I love this game. It was the first Megaman game I played. This is were it all started for me. I didn't even know about the NES games back then. It's not exactly a spin-off of the NES games, but more like an alternate version, much like the Megaman X series. It takes the classic side-scrolling shooter action RPG-ish platforming-ish game, and turns it into a full RPG game, but with real-time fighting, not turn-based like Golden Sun. This worked out really well. And in true Megaman fashion, they made several games of it. This is one of my favorite games of all time. Lets have a look.

You play as two different characters in this game, Lan, and Megaman. Megaman is what's called a Navi (not the fairy) that lives in a PET (PErsonal Terminal). A PET is a device that practically everybody has. Think of it as a computer you can take with you, and it has somebody in it to be your companion. You can "jack-in" into pretty much any electronic piece of equipment there is, providing it has a jack-in port. Lan and Megaman live in a place called "ACDC". Yep, just like the band, only that has a lightening strike in the middle. Oh, and there's this evil corporation called the "WWW" which plans to take out the cybernetic world. Why? Must have something to do with everyone is dependent on machines, and taking out the internet would cause chaos. Something along those lines.

And guess who's the head of WWW. That's right, Dr. Wily is behide it all. At least he was, before his very timely death at the end of the second game. Although he was suppose to die at the end of the first game, but apparently Dr. Wily isn't very good at dying. Maybe he's dead for sure (although pretty early in the game you'll see who's behind it). So, the year in 200X (not 20XX, like in the NES games), and everything in connected. But internet viruses and Netcrime have been on the increase. Well, that's how it starts out. Then it cuts to a field-trip to a Virus lab were the students are learning how to bust viruses. Didn't they learn how to do that in the first two games? Well it's good for new players. I can't say much about the story line, but the WWW are collecting something and they're up to no good. You also join this thing called the "N1 Grand Prix", a net battling tournament.

Where do I begin with the game play? Lets start off with Lan, shall we? When your Lan (in the real world), you do most of the RPG stuff. You talk to people for general hints and rumors, trade some chips with people, getting to the right place etc. You can even net battle some of the main characters. Such as Dex and his Gutsman. Yeah, even though he was a foe in the first Megaman game, he's your ally here. In fact, there are robot master cameos in this game (and the other games as well) from the NES games. Such as Flashman and Bubbleman. Yeah, Bubbleman's in it. It's quite funny accurately. This series had different personalities of Dr. Wily than the one of the NES games (which reminds me, if you were wondering, Lans grand-father is the icon of Dr. Light). Here, Dr. Wily is the sort of "all-out, winner takes all" guy, and he's not a wimp like the other Dr. Wily. In the NES, Dr. Wily is a "plotting and scheming, all-talk" kind of guy until he has no line of defense left, and then he begs forgiveness from Megaman. I prefer this "battle network" Dr. Wily. He's what I imagine when I see his castle.

You can also go to Higsby's to buy chips. No, not the chips you put salt on, I'm talking battle chips. These are used in battles. Each chip has a code, labeled A-Z, with a bonus code *. This is a trump. What does that mean? You can only select five chips at a time, but you can only pick chips that are either the same type, or the same code. For example, you can pick a Cannon (A) and a Cannon (B), or you can pick a Cannon (A) or a Anubis (A). Simple and easy to get used to. You can even find things called Program Advances (also known as a P.A.), if you use the right combination of chips. Here's an example. Cannon (A) Cannon (B) Cannon (C). This is the simplest one to work out, but there are more complex ones. Half the fun is working out what chips make P.As, the other half is seeing what happens. There are also different classes of chips. There are "Regular chips" (grey), "Mega Chips" (blue) and "Giga Chips" (pink). Mega chips contain mainly Navi Chips, and Giga Chips are very powerful. So much so, you can only have one in your folder at a time. Oh, a folder is where you keep your chips. You can keep four of the same type of regular chips, one of the same type of Mega chips, as well a five mega chips, and only one type of Giga chip (even though there only exists one copy on one giga chip), as well as only one giga chip.

You start off with simple chips, but you later find better versions of that chip, and better chips all round. My favorite is Anti damage (antidmg, as it's called in the game). This chip is amazing for def. When you get hit after using the chip, you dodge the attack and throw a shrunken at that virus. When you get this chip, don't be afraid to abuse it. Those are chips. Now lets talk about the game play of Megaman. You need to jack-in to play as him. You run around, collecting data, getting into random battles, and solving puzzles. The battles themselves are pretty epic. You stand on a 3x3 grid, facing the virus who is also, on a 3x3 grid. You select your chips (or you can "add" them, which allows you to have a higher selection of chips on the next turn, but you can't use the "added" chips), and you use them to kill the viruses. You can also use your Mega-Buster (not Plasma Cannon). Dealing a small amount of damage. You can charge your buster up, to deal x10 times the damage of your uncharged buster. Good in a pinch.

At a certain point in the game, you'll get a "style" for Megaman. Each style has an element (water, fire, wood and electric). This gives you an edge in battle. There are several styles, the Guts style, Shield style, bug style, the list goes on. You get a style depending on your game play. Weather you use mainly your mega-buster, or use mainly navi chips, you'll get a style to improve those aspects of game play. Some are only for blue and some are only for white. You also get to program Megaman, give him more power for his mega-buster or faster firing speed. There are lots of programs. you can program his unique to you.

The music is pretty good. The music in the real world is very relaxed, unless there is a WWW attack going on, then the music turns urgent. The music during the boss battles are pretty epic. It adds to the battles. The music at the title screen is cool. Just listen to it before you press "Start". It's worth a listen. The graphics are very well done. The art work of all the characters make them what they are. There are also
plenty of side-quests for you to do. The Job List, virus raising, chip trading, these will add to the game and reward to for doing them. Even
after you complete the game, there is lots to do. Chips to collect, more areas to explore, and more bosses to defeat. It truely rewards those
who love to explore the game.

Overall I give this game 9.4/10 This game is the finest in the Battle Network series. The music and graphics work together to add to the game, but the game play really make this game what it is. this game has the difficulty balance just right, but I put it as a 10 because a certain someone upgraded their aura and attacks, making a mean, merciless killing navi. Can you guess who it is? You'll have to find out after you complete the game. The story might be simple and straight forward, but can have a powerful effect on you. I love the ending, and will often beat the last boss just to see it. Still gets me a little choked. It's amust play for RPG Megaman loving fans.
Darkpower508 Jack-out.