The Big Game
Episode 20
Based on Megaman 2 and California Games

On the Planet Metroid, Dr. Wily is showing off his latest creation. It’s a machine that harnesses the most powerful form of energy in Videoland, competition energy, the energy produced when people play games. To show off its power, he calls in Metal Man and sends it after King Hippo and Eggplant Wizard. Just for the record, this seems to be a prototype of Metal Man. It’s almost solid silver and has slits for the saw blades to come out of instead of hands. Much more mechanical looking than the Metal Man we know and love. Eggplant Wizard and Hippo run for their lives for a little while. Wily points out that if he can get that much energy from those idiots, imagine what he can get from Captain N. The plan is to harness enough energy to send Cap N and friends to the earthquake zone. Whatever that is.

Back at the Palace of Power, Kevin is feeling homesick for what Lana refers to as “that California place”. Megaman has an idea to cheer him up. Picture for a moment, Megaman on a skateboard saying, “Wow dude, Skaters rule!” This is exactly what he does. He’s made Kevin a skateboard along with a helmet and pads. This actually does cheer Kevin right up. He gets on his board and is shredding (or whatever you radical skateboard dudes call it) within minutes. Everyone there is impressed, especially Megaman who says that it’s “Mega-rad!” I like that. If there's not a game called "Mega Rad," there really should be.

Lana then asks if she can try it out. She gets on the board and is having trouble even staying balanced. When she finally gets her balance and actually starts to do some semi-decent skateboarding, she turns to ask how she’s doing and crashes right into Simon, who’s just walked in. Simon wanted to let everybody know that Videoland Bandstand is on. Up now is the band “the Ungrateful Undead.” Have I mentioned how much I love Videoland TV?

The show is interrupted by a robot wearing 80s teen girl fashion that Wily’s made. She gives them tickets to California Games world and then it’s back to the program. Wily of course has set this all up and is watching it. He gets his robots ready and goes into California Games as well.

The N-Team arrives in California games after switching to their swimsuits. Well, Simon, Kevin, and Lana are wearing swimsuits anyway. I’m not sure if Megaman’s armor comes off and Kid Icarus is wearing his normal outfit.

We get a montage of the team engaged in various California games. Kevin is teaching Lana to surf, Megaman and Duke are roller-skating, Simon is running across water from a shark (I don't think that's in the game, but frankly the only thing I can actually remember from the NES game was the girl on the cover with the hot legs.), and Kid Icarus and Kevin do some skateboarding.

Then we cut to Wily. True enough, the games they’ve played are powering his machine and he’s developed the technology to open and shut warp zones at will. He gets the idea to up the competition a bit more and sends out clown-looking robots to try to start competitions with the team. Kevin recognizes them as Gear Clowns coming from Megaland. Some more robots come in and interrupt their games. Lana exclaims that they’re spoiling everything and the games just aren’t as fun with them around. Wily’s mad that he’s messed up. Instead of making them play more games, he’s stopped them. So he comes up with a different plan.

Kevin, Simon, and the rest have changed back to their normal clothes when suddenly a football field and a gym appear before them. Kevin instantly recognizes it as Northridge High, his old school. Kevin refuses to investigate and runs across three people wearing football uniforms and a cheerleader.

Let’s take a quick moment to go over the newcomers. Stacy is the blonde ditzy cheerleader. Rick Walker is the black guy and the only one with a thought in his head. Romeo acts like a combination of Simon Belmont and Dudley Do-Right. It might not actually be his real name though. It’s possible he was just called that because of how infatuated he got with Princess Lana. The last one is the really big fat stupid guy. The guy’s so big; he can’t even fit into his helmet. He doesn’t have a name in the series (He probably used to have one, but got hungry and ate it.). With that out of the way, let’s move on.

Kevin is extremely nervous and shy around Stacy. She remembers him as that guy who helped her study for her algebra test. Kevin ads in that it was only one time and he asked her out afterwards but she said she was busy. It’s worth mentioning than Lana looks a tad annoyed at Kevin while Simon looks even more dumbfounded than normal.

Simon then cracks his whip to get everybody’s attention and presents flowers to Stacy. Ever the flirt, that boy. She’s slightly freaked out when he mentions that he hunts vampires.

