Mega Man Battle Network (video game)

Mega Man Battle Network
North American box art
Developer(s)	Capcom Production Studio 2
Publisher(s)	Capcom EU Ubisoft
Director(s)	Masahiro Yasuma
Producer(s)	Keiji Inafune
Designer(s)	Masahiro Yasuma Masakazu Eguchi
Artist(s)	Shinsuke Komaki Ryuji Higurashi
Writer(s)	Shin Kurosawa
Composer(s)	Akari Kaida
Series	Mega Man Battle Network
Platform(s)	Game Boy Advance
Release date(s)	JP March 21, 2001[1] NA October 31, 2001[2] EU November 30, 2001[3]
Genre(s)	Real-time tactical role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: E (Everyone)
Media/distribution	ROM cartridge

Mega Man Battle Network, known as Battle Network Rockman EXE (バトルネットワーク ロックマンエグゼ^?) in Japan, is a video game developed by Capcom for the Game Boy Advance (GBA) handheld console. It is the first of the Mega Man Battle Network series of video games. It was originally released in Japan as a GBA launch title on March 21, 2001 and was released later in the year for North America and Europe.

Battle Network takes place during the 21st century in a world where society and everyday life is driven by the internet. Users are able to interact with and virtually explore nearly any electronic device using highly advanced, online avatars called "NetNavis". The game follows a young boy named Lan Hikari and his NetNavi MegaMan.EXE as they solve a series of crimes instigated by the "WWW (World Three)" organization. Rather than share the platform gameplay of its predecessors, Battle Network is a tactical role-playing game (RPG) in which the player controls both Lan in the game's outside world and MegaMan in its virtual world. Battles take place in real-time; special abilities called "Battle Chips" can be accessed to fight off the numerous computer viruses present in the game's electronic environments.

According to the game's producer, the development team wanted Battle Network to identify specifically with younger, modern gamers by creating a setting that resembles the real world and a gameplay model that mixes traditional action and RPG elements. Battle Network received positive reviews from critics. Its unconventional battle system and colorful graphics were given significant praise, but its storyline was met with mixed opinions. The game was followed by a number of sequels and spin-off titles, as well as other media.

Plot

See also: List of Mega Man Battle Network characters

Mega Man Battle Network is set in the ambiguous year in the 21st century ("20XX AD"). Within this world, the internet (or Net) has become humanity's primary means of communication, commerce, and even crime. Users are able to "jack in" to the Net and other computerized devices, and explore their various aspects using program avatars called "NetNavis (Network Navigators)".^[4] The Net and the inner workings of computers are displayed as a virtual world with which computer programs of all varieties, as personified in a humanoid form, can interact. Users often do so by accessing their NetNavis via a "PET (PErsonal information Terminal)" device.^[4] The plot of Mega Man Battle Network follows one such pair, Lan Hikari and his NetNavi MegaMan.EXE. Lan is a fifth grader in the town of ACDC.^[4] His father, Dr. Yuichiro Hikari, is one of the top scientists and NetNavi researchers in the world. Not long into the story, Lan and MegaMan begin solving various criminal cases around town involving other Navis and their operators. Some of the confrontations with the various criminals involve desperate, life-threatening situations including rigging a bus to explode, cutting off air at a large party, freezing all clean water in a city, and re-educating school students to be mindless slaves. The duo continuously cross paths with Eugene Chaud, using the NetNavi ProtoMan.EXE, an official "NetBattler" commissioned by the government to investigate crimes on the Net.^[5]

The protagonists eventually learn that the criminals are all connected to an organization called the "WWW (World Three)". The WWW intentionally infects computer networks with viruses so as to hinder their normal operations and hack vital information. The group is led by Dr. Wily, a former colleague of Lan's grandfather. While working together, Wily had specialized in robotics and Lan's grandafather specialized in networks, which led to NetNavis.^[6] The government cut Wily's funding, opting instead to pursue the NetNavi project. Wily's goal throughout the game is to collect four super programs with which the "LifeVirus" may be constructed.^[7] The LifeVirus is a nearly indestructible computer virus capable of wiping out the Net and all associated devices. During the final confrontation with the WWW, it is revealed the MegaMan.EXE is actually a unique Navi that Lan's scientist father created. Lan had a twin brother, Hub, who died at a young age. Dr. Hikari was able to essentially transfer him into a computer program to become the NetNavi MegaMan.^[8] With the help of both Dr. Hikari and Chaud, Lan and MegaMan manage to defeat Wily, destroy the LifeVirus, and restore peace to ACDC.

