I don't deny that I'm a fan of Megaman X6 and I'm more than ready to defend it from unfair criticism. However, I think one of the weaker parts of the game is the introduction of Isoc. Isoc is assumed by some fans of the Megaman series to be a robotic avatar of Dr. Wily - just like Serges was in Megaman X2. However, I do still feel that neither Serges nor Isoc is officially Dr. Wily since Dr. Wily never takes a position lower than that of the Big Bad. Serges ended up building Sigma a new body and repairing Zero. Keiji Inafune never confirmed either if Serges was really Dr. Wily. Fan theories can be there and probably be left just for fun. Isoc is also subjected to this speculation I found about the character himself.
There are certain clues in the game about Isoc's identity. Depending on who you use can reveal SOMETHING about this guy. If you use Zero to defeat Hi-Max (which creates the downside that you can access the Gate stage early on while it's nearly impossible to defeat) - you have Isoc really snickering like Dr. Wily would. However, when he's facing X - Isoc calls X an ancient piece of junk. That's why some people speculated that he's Dr. Wily in Reploid form. However, a big review of Megaman X5 might tell you someone else has an obsession with Zero - it's SIGMA! Sigma had an obsession with Zero since Megaman X2 mentioned "the last of the doctor's creations" and "the last of the Wi... numbers..." if we're going by the Japanese.
Why Isoc could actually be SIGMA in disguise and not Dr. Wily
I found this theory in Reddit seems to make more sense than the Isoc is Wily theory:
My theory is that Isoc was just a body for Sigma, and once Sigma was almost back to his normal self, he "jumped" into a new body for himself, killing Isoc in the process.
If Zero defeats Hi-Max - you have Isoc really fascinated. Sigma's fascination with Zero really played itself in X2 and X5. In X5, Sigma apparently met Dr. Wily in the figurative sense - that is not the literal Wily but an A.I. version of Wily. Sigma's obsession was to awaken Zero back to his original programming. Sigma's language in X2 that Zero was supposed to serve him. Remember back in X5 when Sigma had the blueprints of X and Zero behind him in the fight? Sigma would've already known Zero inside-out thanks to Serges in X2. Sigma was able to hinder Zero's movements with what seemed to be virus energy.
Some speculate that Isoc met Sigma and created the Gamma Sigma body. The identity of the old man remained mysterious. X6 doesn't even seem to drop a hint on that. I assume that Sigma probably dug through old data and ended up "meeting Wily" when the Maverick Virus revealed more stuff intended. Possibilities are that Sigma managed to learn to cheat death yet again in X6. S
Isoc's encounter with X is rather different. Isoc calls X an "ancient piece of junk". X is actually intended not to be Classic Megaman. The confrontation between the two isn't that personal. However, Sigma's dialogue in X5 hints that the idea of X and Classic Megaman are one and the same - which may not be the case. The vital statistics will tell one is different from the other. Maybe we're left to our imagination. Isoc calls X an "ancient piece of junk" and says that he will destroy X HIMSELF. The grudge is far deeper assuming X is not Classic Megaman. Isoc bids farewell but you never get to fight him. WHY?! There's more than meets the eye about who Isoc really is! Dr. Wily can't hold a grudge against X himself as Sigma would!
If Isoc were Dr. Wily (or a Reploid with Dr. Wily's memories) then the dialogue should be different. Isoc would probably say, "Megaman errrrr X" like the Japanese dialogue of Megaman X2. Isoc would've said, "Not that memento of Dr. Light!" or "Curses! My star creation King defeated by a memento of Dr. Light!" Instead, Isoc's hatred for X is really too personal. Unless X is really Classic Megaman then the grudge wouldn't go that deep. It's not like on the same level as Serges who would expect regret to be defeated by a memento of Dr. Light. Take note that I think Serges is simply a Reploid with Dr. Wily's memories than the actual professor himself.
The clue start to fall around further when Gate is destroyed. It had me thinking about this weird instance...
