Wikipedia

Mega Man Battle Network 5

Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team ProtoMan[b]andMega Man Battle Network 5: Team Colonel[c]are 2004role-playing video gamesdeveloped and published byCapcomfor theGame Boy Advance(GBA)handheld game console.Combined, they make up the fifth mainline installment in theMega Man Battle Networkseries, and follows Lan Hikari and his NetNavi MegaMan.EXE, as they attempt to take down Nebula, who have kidnapped Lan's father and taken over the internet, with an anti-Nebula task force.[9]

Mega Man Battle Network 5
North AmericanMega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DSbox art
Developer(s)Capcom Production Studio 2
Publisher(s)Capcom
Director(s)Masahiro Yasuma
Producer(s)Keiji Inafune
Designer(s)Masahiro Yasuma
Kohei Ozaki
Teruhiro Shimogawa
Artist(s)Yuji Ishihara
Tokiko Nakashima
Hayato Kaji
Writer(s)Masakazu Eguchi
Tsukasa Takenaka
Composer(s)Akari Kaida(GBA)
Mitsuhiko Takano (DS)
SeriesMega Man Battle Network
Platform(s)Game Boy Advance,Nintendo DS
ReleaseGame Boy Advance
  • JP:December 9, 2004 (Team of Blues)[1]
  • NA:June 21, 2005
Nintendo DS
Genre(s)Real-timetactical role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player,multiplayer

Development on the game started during the localization ofBattle Network 4,and alongside the development of4.5: Real Operation.It was announced inCoroCoro Comicsin August 2004, withTeam ProtoManreleasing in December 2004 in Japan;Team Colonelreleased three months later in February 2005, while both versions were released simultaneously for Western territories in June 2005.Battle Network 5retains the same gameplay as its predecessor, but with the addition of "Liberation Missions" where the player must liberate squares with limited time to defeat the Boss. The game also includes crossover content with theBoktaiseries byKonami.

Mega Man Battle Network 5received a generally tepid reception from critics, with many finding it too similar to previous entries, and criticizing the aging presentation; in mid-2005, both versions were combined and re-released for theNintendo DSasMega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS[d],which has updated sound and additional content not found in the GBA versions. The GBA versions were re-released as part of theWii U Virtual Consolein 2015, and are included in theMega Man Battle Network Legacy CollectionforPlayStation 4,Nintendo SwitchandPC(viaSteam), released in 2023. It was followed up byMega Man Battle Network 6in 2005, which acted as the finale of the series.

Gameplay

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MegaMan.EXE battles viruses inDouble Team DS.

The gameplay ofMega Man Battle Network 5is largely similar to that of its predecessors. The player explores the real world throughLanand the Net throughMegaMan.EXE.When Lan plugs hisPET,a handheld computer, into a computer with an interface jack, he can upload MegaMan.EXE to the cyber network, allowing him to explore and fight viruses asrandom encounters.[9][10]

When MegaMan.EXE encounters viruses, the screen shifts to a battle screen set on a six by three square grid. On the left half of the grid is MegaMan.EXE, and on the other half are his opponents. MegaMan.EXE has a relatively weak arm cannon, the Mega Buster, but his main weapon is Lan's library of battle chips, one-use-per-battle special attacks which grant various abilities, including simple attacks, attack enhancements, defensive effects, terrain transmogrification, or assistance from other NetNavis. Before battle, the player can construct a folder consisted of thirty battle chips, and each turn of a battle (measured by a timer bar at the top of the screen), the player is presented with a random selection of these chips. The player can send MegaMan.EXE up to five battle chips, after which the battle takes place in real time, with MegaMan.EXE, controlled by the player, attacking with his Mega Buster, dodging attacks, or activating battle chips from his queue.[9][10]

MegaMan.EXE joins a team led by either Lan's and MegaMan.EXE's rivalsChaudandProtoMan.EXEor new characters Baryl andColonel.EXE,and the members of this team assist MegaMan in various ways. MegaMan.EXE can take on the attributes of one of his teammates with aSoul Unison.[9]The team plays its largest role in Liberation Missions, wherein MegaMan.EXE and the rest of his team enter a part of the Nebula-controlled Internet to free the area via a time-limited battle with a group of viruses.[9][10][11]The Dark Chip system from the previous game was also reworked, with them now having to be obtained; it is also possible to use them to activate a "Chaos Unison", which resembles a normal Soul Unison with the main difference being that the Mega Buster is replaced with the effects of the Dark Chip he used for the Chaos Unison. While using this effect doesn't cause HP loss, it has to be done with careful timing, as charging with poor timing will end the Chaos Unison and cause an invincible, evil version of MegaMan.EXE to join the viruses and attack him for a short period of time using random battle chips.[9][11]

Much like previous games in the series, Game Boy Advance copies ofMega Man Battle Network 5can connect using the Game Boy Advance link cable to battle head-to-head or to trade battle chips.[9]Battle Network 5also includes content referencing theBoktaiseries byKonami,[12]such as a crossover battle feature unlocked by combining bothBattle Network 5andBoktai 2: Solar Boy Django.[10]

Plot

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Lan explores an abandoned mine inTeam ProtoMan.

