Playtime:
7104 minutes
[h1] “EM Wave Change! Geo Stelar, On The Air!” [/h1]
[h2] Legacy Collection [/h2]
Before talking about the Star Force games themselves and sharing my thoughts as a Battle Network die hard fan who never had the chance to play the Star Force series back in the day, I have to talk about the quality of this collection.
This collection is insanely good. Every retro game collection should take notes from it.
The quality of life features are amazing. You can adjust the enemy encounter rate, increase the amount of Zennys earned from battles, view beautiful artwork for Battle Cards and characters, and enjoy much clearer text descriptions. Capcom even fixed one of the biggest issues from both Battle Network and Star Force, Battle Card descriptions are now much easier to read and understand.
You also get all of the Japan exclusive content, online battles, Boktai crossover content, and much more. Honestly, I wish the Battle Network Legacy Collection had received some of these features as well.
Considering these games were originally released on the Nintendo DS, the collection does an excellent job adapting them to modern controllers despite the original touchscreen controls.
[h2] Mega Man Star Force [/h2]
As someone who missed the Star Force series when it originally released (I was too busy playing online on the Xbox 360), I’d like to give my thoughts on each game.
For reference, I 100% completed all three games.
[h3] Star Force 1 [/h3]
The story in Star Force 1 is genuinely good and features some memorable characters.
Geo, the main protagonist, goes through solid character development throughout the game. His relationship with Omega-Xis (Mega) works especially well because of their contrasting personalities, Geo is a kind and reserved kid, while Mega is a hot tempered alien. Watching them gradually work together and become Mega Man is one of the game’s strongest points.
As for the gameplay, it felt like a downgrade compared to Battle Network. Limiting movement to only three panels instead of nine simplifies combat considerably. Features like auto locking Sword cards make things even easier.
While playing, I constantly found myself wishing I was playing Battle Network instead. Don’t get me wrong, the gameplay isn’t bad. I simply prefer Battle Network’s combat because Star Force feels much more streamlined and less strategic.
The map design also felt messy at times. Since the developers were trying to merge real world locations with the Wave World, navigation could be confusing. It feels like they were still figuring out how to make that concept work.
[h3] Star Force 2 [/h3]
Among fans, Star Force 2 is often considered the weakest game in the trilogy.
There aren’t many meaningful gameplay improvements, and the story can feel like a filler arc since it doesn’t significantly move Geo’s overall story forward.
That said, I actually enjoyed the story. It continues to develop Geo as a character and explores both his personal struggles and his relationships with his friends. It also gives Mega more opportunities to learn about Earth and adapt to life alongside humans.
The map design is a significant improvement over the first game. The connection between the real world and the Wave World feels much more natural, making exploration smoother and easier to understand.
One common complaint about the original release was the high enemy encounter rate. Thankfully, the Legacy Collection completely solves this issue thanks to its encounter rate adjustment options.
[h3] Star Force 3 [/h3]
This is where the Star Force series truly shines.
The gameplay improvements are massive, and combat feels fantastic. Creating combos has never been more satisfying, and the battle system finally reaches its full potential.
This is the game where I enjoyed Star Force the most. In fact, I would say the gameplay is finally on par with Battle Network.
The story is also the strongest in the trilogy, providing a satisfying conclusion to Geo’s journey that began in the first game. The new characters and villains are memorable, and the overall narrative feels much more ambitious.
The amount of content is incredible as well. There is a huge amount of post game content, plenty of powerful builds to create, and enough challenges to keep completionists busy for a long time.
The map design is the best in the series, with a much smoother integration between the real world and the Wave World. The introduction of Wizards (essentially Star Force’s equivalent of NetNavis) also helps the world feel more alive and gives Mega a stronger place within it.
[h2] Conclusion [/h2]
If you’re already a fan of the Star Force series, this collection is a no brainer.
If you’re a Battle Network fan, I highly recommend giving Star Force a chance. You may not love it immediately, especially if you’re attached to Battle Network’s gameplay, but over time you’ll likely find a place for it in your heart.
And if you’ve never played either series but enjoy JRPGs, this collection is absolutely worth checking out. You’ll discover a hidden gem that deserves far more recognition than it gets.
I also recommend playing the trilogy from Star Force 1 all the way to Star Force 3 instead of jumping straight into Star Force 3. While Star Force 3 is by far the strongest game in the series, you’ll have a much better experience following Geo’s journey from beginning to end. The three games feel like one continuous story, and seeing the characters, world, and gameplay evolve over time makes the payoff in Star Force 3 much more rewarding.
Mega Man Star Force deserved to stand alongside Mega Man Battle Network.
👍 : 17 |
😃 : 0