Bugsters

This article is about a monster race in Kamen Rider Ex-Aid.

The Bugsters (バグスター, Bagusutā), otherwise described as game illness (ゲーム病, Gēmu-byō), are a type of computer virus and the main antagonists of Kamen Rider Ex-Aid.

Background[]

The Bugster virus is a variety of computer virus, born from glitches caused by Y2K. The original Bugster virus was secretly injected into Emu Hojo, and extracted 10 years later to create the basis for all modern strains. Unlike most malware, the Bugster infects human beings, replicating until they take over their host's bodies, eventually causing the host to disappear and be completely taken over. The host is converted into data and stored in whatever Proto Gashat the Bugster came from.

Many patients appear to be singled out and infected directly with the Gashacon Bugvisor. The growth of the virus within the patient is triggered by stress, leading to a weakening of the patient's immune system. When it first flares up, the infection takes over its host's body, transforming it into a giant virus-like Bugster Union monster. Bugster Unions which host patients can only be defeated by a Kamen Rider in Level 1; the reason why is unexplained, though it is suggest that Level 1 has certain capacities to handle giant Bugster that other Levels lack. Once the Union is defeated, the Bugster itself manifests from the virus debris, and can call Bugster Virus foot soldiers to help them fight. The patient begins fading away, eventually will fade completely and die, letting the Bugster become a complete being. On the other hand, the Bugster can volunteer to undo the fading process by re-entering the host's body.

There are two ways to cure the patient from Game Disease:

1. Defeat the Bugster who infected the patient.
2. Perform a "GAME CLEAR" according to the rules of the game that the Bugster infected, so the Bugster may survive depending on the rules.

Unlike humans/riders who will be "Game Over" if killed, Bugsters can always "Continue" to infect more victims. It was demonstrated by the reappearance of Salty Bugster. Bugsters who have achieved their complete forms can be brought back at any time and without any requirements whenever they are destroyed. They also will inherit the memories of their hosts, which often causes visions to remind them. So far, the only currently known complete Bugsters are Graphite, Poppy Pipopapo and Lovelica. When respawned, Bugsters can also "Level Up" like game characters, in a similar manner of the mutation of general viruses to survive vaccines. If a Bugster is killed or before gaining a stable body, they can be absorbed and preserved into a Gashacon Bugvisor in a form of data, as an efficient way to preserve their data for other uses. They also can be released in any time. Though Bugsters cannot escape from the Bugvisors independently, even if they are completed.

If a patient dies from some other means first, it appears as if the Bugster connected to them will also eventually die in first hand, though they will eventually respawn.

The appearance and personalities for most Bugsters are initialized from characters from the video games or their human hosts that they have infected. However, some Bugsters can later develop their own individual personalities by breaking their character motifs.

History[]

Origin[]

Though long kept a secret, the Bugster virus was born from a computer glitch in the year 2000 caused by the Y2K event, appearing on the laptop screen of then-teenage programmer Kuroto Dan. ^{[Chasing the Mystery!]}

Kuroto would later install this original version of the virus into a game known as Mighty Action C and sent it to a fan of his known as Emu Hojo, causing Emu to become the first person to be infected with the Bugster virus. The virus would continue to mature in Emu's body until 2010; having watched over Emu, Kuroto hired Michihiko Zaizen of the Next Genome Institute to operate on Emu and harvest the virus (at the same time, the manifestation of the virus within him being known as 'M' was separated, with the latter would become known as Parado). The harvested virus was then modified and infected into Genm Corp.'s game lineup to create at least ten unique strains. ^{[Engineered History!][We're Me!?]} Unbeknown to Kuroto, his father and Genm Corp. CEO Masamune Dan also injected himself with the virus and secretly started his own evil agenda.

Zero Day[]

The first Bugster outbreak took place in 2011 through an event designated "Zero Day". CR was founded by the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health and Seito University Hospital to fight the Bugsters. Kuroto helped design the Gamer Driver and Proto Rider Gashats as a method of counteracting the virus. Unknown to anyone else, Kuroto was merely using the Riders and the Bugsters as an opportunity to gather data for better games.

While the outbreak was mostly contained, there were at least four casualties, including Kuroto's mother Sakurako, Heiji Uesugi's son and Saki Momose (coroner Jungo Aihara was also infected, but he died in a car accident before the virus could manifest). The Rider for CR, Taiga Hanaya, lost his medical license for failing to save Momose. As the event progresses, Masamune took the opportunity to initiate his true purpose, by letting Kuroto framed him for the outbreak and arrested for bio-terrorism as he makes himself waiting for the creation of the Kamen Rider Chronicle game in the next 5 years.