Protagonists Lan Hikari, MegaMan.EXE, and their friends are called to the SciLab headquarters at the request of Lan's father,Yuichiro Hikari.While at SciLab, mysterious agents invade, subduing everyone with sleeping gas, kidnapping Yuichiro, and stealing the friends' PETs and NetNavis. The agents turn out to work forDr. Regaland his crime syndicate Nebula, which has returned after being defeated inMega Man Battle Network 4.Nebula subsequently takes over the Net with an army of viruses and Darkloids: powerful Navis that use DarkChips.[9]

While investigating another disturbance at SciLab, Lan meets either Chaud (inTeam ProtoMan) or newcomer Baryl (inTeam Colonel), who recruit him to begin forming an elite team of NetNavis to liberate the Net from Nebula's control. In a series of almost identical scenarios between games, Lan meets other powerful NetNavi operators and recruits them. Through the team's efforts, the Net is liberated and peace is restored. However, the occupation of the Net is revealed to be a diversion by Nebula while searching for "The Hikari Report," a research project by Lan's late grandfather,Dr. Tadashi Hikari.

The Hikari Report is explained as a research project by Dr. Hikari andDr. Wilyto create SoulNet, a network connecting the minds and souls of humans and NetNavis across the world. The two believed that SoulNet could bring peace and unity to the world, but were unable to finish their research. Upon obtaining the report and completing SoulNet, Regal intends to unleash Nebula Grey, a program of pure hatred and darkness, upon it, corrupting all humans and NetNavis in the world. Lan and MegaMan also discover that Regal is Dr. Wily's son.

The liberation team storms Nebula's base and confronts Regal in the SoulNet server room. After defeating Nebula Grey, MegaMan seals it and the room begins to self-destruct. While the heroes evacuate, Yuichiro stays behind to speak to Regal about their fathers' research while a mysterious voice causes the SoulServer to overload. InTeam ProtoManthe speaker is unseen, while inTeam Colonelit is revealed to be Dr. Wily, who also commands Baryl to rescue Regal and Yuichiro. Because of the SoulServer overload, Regal has many of his memories erased and is now a peaceful scientist. With their NetNavis back, Lan and MegaMan's friends join them on the Net.

Development and release

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Development of the game started during the localization ofMega Man Battle Network 4,and during the development ofRockman.EXE 4.5: Real Operation(2004). The developers described this period at Capcom as a difficult time.[13][14]The game was first advertised in the Japanese magazineCoroCoro Comicsin August 2004.[15]

Team ProtoManreleased in Japan on December 9, 2004,[1]whileTeam Colonelreleased three months later on February 24, 2005;[1][3]the reason for this delay is unknown, since both games were finalized at roughly the same time.[16]Viewers of theanime filmRockman.EXE the Movie: Program of Light and Darknesswould also receive a special copy ofTeam Colonelwith ane-Readercard for the transformation "BassCross MegaMan".[3]Both versions ofBattle Network 5were released simultaneously on June 10, 2005, in Europe,[2]and June 21, 2005, in North America.

The Game Boy Advance versions were re-released onto theWii U Virtual Consolein Japan on September 9, 2015,[17]and in North America on December 12, 2015.[18]The games are also included in theMega Man Battle Network Legacy CollectionforPlayStation 4,Nintendo SwitchandPCviaSteam,released in 2023.[19][20]

Double Team DS

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The updated version, titledMega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DSreleased for theNintendo DSconsole.

