The Misadventures of Tron Bonne
A prequel spin-off starring the air pirate Tron Bonne.
Capcom published and developed this 1999 action-adventure for the PlayStation. A prequel and spin-off of Mega Man Legends, it stars the air pirate Tron Bonne instead of the series' heroes. The Japanese release had PocketStation support, but the North American and European versions lacked it.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Capcom Production Studio 2
- Publisher
- JP/NA
- Capcom
- PAL
- Eidos Interactive
- Producer
- Keiji Inafune
- Designer
- Masahiro Yasuma
- Programmer
- Koetsu Matsuda
- Writer
- Yoshinori Kawano
- Haruo Murata
- Shin Kurosawa
- Artist
- Shinsuke Komaki
- Tetsuhei Asano
- Shigeru Takahashi
- Composer
- Toshihiko Horiyama
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The game presents three distinct play styles, each tied to a specific mission type. Players complete moving-box puzzle stages in Teche and Primiki Harbor, a Descent-like adventure stage, and action stages similar to Mega Man Legends, such as robbing a bank near Gold City and exploring the Nakkai Ruins. A collection mission at Sart Farm requires gathering pigs, cows, and horses. Players may freely choose among the three stage types, but each level can be cleared only once, except the Nakkai Ruins, which can be revisited; however, the Diana's Tear can be collected only once, after which the boss room is empty. Tron commands forty Servbots, each with a personality and traits. Interaction with them yields money, parts, weapons for the Gustaff, or other aid. In adventure and action stages, up to seven, three, or one Servbot assist Tron, with one designated as sniper. A Servbot with high sloth may become lazy and disobey. Skills improve through training exercises (attack and speed), missions (brains), or discipline in the Torture Room (lowering sloth), with effects determined by minigames. Some Servbots learn special skills when their skills reach a high level or when given a specific item.
Plot
Before Mega Man Legends, the Bonne family leader Teisel seeks the Nakkai Ruins to find the valuable Diana's Tear. He and his brother Bon are captured by rival air pirate Glyde, who works for loan shark Lex Loath. Tron learns that the Bonnes' flying fortress was built with Loath's money, and after Teisel defaults on a 1,000,000-zenny loan, she must repay it to free her brothers. She uses a custom Gustaff mecha and her forty Servbots to raise the ransom. During bank robberies, she encounters officer Denise Marmalade, who fails to stop her. In caves, the Servbots find the three Aurora Stones, help a restless spirit, and assist two Diggers in love. Tron explores the ruins for artifacts, including the Diana's Tear. She brings one million zenny to Loath, who claims Teisel owes an additional two million in interest. After she acquires that, Loath demands interest on the interest, and Tron is captured. Her favorite Servbot leads the others in a rescue, freeing the Bonnes. Tron defeats Glyde, but Loath activates the Colossus. The Bonnes attack it with the Gesselschaft's weapons to little effect; Tron is seriously injured and Teisel thrown overboard. The Servbots pilot the Gustaff and defeat the Colossus, then hand Loath and Glyde to the police, saving Denise's job. The reunited Bonnes set off for Kattelox Island, but the favorite Servbot accidentally throws a giant Refractor from Loath out with the trash, forcing a pit stop.
Development
The game was first shown to the public in December 1998. At the time, a Capcom representative mentioned that while a release date had not been locked down, an announcement would come soon because the first Mega Man Legends was so popular. In June 1999, Capcom confirmed that the Japanese version, Tron Ni Kobun, would come with a demo of the upcoming Rockman DASH 2. The official Japanese website stated this demo was a completely separate adventure, not a prototype. The North American demo was much closer to the final game, offering three options: two boss fights and a full run through the Forbidden Ruins. The main characters share the same voice actors as the other Legends games. In North America, Caroly Larson voiced Tron Bonne, and Rob Smith voiced Teisel (Tesshō Genda in Japan). This is the only Legends game where Ikue Ōtani did not voice Bon Bonne in the English version. The Japanese release has two vocal songs, "Love Letter" and "Magic!," performed by Mayumi Iizuka, who also voiced Tron Bonne in Japanese.
Reception
Critics were generally kind to The Misadventures of Tron Bonne, with GameRankings classifying its reception as favorable. NextGen’s Jeff Lundrigan praised its refusal to fit neatly into any single genre or style, calling it terrific. Famitsu gave it a 27 out of 40. GamePro recommended it as a strong rental for Mega Man Legends fans, but warned it was a short, lighthearted experience. In Japan, Media Create recorded 61,127 copies sold in 1999, placing it 212th for the year. Eidos later cited light sales of the game in its first quarter financial report ending June 30, 2000. The game earned a nomination for Best Miscellaneous Game at the Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine 2000 Editors’ Awards, though the award went to RPG Maker. Looking back in 2007, 1Up.com’s Jeremy Parish ranked it “Worth it!,” highlighting its gameplay and playable characters. GameSpot described it as a bridge between Mega Man Legends and its sequel, while noting it wouldn’t appeal to every fan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed The Misadventures of Tron Bonne?
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne was developed by Capcom Production Studio 2.
Who published The Misadventures of Tron Bonne?
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne was published by JP/NA, Capcom, PAL and Eidos Interactive.
When was The Misadventures of Tron Bonne released?
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne was released on July 22, 1999 in Japan, on May 22, 2000 in North America and on June 16, 2000 in Europe.
Who designed The Misadventures of Tron Bonne?
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne was designed by Masahiro Yasuma.
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