Opening Stage

Opening Stage (オープニングステージ) is an introductory stage in the Mega Man series that is played before the Stage Select Screen. Opening Stages were introduced in the first Mega Man X game.

Mega Man 7
The Opening Stage, also known as "Urban Area Stage" (市街地ステージ), is a city that is being attacked by Dr. Wily's Robot Masters, who freed him from prison. Mega Man tries to stop Wily, but he faces Mad Grinder and Bass.

Enemies:
 * Metall SV
 * Bunby Tank
 * Boss: Mad Grinder
 * Boss: Bass

Mega Man 8
The Opening Stage is in a skull-shaped island that was used by Dr. Wily as a hideout. When Duo and the evil robot crash on the island, Dr. Light asks Mega Man to investigate.

Enemies:
 * Aloha Dodonpa
 * Ammoner
 * Bunby Tank DX
 * Metall SV
 * Boss: Yadokargo

Mega Man & Bass


The Opening Stage is a robot museum infiltrated by King. King cuts Proto Man in half and uses the Green Devil to cover his escape.

Mega Man Powered Up
The opening stage, named Towntown Stage (タウンタウンステージ) in the saved game data of both English and Japanese versions, is the town where Dr. Light's Laboratory is located. Dr. Wily steals Dr. Light's robots and sends Proto Eye after the player to cover his escape.

Enemies:
 * Beak
 * Octopus Battery
 * Spine
 * Boss: Proto Eye

Rockman & Forte: Mirai Kara no Chōsensha
Mega Man or Bass fight against the Grey Devil in this stage.

Mega Man X
The Highway Stage (ハイウェイステージ), named Central Highway in Mega Man Maverick Hunter X, is a highway from Abel City that is being attacked by Mavericks in the beginning of the game. X faces Vile at the end of this stage, who overpowers him in a Ride Armor. Fortunately, Zero appears to save X and forces Vile to flee on the Death Rogumer.

Mega Man X2


The Maverick Factory Stage (イレギュラー工場ステージ) is a factory used by the remnants of Sigma's army to create more Maverick soldiers. After breaking into the factory on a Ride Chaser, X fights the Gigantic Mechaniloid CF-0.

Mega Man X3


The opening stage of Mega Man X3 is in the Hunter Base, which was attacked by Dr. Doppler's Maverick forces while X and Zero were both away. At the beginning of the stage X and Zero split up, but X is captured by the traitorous Mac. The player then uses Zero to defeat Mac and save X. After freeing him, Zero leaves, and X goes on to fight Maoh the Giant atop the base.

Mega Man X4


Sky Lagoon is the opening stage from Mega Man X4, an aerial city that is attacked by Mavericks. X/Zero is attacked by Eregion, and then encounters Magma Dragoon, who tells him the city is falling. After the Sky Lagoon falls, X/Zero goes to the rubble to finish off Eregion. They then meet Colonel, who refuses to comply with the Hunters' requests, causing controversy.

Mega Man X5
The Opening Stage takes place in an unknown city in northern Brazil under attack plagued with broken highways, falling bridges and Mad Taxis attacking everywhere. This stage also serves as a tutorial showcasing some of the new abilities introduced in Mega Man X5 such as crouching and the use of the "Wire Hook". At the end of the stage the player must climb a malfunctioning guard system protecting a giant statue under construction. Once there, X/Zero appears severely damaged due to a fight with Sigma (if you choose X, you find Zero and vice versa), after a brief conversation, Sigma Head comes out of the head's statue and a battle ensues.

Enemies

 * Crusher NEO
 * Mad Taxi
 * Sniper
 * Boss: Sigma Head

Mega Man X6
The Opening Stage is on the outskirts of the remains of the Space Colony Eurasia. The ruins are occupied with Mavericks and other Mechaniloids, which X is dispatched to subdue. X finds two damaged Hunters on his way, warning him about a crazy Mechaniloid on the next room, D-1000. After defeating it, the Zero Nightmare appears to deal the final blow before vanishing. Then, High Max suddenly appears, deeming X suspicious and attacking him. High Max overpowers X, but lets him off with a warning and leaves.

Enemies

 * Junkroid
 * Meta Wheel F
 * Meta Dridler
 * Hover Gunner
 * Boss: D-1000
 * Boss: High Max

Mega Man X7
The Opening Stage is divided into three parts. In the first part, Crimson Fortress,  Axl is escaping from an undisclosed location within Red Alert's Crimson Palace. This part serves to showcase Axl's new abilities such as hovering and the new targeting system. Though Axl manages to escape, he's quickly followed by Mega Scorpio. The second area, Highway, has Zero looking into the distance investigating some disturbance. Zero makes his way through the highway fighting against various Mavericks (similar to the Highway from Mega Man X), showcasing the use of the 2.5D/3D camera positioning. In the third and final part, the boss battle, Zero and Axl cross paths with each other. Axl warns Zero about the Mega Scorpio, the huge Mechaniloid that has been chasing him through the stage, and both decide to join forces and take down the Mechaniloid. This last part showcases the Tag Assist ability.

Enemies:


 * Bee Blader
 * Guard Door
 * Ball De Voux (both Normal and Shot Type)
 * Guard Fan
 * Kyuun B
 * Radarroid
 * Runnerbomb
 * Surveillance Radar
 * Boss: Mega Scorpio

Mega Man X8
The opening stage is Noah's Park, an area near the Jakob Orbital Elevator in Point Galapagos. X, Zero, and Axl are deployed on a mission to stop the Maverick Mechaniloid Crabs-Y; after doing so, they cross paths with Vile, who has kidnapped Lumine and announces that the Mavericks have taken over the Jakob Project. The opening stage's name comes from the "Noah's Ark" events of the Bible in the Old Testament.

Mega Man Xtreme
The Opening Stage is a complete digital reproduction of the Highway Stage from Mega Man X. X mysteriously finds himself stuck in this data version of the Highway Stage and again fights Vile, this time managing to destroy him. He is then pulled out of the digital world by Middy, and begins to formulate a plan to fix the Mother Computer with him.

Mega Man Xtreme 2
The Opening Stage is set in Laguz Island, and it splits in two parts at one point. X takes the bottom path, which resembles the opening stage from Mega Man X2, while Zero goes by the top path, which is more unique. At the end they fight and destroy Skullhead, which garners the attention of Gareth.

Other
Although not referenced as Opening Stages, the Mega Man Zero and Mega Man ZX series feature an introductory mission that is played before the player is able to select other missions:


 * Mega Man Zero - Underground Laboratory
 * Mega Man Zero 2 - Sand Wilderness
 * Mega Man Zero 3 - Derelict Spacecraft
 * Mega Man Zero 4 - The Resistance protects a Caravan escaping to Area Zero
 * Mega Man ZX - Area A
 * Mega Man ZX Advent - Raider Pursuit (with Ashe) or Mysterious Lab 1-2 (with Grey)

Mega Man (DOS)
Mega Man for DOS features something like an Opening Stage, with Mega Man walking along a straight path to enter what seems to be a part of Dr. Wily's Castle, the only enemy appearing being a dog-like robot which respawns indefinitely. The stage ends when Mega Man passes through a boss-room-esque door. This can be considered the first Opening Stage in a Mega Man game.