Mega Man Battle Network

"A refreshing new RPG adventure from Capcom!"

Graphics : 9
Very nice. The game is presented in an isometric view on the ''overworld'' screen, and is full of goodies, especially in the richly-detailed houses and streets. Items and jack-in ports are very easy to spot, and most everything has a short description. (''A delightful potted plant'', etc.)
The battle graphics are excellent, 2-D, and full of special effects. Both foes and MegaMan have a variety of different animations and other special effects, and the whole thing is pulled off very spiffy.

Sound : 8
Nothing to crow over, but it gets the job done. Unless you put headphones on, it really doesn't add that much to the gameplay. The background music and sound effects are quite adequate, however. A couple of voice samples would have been nice, but it's no big deal.

Gameplay : 10
Here's where the game really shines. The battle system is one of the most original and best I've seen in an RPG. For those of you who don't normally like the ''wait your turn'' style of standard RPG's, be assured that you'll always be doing something while battling in Megaman Battle Network. The other controls are very simple, but don't play down too much to your intelligence. :)

Story : 9
I don't want to give away too much, but all your favorite MegaMan characters are here, and play a part in the tale. The story won't have you on the edge of your seat, but you'll at the very least take an interest in what will happen next! It reminds me in a way of Earthbound (SNES) kind of, at least as far as the battle backgrounds, town environments, and overall style.

Multiplayer : 7
You can trade chips with your friends, and battle them, but unless you are both at the exact same point in the game, there's really no point. Some features that would have been nice are selection of which chip your friend gets when you lose to them, and a single-cart link. Worth a shot, though.

Goodies : 8

If you are a die-hard Megaman fan, add one to this score. There are some scattered fun things about, such as Servbot dolls you can jack-in to, cool posters on walls, and an incredible variety of chips to collect. This one will keep you busy for a long time if you want to find everything!

Overall : 9

An excellent addition to your Game Boy Advance library. You won't regret buying it!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/05/01, Updated 11/05/01