Second Outbreak[]

In 2016, the Bugster virus re-emerged. The first known victim was a boy named Sota Suyama, who was infected by the Salty Bugster. Hoping to make the boy feel better (and not realizing the severity of the condition), his doctor Emu Hojo brought him to the release of Mighty Action X, where the Bugster took over Sota's body. In the resulting chaos, Emu was able to use the Gamer Driver and become Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, removing the Salty Bugster and defeating it, saving Sota. ^{[I'm a Kamen Rider!]}

Soon, more Bugsters began to appear as they were fought and defeated by the Kamen Riders. Graphite tried to start off a second Zero Day by using the Proto Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat to spread the Bugster virus over a widespread area, but he was later defeated by the Kamen Riders. In an effort to find out the truth behind Zero Day, medical examiner Kiriya Kujo went to Masamune Dan, but Kiriya was later killed at the hands of Masamune's son Kuroto.

As part of his master plan to complete Kamen Rider Chronicle, Kuroto began to create leveled-up Bugsters such that he could collect their data once they were defeated. But after Kuroto was killed, Parado took over his project in his own way.

Chou Super Hero Taisen[]

As Kamen Rider Para-DX, Parado joined in the Chou Shocker Taisen, fighting in a temporary alliance with his Rider adversaries as well as Sentai Rangers against the army of Shocker from the Game World. ^{[Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Chou Super Hero Taisen]}

The Perpetual Horde[]

As a result of Kuroto Dan's plot to revive in the Game World, an endlessly reviving horde of Bugsters emerged in the real world where they were held off by Kamen Riders Brave and Snipe while Emu was sent from CR to the Game World to stop Dan. ^{[Maze 2: Escape]} Ultimately, the Bugster army was suddenly dissipated in an instant as the destruction of the Game World brought about by Kazuma Kenzaki thwarted Dan's ambition to revive. ^{[Maze 3: Gorider Forever]}

Kamen Rider Chronicle[]

The game was eventually finished by Parado with the help of the new Genm Corp CEO Ren Amagasaki, who distributed the finished product to the public in the form of a mass-produced Rider Gashat. ^{[Start the New Game!]} Unbeknownst to them, however, the objective of Bugsters is to use it to spread the Game Disease so they will die upon a Game Over and disappear forever. Therefore, usage of the Gashat also infects the user with a dose of the Bugster virus, and if the player decides to quit the game without defeating a Bugster, leaving the disease untreated, the virus will eventually kill them as well.

However, after a public announcement from the Ministry of Health, the amount of people playing the game started to decrease significantly, and one of the Ride-Player survivors Tenma spread the truth across the internet about a further darkness behind Kamen Rider Chronicle. However, Ren Amagasaki and Parado have a secret plan to increase and fool the players who still have the mass-produced Gashats, which is by announcing if they won the game, the victims of the previous Bugster incidents will be revived. ^{[Players Who Bet on Survival] [Love & Peace for the Winner!]}

Months later, Masamune was finally released from jail and took over Genm Corp by force. When the Riders and the Bugsters finally have their final clash, Masamune showed himself using the power of Cronus. He later told everyone that everything had gone according to his plans. He reveals that the manipulation of himself to be jailed, the perfection of Kamen Rider Chronicle, and the succession of Kuroto were part of his plan; making Kuroto his hidden pawn and not Kuroto who pulled the strings, which surprises Kuroto himself. ^{[Judgment Received!]}

Other Events[]

"Tricks": Virtual Operations[]

Bugster Virus appeared in virtual simulation where Ex-Aid and Snipe was testing their powers. ^{[Ex-Aid Chapter] [Snipe Chapter]}

Kuroto Dan simulated his own Proto Mighty Action X Gashat and faced Graphite who sneaked into VR world. When asked why, Graphite simply said that he needed to test his competence, too. Dan then transforms and activates his Critical Strike finisher using the Kimewaza Slot Holder and cleared the simulation by beating Graphite.^{[Genm Chapter]}

Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Rider[]

^{[Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Riders]}

"Tricks": Kamen Rider Genm[]

