodges bricks*
Anywho. I think I heard DrkX mention something about Tsukasa not wanting the Earth destroyed. But, he's been wrong before about the anime, and while I don't think Gemini would take the key back to Cephus, I do think he's got other ideas. It's pretty obvious he and Tsukasa have their own agenda.
:/
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Certified Gemini Spark Fangirl.
(pwnsome sig belongs to Heaven Sealed)
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"I'd rather live like there is a God and finding out there isn't, than live like there is no God and finding out there is."

[Unknown Neo]

This sounds like a great episode. With all three forms and a possible destroying of one of the main villains, how will the next episode turn out.

[Shakai]

I was dying to see Gemini Spark do that. GEMINI THUNDER TO CYGNUS WING'S FAAAAAACE!!!!!!!!

And the star force transformations too...

I really hope we actually get to see a fight against Andromeda next time...if there's a next time <_>;

...Hey look, Ophicius Queen! :D
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The time is come. Bid farewell to your bloodstained past.
Forsake the darkness you once embraced, or the light will find no hold.
Vanquish the dark knight! You and he are one no more!

[Anime Master ZERO]

Well, it's not quite what I was dreading at least.

I kept dreading that the three Star Force forms would be used as the Deus Ex Machina against the final boss. But seeing as Subaru just whipped them all out in this episode and there are still more episodes, this may not be the case.

Hopefully.
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[Tachyon360]

Why was Cygnus screaming so desperately if Gemini Spark just wanted to stop Andromeda or wanted to bring the key back to Cepheus? The feeling I got was that Gemini Spark wanted to activate Andromeda upon the FM planet, and Cygnus Wing realized just how much of a douche he was for stealing the key from War Rock at that point.
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[Dougurasu]

I loved the art and animation for this one, however the story left me a little disappointed. I think we've seen Gemini Spark like three times sort of plotting or looking down from the sidelines doing nothing. The build-up seemed to ask for something bigger than just Gemini Spark getting it for like 2 minutes and then dropping it. I think they should at least've spent another episode on that.

The Star Force transformations are nice :D Tho I have to get used once again to Warrock, he looked kinda weird in the Ice Pegasus form :p Also... it seemed like the ending of the arc only to say that there's defenitely more... which was kinda weird.
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Image made by Synchro-kun ^^

[JH24]

This episode was worth the wait IMO, despite a few things that annoyed me a bit. The animation didn't disappoint although you had to use your imagination in some parts because of the still-shots. The attacks of the FM's were well done and interesting to see, but the best action part was when they showed the three new forms of Rockman. His new Starforce powers were very nicely animated and I especially liked the Elemental Cyclone attack. It was quite fun to see how Rockman turned the tables on the FM's as well as seeing their surprise. I like all the three forms but my favorite Starforce power was, and still is after this episode, Rockman Ice Pegasus, with Green Dragon following close behind.

I've never played a Rockman game before but if the Starforce game would ever appear in Europe, I would be tempted to buy one.

When I saw the scene were Cygnus, Gemini and the other two FM's were hit by Leo Rockman's Atomic Blazer my first reaction was: "Wow, they killed Cygnus!" I do hope he'll make a return eventually though. Together with Gemini, he was one of my most favorite villains in the Ryusei series. It was good to see that Utagai seems to be well even after everything that has happened to him, nice touch to show this in a comical way.

I quite enjoyed the scene were Gemini felt the full force of Leo's Atomic Blazer. I consider Gemini one of the stronger villains but even he/Tsukasa was powerless against the power of Leo. I loved their surprised looks, it is a nice payback for what they did to Rockman in episode 17.

To an extent I understand why Warrock and Subaru thought that the Andromeda Key was harmless now after being destroyed. But to just leave it behind was a rather short-sighted decision. They could have least taken the key with them. It is a somewhat weak decision of the writers IMHO to develop the story this way. The last scene contained a very effective view of Tsukasa, showing to the viewer that the problems have only just begun. I was happy to see that Tsukasa wasn't discouraged in the least by Rockman's new powers, I like his attitude.

Despite all the action scenes, my favorite part is the scene were Subaru and Warrock are talking in the end. I don't understand what they were saying but I really would like to believe BluntmanEXE's theory about the conversation.


In the end, the episode did deliver, the animation was fitting for an important episode like this one (although they seem to rely more on still shots again lately) and there were a lot of plot developments. A few weeks ago I thought that the series was reaching it's end, but it seems the story isn't over by a long shot.
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[ComicX6]

My take on the Cygnus/Gemini thing is that Cygnus wanted the glory of using Andromeda all to himself, which is supported by coercing the other FMs into making him their leader. Gemini, whether through loyality to Cepheus or an ulterior motive, didn't like that and so removed the Key from the FM's possession. Cygnus was, in my eyes, clearly going rouge, desiring glory all for himself.

Knowing Gemini's full game backstory however, opens up many possibilities if the writers decide to pursue it.

Based on the words I picked up, I still think only Cepheus is allowed to wield Andromeda's power, and Cygnus overstepped his boundaries, resulting in Gemini Spark having to take action. What he really intends for the future, we'll just have to see.
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' I don't care if the buzz isn't real- I can roleplay being drunk!'

- Balmung, .hack vol. 1

I now have a site! Web page rather: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1048042/

[NumberGirl]