Megaman Star Force: Pegasus Review
Created by: Capcom
Genre: Action/JRPG
Age rating: U/PG

Oh christ! It's another incarnation of the blue bomber. So lets recap on the ever growing list shall we?

We have the original and most respected Classics. Then we have the story driven X, then the depressingly dark Zero, then the Power Ranger inspired ZX, The Internet based Battle Network, and the one no one really remembers/played or possibly care about Legends. This time however it's a new chapter for the Battle Network universe.

Megaman Star Force.... or as I'm more in cline to call it "Megaman Battle Network 7"

Don't get me wrong, I am indeed a fan of the Megaman franchise. But like most people I'm starting to get tired of Capcom's need to pump out newer and weirder versions of the their beloved mascot.

Also because Megaman looks more and more retarded than the last spin off incarnation.

Megaman Star Force is a game that consists of 3 versions. Pegasus, Leo and Dragon. I picked up the Play.com exclusive Pegasus and decided to see for myself why everyone is hating on Megaman this time.

I was fully aware of this series before even playing it. The anime produced by TVtokyo provided events inspired by the game but in a different way to help seperate them. Comparing the two, the anime is actually better.

1: Story
The game is set 200 years after the conclusion of the EXE series. In this future, humans are no longer dependent on Net navi's and now use devices called Transers. That basically answer email, takes phone calls and can store secret messages..... Expect Apple to release one in a couple of years.
They are also capable of a system called "Brotherband" which allows people to stay in touch, set up personal pages and send private messages..... So in other words. It has a built in Myspace software.

Speaking of emos. Our main hero Geo/Subaru seems to have graduated from "predictable main rpg character template university" for he is a complete angst ridden parasite spending his days in his room, upset his dad died 3 years ago. He has no interest in using brotherband or making friends. Then again I can't really blame him, the only kids in his town that he could possibly be friends with are "The Goon Squad"

Zack: The typical nerd kid, has a site called "Zackpedia" and is probably the guy Weird Al was singing about
Bud: He basically looks/sounds/behaves/and is as stupid as Dex, and probably fatter... The token "Duh I'm the all brawn and no brain" fool guy
Luna: I hate her, you hate her.... she's bloody annoying and should be stabbed into a million pieces.

Taking a quote from SRS "She makes Amy Rose look like a normal person!!!"

There mission is to get Geo/Subaru to come to school.... Then again if your someone like me who's watched Bible Black, you'd probably never want to set foot into a school again. Then again someone sick enough might jump at the chance

The general theme of the story is Geo learning how to make friends, and enjoying life. You know the usual crap these sort of games bang on about. I was actualy pleased at the begining when he was basically telling them to "Fuck off!!!" Then he disapointed me by starting to suck up their crap like a vacuum cleaner!!

The only character who's practically saying everything I'm thinking while playing this is Omega-Xs/War-rock. He comes from the planet FM, he is on the run because he stole something called the Andromena key. The other FM-ians come to Earth looking for the allspark...whoops I mean Andromena key and will do any means nessacery to get it back. FM-ians have the power to invade the hearts of those with negative emotions. They will attach themselves to those who are feeling lonely, sad, upset or angry and will control them for their own ends.

Why am I getting images of Tom Cruise right now?

So the only way to stop them is for Geo and Omega-Xs to EM Wave Change into this series incarnation of Megaman/Rockman.

Did that plot did confuse you? Well it's a JRPG, what did you expect the spanish inqua... no that jokes old!!

Here is the nutshell version: You have key. They want it, kill them to stop them!!!

2: Design
Now I know this is the future an all.... but why does everyone dress like they've escaped from a retarded circus?

But excusing that for a second, the game is designed using alot of features from the previous Battle Network series, using a sprite style and look first introduced in Megaman Battle Network 4. This had led to alot critics slamming the game for it's unoriginal design and presentation. I tend to agree because the "EXE" style got pretty old, pretty quickly.What is different this time is how battles are conducted. In which we enter a 3D battle field viewed from behind Megaman/Rockman. Limiting your motion to left and right. This can be a complete pain when confronted by some viruses. But it's a nice touch and feels like in the EXE anime when Lan/Netto would view a battle from Behind Megaman/Rockman. A new  battle feature is called Homing, in which you press down on the D pad to lock onto a target, then use a battle card to charge into them to use the more stronger attacks that would have been out of reach. If you manage to form a Brotherband with another character or friend via wi-fi. You can gain access to one of their battle cards or transformations.

