Another year has come and passed, and just like clockwork, Capcom has released the next game in its Mega Man role playing franchise. On one hand, Network 5 improves on many features that were in the previous game and also implements other new features that fans of the series will greatly appreciate. Then again, on the other hand, it also maintains the same graphics, audio, and overall game design that has been with the series since its start around four years ago.

The similar concept to every Mega Man Battle Network game is the general idea that real world and cyberspace actually exist as two separate universes. The main stars in the game are a young boy names Lan and his cellular phone and Mega Man. Lan can enter homes, visit shops, and even take the train around to different towns, although his primary purpose in the game is find places where Mega Man can log into the net.

You can link in to computers, everyday household appliances, toys, vending machines, and many other types of internet capable devices. Once inside, you’ll notice that these elements are set up similar to the dungeons in other role playing games. On the inside, Mega Man will need to locate clues and find other people to talk to (known as Navi). Occasionally, you’ll meet evil Navi that are known as viruses.

With Network 5, Capcom really hasn’t changed the way that the overall combat works. The battles still take place on a 6 by 3 grid that’s split evenly towards player and enemy areas. Instead of you and the enemy taking turns like you would in a traditional role playing game, you and enemies will move and attack in real time. Aside from the traditional buster cannon, Mega Man’s attacks are contained on small cards that are known as battle chips.

There are five chips that are randomly selected at the beginning of each battle, and then when they are used, others will be drawn to take their place. Obviously, some are better against different types of enemies, and some can even dish out damage to a whole level of grid squares. You can only bring 30 chips into battle at a time, which is where strategy comes into play – organizing, collecting, and then storing useful battle chips in your active folder. Overall, there are 287 unique chips for you to search for.

Similar to other games in the series, Battle Network 5 supports the use of the proverbial link cable for linking two GBA (Game Boy Advance) systems together. This way, you can trade chips, swap game data, even pit your Navi against others in battle. Although the single player mode will let you replay cleared missions and boss battles at anytime, it’s still great that the game will give you the option to interact with human opponents.

The best thing that this game does differently from games of the past series is give players the ability to switch between multiple Navi during missions. These “liberation” type missions are more or less turn based variations of cyberspace levels. There are plenty of options here, as well as the chance to battle the viruses as well as a few bosses along the way. The story that drives Mega Man Battle Network 5 is very well put together and involving than the garbage like plot that consumed the fourth game. In the 4th Battle Network, players spent a majority of the time participating in tournaments and running errands for people. The plot and many other areas are very much improved throughout your duration of Network 5.

Although longtime fans probably won’t mind it much that the graphics and audio are stale, the new game will finally bring together and also flesh out all of the features that Capcom has been adding to the series with each successive release. Newcomers to the series as well, should be able to tolerate the somewhat bland presentation in light of what’s otherwise a solid role playing game with an intense action packed combat interface.

- Top-GBA-Games.com