Collabos Bugster in his prime body reemerged with Proto Gekitotsu Robots and Proto Giri Giri Chambara installed. After quick battle with Emu, who used Kaigan Ghost, Full Throttle Drive and Toukenden Gaim Gashats, he falls on the hands of Kamen Rider Genm, who uses the power of the Legend Rider Gashats to complete his Ganbarizing Gashat. Using the blank Collabos Bugster as a conduit to harness the power of Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbarizing, a game Emu is unfamiliar with, Genm brings forth manifestations of Kamen Riders Double, OOO and Fourze. ^{[Part. I: Legend Rider Stage]}

A team of Bugster viruses appeared in the Game Area of Famista where they encounter Brave acting as baseball pitcher. Back in the real world, Poppy Pipopapo discovers the inert Collabos Bugster which she is unable to budge, projecting a blank Game Area which soon enough manifests as Ganbarizing, causing it to come back to life and go berserk before Ex-Aid arrives, allowing Poppy to get away. Taking out the Ganbarizing Gashat from the Bugster's head, Ex-Aid inserts it into his Gashacon Breaker, performing its Critical Finish to destroy the Bugster. ^{[Part. II: Legend Gamer Stage]}

Genms -The Presidents-[]

^{[Kamen Rider Genms -The Presidents-]}

Major Bugsters[]

• Gamedeus
• Parado/Genius Gamer M (Kamen Rider Para-DX/Ex-Aid Double Action Gamer R)
• Graphite Bugster
  • Dark Graphite Bugster
  • Guren Graphite Bugster
• Lovelica Bugster

Minor Bugsters[]

• Salty Bugster
• Aranbura Bugster
• Revol Bugster
• Motors Bugster
• Collabos Bugster
  • Collabos Bugster (Gekitotsu Robots)
  • Collabos Bugster (DoReMiFa Beat)
  • Collabos Bugster (Giri Giri Chambara)
  • Collabos Bugster (Jet Combat)
  • Collabos Bugster (Legend Rider Stage)
• Hatena Bugster
• Burgermon Bugster
• Gatton Bugster
• Vernier Bugster
• Kaiden Bugster
• Charlie Bugster

Combatmen[]

• Bugster Virus
  • Nebula Bugster

Other Bugsters[]

• Poppy Pipopapo/Asuna Karino (Kamen Rider Poppy)
• New Kuroto Dan/Kuroto Dan Shin (Kamen Rider Genm)
• Kiriya Kujo (Kamen Rider Lazer Turbo, turned back into human in Lazer vs Genm)
• Gamedeus Cronus
• Genomes
• Robol Bugster
• Giril Bugster
• Doral Bugster
• Futago Bugster
• Saki Momose
• Gamedeus Machina

Gallery[]

Notes[]

• The Bugster virus was caused by the Y2K event, the real-world prediction that computers' 2-digit year displays becoming "00" for the year 2000 would cause all computers in the world to stop working properly, as they may believe the year to be 1900 instead. In reality, at least in part to preventative measures, very little happened.
• All Bugsters are designed by Katsuya Terada who is well known for designing the Dopants.
• The Bugsters being genetic viruses given humanoid form is reminiscent of the Amazons, especially when they begin to spread out as seen with the sequences shown.
• The virus effectively replacing the host, assuming a large form before taking on a more humanoid frame, is reminiscent of the Phantoms of Kamen Rider Wizard
  • Unlike the Phantoms, however, the virus does not necessarily use the original body when the virus claims the infected host, such as the case of Graphite's host being different from the human form it currently possesses.
  • But the way they are cultivated with their cultivators working in pairs is similar to the way the Makamou are cultivated.
    • An exception to this rule is the Level 30 Bugsters, where they not only cultivate their hosts but also possess them. And upon defeat, the Bugster Viruses would eject from the host's body similar to the Dopants of Kamen Rider W having their monstrous Gaia Memories destroyed.
• Given the series' gaming motif, the revived Bugsters altered appearance and additional abilities is likely a reference to enemies becoming more powerful and possessing new or enhanced abilities at higher difficulty levels.
• Bugsters' weapons possess their owner's name: ex. Salty Bugster's Salty Knuckle.
• Bugsters using Kamen Rider Chronicle to commit genocide on humanity and become the superior race on Earth mirrors the goal of the Orphnochs working for Smart Brain in Kamen Rider 555.