Speaking of transformations. Depending on which version of the game you pick up. You'll recieve a Alternate form via something called "Star Force power". In Pegasus version. You transform into Pegausus Magiacian Megaman. Allowing you to perform Ice based attacks. The battle system in general is alot better and more creative than it's EXE Counterpart.

As fun as it is. The Random encounters force you into some over whelming battles that sometimes cannot be escaped from the first time. Leaving you up for a nice pumling before you can even reach the boss of the area. Sometimes it seems to take forever for a battle to start; because the games biggest problem is their is too much exposistion. I find myself walking to one spot on the map; and the characters need to have a shakespear in length conversation with themselves, their companion, or we go into a unneeded flashback to show us why they are a miserable whinning douche!

I've said it before and I'll say it again. What is the point of all this reading? The only series I let get away with this narative style is Pheonix Wright, for it's essential to the cross examination scenes. That, and it's a very well written series. Unlike some I'd care mention (Dragonball Z)

Going back to The character designs...... how can I put this?

Megaman should rename himself "Cosplayman" or how about "What-the-fuck-am-I-wearing-this-looks-retardedMan". What I'm getting at is, the character designs are a joke. The Battle Network series did reuse the Classic series robot masters. And redesigned them, producing more popular results. Searchman and Aquaman for example. But Star Force decides to create villians all named and based on constalations (Keeping with the space theme I guess) Leading to repeated type scenarios on how they select a poor emotionaly overflowing nutcracker in a crappy outfit.

But here is where I feel the series has a contraditicion. It's called Megaman STAR Force. Yet the entire game is set on Earth, in computers and on a wave road. I'd prefer to have Megaman flying around shooting F-iams in outer space, not inside the computer of a vending machine.

I like the music, it's not as good as ZX's. But it's close

3: DS functuality
Capcom seem to be the only company thats tried to make us of the DS Touchscreen without it being a nusance. Some scenarios require touching the screen frantically or moving an object by moving the stylus in certain directions. The only problem is the challenges have been recycled once again from the Battle Network series. one example, during the Taurus Fire stage. You have to ride a rodeo bull in order to reach a new area. You have to tap the touch screen when an icon appears. Pretty similair to events in Battle Network 4 on the game boy advance.

Nintendo Wi-fi connection steps in for use of the Brotherband system. Allowing players to extend a brother band..... I personally don't see the point, because I feel online gaming and "friend codes" are pointless. The Brotherband is overly mentioned in the game, like it's trying to suggest having more friends is more important that a solo experience or a depth in gameplay. Well maybe we should leave the Myspace bullshit and it's faggotry out of video games.

4: Anything else
If you happen to own a copy of Megaman EXE 1-6, you can plug it into the GBA slot on your DS, for a quick cameo from Megaman exe. Omega-X's diologe saves some cutscenes, for his bossy "Do as I say" Atittude is pretty funny and his reactions are well thought out. But I just feel the whole game should have been presented differently.

To sum it all up

Story: It's pretty flat, nice concepts that have great potential... but poorly executed D-
Design: The new battle system is cool. But the diolouge cut scenes are longer than the battles, plus it could have without the EXE look C-
DS Functuallity: Nice to see it was used, but recycled challenges  C-
Wi-fi: I don't see the point E

Well what can I say. It's another Megaman game, you're either jumping for joy, or your cursing the heavens for it all to end. Personally the battles are more creative and enjoyable than EXE, and it makes you smile here and there. But it's flat story, annoying characters and repeative nature, make the anime version more favourable when compared to this game.

And on top of that, It's really hard to see Star Force as a new game. When it's quite obviously emulating too much from Battle Network. It looks the same, it feels the same and plays EXACTLY the same. My advice. make this the only one you should get. Because it can only get worse from here.

Verdict: C-

Maybe this is a wake up call to Capcom that the spin offs are getting worse and we need some classic action.

*Megaman 9 appears*

Ah...good to see your listening.