In a few months, the much-anticipatedMega Man Battle Network Legacy Collectionwill be released on modern systems. This collection of ten games, split between sixPokemon-like generations, is more than theBattle Networkcommunity expected to see from the franchise. Not only is it the full set, it’s also bundled with online play, chip trading, and all the battle chips that originally had to be cut for localization space. After the Japan-only crossover betweenBattle Networkand its sequel seriesMega Man Star Forcein 2009, fans were left wondering if the unique action-RPG take onMega Mangameplay had a future, so this collection has exceeded all expectations.
Mega Man Battle Networktook theMega Manfandom by surprise in the early 2000s. While theMega Man ClassicandXgames were wrapping up their console run for the time being,Mega Man ZeroandBattle Networktook on the handheld market. Sporting an experimental system of battle chips employed in grid-based real-time combat, theBattle Networkgames and theirStar Forcesuccessors broughtsomething new to bothMega Manand JRPGsas a whole. Although theLegacy Collections have been interpreted by some to be preamble before another classicMega Maninstallment, something carrying onBattle Network’s style would also be appreciated.
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There Is A Strong Desire For More Battle Network
For almost a decade,Mega Man Battle NetworkandMega Man Star Forcedominated a corner of the handheld RPG market. No other action-RPG, tactical RPG, or regular turn-based RPG was quite like theseMega Mangames, and their strong presentation didn’t hurt. For years after theMega Manfranchise went on hiatus, nothing arose to challengeBattle NetworkandStar Force. Plenty of fan projects and similar new titles began cropping up to perpetuateBattle Network’s gameplay, but onlyOne Step From Edenhas gained major recognition and a sequelso far.
A new Capcom title with theMega Manname on it is going to draw many more eyes than an indie game or a fan patch. TheBattle Networkcommunity, which is currently using unofficial netplay solutions to play the series’ multiplayer, is ripe for arevival with theLegacy Collectionaround the corner. That momentum, along with the likely influx of new fans, could be carried on into a new project entirely. Looking at the games inspired by it, it’s clear thatMega Man Battle Networkstill owns its unique style of gameplay. Everyone is just waiting for it to step back into the ring.
Modern Mega Man Needs All The Games It Can Get
Then again, “waiting forMega Manto step back in” could describe the whole franchise right now. While the success ofMega Man 11and the continuingLegacy Collections are good signs, porting most of the old games to modern systems is no replacement for anactual newMega Mantitle. Revisiting the tactical gameplay ofBattle NetworkandStar Force, with or without their subtitles in tow, could allow Capcom to recycle the proven gameplay fromBattle Networkwhile working on something new.
Alternatively, said real-time tactical gameplay could be what’s new.Mega Man Battle NetworkandMega Man Star Forcewere annual franchises, with at least one new title releasing from them every year. This left precious little time for their developers to implement feedback and changes from the previous entry. The change fromBattle Network 6toStar Force 1was the biggest shake-up these games got, and those familiar with both can confirm that it wasn’t as big as it looked. A true overhaul ofBattle Networkmade by Capcom itself is an exciting prospect, and it would be great to visit the surprisingly prescient cyberpunk world ofMega Man Battle NetworkandMega Man Star Forceagain.
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collectionwill release on April 14th, 2023 for PC, PS4, and Switch.
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