Rick then remembers where he knows Kevin from. Kevin was on the Junior varsity swim team. Kevin points out that Rick is a member of the varsity football team. Then he welcomes them all to Videoland. The fat nameless guy has a big laugh at that. He says that if this is Videoland, then he’s the King of California. Lana steps forward to welcome “his majesty,” and I honestly can’t tell if she’s being sarcastic or not. Romeo takes a good look at Lana and says that if he’s dreaming, he doesn’t want to wake up.

Rick explains that they were just walking out to the field for football practice when they wound up here. Megaman senses trouble and refers to Kevin as Captain N, which the fat guy immediately makes fun of. Before they can really go any further, the group is attacked by some lightning lords (remember them from Megaman 2?). Rick freezes up, so Kevin tackles him, knocking him out of the way and then fires his zapper to blast the bots.

Rick is amazed by all this, saying that this defiantly isn’t the Kevin Keene he remembers. Here and every other time anyone has mentioned what a big shot Kevin is now, Kevin really seems to get an awkward sort of feeling. It’s kinda obvious that Kevin wasn’t really that important back home but now he’s THE GAME MASTER. He just doesn't seem to know how to react to the people who knew him way back when. Regardless, they all run inside the school for shelter. Kevin stays outside a bit longer to protect them from one of those huge dog robots that shoots fire but even he’s afraid of it. When everyone else is safely inside, he ducks in as well.

Wily exclaims to himself that he’s used up half his energy supply transporting Captain N’s friends here. I sort of wonder if he knew who he was teleporting in, or if he just got lucky. It’s really hard to tell when it comes to Wily’s plans. Regardless, Mother Brain is watching him on her view screen back in Metroid and doesn’t much like the way things are going. She’s decided to go make sure things work out herself. Mother Brain’s platform lowers, freaking out Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo, and when it comes back up she’s riding a motorcycle. If anyone has ever wanted to see a brain in a jar wearing a bandanna an riding a motorcycle, here's your chance.

Back in the school gym, Kevin is trying to explain to the newcomers that they’re inside a Videogame. Now despite watching Kevin shoot a laser beam out of his zapper and the giant robots, Rick isn’t buying it. Stacy is though. In fact, she’s all over him and Lana is noticeably jealous.

They’re interrupted by a huge hologram of Wily calling them outside. He’s called a time out temporarily. He challenges the team to a game. If his team wins, he gets the Palace of Power and the Throne of Videoland. Kevin says he’s not going to play. He’s dealt with Wily enough to know that there's some sort of trick here.

Wily says they WILL play and sends a group of flying robots with lasers after the group to give them time to think it over. Everybody runs back in the gym and barricades the doors. Romeo offers to protect Lana but Simon buts in saying that she doesn’t need Romeo with Simon there. Stacy comments on how cool it must be for guys to be fighting over her and asks which one she’s going to choose. Lana says that Stacy can have both of them if she wants. Then a robot crashes through the window and chases Simon and Romeo around until Kid Icarus takes it out.

Romeo suggests that the team make a run for it, but Rick tells him the robots have them pinned and out-gunned. Megaman says Captain N will know what to do. The big fat stupid guy doesn’t care much for this idea. He doesn’t like any gaming nerd who plays such a wimpy sport to boss him around and he gets right up in Kevin’s face. Sort of. Actually the fat guy's face is about the size of Kevin’s torso. Rick steps up before trouble starts saying that he's the boss of the team and the fat guy backs down. Lana is started to get fed up with these people. She steps forwards and explains to them that the Ultimate Warp Zone gave them the best and the best is Kevin. Rick admits that Kevin knows more about what’s going on that he does, so he turns everything over to him. Kevin decides that they should play Wily’s game, but they’re going to play a game that they have a chance of winning. They’re playing football.

Mother Brain shows up in Wily’s lab and starts threatening him. Wily tells her every thing that’s going on. He’s just about got the batteries charged up enough to send them to the Earthquake Zone and has already sealed all the other warp zones out of California Games.

Then Mother Brain and Wily ride over to the gym to issue their challenge in person. The football team and the N-Team both have suited up in uniforms and helmets, more or less. Kid Icarus is wearing a helmet but no uniform and Megaman is wearing a uniform with no helmet. Stacy wishes Kevin luck and gives him a kiss. She says whatever happens she thinks he’s the greatest.

