'MegaMan Battle Network Legacy Collection' Review

Video Games

May 30

The MegaMan Battle Network series is highly regarded as one of the best MegaMan subseries. Its unique RPG playstyle helps it stand out from the others, and it has developed quite a fanbase. Recently, a collection was released on all major consoles that has all the major titles in two volumes. Does this collection preserve the legacy of these classic GameBoy Advance titles? Let’s find out!

Gameplay

The gameplay of each title is perfectly preserved. Basically, the Battle Network series of games is a turn-based RPG rather than an action platformer. The meat of the game is in the netbattle sections, where players take control of MegaMan as he battles viruses or other net navis. MegaMan attacks using his buster and battle chips that are sent in by Lan, the operator of MegaMan. This leads to plenty of strategic planning as opposed to the running and shooting of other MegaMan titles. The gameplay loop is very fun and addicting for each game.

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There are several new things in this collection. The first is the Buster Max mode. This is essentially an easy mode that gives the regular Mega Buster an immense amount of power. Players can also use patch cards that are based on the e-Reader cards associated with MegaMan Battle Network 4 onward. The third new thing in this collection is online play. Players can battle with other players online in either ranked or casual play. Multiplayer was a thing for the original titles, but it was limited to the GameBoy link cable and required both players to be in the same room. Now, you can netbattle with anyone anywhere. You can also trade battleships as well, and it works as seamlessly as trading Pokémon. There’s very little if any lag when battling or trading.

Graphics

The graphics of each game are also wonderfully preserved. Each game looks and sounds exactly like it did on the GBA. You have the choice to resize the game window as well as apply a smoothing filter to the graphics if you prefer not to see chunky pixels. There are also borders that fill the space that would normally just be black bars. If you liked the original graphics for the GBA games, then you’ll love the graphics in this game.

Story

The basic story of each title is simple. It is the early 21st century, and the internet is vital to everyday life. People carry around devices called Personal Terminals (PET for short), and they contain AIs known as netnavis that help them check their email, stay organized, and surf the net. A favorite pastime of this society is netbattling, which is when two navis are put up against each other in a fight. Netbattling is also used to combat viruses.

The story follows an 11-year-old boy named Lan Hikari and his custom netnavi MegaMan.EXE. Together, they go through life while also dealing with virtual threats. Though there are several variations, this is essentially the story of each game, and it is presented in the same manner that it was on the GBA.

Extras

There are several extras in this game. The big one is the inclusion of MegaMan.EXE on the menu acting as your guide. He is fully voiced in English by Andrew Francis (who voiced him in the English dub of the MegaMan NT Warrior anime) and Akiko Kimura (who voiced him in the original Japanese version). There is also a gallery that is filled with art associated with each title in addition to art associated with events and the series in general. Players can also listen to the soundtrack for each game through the music player. There is plenty to go around for even the most die-hard Battle Network fans.

Pros And Cons

Let’s begin with the pros. The biggest pro is that all of these wonderful titles are all in one place and play great! Online play is a nice addition to the gameplay. Graphically, the game cleans up nicely even on the big screen. The inclusion of MegaMan on the menu screen is a nice touch as well, adding a lot of personality to the compilation.

There are some cons, however. Firstly, it’s puzzling why the GBA version of MegaMan Battle Network 5 was used as opposed to the Nintendo DS version of the title, which featured updated music and even featured voice clips. Secondly, more titles could have been included, such as the GameCube title MegaMan Network Transmission and the title MegaMan Battle Network 4.5: Battle Chip Challenge. While these titles are not as popular as the mainline games, they are rather unique and hard to come by. Having them at least be unlockable would be welcome. There are also some minor graphical hiccups. Firstly, the pixels sometimes shimmer a bit when the screen is scrolling due to uneven scaling. This isn’t prominent in all the size options, but it is there. The filter does help, but it also makes the image look a bit smeared. Also, though both the English and Japanese voices for MegaMan are accessible, you can only switch voices with the display language.

Verdict

Overall, this collection is excellent for Battle Network fans new and old. Whether you are a longtime fan or just discovering the series, this is must buy. Though there are some issues with the collection and some left-out content, it perfectly encapsulates the legacy of this iconic series. This is a must-have for any fan of the Battle Network series or anyone looking to get into it.

Rating: 9.5/10

Developer: MegaMan Battle Network Legacy Collection; Publisher: Capcom; Players: Single-Player; Released: April 19th, 2023; ESRB: E10+ for Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco; MSRP: $59.99

Review played on Nintendo Switch

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