In May 2005, it was officially announced that both games would be coming to theNintendo DSasMega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS,[21]although its existence was previously hinted at whenNintendo Poweradded an untitledBattle Networkgame to its release schedule.[22]It was released in Japan on July 21, 2005,[5]and in North America on November 1, 2005.[4]Its European release was announced on February 7, 2005,[6]and released there on April 13 of the same year,[7]while its Australian release was delayed to April 2007.[8]

The port was led by main planner and writer Tsukana Takenaka, who stated that the port was requested by the producer with the initial goal of combining both GBA versions into one game, and including an opening movie.[5]The DS version was also handled by 14 other people.[21]The DS version added additional content, including a new transformation for MegaMan called SolCross, unlocked by putting a copy ofBoktai 2into the GBA cartridge slot,[e]and being able to swap between Navis during fights.[23][24]

The developers had also experimented with fully 3D graphics early on, as 3D models of several areas and characters were found within the data ofMega Man Star Force,[25]although Christian Svennson, who served as Capcom's Vice President of Strategic Planning & Business Development, theorized in 2009 that the assets may have been made as a test of the DS' capabilities.[26]

Reception

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Sales

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Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team ProtoManwas the 48th best-selling game in Japan in 2004 at 255,061 copies.[41]This version was also the 55th best-selling game in the country in 2005 at 211,099 copies.Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Colonelplaced at number 65 with 194,472 copies sold that year.[42]Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DSwas the 52nd best-selling Nintendo DS game in Japan in 2005 at 106,526 copies.[43]

In North America,Team ProtoManwas the tenth best-selling handheld game in July 2005.[44]

Critical response

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In North America, both the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS versions ofMega Man Battle Network 5met with fairly tepid critical reception, withMetacriticandGameRankingsaggregate scores ranging from 66% to 70% across the different versions.[30][31][32]Reviewers often highlighted the reuse of aging art and sound assets from previous games,[11]comparing them unfavorably with contemporary Game Boy Advance games,[9]as well as the lack of changes from its predecessors.[9][10][11]Craig Harris said in his review forIGN"Even though this sequel can be considered" the best in the series so far, "Battle Network 5 doesn't add all that much to the series."[10]

The Liberation Missions were also poorly received by reviews, with the general consensus being that they only slowed down the game;[10][11][6]GameSpywrote that "Perhaps if the concept was fleshed out in a spin-off title, the experience would feel more complete than the"Final Fantasy Tacticsfor Dummies "vibe that it has now."[11]Reviewers praised the DS version for including both games, as well as a new map system, but felt that it hadn't utilize the system's features to their full extent.[11][4][23]

Reviews weren't entirely unfavorable, especially when the topic ofBattle Network 5's predecessor was concerned. GameSpot, in particular, compared it favorably withBattle Network 4.[9]Japanese reviews were also more positive, withFamitsuscoring the GBA and DS versions 36/40 and 31/40 respectively.[33][34]

Notes

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  1. ^Although some sources lists its European release as April 14,[6]other websites indicate certain regions got it on April 13.[7]
  2. ^Japanese:ロックマンエグゼ５チーム オブ ブルース,Hepburn:Rokkuman Eguze 5 Chīmu Obu Burūsu,lit. 'Rockman.EXE 5: Team of Blues'
  3. ^Japanese:ロックマンエグゼ５チーム オブ カーネル,Hepburn:Rokkuman Eguze 5 Chīmu Obu Kāneru,lit. 'Rockman.EXE 5: Team of Colonel'
  4. ^Japanese:ロックマン エグゼ５ＤＳ ツインリーダーズ,Hepburn:Rokkuman Eguze 5 DS Tsuin Rīdāzu,lit. 'Rockman 5 DS: Twin Leaders'
  5. ^In the Japanese version, this requiresShin Bokura no Taiyō: Gyakushū no Sabata,which didn't release for Western territories.[5]

References

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  2. ^abGamesIndustry International (May 18, 2005)."The Battle Wages on as Capcom Announces MegaMan Battle Network 5 Team ProtoMan and Team Colonel for the Game Boy Advance".GamesIndustry.biz.Gamer Network.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
  3. ^abcカプコン, チームバトルとなった “エグゼ5” シリーズ の đệ 2 đạn GBA “ロックマン エグゼ 5 チーム オブ カーネル”.GameWatch(in Japanese). February 21, 2005.RetrievedJuly 20,2022.
  4. ^abcdHarris, Craig (November 1, 2005)."Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Protoman – Game Boy Advance Review".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on April 2, 2010.RetrievedJuly 4,2010.
  5. ^abcdProtodude (January 30, 2022)."The Humble Beginnings of Mega Man Battle Network 5 DS".Rockman Corner.RetrievedJuly 20,2022.
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  7. ^ab"Mega Man Invades Europe".Nintendo World Report.February 7, 2006.RetrievedAugust 11,2022.
  8. ^abJastrzab, Jeremy (March 19, 2007)."Updated Australian release list, 19/03/07".PALGN.Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2007.RetrievedJuly 23,2022.
  9. ^abcdefghijklFrank Provo (July 8, 2005)."Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Protoman Review".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on May 16, 2007.RetrievedJuly 7,2005.
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