Mega Man Battle Network took the Mega Man fandom by surprise in the early 2000s. While the Mega Man Classic and X games were wrapping up their console run for the time being, Mega Man Zero and Battle Network took on the handheld market. Sporting an experimental system of battle chips employed in grid-based real-time combat, the Battle Network games and their Star Force successors brought something new to both Mega Man and JRPGs as a whole. Although the Legacy Collections have been interpreted by some to be preamble before another classic Mega Man installment, something carrying on Battle 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 Network and Mega Man Star Force dominated a corner of the handheld RPG market. No other action-RPG, tactical RPG, or regular turn-based RPG was quite like these Mega Man games, and their strong presentation didn’t hurt. For years after the Mega Man franchise went on hiatus, nothing arose to challenge Battle Network and Star Force. Plenty of fan projects and similar new titles began cropping up to perpetuate Battle Network’s gameplay, but only One Step From Eden has gained major recognition and a sequel so far.
A new Capcom title with the Mega Man name on it is going to draw many more eyes than an indie game or a fan patch. The Battle Network community, which is currently using unofficial netplay solutions to play the series’ multiplayer, is ripe for a revival with the Legacy Collection around 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 that Mega Man Battle Network still 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 for Mega Man to step back in” could describe the whole franchise right now. While the success of Mega Man 11 and the continuing Legacy Collections are good signs, porting most of the old games to modern systems is no replacement for an actual new Mega Man title. Revisiting the tactical gameplay of Battle Network and Star Force, with or without their subtitles in tow, could allow Capcom to recycle the proven gameplay from Battle Network while working on something new.
Alternatively, said real-time tactical gameplay could be what’s new. Mega Man Battle Network and Mega Man Star Force were 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 from Battle Network 6 to Star Force 1 was 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 of Battle Network made by Capcom itself is an exciting prospect, and it would be great to visit the surprisingly prescient cyberpunk world of Mega Man Battle Network and Mega Man Star Force again.
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection will release on April 14th, 2023 for PC, PS4, and Switch.
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