Stacy then walks over to Lana and says that while the boys play, they can cheer them on. Lana turns her down and says that she’s going to go find out what Mother Brain is really up to. After Stacy leaves, Kevin says he’s going to have Gameboy watch her and make sure she doesn’t get into trouble.

Lana tells Kevin that she hopes Kevin is going to be watching the game instead of Stacy. Kevin blushes a little bit and they both wish each other luck. Everyone goes out to confront Wily and says what game they’ll be playing. That’s fine with Wily. He then calls his team: the eight robot bosses from Megaman 2.

Stacy and Gameboy are on the sidelines cheering on the team when the game starts. If you expected a fair game, you’re out of luck. Air Man uses his powers to try to get the ball away from Kevin, but Kevin’s dodging using his Power Pad. At least, he’s dodging until Quick Man’s boomerang takes the ball from him. Kid Icarus dives down grabs the ball and takes to the skies. Wood Man shoots a vine (!?) out and snares Kid Icarus, making him drop the ball. Rick catches it and runs from Crash Man, who’s started lopping bombs at him. The blast from the bomb blows him off his feet and lets Crash Man catch the ball and run it for the touchdown.

See, now THIS is how football should be played. With killer robots.

Next play, Kevin throws the ball to Romeo, but Heat Man sets Romeo on fire. Bubble Man catches it and outruns Megaman, with a little help from a bubble in Megaman’s face, scoring Wily’s team another goal.

Next play Kevin is running with the ball until Metal Man sends a series of buzz saws right at Rick. Kevin tosses the ball and dives to knock Rick out of the way. Simon manages to snatch the ball with his whip and runs it for the N-Team’s first goal.

The team goes into a huddle, or maybe it’s half time. I don’t know. Kevin says they’re getting clobbered but Rick says they’re holding their own. Kevin gives him a “holding our own isn’t good enough," riff and sends Megaman to get some fire power from Dr. Right. Duke takes his place on the team.

Meanwhile, Lana is investigating and discovers Wily’s energy draining invention. She doesn’t know what it is, but knowing Wily made it, is proof enough at it’s bad. She stats messing with the wire work on the machine.

Back to the game, Megaman has brought back some toys for the team. Kevin comes in with a floating platform device, Megaman gets what looks like a flying air scooter, while Rick walker gets a mechanical walker. I never noticed the pun there until I wrote this down. They do much better this time and Duke helps them score a point.

Wily’s monitor goes hot in his hands and he blows the whistle and runs away. Simon comments on how they’re sore losers. Wily, his robots, and Mother Brain all take off running but thanks to Lana’s rewiring, they end up warped to the landfill warp zone, the area of Videoland where they send all the garbage. A world full of garbage. Interesting idea. I wonder what world they used for that? Lana also tells them that she’s reset the device to warp the Northridge team back to their own world. Romeo and the fat guy (Note to self: Romeo and the fat guy would make a good name for a cop show.) take off running, happy to be going back. Rick and Stacy ask if Kevin is coming, and he says he likes it better here. Rick says he doesn’t blame him and tells Kevin to look him up if they ever get back to the real world.

After they teleport back, Lana tells Kevin that they won’t remember him. Their memories will erase when they go back to the real world. She then asks Kevin about his feelings for Stacy. Kevin tells her that he used to have a thing for her, until he met Lana. Then he says, “Well, then life got twice as cool, and ten times more exciting.”

Now here’s a really nice episode. The videogame based ones almost always come across as better and this is no exception. We finally get to see the Megaman 2 bosses in action, there’s plenty of silly cute moments and we have ties to Kevin’s old life. There's also quite a bit of tension between the good guys here. If that’s not enough for you people, you get to see Lana in a swimsuit. If that’s not your thing, Simon and Kevin also sport them.

Featuring:
Dr. Wily
Mother Brain
King Hippo
The Megaman 2 robot bosses
Kevin/Captain N
Gameboy
Megaman
Princess Lana
Duke
Kid Icarus
Simon Belmont
The Northridge Team
The Ungrateful Undead
80s girl robot