Appearances[]

Sources[]

• Uchusen Yearbook 2018 - Page 9

References[]

Kamen Rider Ex-Aid
Kamen Riders
TV Series: Emu Hojo - Hiiro Kagami (Game World) - Taiga Hanaya - Kiriya Kujo - Kuroto Dan - Parado - Asuna Karino/Poppy Pipopapo - Masamune Dan - Ride-Players (Nico Saiba - Haima Kagami)
Movie-exclusive: Genm (Bakusou Treasure) - Kagenari Nagumo - Ninja-Player - Black Parado
Stageshow-exclusive: Gamedeus Muteki
Gear
Game Scope - Gamer Driver - Kimewaza Slot Holder - Rider Gashat - Energy Items - Buggle Driver (II) - Bugster Buckle - Gashat Gear Dual (β - Another) - Rider Gauges - Rider Gashat Case - Energy Item Holder
Gashacon Weapons
Gashacon Breaker - Gashacon Sword - Gashacon Magnum - Gashacon Sparrow - Gashacon Bugvisor (II - G) - Gashacon Key Slasher - Gashacon Parabragun
Other Weapons
Front/Rear Armed Units - Flamber Saber - Ride Weapon - Fuma Sozanto - Genin Weapon - Deuslasher - Deus Rampart
Gamers
Robot Gamer - Beat Gamer - Combat Gamer - Chambara Gamer - Sports Gamer - Hunter Gamer - Bike Gamer - Burger Gamer - Fantasy Gamer - Simulation Gamer - Maximum Gamer - Safari Gamer - Tank Gamer - Legacy Gamer - Pac Gamer - Famista Gamer - Xevious Gamer - Galaxian Gamer
Other
Gashatrophies
Allies
Asuna Karino - Haima Kagami - Kyotaro Hinata - Ginko Yumita - Nico Saiba - Satsuki Ogimachi - Mizuki Nishikikoji - Tsukuru Koboshi
Others: Saki Momose - Sakurako Dan - Eight Kirino - Saiko Yaotome
Locations: Seito University Hospital - CR - Ministry of Health - Hanaya Game Illness Clinic - Genm Corp. - Game World - Machina Vision - Next Genome Institute
Bugsters
Generals: Parado - Graphite - Ren Amagasaki - Gamedeus
Movie-exclusive: Michihiko Zaizen - Pac-Man Virus - Hatena Bugster - Soji Kuruse - Kazushige Ryuzaki - Ageha Takeda - Johnny Makishima - Nebula Bugster
Stageshow-exlusive: Futago Bugster
Regular Bugsters: Bugster Virus - Bugster Union - Salty Bugster - Aranbura Bugster - Revol Bugster - Motors Bugster - Collabos Bugsters (Gekitotsu - DoReMiFa - Giri Giri - Jet - Kamen Rider Genm series) - Burgermon Bugster - Gatton Bugster - Vernier Bugster - Kaiden Bugster - Charlie Bugster
Games
Regular Game: Mighty Action X - Taddle Quest - Bang Bang Shooting - Bakusou Bike - Gekitotsu Robots - DoReMiFa Beat - Giri Giri Chambara - Jet Combat - Shakariki Sports - Drago Knight Hunter Z - Dangerous Zombie - Mighty Brothers XX - Perfect Puzzle - Knock Out Fighter - Perfect Knock Out - Ju Ju Burger - Night of Safari - Bang Bang Tank - Taddle Fantasy - Bang Bang Simulations - Taddle Legacy - Maximum Mighty X - Kamen Rider Chronicle - Toki Meki Crisis - Hyper Muteki - Doctor Mighty XX - Mighty Creator VRX - Hurricane Ninja - God Maximum Mighty X - Knock Out Fighter 2 - Zombie Chronicle - Mighty Novel X - Genm Musou - Maximum Zombie - Hyper Fumetsu - Toki Meki Bridal
Legend Rider Games: Let's Go Ichi Gou! - Adventure Guy Kuuga - Agito of the Sun - Mirror Labyrinth Ryuki - Moshi Moshi Faiz - King of Poker Blade - Taiko Master Hibiki - Insect Wars Kabuto - Time Express Den-O - Doki Doki Makai Castle Kiva - Barcode Warrior Decade - Detective Double - Jungle OOO - Space Galaxy Fourze - Magic the Wizard - Toukenden Gaim - Full Throttle Drive - Kaigan Ghost - Kamen Rider Build - Ganbarizing
Legend Games: Pac Adventure - Famista - Xevious - Taiko no Tatsujin - Galaxian
Other Games: Hatesate Puzzle - Buddhist Priest of Temple - Chou Super Hero Taisen - Chou Shocker Taisen - Bakusou Treasure - WayoseTUNE - Nazo Toki Labyrinth - Cosmic Chronicle - Kamen Rider Carnival
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