Mega Man Zero 3

"Megaman Zero is back, new and improved."

After more then 15 years, the Megaman series is still going strong, with the X series, the BattleNetwork series, and the Zero series. Out of the three of them, the Zero series is the newest, this being only the third game (that may sound like a lot, but Megaman games are high in sequels). So Zero still has a long way to go.

Graphics: 10/10
Capcom always has been on top of things when it comes to Two Dimensional graphics, and the Zero series is no exception. Everything is brilliantly animated, the weather effects are superb, and the level of detail is amazing. If Zero uses his Saber for example, his enemies are sliced apart, and fall to the ground, using anything else however, will make them explode (that's good, as it would seem awfully strange for a blaster to split an enemy open), this is even true with bosses, if finished with a Saber attack (unless it's a charged saber attack). This is probably the best looking in the series, and this series is probably the best looking on the GBA to date, except maybe to the Battlenetwork series.

Gameplay: 8/10
This game might seem similar to the original Megaman games, but if your new to Zero and his games, then there is a lot for you to learn. Zero has 4 weapons, his primary being his Z-Saber, which does massive damage to enemies. He can also use a blaster, the Shield Boomerang (can be thrown when charged, but acts as a shielf to projectiles otherwise), and some incarnation of a weapon called the Recoil Rod (it's different in each game, retaining the same name). In this game, it's used as a stabbing type thing, that can give you a super jump when aimed to the ground when you are on the ground. You also use Cyber-Elves, which can do any number of things such as healing you, providing extra cover for you, or making you climb up ladders faster. And the most noticeable is that you do not get extra powers from bosses unless you beat them with a high level ranking, which you probably won't get unless your working to get it. Some players may never get one of these powers, but even so, these powers can not be used to exploit a bosses weakness. Instead, another new element thrown into this series, you use elemental chips, which depending on the boss, will do more or less damage then normal charged attacks do. The format though, is like most other Megaman games, choose your stage, travel through the 2 and a half minute level, fight boss to figure out it's strategy, rinse and repeat. Still, this is longer then many Megaman games, as there are 16 levels total, and you only have the choice between 1-4 levels at a time, until the story progresses for a new problem to occur, allowing you more stages. It's still a short game, but nearly two times bigger then a regular Megaman game, which is very nice.

Story: 8/10
This game introuduces a new badguy, which will probably be overused in this series too (just when you thought you found a Megaman series with a fresh plot each time). However, he has not been mentioned in either of the other Megaman games, so it's still fresh this go round. Basically, you have to complete missions in a coldwar based story for the first half, and then it goes into all out war in the second half. But, this game has a major plot twist at the end, that awnswers a question many people have been wondering if they had played Zero in the X series, but I won't ruin it for you.

Sound/Audio 8/10
The music is as good as ever, with rock themed tunes. I would have given this category a higher score, if the sound effects had been better. But to be honest, the sound effects are very muffled, and cheesey sounding, with explosions that sound like an echo of some sound effect never before heard of, the saber sounds like a whip, and the blaster is just a simple plshk plshk plshk. It's pretty uninspiring.

Overall: 8/10
This is a great game for anybody to add to their Gameboy Collection, I highly recommend this one, however, If you have never played a Zero game before (or a Megaman game at that) perhaps you should pick up Megaman Zero 2 instead, as it is easier to get into, and overall, a better game then this one.

Buy or Rent: Buy
This is a great game, and you should check it out if your into this sort of thing. It's got high replay value, with extra modes, and unlockables, and it's longer then most Megaman games.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/10/05