Falcon Armor

The Falcon Armor (ファルコンアーマー) is found in Mega Man X5. The main feature is a flight function, which allows multi-directional maneuvering in a Nova Strike-like air dash. While in flight, X is invulnerable to everything except for instant-kill objects such as spikes and lasers. However, it sacrifices the ability to charge special weapons for this feat. The Falcon Armor's charged shot is a small, fast-moving, thin beam similar in appearance to a needle. The shot can pierce through walls and shields.

The Falcon Armor's Giga Attack stays the same in the transition between games. It causes needle-like projectiles to dart up and down all across the screen.

In Mega Man X6, you begin the game with the Falcon Armor. Alia had to repair it quickly, and its flight function is offline for the entire game. The charged shot is now essentially a fast-moving, smaller projectile with no piercing properties, but can now charge weapons.

Functions

 * Note: Specific parts do not have effects as this armor can only be equipped when complete.


 * Head Parts - Decreases the amount of weapon energy used per shot.
 * Body Parts - Reduces the amount of damage received, and allows X to use the Giga Attack, which sends energy blasts flying up and down the screen.
 * Arm Parts - The Charge Shot can penetrate through any surface, including the terrain and enemy shields. It's not possible to charge special weapon attacks. This is changed in X6. The Charge shot is now essentially a smaller, fast-moving projectile with no piercing properties, but can now charge weapons.
 * Foot Parts - Enables X to fly for a limited period of time. X is invincible, and can damage enemies by running into them while he's flying. In X6, the flight ability is weakened (due to the armor being damaged), and it instead allows X to perform a damaging air-dash.

Locations

 * Head Parts: Squid Adler's stage
 * Body Parts: Duff McWhalen's stage
 * Arm Parts: Izzy Glow's stage
 * Foot Parts: Grizzly Slash's stage

Production Notes
Developer Comments This really is a ?? armor. (grin) My intention was to make an armor that was above all the rest, so I ended up taking the offensive. (sweat) The source material being the previous game's Fourth Armor also worried me a lot. I discarded any number of designs proposed by Seito, the designer in charge. (bitter laugh) I was very particular about it design-wise when I made it, since it would be the "poster armor" [as in "poster child"] for selling the game. From the fact that it can fly, he designed it using the image of a hawk. Its name has its origins in that too. I like the beak on the chest. Did you all notice it?

Designer Comments This was the toughest. I caused trouble for a lot of people when I couldn't make it very well. Sorry. Consequently, though, it may be the one I like the best. I drew it with the image of a hawk in mind, and changed its name from Wing Armor to Falcon Armor. This was fun. I'm touched it'll shown up in commercials and in vending machines (since it's the first time for me).

Trivia

 * Some fans speculate that the Falcon Armor is the basis for the character Harpuia from the Mega Man Zero series.


 * The Falcon Armor's Giga Attack is one of two that is immediately available at the start of the game (in this case, X6). The other is the Giga Attack of the Ultimate Armor, one game earlier.