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"How do you feel now, Sigma? Did you like my special vaccine for the Sigma virus? X, I'm sorry to have given you so much trouble. I know I can never really atone for what I've done... But I will try to set things right by taking Sigma with me!!!"
―Dr. Doppler, Mega Man X3

Dr. Doppler (ドップラー博士 Doppurā Hakase) is a Reploid scientist who is the main antagonist of Mega Man X3. Originally a benevolent researcher and supervisor of Dopple Town, he is the creator of the Nightmare Police and counter-measures against the Maverick Virus and irregular behavior in Reploids. He is also the discoverer of the Sigma Virus, for which he was developing a special vaccine. One day, pacified Mavericks went berserk and organized into the Doppler Army under Doppler's direction, which revealed that their return to normal had been a ruse, Doppler was Maverick himself, and his public anti-virus was a placebo. He even resurrected and upgraded Vile and Sigma as part of this plot.

Characteristics[]

Appearance[]

Dr. Doppler resembles an elderly man with a curved white beard and a wild head of hair that flows upwards. Despite his apparent old age, he has an advanced Reploid body covered in grey and blue armor. Two large canisters or dynamos protrude from his shoulders, with tubes connected to his back and wires connected to a band on his forehead. He has holes at the ends of his fingertips. He normally wears a labcoat with holes accommodating his dynamos, though he removes it for battle to reveal his red shoulderpads.

Personality[]

Dr. Doppler is a genius of engineering who utilized an advanced Neuro Computer in his studies. He was originally a selfless genius who wanted to improve the lives of both humans and Reploids. He wanted to help Mavericks reintegrate into society, seemingly found means of treating Reploids infected with the Maverick Virus, and was working on a vaccine that he hoped could eliminate the Sigma Virus.

After becoming infected with the Sigma Virus himself, Doppler became dangerously and fanatically loyal to Sigma. He was a cunning strategist who studied X's battles and sent the Nightmare Police to hunt him, preferably alive so he could study his abilities, a decision that was mocked by Vile, who claimed that he was being too kind. Doppler showed confidence and irritation, telling Vile to watch his mouth.

After his defeat, Doppler returned to his old self and felt remorse for his actions, urging X to destroy Sigma. He potentially sacrifices himself to defeat Sigma in a certain ending, while stating that he could never really atone for what he had done to his fellow Reploids.

History[]

Background[]

MMX3StageSelect

Dopple Town.

Dr. Doppler became famous for first discovering the Sigma Virus, and then using his advanced Neuro Computer to supposedly find a way to suppress irregular behavior even in viral Mavericks.[Note 1] The reformed Mavericks he treated constructed Dopple Town in his honor, meant to be a utopian city without Maverick activity. Later, Doppler created the fearsome Nightmare Police, Bit and Byte, to keep peace in the new city, yet it would become obvious that something was going terribly wrong.

At some point Doppler had become infected with the Sigma Virus and fallen under the influence of Sigma, resulting in him becoming an ambitious fanatic. It turned out his anti-viral vaccine was little more than a placebo, and the "reformed" Mavericks of Dopple Town banded together into the Doppler Army. He also began building new bodies for his master Sigma, including a giant battle body, by stealing data from the newest Reploid models.

Mega Man X3[]

X3 Doppler Cutscene

Dr. Doppler making Sigma's new body.

Soon after X and Zero were deployed to Dopple Town, Dr. Doppler launched an all-out assault on Hunter Base in their absence. Having swayed the Hunter Mac to his side, he attempted to kidnap X for his advanced body, but Zero thwarted the plan by killing Mac. The attack on Hunter Base was then repelled, and X and Zero returned to Dopple Town.

After X defeats two of the eight Maverick bosses, Dr. Doppler is impressed and irked by X's power. He orders Bit and Byte to capture X, alive if possible. He then speaks with Vile, whom he resurrected to serve in his army. Doppler reprimands Vile for his disrespect, threatening to throw him back in the junk heap, before Vile departs to do things his own way. Doppler is not concerned by Vile's insubordination, but remains baffled that X has defeated defeat Sigma twice in the past already.

Seeing that his men failed to accomplish their objectives, Doppler began taking measures of defense against X and Zero's approach. Depending on the player's actions, this could include preparing Press Disposer and Volt Kurageil to defend his laboratory, or modifying Bit and Byte so they can merge into Godkarmachine O Inary.

Doppler personally faces X at the end of Doppler Stage C. Doppler reveals he is indeed serving Sigma and attempts to sway X to his side via flattery, but fails, resorting to attempting to steal his body for Sigma by force.[2] After taking critical damage, Doppler returns his senses, telling X about Sigma's new body and where to find it in hopes that he can destroy it.