Gameplay

Battles take place on a three-by-six grid. The player selects a Cannon Battle Chip for MegaMan.EXE (left) while fighting two viruses.

Unlike previous entries in the Mega Man franchise, Mega Man Battle Network is a real-time tactical RPG. To progress through the game the player must alternately navigate both the real world as Lan Hikari and the Net as MegaMan.EXE, each containing certain tasks that must be completed to allow advancement in the other.^[9] Controlling Lan, the player may travel around the world map, interact with non-player characters, check email, purchase items, and initiate Net missions.^[4] In contrast with action-platformer Mega Man entries in which battle and movement through the levels happen in the same setting, Battle Network's combat occurs only through by battling computer viruses within the Net. This cyber world is represented by a series of branching pathways and nodes, where MegaMan can travel to both new and previously visited locations, find and purchase items, and fight viruses. Battles do not generally appear on the field screen of the Net but are usually set as random encounters as in traditional role-playing games.^[10] The battlefield itself is a grid made up of 18 tiles. The grid is further divided into two groups of nine, one being space in which MegaMan may move and the other controlled by the enemy and in which MegaMan cannot usefully move.^[4][11] Akin to other Mega Man games, MegaMan.EXE possesses an arm cannon called the "Mega Buster". By freely moving among the nine provided tiles, MegaMan can fire the Mega Buster at enemies from across the screen. The objective of each battle is to delete all the viruses by depleting their hit points (HP).^[4] If MegaMan's own health depletes, a game over occurs. Certain power-up programs can be found that upgrade MegaMan's HP, defense, or Mega Buster power.^[4][10]

The Mega Buster is quite weak on its own, so in order to delete viruses more efficiently, the player must access special abilities called "Battle Chips".^[9][12] These are minor programs that contain data that the Navi can utilize in order to perform more powerful attacks, summon other Navis for help, or execute supportive actions such as healing or destroying movement tiles.^{[4][11][12][13]} Battle Chips are uploaded to MegaMan by Lan in a process called "Customization." Uploading is limited to chips of the same variety, such as two sword chips, or similarly named chips.^[13] Each turn in battle only presents the player with five random chips to choose from. Once the "Battle Gauge" (or "Custom Gauge") at the top of the screen fills during battle, another random set of chips can be chosen from a general pool called the "folder".^[4][11] At any given time, the player may only have exactly 30 chips in the folder from which the Customization process may draw.^[12] However, in addition to these 30 chips, a player may possess any number of other chips in inactive reserve, called the "sack", which may be moved to the active folder. The player is only allowed up to ten of the same kind of chip and up to five Navi chips.^[4] Every chip and enemy is aligned to one of five elements: Neutral, Fire, Water, Electric, and Wood. If MegaMan or an enemy is hit by an attack from an element they are weak against, the attack will do double damage.^[4] Players may use a GBA Game Link Cable to trade battle chips or battle one another.^[4][9][13]

Development

Mega Man Battle Network was developed by Capcom Production Studio 2. Director Masahiro Yasuma recalled that it was a challenge to create the game because no successful precursor of its type had been made before. Yasuma found difficulty in blending action elements with "the kind of fun you get from a Pokémon game" in order to make it enjoyable, new, and fresh.^[14] Producer Keiji Inafune stated that its concept was to develop a new Mega Man by adding the card-game feature to the "action-taste" unique to the Mega Man franchise.^[15] Inafune elaborated that the development team wanted to add a "real world" feel to the Mega Man series by placing the protagonist of Battle Network in a location where the internet is prevalent. With the release of the portable GBA, the team felt that they should target modern gamers, specifically children, as an audience for the new series.^[16][17] Inafune felt the character would be both successful and relevant because these younger gamers grew up with and utilized such technology on a daily basis.^[17]

Inafune takes credit for redesigning the protagonist Mega Man as MegaMan.EXE for the Battle Network series, though he stated the character designers were reluctant to hand over the responsibility to the veteran artist and even altered his illustrations afterwards.^[18] The character's initial concept art went through a large number of changes before it was finalized to a much simpler design, so that even very young fans could easily draw it.^[19] The musical score for the game was composed by Akari Kaida, who would also go on to work on the fifth installment of the Battle Network series.^[20] All 22 musical tracks for Mega Man Battle Network were included on the Rockman EXE 1 ~ 3 Game Music Collection, released in Japan by Suleputer on December 18, 2002.^[21]