Just think for a SECOND. In X6, defeating Gate reveals that he has one ace on his sleeve - BRING BACK SIGMA. However, Sigma ends up saying, "Oh, please. I did not die!" which can hint that something is REALLY WRONG. Try to notice the red eyes of Isoc and Sigma are too similar to be ignored. This means that Sigma disguised himself as Isoc all along. My theory is that Sigma, probably too weakened after X5, had decided to take cover as a mad scientist. Probably, with whatever resources Sigma had made a Wily-looking body and pretended to be Gate's laboratory assistant. Along the way, Sigma, now having Zero's blueprints, decided to revive Zero as Nightmare Zero. Sigma was now playing Gate like a fiddle. Sigma's revelation that he didn't die is something to think about. Perhaps, Gate had an INCOMPLETE Sigma body explaining the final boss battle. Sigma as Isoc pretended to follow orders while waiting to seize back control. Isoc, now seeing the opportunity to drop the curtain decides to finally destroy Gate (seeing him no longer useful) and finally return to have his revenge.
I decided to re-listen to it with the Japanese voice. I noticed that somehow Sigma sounded like an OLD MAN after he was revived. Sigma can barely talk like he did. Isoc also sounded like an old man with a Wily-esque voice. In further support, I'd mention how it felt like a disembodied Sigma that came out - not a full body of Sigma. Sigma just grew impatient because of X's presence. Instead, Sigma decides to settle in a broken body. That may explain why Isoc broke down after Sigma's return.
The next weird thing is what happens to Isoc after Sigma returns. Isoc becomes a lifeless shell AFTER Sigma's return. Isoc just becomes all blank and lifeless. I just assumed that Isoc died as a result of Sigma's return. A fan theory is that Sigma jumped off from his Isoc body (hence killing it) AND finally decided to take his familiar (but incomplete) body built by Gate. Perhaps, Gate had agitated Isoc (who's probably Sigma all along in a weaker body) for too long that it was time to drop the curtain.
Zero's story has a "??" is heard encouraging Zero. The "??" has to be none other than Dr. Wily or at least something in Zero's subconscious. No one hears the "??" but Zero. Isoc is practically DEAD at that point. However, that incident is often used to justify that Isoc is Dr. Wily in robot form or a Reploid containing Wily's memories. The voice coming from a LIFELESS shell is hard to explain. Only Zero could probably hear the voice implied to be Dr. Wily and nobody else. Nobody could hear the "??" voice but Zero. Zero may have heard his subconscious programming triggered at that point.
Now, try to notice the part when Megaman X is the one that defeats Gate. Sigma mentions, "Now it's... just... you!" If you defeated Hi-Max using Megaman X then notice Isoc holds a grudge against Megaman X and wants to finish the job HIMSELF. Sigma tells Megaman X that the latter is finished after Gate's defeat. If that doesn't hint that Isoc is Sigma and not Dr. Wily then I wonder what will. It's just creepy how it comes full circle that Isoc wants to finish Megaman X himself. Sigma later returns, swears to destroy Megaman X, and Isoc goes suddenly lifeless. Plus, Sigma still sounds like an OLD MAN. Isoc being unable to fight at that point or sounding like an old man is a result of Sigma's not yet being restored perfectly. Sigma goes impatient and decides to return prematurely hence leaving his Isoc persona behind. That may explain why Isoc is The Unfought. It's because Sigma wouldn't dare battle X in that form. Sigma as Isoc would've fiddled Gate.
The BEGINNING may even drop off more hints. Isoc reveals in his speech which goes like this:
"Attention all Reploids on Earth! As you all know, these are chaotic, disturbing times. The "Nightmare" is upon us. It shows Reploids a kind of "dream" for human beings... no. It's a "Nightmare". The Nightmare makes Reploids confused. In the worst case, they may malfunction or delete themselves. Due to the Colony incident, there are few Reploids or humans are left on the Earth... We won't accept sacrifice anymore! This would bring us to the Earth Crisis. Taking the matter seriously, we have sent investigators to the 8 suspected areas to uncover the mystery of this Nightmare phenomena. It's said that the Nightmare phenomena are cause by... a ghost of Zero... known as an ace Maverick Hunter..."