X3 ending comparison

Doppler's ending (left) and Zero's ending (right) side-by-side.

What happens to Dr. Doppler afterwards depends on whether or not Zero is active. If Zero is still active, Zero arrives with a vaccine from Dr. Doppler to counteract the Sigma Virus equipped on his saber and incapacitates Sigma (in the English version, Zero claims that the reformed Dr. Doppler gave it to him, while in the Japanese version he claims to have found it himself). If Zero is out of commission, Dr. Doppler takes Zero's place, using his vaccine on his own body and sacrificing himself to stop Sigma. Either way, Dr. Doppler has made no subsequent appearances, so his canonical fate is unknown.

Strategy[]

Upon going Maverick. Dr. Doppler modified his body for battle; despite this, his strategy is still mostly defensive. He attacks by throwing balls of electricity or dashing with a fiery red barrier. If attacked while standing still, he summons a green force field to absorb the shot and convert it into health. This means he is most vulnerable while attacking (though his red barrier still offers some defense). His weakness is Acid Burst.

MMX3 Doppler Dash Charge (突進 Tosshin)[3]
Dr. Doppler forms a red barrier around himself, then hovers to the player's vertical location and dashes forwards, wreathed in flame.
Damage: 8
MMX3 Doppler ElecBullet Electric Shot (電撃弾 Dengeki-dan)[3]
Dr. Doppler throws three balls of electricity at the player.
Damage: 6
MMX3 Doppler AttackAbsorb Attack Absorb (攻撃吸収 Kōgeki Kyūshū)[3]
If struck while standing still, Dr. Doppler forms a green barrier that absorbs the attack to restore his health.
Damage: 0

Other appearances[]

Quotes[]

After 2 Mavericks[]

Doppler: He is the Maverick Hunter I failed to catch last time. I had no idea he is so powerful... Bit and Byte!
Doppler: Bring that Maverick Hunter to me... alive if possible.
Bit and Byte: Affirmative, Dr. Doppler!
Mysterious Maverick: Alive, Dr. Doppler? You are so kind.
Doppler: Watch your mouth or I'll put you back where I found you. Even with your enhancements, you are still no match for me.
Mysterious Maverick: Thanks for the upgrade Doctor, but I have a score to settle... ...and I'll do it my way...
Doppler: Fine. Just make sure you do it. I still can't believe that Maverick Hunter defeated my master twice in the past...

Pre-Battle[]

Doppler: I've been waiting for you X. I'm Dr. Doppler. I've been watching your battles closely. Your victories over my men have been most impressive. I need superior reploids like yourself, X! I offer you the chance to join us. Together we shall build a Utopia where the Reploids rule under the watchful eyes of Sigma, our lord and master.
X: No way, Doc! Your schemes end here and now!!
Doppler: Perhaps you are not as smart as I once thought! Prepare to be ripped apart and to be born again as part of the new body of Sigma!

Post-Battle[]

Doppler: You are strong, X... Strong enough to defeat Sigma...
X: Doppler, can you talk?!
Doppler: Sigma's true form is that of a computer virus... I was corrupted by him and... I created a horrific new body for him...
X: Where's the body now?
Doppler: It's in the underground hangar of this lab... I don't think Sigma has occupied it yet... Don't worry about me... Destroy the body before it is too late. Time is running out...
X: Thanks Doc...

Doppler Ending[]

Sigma: Aaarrrgggg... You're Doppler... How did you obtain this...
Doppler: How do you feel now, Sigma? Did you like my special vaccine for the Sigma virus? X, I'm sorry to have given you so much trouble. I know I can never really atone for what I have done... But I will try to set things right by taking Sigma with me!!!
Sigma: My program... is... fading...
Doppler: X... it's... time to say... goodbye...

Other media[]

Rockman X3 (manga)[]

Rockman X3 Cover

Doppler as depicted in the Rockman X3 manga cover.

In Iwamoto Yoshihiro's manga adaptation of Rockman X3, Dr. Doppler invites his colleague and best friend Dr. Cain to Dopple Town. There, X and Dr. Cain met Doppler for the first time - however, soon after he descended into villainy and started a revolution in Dopple Town. As part of this plot Dr. Doppler created Worms to enter Reploids and turn them into Mavericks, upgraded his own body, sent the Nightmare Police to capture X and Zero, and also used data of X and Zero to improve Sigma's new body. After the defeat of his forces towards the end, Dr. Cain tries his best to save the injured Dr. Doppler, who is able to briefly return to his pre-Maverick self. However, when Sigma reveals himself, Doppler is unable to resist Sigma's influence and attacks Cain and X. Still, Doppler opted to commit suicide rather than revert into a Maverick and harm his friend by ripping his own innards out. However, Dr. Cain managed to salvage Doppler's data and saved it in the computer.

