Anime-Game Comparison:Megaman Battle Networks

Welcome everyone to  the new section of DMS Gaming Lab!

For this week's comparison the game is:

Megaman Battle Network

Known in Japan as Rockman.EXE(ロックマンエグゼ Rokkuman Eguze) is a spin-off of the original series and unlike other Megaman games this one is an action-RPG with a slight touch of card games strategy.

The game debuted in 2001 for the Game Boy Advance handheld console  and it has 6 main games and several other side stories.

Unlike other Megaman games, you take the role of Lan Hikari(Hikari Netto in the Japanese version of the game and Anime) the son of this world version of Dr.Light, Yuichiro Hikari(whom unlike the actual Dr. Light he did get
 married, has a nice job and...he's still alive...), he is a fifth grader who is the operator of the NetNavi Megaman.EXE(or Rockman.EXE if you prefer)  and  goes on adventures to..well pretty much.. save the world from an evil criminal organization and several other major crisis. Because~ why would you care about school and that sort of stuff when you can go and save the world right?

Well,  before we dive directly into the comparison, let me explain a bit how it will work.

There will be 3 aspects of the game that I will be comparing  to its animated version:

• Graphics

On this part I will be evaluating how visually appealing the game is and how well the animated version compares to the gaming version, for this to be fair I will pick a game in the franchise that was released around the same time as the  animated version to avoid things like : picking a PS4 or XBOX 360 game and compare it to an animated series of the 80's.

• Gameplay

Anyone who has played games for a while or that knows a bit about games knows how important this factor is, gameplay it's an essential aspect of every game and it must sync with the type of game or to the feelings and emotions it was intended  for the player to have while playing.

While comparing the gameplay to the anime version I will be analyzing if the series delivers a similar type of feeling the game those as we play. Like the kind of adrenaline rush we feel while playing a fast paced FPS or Fighting game, or the terror and suspense we have at game like Amnesia.

• Originality

Yes I know there are several similar types of games and they might fall into one or several categories and there is just so much you can do with a JRPG or an FPS for example, even though every game (or at least good game) manage to add a unique touch , mechanic or  something that make it different from the several other games like it.

So once I have explained the way I will be doing the comparisons, why don't we have a look at the  opening screen of the game.

Not bad for a handle game from  13 year ago.

Oh before we continue and have a look at the main characters I would like to add that for preference reasons I will use Megaman Battle Network 2  for most things (cause..I just like it more than 1 and adds  many improvements to the original, also unlike the rest of the games it isn't a copy of the previous divided in 2).

Is it me or that computer actually looks like a...cash register

Well after our dear protagonist wakes up and like any other good protagonist of a Shonen...he is late for school(if said protagonist even bothers to attend school that is).

So after messing a bit with the controls and finding out that we  have a cool pair of roller skates we move out and we rush to school!(Oh btw don't forget to have your breakfast~)

And in a similar Shonen like manner we are introduced to the almost obligatory "childhood friend"

So that's completely not cliche...

Hey Maybe you actually get a chance to have a cute "I wanna be your girlfriend, but you are just to dumb to notice" type of conversation let's see.

At least Megaman does understand the ladies...

 After that transition scene were we get a hint of what will be doing next to advance the game story we  finally arrive school.

Sadly teachers won't let there be rock in here

Also we get a bit of information surrounding the back story of the game and we also get to meet other main characters in the game.

Hey we have some of those too, they are called smartphones

 That's enough for the intro let's go ahead and finally explains the gameplay, the game  already has a little explanation of the basic commands we will be using for the fighting mechanics accurately called "Virus Busting"

For some reason I can see that as some sort of Pick up line like...
"Hey babe you make me want to Jack in my PET~"

Graphics

While not the most powerful handheld console at the time it's graphics weren't bad, the game counted also with nice scenarios and the way it shown something so abstract as the whole World Wide Network.

In comparison the anime does a superb job showing not only more than the game did, but also adding effects that helps immerse the audience into a futuristic world where internet is an essential part of everyone life(like nowadays just with less online chatting and tweeting)

Gameplay

The combat tutorial for each game is basically the same, an explanation for the basic controls and movement we have while controlling Megaman in combat.

Firstly we are introduced to the combat menu and the 3x3 field we will be using when battling

The enemy amount of energy or hit-points is shown above their heads

Then the main tools we will be using for fighting called "Battlechips"

Such a nice way to motivate your students Teacher....

Once you select a battlechip this will be shown above Megaman's head,
every battlechip can only be use once while selected.

The gauge shows the time it will take to load more battlechips.

Battlechips can be selected more than once if they are of the same type or if they have
the same "letter" 

Another useful mechanism is to select an amount of battlechips and select the "Add" option
which will allow you to have the same quantity of extra chips added next turn.

As all the good RPG we can train and gains levels, just unlike in other RPGs we won't get exp by battling but rather money and other useful things that will help us buy and upgrade Megaman.

If we could get money just by killing viruses

Even if it's seems a bit confusing at first the combat itself is really fast paced and the ability to customize your "Folder" (the equivalent of a deck in a card game) give you room to try several different combinations.

In comparison the anime does a pretty nice job of not only showing the viruses, but also the combat system (and I must admit Megaman looks pretty well fighting) 

Every virus shown on the Anime also appears on the game even the bosses and characters

The fights in the animated series are even more  flashy and fast paced than even the game

The catch phrase "Battlechip in download!" is also a nice touch even if a bit over
the top sometimes.

Megaman's apperance remains the same and the way it fights does  justice to the way
players would fight on the game.

Except for a few combos players might pull in the game, the anime stands true to the game version with it's fights and
boss battles.

Originality

The whole concept of the game is among my favorites, but  not counting my personal preference there are not so many games like this one. Showing the interaction with the internet and the problems we might face in a future if we keep being more and more dependent of  technology and networks (a good reference is the game "Watch_Dogs") 

The concept of a NetNavi is also something that while not entirely new is still pretty original, wouldn't you like to have an intelligent version of your web browser and have conversations with it, customize it to your liking and maybe even have awesome battles?

Nothing personal Chrome, but I would pick Opera~

PET's have a lot of similarities with smartphones today,  a device that was as powerful as a computer, that could fit in a pocket and do all things a cellphone and a computer can. Probably based on the early models of smartphones that were released in Japan 2 years earlier and just adopted a more futuristic look.

It looks  just like a smartphone..before getting a bunch of apps

But just like in reality, trying to get an online date might be...

just as embarrassing.

That concludes my first comparison I hope all of you  have enjoyed it and  if you would like to suggest me a game or  your thought don't forget to leave them in our comment section below.

This is Kyou wishing you all a nice day and don't forget to check DMS for more Doujins and Games.

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