Mega Man Battle Network
Capcom are well known for sucking their successful games dry. There have been over twenty Street Fighter games, for example. The Mega Man ("Rockman" in Japan) series of platform-shoot-'em-ups is another game which has had rather too many sequels. Or maybe not if you're a big enough fan. Anyway, this new game tries to do something different.
Mega Man Battle Network, you see, is absolutely nothing like the previous games in the series. The game does, of course, star Mega Man (or some version of him - we're not quite sure!), but instead of the prized combination of platform antics and shooting action which has defined the Mega Man games as a series, this is an RPG. Not much is known about the plot of the game, but the combat scenes are definitely unique. You control Mega Man in a sort of turn-based strategy game which is far removed from other RPGs' combat systems. Obviously, shooting plays a big part but, other than that, it's difficult to say how this will turn out.
Some more details have also emerged about the progress of the game. Like other Mega Man titles, Mega Man Battle Network will once again feature the evil Dr. Wily as the main villain. Additionally, part of the game also seems to involve helping out a woman whose kitchen is on fire. You and your robotic partner (i.e. Mega Man) have to enter the offending item, which just happens to be an oven, and solve the problem. Surely she could have used a fire extinguisher, but maybe that wouldn't have been as much fun.
With the latest update, we're informed that the game will take place in two worlds, so far called "Reality" and "Brain", which would explain why some shots seem to take place on a planet not too dissimilar to earth, whereas others are in a futuristic cyber-world. Unfortunately, whose brain it is isn't known yet. Other characters set to appear in the game are Moxa, Woodman, Roll and Saroma.
So not quite what we were expecting, then. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people are disappointed that Capcom have chosen this route rather than a true Mega Man adventure. Still, this game has a chance to prove that it is great in its own little way. We'll have to see how it turns out...
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