Rockman X Mega Mission[]

Doppler building Limited

Dr. Doppler in Mega Mission.

Dr. Doppler is a major overarching antagonist of the Rockman X Mega Mission Carddass series, and the main antagonist of its first installment. Three months after Mega Man X2 (prior to Mega Man X3), Dr. Doppler created a powerful "Replibrain" called the Limited. He revived several Mavericks to test it, sending his Incept Chasers, Curtiss and Schmitt, to observe the resulting Limited Mavericks. Once X defeated all eight Limited Mavericks and the Incept Chasers, only Schmitt remained alive, and Doppler chose to absorb Schmitt into the Mother Limited to give it a combat body. X destroyed the Mother Limited, but Dr. Doppler escaped to enact the events of Mega Man X3.

In Rockman X Mega Mission 2, two months after Dr. Doppler perished in Mega Man X3, the Mother Limited regenerated itself using his data, becoming a doppelganger called Tackione who forms the Order Breakers. Although Doppler himself made no appearance, Tackione mimicked the face of its creator.

Dr. Doppler's Limited research would later be used by Isoc to create the Extreme in Rockman X Giga Mission.

Rockman Remix[]

Dr. Doppler appears in the story Mega Mission, which is based on the first Rockman X Mega Mission Carddass. His role is mostly the same, but he is shown to have retractable tools in his hands and has an unnamed Reploid assistant.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Dr. Doppler was the first known case in the mainstream continuity of a Reploid who went back to normal after a Sigma Virus infection, although in-universe Techno managed this first. It was never explained how Dr. Doppler was able to return to his senses as the Sigma Virus is generally deemed incurable along the X series and supplemental material.
  • The English manual of Mega Man X4 states that Repliforce was formed to help compensate for Dr. Doppler's corruption.[4] It's also possible that Dopple Town's insurrection was a contributing factor to the world's fear of Repliforce's plan to create an independent Reploid nation.
  • Dr. Doppler was the first penultimate boss in the Mega Man X series to not be fought before the boss rush, but rather after.
    • Prior to Mega Man X8, Dr. Doppler was the only penultimate boss in the Mega Man X series to be fought after the boss rush, as later bosses are all fought before the boss rush. It wasn't until Mega Man X8 where Sigma (on Normal Mode) is the penultimate boss after a boss rush.
  • Like with Mega Man X4, fans tend to debate which of X3's endings is the canon one, since there is no solid indication in the series. While Dr. Doppler hasn't made an appearance in subsequent games, his anti-virus technology seems to live on, most notably in Mega Man X5.
    • It is worth mentioning that if Zero uses the anti-virus on Sigma, then Sigma says that he will come back. However, if Doppler is the one who destroys Sigma, he does not say so. This may hint that the canon ending is the one where Zero destroys Sigma.
    • The Mega Man X: Maverick Hunter's Field Guide released in 2021 seems to indirectly confirm the canon ending is indeed the one where Zero uses the anti-virus, as it's directly stated that Vile survived his fight with X on the hidden factory level, which renders the ending where Doppler uses the anti-virus impossible to take place.
  • Dr. Doppler's name may be a reference to the Doppler Effect and a pun on Doppler Radar.
  • Doppler is one of a handful of prominent Reploid Mavericks from the Mega Man X series not featured in the Worlds Unite crossover event from Archie Comics.

Notes[]

  1. How Dr. Doppler reformed the Mavericks varies depending on the source:
    • The opening vaguely claims he could "suppress" Maverick behavior; the English localization adds that this was due to his Neuro Computer. This implies it did not purge the virus, but merely subdued it.
    • The instruction manual claims Doppler created an "anti-virus", implying it outright deleted the virus.
    • The Mega Man X Legacy Collection gallery claims that he created a "counteractive virus" to flush out the Sigma Virus.
    • The Maverick Hunter's Field Guide claims he created a "vaccine" using his Neuro Computer, implying it granted the user immunity to the virus. The Rockman X3 manga also refers to a vaccine.

References[]

  1. MM25 Mega Man & Mega Man X Official Complete Works page 177
  2. Dr. Doppler: "Prepare to be ripped apart to be born again as part of the new body of Sigma!" - Doppler Stage C. Mega Man X3.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Boss File: Dr. Doppler, Compendium of Rockman X. p. 56.
  4. Mega Man X4 English manual, page 4


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