The Japanese version of Battle Network was first announced in August 2000 as one of four games set to be released for the recently unveiled GBA handheld.^[22] A demo of the game was displayed at Nintendo Space World that month, where it was displayed on only two out of the 140 playable consoles.^[23] The game was subsequently displayed on five kiosks at the Tokyo Game Show the following month.^[24] According to series planners Masakazu Eguchi and Masahiro Yasuma, this experimental beta build of the game involved the player fighting a malevolent WoodMan.EXE within the school's electronic blackboard.^[25] Battle Network was officially released in Japan as a GBA launch title on March 21, 2001.^[1] A commercial advertisement of the game featured the song "Neo Venus" by Japanese rock band Janne Da Arc.^[26] The English localization of Battle Network was announced on May 17, 2001, just prior to the Electronic Entertainment Expo.^[27] It was released in North America and Europe on October 31 and November 30 respectively.^[2][3] The game's first sequel, Mega Man Battle Network 2, was announced before the Japan World Hobby Fair in June 2001. Attendees to the fair were able to download chip data for the character Bass.EXE into their original Battle Network cartridges.^[28]

Reception and legacy

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	80%[29]
Metacritic	79 out of 100[30]
Review scores
Publication	Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly	6 out of 10[31]
Famitsu	30 out of 40[32]
Game Informer	8.25 out of 10[33]
GameSpot	8.3 out of 10[11]
GameSpy	84 out of 100[10]
IGN	8.5 out of 10[13]
Nintendo Power	[34]

Mega Man Battle Network has been received generally well-received, holding aggregates score of 80% on GameRankings and 79 out of 100 on Metacritic.^[29][30] The battle system was a positive stand-out aspect for many critics. Justin Speer of GameSpot found combat within the game to rightfully capture the spirit of Mega Man as the "most original and compelling feature".^[11] IGN's Craig Harris likewise regarded the battle interface to be well-designed, a refreshing change from traditional Japanese RPGs, what gives the game its charm, and a very appreciative addition to the game's limited multiplayer mode.^[13] GameSpy contributor James Fudge summarized the combat as "very easy to learn, but difficult to master -- and yet very satisfying". He did, however, admit that the random encounters can be overwhelming at times.^[10] Kristian of Game Informer considered the gameplay both deep and simple to pick up on, but thought the menu system to be "clunky" at times and its battles to be repetitive.^[33]

The presentation of Battle Network was overall favored by reviewers as well. Harris, Fudge, and Kristian were impressed by the crisp, colorful graphics and futuristic locales found within the game.^[10][13][33] As far as the sound was concerned, Speer opined that the music appropriately matched the rich visual style.^[11] Kristian otherwise accepted the sound as "enough here to get by", but that nothing would be missed if it were turned off.^[10] Harris comparably stated that "the standard Japanese tunage could have been given a bit more variety".^[13] The reviewers gave mixed opinions of the game's storyline. Though Kristian called it "engrossing", Harris recognized the plot as the game's one major fault, describing it as "kiddy" and disliking the consistent use of computer terminology for character names.^[13] Speer similarly summarized, "If there's something that might hold you back from enjoying the game, it's the lighthearted and somewhat goofy story. However, the game doesn't take itself too seriously, so neither should you."^[11]

