Launch Octopus

"I am an artist, you see, X. An artist of underwater combat! But no one has recognized that fact. Not until now."

- Launch Octopus

Launch Octopus, known in Japan as Launcher Octopuld (ランチャー・オクトパルド), is an octopus-type Maverick in Mega Man X. He was a Maverick Hunter from the 6th Marine Unit under Sigma who followed his revolt. In Mega Man X5, he was revealed to be a friend and/or brother to Squid Adler, depending on the translation; his name was also mistranslated as "Octopardo". He appears in Mega Man Maverick Hunter X in the same role as before, with a slightly effeminate personality.

Strategy
His Homing Torpedo, though his main weapon is the least of the player's worries, as he can pull X toward him in a whirlpool and drain his energy, but if the player uses Boomerang Cutter against him three times, he loses his tentacles, and thus cannot use the ability. But his main weakness is the Rolling Shield, since it ruptures his internal buoyancy/pressure system.

In Mega Man Xtreme 2, his weakness is Tri-Thunder, the weapon wrested from Volt Catfish in said game, however hitting him with any version of another weapon Ray Claw just once will sever his tentacles. The weapon X gains from defeating Launch Octopus is Marine Tornado, which is perhaps a nod to his whirlpool ability.

Mega Man X stats
Launch Octopus (Launcher Octopuld)

Height: 7.80 ft (238 cm)

Weight: 348 lb (182 kg)

Attacks: Homing Torpedo, E. Drain (Energy Drain)

Maverick Hunter X Bio
MILITARY GENERAL OF THE DEEP Maverick Hunter formerly of the 6th Armada. With plenty of firepower and military knowledge to match, this intellectual uses brains over brawn to outwit Mavericks. Seeking to achieve beauty in combat and strategy, he gains the ultimate pleasure from fighting elegantly and gracefully. Having taken over the ocean cities, he is planning to cut off all shipping routes.

Homing Torpedo Fires a torpedo capable of tracking enemies. As it picks up speed, it homes in on the closest enemy and pursues it.

Dialogues from Mega Man Maverick Hunter X
X: Your antics stop here, Launch Octopus!

Launch Octopus: I only take orders from Sigma. There's no way I'll let you boss me around!

X: Face it... You've gone Maverick!

Launch Octopus: Maverick? How dare you call my artistic battle style by that name! 

X: Launch Octopus... How could you do something like this?

Launch Octopus: I am an artist, you see, X. An artist of underwater combat! But no one has recognized that fact. Not until now.

X: But Sigma recognizes that?

Launch Octopus: That's right. And now I'm fighting to create an entire world that does, too! This is a very important battle for me.

Launch Octopus: Well, well, well... Look what the catfish dragged in. You plan on betraying Sigma, do you?

Vile: I'll tell you one thing... I don't like working for others.

Launch Octopus: A tough guy, hm? Ha ha ha! You're not half bad. I like you.

Vile: I don't care if a pitiful fool like you likes me or not! 

Rockman X
Launch Octopus is the seventh Maverick that X fights in the manga, who tricked Marty, a mermaid Reploid, into helping him.

Rockman X Mega Mission
In the Carddas, Mega Mission 3, Launch Octopus is revived as "Launcher Octopuld HL", and disguises himself as a recruit Maverick Hunter named "Blau Launcher" to attack the Maverick Hunter base with three other Mavericks. Some of Launch Octopus' changes include his color scheme changed to blue and black, the top of his head is now a transparent red, and he uses a trident.

Trivia

 * Launch Octopus also has a short appearance in the opening animated cutscene of the CD-Rom versions of Mega Man X3, where X causes an Utuboros fall on him, exploding both.


 * On the US box art for Mega Man X, Launch Octopus is colored purple instead of red.


 * Oddly, in Mega Man Xtreme 2, even when the player severs Launch Octopus's tentacles with Ray Claw and defeats him, he will have mysteriously gained them back during his death animation.


 * In the English language versions of Maverick Hunter X, Launch Octopus is one of the only Mavericks (besides Armored Armadillo) that does not say Vile's name during dialog in Vile Mode. However, both do in the Japanese version.