Tidal Whale

"I've already been infected... Shall we fight for old time's sake?"

- Duff McWhalen

Duff McWhalen, known as Tidal Makkoeen (タイダル・マッコイーン) in Japan, was the whale-based chief of an oceanographic museum and held rank as the captain of a maritime security force. His sometimes reckless behavior often earned him arguments with the Repliforce's navy.

Duff guards the ocean, which is needed to produce the Hydrogen necessary for the Enigma laser cannon. He was already infected by the Sigma Virus when the Hunters arrived, and as a final request asks for a fight to the death.

Strategy
He stays on the right side of the screen and shoots out blocks of ice. The C-Shot and C-Sword will cut through these and damage McWhalen as well, as they are his weaknesses. When enough of his energy is depleted, he will swim to the left side and fire ice blocks in rapid succession, trying to ram X / Zero into the spiked wall on the right side.

Stage Enemies
Enemies in Duff McWhalen's stage:
 * Dejira
 * Dejira GR
 * Gulpfer R
 * Star Mine
 * U-555

Needing Hydrogen
Duff McWhalen: Oh... Welcome, Captain X.

X: I'd like you to let us use this ocean since it's nearest to the Hunter Base. We need to produce large amounts of hydrogen.

Duff McWhalen: Do you intend it for nuclear fusion? So, then you are going to use the good-old Enigma.

X: Y...yes... If you know that, then please cooperate with us.

Duff McWhalen: X, I'm a man of the sea... ... And I will not allow you to use my sea freely... You might think I'm stupid, but you'll have to fight me!

X: I understand. I accept your challenge!!

Duff McWhalen: Zero... Long time no see...

Zero: I'm here to secure the ocean nearest the Hunter Base. It has run high...

Duff McWhalen: The Enigma requires a large amount of hydrogen... so you must want the ocean in order to produce hydrogen...

Zero: Precisely. Please cooperate.

Duff McWhalen: I've already been infected... Shall we fight for old time's sake? A duel! And I'll show no mercy!

Zero: Your ship is about to set sail... ...for the last time! 

Without needing Hydrogen
Duff McWhalen: The sea is... The sea is already dead... X... I'm a man of the sea... I want to share the same destiny as the ocean... I've already been infected by the virus, too... Do a favor for me... Fight me and let me rest in the ocean... ...in peace...

Duff McWhalen: Zero... It's been a long time... But you are later than I expected. Tell me what's been happening on land.

Zero: ............

Duff McWhalen: The world is facing extinction, right? Since I've also been infected with the Virus, why don't you fight me once before you die? A battle between two men! ...Expect no mercy!

Zero: Fine... May you rest in peace... ...in the sea. 

Production Notes
Developer Comments This is a boss that got vetoed for X4. He got nixed because it was difficult to personify a whale. If he wasn't humaniform to some extent, he wouldn't look boss-like. I actually wanted to make him about as big as Kibatodos, but he ended up rather compact.

Designer Comments No matter how you tinker with a whale, it still looks like a whale, so I finished this one up comparatively easily. It's a bit of a shock, though, that even though he's a whale, he's smaller than a walrus (Kibatodos). While this guy was being developed, he got impossibly strong when his power dropped, making me feel like crying.

Trivia

 * Duff McWhalen's stage music is a remastered version of Bubble Crab's stage music from Mega Man X2, but Duff had an original theme before it was scrapped.


 * In the American version, Duff McWhalen was named after Duff McKagan, the former bassist of the rock band Guns N' Roses.


 * He is the only boss in X5 whose mugshot is not facing straight forward.


 * Duff McWhalen's title, "Guardian Deity of the Oceans", is similar in name to Neon Tiger's. This is because it shares the same term "Guardian Deity", with Neon Tiger being "Guardian Deity of the Jungle".