Mega Man Battle Network entered Japanese sales charts at number 12, selling approximately 43,048 units during its first week.^[1] A total of 224,837 units were sold in Japan during 2001, with the game being listed by Dengeki Online as the 50th best-selling video game in the region for that year.^[35] The success of Mega Man Battle Network led to several sequels and spin-offs on other consoles, mobile phones, and arcade; an anime series; and numerous pieces of merchandise.^[12][36] The Mega Man Star Force series, a spiritual successor to the Battle Network games, began in 2007 after the end of the latter.^[12][37] Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star, a remake of the first Battle Network game for the Nintendo DS, integrates elements from the Star Force series.^[38]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "ゲームソフト販売ランキング TOP30 [Gamesoft Marketing Rankings Top 30]" (in Japanese). Famitsu. March 29, 2001. http://www.famitsu.com/game/rank/2001/03/29/index.html. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Lake, Mark (November 1, 2001). "Capcom GBA Goodness - Here at Last!". Nintendo World Report. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/6679. Retrieved March 14, 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Mega Man - Battle Network" (in German). Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00005S7PI/. Retrieved July 29, 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} Capcom, ed (October 2001). Mega Man Battle Network Instruction Booklet. Sunnyvale, CA: Capcom Entertainment, Inc.. pp. 4–35. AGB-AREE-USA. 
5. ^ Capcom. Mega Man Battle Network. (Capcom). Game Boy Advance. (October 31, 2001) "Chaud: Fine... but, I am an official netbattler, Eugene Chaud! And this is my NetNavi, ProtoMan! Get in our way, and we'll have to delete you, kid!"
6. ^ Capcom. Mega Man Battle Network. (Capcom). Game Boy Advance. (October 31, 2001) "Dr. Wily: 30 years ago, two famous scientists competed to be the best!... Me, and your grandfather, Dr. Hikari! I made robots, and he specialized in networks. We were both lost in our research. Then, one day... In order to win an inter-national competition, our country had to pick one of our projects to fund. After long debate... They canceled my robot research! I couldn't believe it! My research was vital! Vital! I had no place to turn to, and so I left the lab. That's why I'm mad! If it wasn't for Hikari...! So I made the WWW to get back at him! He made this world what it is, and now I'll destroy it!"
7. ^ Capcom. Mega Man Battle Network. (Capcom). Game Boy Advance. (October 31, 2001) "E-Mail: LifeVirus: ultimate program made up of 4 programs: Fire, Aqua, Elec, and Wood, possessing no elemental weakness. No effective combat strategies known..."
8. ^ Capcom. Mega Man Battle Network. (Capcom). Game Boy Advance. (October 31, 2001) "Dad: My research came to a sudden stop... It was about this time that I had a son... A cute baby boy... We named him 'Hub.' But our happiness didn't last long... He had heart trouble and became too weak to live... So I thought... Somehow I will keep his memory alive. Lan, Hub was your twin brother. You were born from the same egg... your DNA is identical. I could use Hub's DNA to make a Navi for you... Suddenly, I had the DNA solution I had been searching for! The Navi I made... was MegaMan.EXE!"
9. ^ ^{a b c} "Buyer's Guide: Mega Man Battle Network". Nintendo Power Advance (Nintendo of America) (2): p. 118. 2001. ISSN 5496-6920. 
10. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Fudge, James (November 2001). "Reviews: Megaman Battle Network (GBA)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on July 16, 2009. http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20090616123609/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/november01/megamangba/. Retrieved July 4, 2010. 
11. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Speer, Justin (January 7, 2002). "Mega Man Battle Network Review for Game Boy Advance". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/gba/rpg/megamanbattlenetwork/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Bread-review. Retrieved July 4, 2010. 
12. ^ ^{a b c d e} Parish, Jeremy (October 9, 2011). "When Mega Man Ruled the World: An Anniversary Tribute". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/features/mega-man-ruled-world-memorial-tribute. Retrieved October 21, 2011. 
13. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Harris, Craig (November 9, 2001). "Mega Man Battle Network - Game Boy Advance Review". IGN. http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/165/165252p1.html. Retrieved July 4, 2010. 
14. ^ "Mega Man". Interviewee: Keiji Inafune. Game Makers. G4 (TV channel). November 20, 2003. No. 19, season 2.
15. ^ Nintendo of Europe. "EXE 5 DS: Nintendo of Europe interview with Inafune". Rockman Perfect Memories. http://www.rockmanpm.com/?p=exe5dsnoeinterview. Retrieved July 10, 2010. 
