Mega Man Battle Network 3 White

"Mega Man returns for his 3rd, and possibly final, run in the .EXE series"

Like many Mega Man fans, I impatiently waited for the third game in the Battle Network series to arrive, as well as the new Gamecube version of the game. While the GCN version was an overly difficult disappointment, it's GBA counterpart remained solid. Yet somehow, Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue/White wasn't quite as good as the second game. I'm not sure what it was exactly. Perhaps it's because the game is shorter (there are fewer bosses, fewer jobs, and generally fewer extra things to do). Or it could be that the game just seemed much easier. Maybe it's just that this seems exactly the same as the previous one (there was a distinct difference between 1 and 2, there is barely any difference between 2 and 3). Whatever the reason may be, it just didn't live up to my expectations. Despite this, it's still a solid action/RPG.

Story: 8/10
Frankly, it just seems like a rehash of the others. A story is never good if I'm able to predict the ending halfway through it. Wily is back in control of the WWW. He is causing chaos and general mayhem in search for ''tetra codes''. I won't say any more at the risk of spoiling the story. I can say this: the WWW seems to be getting much more violent in this one, as in practically every situation, they nearly kill a bunch of people. The ending kind of gave me the feel that this will be the final one in the series, but maybe that's just me.

Sound: 10/10
The sound effects remain exactly the same(well, there was one new sound effect), and that's just fine. There is a wide array of sound effects, and they all sound great, suiting the game and situations very well.

Music: 6/10
The reason this gets a 6 is because the lack of originality. There were a couple of new songs(both in the secret areas), but everything else is the same 3 songs used over and over again. Not only that, but it's the same music featured in the previous games. Now, I know the GBA has enough compasity for more then 3 songs, so there's no excuse for it. The couple new songs did have that old-school Mega Man game feel to them, so that was nice at least.

Graphics: 9/10
Again, more of the same, but I like the graphics. The sprites, especially the battle scene ones, are very detailed and move with a fluid motion. The net area graphics seem to have been cleaned up considerably. Basically, the great graphics you got from the second game are found here.

Gameplay/Fun factor: 7/10
Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue/White is fun, no doubt about that. The battle system, while being exactly the same as the rest of the series, is still very unique. Most fights need some sort of strategy, such as using the right elemental chips, avoiding attacks, etc., so it usually isn't boring and simple until you are just way stronger then everyone else.

Conclusion
The casual gamer, one who hasn't played the first 2 games, should really enjoy this. It is a lot of fun, and will hold your interest for a while. The gamer that has played through the first 2 games will probably feel a little different. It held up my interest enough to make me want to beat the game, yet when I finally beat it, I felt like I had already done it before. If you're a fan of the series, I say pick it up. If you've never played the games before and want to buy one, I suggest Battle Network 2 over this one.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 07/12/03, Updated 07/12/03