ProtoMan.EXE

ProtoMan.EXE, known as Blues.EXE in Japan, is a NetNavi from the Mega Man Battle Network series operated by the ace NetBattler Eugene Chaud and rival of MegaMan. ProtoMan specializes in swords and uses many sword-type Battle Chips. ProtoMan appears in many stories of the Battle Network series, and is playable in Mega Man Battle Network 5, Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge, Rockman.EXE 4.5 Real Operation, Mega Man Battle Network 6 (using the Beast Link Gate), and Rockman.EXE Operate Shooting Star.

Description
ProtoMan is the elite NetNavi of Eugene Chaud (Chaud Blaze in the English anime, Enzan Ijuuin in the Japan). His Navi mark, a circle split with a thunderbolt pattern into two black and white sections, can be seen on ProtoMan's chest and gloves, as well as, in the games but not in the anime, on the back of Chaud's vest. Unlike his original counterpart, he normally uses a sword weapon instead of a buster, although he does use a shield reminiscent of the original Proto Man's, and does have a buster weapon when the player activates the Double Hero Program Advance and when he's player-controlled. ProtoMan stands at 161 virtual centimeters (roughly 5'3").

Personality
ProtoMan's most defining character trait is that he is completely loyal to his NetOp, Chaud, and will follow any order given to him. He is also willing to sacrifice himself for Chaud. The two work together very well since they practice so many hours a day. In the anime, it is shown that ProtoMan was Chaud's best friend as a child when he received him as a gift. ProtoMan is also serious and doesn't talk much, but not to the point of being socially isolated like his NetOp.

Game History
ProtoMan, as a Navi for an official, is extremely well-trained by Chaud, who actually created ProtoMan himself. In Mega Man Battle Network, ProtoMan fought alone and won every fight without Chaud operating him. This streak was considered to be a force to be reckoned with to those who knew of them until he saw his downfall at the hands of MegaMan during the ElecMan scenario. Defeated, ProtoMan asked MegaMan how he fights so well and his connection to his operator Lan. When MegaMan explained to ProtoMan what that connection was, this made ProtoMan and Chaud rethink the way they operate. With ProtoMan's great fighting skills and Chaud's talent in NetBattling, this team is one of the few who can match Lan and MegaMan in strength. It is revealed in Mega Man Battle Network 3 that Chaud spends at least 10 hours a day training to uphold his skills.

In Mega Man Network Transmission, ProtoMan operates in the same role as in the previous game, Mega Man Battle Network. He and Chaud tell MegaMan and Lan to back off and let the police deal with these matters. MegaMan later finds ProtoMan in Old Area, near deletion at the hands of SwordMan. ProtoMan then sees MegaMan again after MegaMan defeats Zero, at which time ProtoMan is called upon to finish Zero. What happens to Zero after that depends on several factors. ProtoMan can be battled at the entrance to the Undernet upon the player receiving the AuthCode. ProtoMan assists MegaMan through Lan's and MegaMan's adventure at various times.

Throughout the series, Chaud has operated him to defeat Net criminals as an Official Netbattler. ProtoMan has gained a fearsome reputation and deletes NetNavis in the nick of time when MegaMan can't. He can be battled in every game except for the Team Colonel version of Mega Man Battle Network 5 and in Mega Man Battle Network 4 Red Sun.

In Mega Man Battle Network 6, he has an extra form which can be unlocked after completing all requests which is super powered, making him the only non-villainous NetNavi in Battle Network 6 to have more than three forms (The WWW Navis all have a secret "RV" form).

Anime History
ProtoMan doesn't change much from his game counterpart in MegaMan NT Warrior. He is still loyal to Chaud and extremely powerful, deleting his enemies in seconds. ProtoMan and Chaud are Lan and MegaMan's rivals in the first part of the anime. Lan and MegaMan were training to master the Program Advance like them and challenges them to battle in the streets once when they were supposed to have dinner at a restaurant. ProtoMan and MegaMan face off in the Net, but are attacked by viruses before they can finish.

Both Chaud and ProtoMan enter the N1 Grand Prix and defeat their opponents easily. They have to team up for the next round with ShiningMan and his NetOp. In the ensuing battle, ProtoMan deletes his enemies and ShiningMan. They are then forced to team up with Lan and MegaMan against StoneMan and BombMan. ProtoMan almost lost the netbattle because he was missing a Battle Chip for the Program Advance, but MegaMan uses his and helps the duo win. After that, ProtoMan and Chaud battle Lan and MegaMan in the finals. After a long battle Chaud and ProtoMan are victorious. However, their battle awakens PharaohMan who deletes MegaMan and sinks the N1 dome. Later, Chaud and ProtoMan retrieve MegaMan and team up with him to delete PharaohMan. Afterwards, ProtoMan and MegaMan are now friends throughout the anime.

During the Axess season, Chaud gains the ability to perform Cross Fusion with ProtoMan. Lan and Chaud go through the first half of Axess using the Cross Fusion to defeat the Darkloids. Later, when ShadeMan was trying to redeem himself to Dr. Regal and the two find themselves unable to defeat ShadeMan, Chaud reluctantly provides his Navi with a Dark Chip. In doing so, he released the dark soul in ProtoMan, which allowed him to escape. ProtoMan would later return as Dark ProtoMan, a Darkloid completely absorbed by the Dark Aura due to the tampering of LaserMan. As Axess reached its finale, Chaud was able to rescue his friend's spirit, returning him to normal by Cross Fusing with him, confronting him within the confines of his heart.

Abilities
ProtoMan is one of the strongest NetNavis in the Mega Man Battle Network games. He has excellent potential with his sword and shield. When fought by the player, his attacks and behavior differ from game to game.