16. ^ Yoshinoya, Bakudan (October 11, 2002). "Mega Man EXE Transmission Interview". Nintendo World Report. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7879. Retrieved July 10, 2010. 
17. ^ ^{a b} Hoffman, Chris (April 2004). "The Best Damn Mega Man Feature Period". Play (Bournemouth, UK: Imagine Publishing) 3 (4). 
18. ^ Niizumi, Hirohiko (September 23, 2007). "TGS '07: Mega Man celebrates 20th anniversary". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/ps/action/megamanx5/news.html?sid=6179759&om_act=convert&om_clk=gsupdates&tag=updates%3Btitle%3B2. Retrieved July 17, 2010. 
19. ^ (in Japanese) ロックマンエグゼのひみつ　オフィシャル設定イラストガイド [Rockman EXE no Himitsu Official Creation Illustrations Guide]. Capcom. July 14, 2006. pp. 12–3. ISBN 978-4-86233-059-2. 
20. ^ Jeriaska (December 2, 2008). "Interview: The Story Of The Mega Man 9 Arrange Soundtrack". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/21294/Interview_The_Story_Of_The_Mega_Man_9_Arrange_Soundtrack.php. Retrieved February 20, 2011. 
21. ^ "Game Music :: Rockman EXE 1 ~ 3 Game Music Collection :: Album Information". Square Enix Music Online. http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/r/rockmanexe1-3.shtml. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
22. ^ IGN Staff (August 9, 2000). "Four GBA Games Exposed". IGN. http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/083/083296p1.html. Retrieved July 10, 2010. 
23. ^ IGN Staff (August 23, 2000). "The Space World System Breakdown". IGN. http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/083/083956p1.html. Retrieved July 10, 2010. 
24. ^ IGN Staff (September 22, 2000). "TGS 2000: Game Boy Advance Shows its TFT LCD at TGS". IGN. http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/085/085474p1.html. Retrieved March 18, 2011. 
25. ^ Eguchi, Masakazu and Yasuma, Masahiro. "カプコンに一言！ [Letters to Capcom!]" (in Japanese). U-Capcom. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090514092638/http://capcom-fc.com/hitokoto/hitokoto13/iitai.html. Retrieved November 2, 2011. 
26. ^ "カプコン、PS2/WIN「ロックマンX8」主題歌がJanne Da Arcの「WILD FANG」に決定 [Capcom, PS2/WIN "Rockman X8" Janne Da Arc's theme song "WILD FANG" decision]" (in Japanese). Game Watch. January 17, 2005. http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20050117/rock.htm. Retrieved November 2, 2011. 
27. ^ GameSpot Staff (May 17, 2001). "E3 2001 Preshow Report: Capcom announces Mega Man Battle Network". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/news/2761487.html?tag=result%3Btitle%3B9. Retrieved July 17, 2010. 
28. ^ IGN Staff (June 15, 2001). "Megaman EXE 2 Announcement Soon". IGN. http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/095/095874p1.html. Retrieved July 17, 2010. 
29. ^ ^{a b} "Mega Man Battle Network for Game Boy Advance". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/457634-mega-man-battle-network/index.html. Retrieved July 4, 2010. 
30. ^ ^{a b} "Mega Man Battle Network for Game Boy Advance". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/mega-man-battle-network. Retrieved August 28, 2011. 
31. ^ "Review Crew: Mega Man Battle Network". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (151): p. 172. February 2002. ISSN 1058-918X. 
32. ^ "シルバー殿堂　バトルネットワーク ロックマン エグゼ　【クロスレビュー総合点数：30点】" (in Japanese). Famitsu. http://www.famitsu.com/game/special/2001/04/27/dendo/silver20.html. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
33. ^ ^{a b c} Kristian (October 2001). "Reviews: Mega Man Battle Network". Game Informer (GameStop) (102). ISSN 1067-6392. Archived from the original on August 10, 2005. http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20050810001132/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200110/R03.0805.1414.59861.htm. 
34. ^ "Now Playing: Mega Man Battle Network". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) (148). September 2001. ISSN 1041-9551. 
35. ^ IGN Staff (January 11, 2002). "Dengeki Online Top 200 Of 2001". IGN. http://ps2.ign.com/articles/100/100860p1.html. Retrieved June 22, 2010. 
36. ^ Elston, Brett (June 30, 2008). "The ultimate Mega Man retrospective". GamesRadar. http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-ultimate-mega-man-retrospective/a-2008062794557758069/p-6. Retrieved March 17, 2010. 
37. ^ Moriarty, Colin (August 14, 2007). "Mega Man Star Force: Leo Review". IGN. http://ds.ign.com/articles/812/812863p1.html. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
38. ^ Spencer (October 23, 2009). "Rockman EXE: Operate Shooting Star’s New Scenario Stars Mega Man Star Force". Siliconera. http://www.siliconera.com/2009/10/23/rockman-exe-operate-shooting-stars-new-scenario-stars-mega-man-star-force/. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 

External links

• Official Rockman EXE website (Japanese)