"Now, I'd like to call on volunteers! Unite with us, and help our cause! Work for these eight investigators!! Our goal is to wipe out the Nightmare... and to delete the Zero's ghost! Come together for our future!! This High Max will lead the mission. We guarantee your safety if you join us. Both Maverick Hunters and Reploids now suffer. Let's preserve our future together! We're waiting for you! Everyone!"
This would be something that Isoc starts to fiddle everyone from start to end. Right now, even this scene hints that Isoc could be Sigma in a weaker body all along. Here, Sigma as "Isoc" tries to link everything to a ghost of Zero and mentions the Colony incident - something that Sigma started. So, I'd like to pretend now that Dr. Wily's posthumous influence worked to such a degree that Sigma becomes "Wily" in the form of Isoc. Isoc would be trying to bait Megaman X out with that speech if that's the case. Then everything mentioned earlier falls into place. Isoc needed to get Megaman X out, get Hi-Max into action, and eventually manipulate Gate pretending to be a laboratory assistant. Eventually, when Gate says, "I brought back the evil Sigma!" - Sigma's chilling revelation that he's not dead (though still weakened) eventually falls into place. Isoc ends up lifeless and Sigma returns even in a very incomplete form. Everyone may have been manipulated by Sigma all along! Sigma as a virus could possess any host and hide as Isoc may be feasible since he's not completely resurrected. Sigma did appear as a mysterious figure talking to the General of Repliforce in Megaman X4, right?
That can also be noticed is Sigma's second form in the final battle known as Hell Sigma. It's hardly that Sigma uses the skull motif. Sigma probably decided to use an unfinished version of whatever Wily had 100 years back. Sigma NEVER used a skeletal motif during the first five Megaman X games until Megaman X6. Sigma also releases several baddies you can destroy for power-ups - nearly similar to how Dr. Wily released skull-type baddies in Megaman 7 during the first fight. Sigma would also release a destructive laser beam - similar to the one from the Megaman 8 introduction. Dr. Wily probably had some posthumous influence on Sigma himself. Sigma could've manifested a completely different body but why a skeletal type? Did his time as Isoc (which he could've used whatever memories he had of Dr. Wily) influence him to be a meaner version of the said doctor?
The horrible sequel may hold answers as well
Megaman X7 (and boy do I HATE THAT GAME) is where Sigma is called The Professor. My theory is that somehow - Red may have had contact with Isoc (Sigma). Sigma as Isoc simply used Gate, pretended to swear loyalty, AND was contacting Red at some point. That's probably why Sigma was referred to as "Professor" in X7. Even Sigma as Isoc would've arranged certain events before X7 began. Probably, not even Gate was aware that his laboratory assistant was fiddling with him all along. The talk of Reploid evolution was there in Megaman X6 before the next game.
The possibility was that Sigma (as Isoc) was already working for Gate AND Red. Isoc could've worked as a researcher AND contacted Red at some point. Sigma probably used his Isoc alter-ego to prep things up. Sigma as Isoc could've taught Red possible things as "The Professor". Sigma as Isoc could've used Gate's research and leaked it slowly to Red of Red Alert. Slowly, Sigma may have also been responsible for the rise of New Generation Reploids. Red may have been another puppet for Sigma. Apparently, Red only knew Sigma in the Isoc persona. It could've been cool to confirm Isoc was Sigma. Sigma taking the alias of Professor might hint that Isoc IS Sigma.
Maybe Isoc really was indeed an alter-ego for Sigma. Sure, one has the Dr. Wily theory since he was voiced by the late Takeshi Aono. Sigma could've mastered Wily's voice, created a body of his that would remind you of Dr. Wily, but shows more tenacity and cruelty than the original Wily wasn't capable of. However, this is just a theory, a game theory!
Updated: March 16, 2024
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