 * Blues.pngProto Shield - Surprise Sword: ProtoMan's basic defense. At higher power levels, as ProtoMan pauses between his own attacks, most incoming strikes are blocked by his ProtoShield. He's less scrutinizing in later games, taking hits more often. In Battle Network 6, if he's struck when shielding, he will immediately speed towards the opponent and slash them (Surprise Sword). A good way to overcome this defense in later games is to use a multi-hit chip, as he'll walk right into the attack. (Note: the shield that appears in earlier games' battles appears to be a basic, nondescript shield, though by Battle Network 6, the shield he uses clearly shares his leitmotif colorization). In BN5 - TP, this is replaced with Reflect, usable by the player by pressing Left and B simultaneously.


 * Sonic Sword: One of ProtoMan's rudimentary fighting attacks. He randomly shifts between the top and bottom rows, swinging a three panel wide sword attack that flies to the other end of the stage. He will sometimes strike consecutively, cycling between the top and bottom column, making the attack hard to dodge. He stops using this attack in later games.


 * Step Sword: Another of ProtoMan's basic skills. In previous games, he only used this when shot at, bringing up his shield. He'd then teleport in front, and use a Wide Sword attack. He later begins using this over the Sonic Sword completely. If MegaMan is on the front rows, ProtoMan may also teleport behind and attack. This is present in later games. In the fifth game, where ProtoMan is playable, Step Sword is a chip exclusive to him, and works like the previous games' Step Sword chips, moving 2 panels ahead and using a Wide Sword.


 * Fighter Sword: Used in later games, ProtoMan stands in the front row of his panels, and swings a Fighter Sword, hitting three panels ahead to the back row.


 * Cross Sword: In Battle Network 6, he is capable of attacking in a + formation.


 * Trance Move: Replacing his Delta Ray Edge in Battle Network 6, ProtoMan will zip around with the player's position as the center, first diagonally from the top left panel then the bottom left panel, then back and forth the middle row, hitting him several times, dealing massive damage. This attack cannot be executed if the player steps on the bottom or the top row when ProtoMan is about to strike (after the ding sound).


 * Delta Ray Edge: One of ProtoMan's strongest attack and techniques. This attack is heralded by a sudden flash, and then ProtoMan loops the area his opponent was last on, striking three times with a Wide Sword-ranged attack that cripples and paralyzes the opponent. Once all three strikes are executed, ProtoMan reappears in front of the enemy, his opponent ringed in the shining image of a triangle (technically, the three strikes do not all have to connect to leave the triangle-afterimage). The Delta Ray Edge Giga Chip is available in Battle Network 3, 4, 5, and 6. This attack, both by ProtoMan and the Chip can only be used properly when the opponent is in the middle row, in the front or center panel, as the attack requires an open panel behind the target.

ProtoMan gains some new moves as ProtoMan DS/Dark ProtoMan. Note that he can't use Delta Ray at all in this form.


 * Shadow Shield: A dark silhouette of ProtoMan replaces his shield to block attacks. Note that with any attack involving a clone, the clone will block all attacks like a regular obstacle.


 * Dark Sword: ProtoMan's normal sword has been replaced with a Dark Sword, which he uses in most of his attacks.


 * Shadow Slice: A dark silhouette appears and uses a Fighter Sword. ProtoMan still moves while the clone attacks.


 * Dark Step Sword: ProtoMan disappears. A clone will attempt to slash a Dark Sword behind the player. ProtoMan will then reappear and then use a Dark Sword in a similar fashion to his normal Step Sword.

In the Mega Man NT Warrior manga, ProtoMan is given the power to Style Change by Serenade.


 * Muramasa Style: ProtoMan wields the legendary blade Muramasa and wears a new outfit. The more damage ProtoMan takes in this form the more powerful his sword becomes. Originally, this form could only be used against Dark Soul Navis and Darkloids, but later ProtoMan had the sword reforged, so he could use it against anyone in order to use it against MegaMan.

Trivia

 * Using the Beast Link Gate or cheats in Battle Network 6 allows the player to play as ProtoMan as a Link Navi.


 * It is shown in the coding that Proto Cross was supposed to be in Battle Network 6, but was scrapped. If one activates it, it works normally.


 * The Battle Card "Sword Fighter" in the Star Force series shows a silhouette of ProtoMan dashing alongside Mega Man.


 * ProtoMan's emblem is similar to the Yin-Yang symbol, one side of cold indifference and the other of striking kindness.


 * According to the Rockman.EXE's Secret Official Creation Illustration Guide, ProtoMan's emblem, or Navi mark, is supposed to resemble a "B," for his Japanese name, Blues.


 * According to UDON's English translation of Rockman.EXE Official Complete Works, early concepts of ProtoMan depict him with a scarf like his classic counterpart, but there was a rule in which it was forbidden to give Navi characters any form of cloth to "ensure [they] gave off a cyber vibe." Hence, ProtoMan was given long hair to make up for the missing scarf (this rule, however, would later be broken by a few Navis, first being Bass.EXE).


 * While most of his appearance and personality are based off of the classic Proto Man, some aspects of him were distinctly inspired by Zero from the Mega Man X series. His sword and long hair being the most obvious examples.


 * Although ProtoMan.EXE's English name is derived from his Classic Series counterpart, it should be noted that it makes no sense from an in-universe perspective, as he is not a prototype of anything.


 * One issue of the MegaMan NT Warrior manga featured a potential character who would serve as a love interest to ProtoMan. Playing off ProtoMan's Japanese name, Blues, the new female character was named Rhythm.