Mega Man Battle Network (video game)

MegaMan Battle Network
Developer(s)	Capcom Production Studio 2
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Designer(s)	Keiji Inafune
Platform(s)	Game Boy Advance, Mobile Phone
Release	October 30, 2001 (NA), November 30, 2001 (EU), March 3, 2001 (JP)
Genre(s)	Strategy/Adventure
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer

This article is about the game MegaMan Battle Network, the first game in the MegaMan Battle Network series.

MegaMan Battle Network is the first of the MegaMan Battle Network series of video games by Capcom. The story takes place in the year 200X, though the setting is a sort of parallel universe in which key events occurred differently from the original incarnation of the title.

Gameplay

The player alternately controls two main characters, Lan Hikari (Netto Hikari [1] in the Japanese version) and MegaMan.EXE (Rockman EXE, also the name of the game itself). The former human, however the latter, MegaMan, is a computer program, called a NetNavi (derived from Network Navigator) designed specifically to facilitate the user's (Lan's) interaction with the Net and other computerized devices. In the series, the internet and the inner workings of computers are displayed as a material world which computer programs of all varieties, as personified in a humanoid form, can interact with.

To advance through the game the player must navigate both the real world as Lan and the Net as MegaMan, each containing certain tasks that must be completed to allow advancement in the other. MegaMan.EXE is often contained in Lan's PET (PErsonal Terminal), however this may be connected to the internet or a computer in a process called "jacking in" ("plugging in" in Japan), which allows MegaMan access to that device. At this point, the Navi is transferred to the respective device, rather than being duplicated. If the program is deleted while jacked in, the effect is rather permanent, unless a backup of the Navi has been made. However, for the player, deletion of MegaMan.EXE results in a game over in most circumstances.

In contrast with all other MegaMan series, in which battle and movement through the levels happen in the same setting, Battle Network's combat occurs only through the electronic world by battling viruses. They do not generally appear on the world map of the Net but are usually set as randomly generated encounters in a role-playing game style. The battlefield itself contains 18 squares that only one object may occupy at a time. Those are further divided into two groups of 9, one being space in which MegaMan may move and the other controlled by the enemy and in which MegaMan cannot usefully move. Though, akin to other Mega Man games, MegaMan.EXE possesses an arm cannon, or (Rock/Mega) Buster. It is much less powerful than in other incarnations of the franchise, so in order to eliminate viruses, referred to as deleting, the player must utilize Battle Chips. These are minor programs that contain data that the Navi can utilize in order to perform more powerful attacks, such as sword attacks, summoning other Navis for help, or supportive actions such as healing or destroying movement tiles. The chips are based on the data of the viruses that the player fights, and some battle chip images have the image of the virus they came from on them while others go a step further and actually summon a copy of the virus, if temporarily.

These Battle Chips must be uploaded to MegaMan.EXE by Lan, in a process called "Customization." Uploading is limited to chips of the same variety, such as two sword chips, or chips containing the same identification code (all chips being associated with a letter of the alphabet, with each particular chip having a limited range of possible letters, such as A-F). This is the only Battle Network game that does not have all 26 letters available as chip codes.

At any given time, the player may only have exactly 30 chips (no more, no less) in a general pool from which the Customization process may draw from, called a folder. However, in addition to these 30 chips, a player may possess any number of other chips in inactive reserve which may be moved to the active folder, called the pack. The player is only allowed up to ten of the same kind of chip and up to five Navi chips. There are 175 different chips possible in the US version of this game, and most players do not consider the game truly completed unless all 175 chips are collected.

One major tool that would become a staple for all the GBA Battle Network games are the chip trader machines. Similar to a lottery, the player can place three chips inside the blue trader and get a new chip back. The red chip trader requires ten chips, but gives out much better chips, including the ultra rare five star chips and even Navi chips. The kind of chips put in the trader are absoultely irrelevant to what kind of chip received in return, and this is true for all the sequels as well. Subsequent games added an auto save feature that prevented players from cheating the system to get harder-to-find chips.

Every chip (along with all enemies) is aligned to one of five elements: Neutral, Fire, Water, Electric, and Wood. If MegaMan or an enemy is hit by an attack from an element they are weak against, the attack will do double damage as follows (similar to rock-paper-scissors and this elemental chain would remain in effect throughout the entire series).

Many of the enemies in the game will be familiar to veterans of the Mega Man series, such as FireMan, IceMan, GutsMan (all Robot Masters from the original Mega Man game), or Mettaurs (a common enemy throughout the series). Others however, (such as ColorMan [Coloredman in Japan], and SharkMan) were created just for this game, and its sequels.

Also, this is the only Battle Network game where MegaMan has all his HP restored after every battle, can have up to fifteen chips to choose from (with the Add command used twice), and has only one folder throughout the entire game.

Storyline

Throughout the game, Lan and MegaMan.EXE fight off Net Criminals connected to an organization called the WWW ("World Three"). The WWW intentionally infects computer networks with viruses so as to hinder their normal operations and steal vital information. This organization is led by Dr. Wily, the primary villain in the original series and an important figure in both the X and Zero series. According to the storyline, Lan's grandfather worked with Dr. Wily on various projects, though the former specialized in networks (which led to NetNavis) and the latter on robotics. The government cut Wily's funding, opting instead to pursue the NetNavi project. Wily's (the WWW's) goal throughout the game is to collect four super programs with which the LifeVirus ("Dream Virus" in Japan) may be constructed. The LifeVirus is supposedly a nearly indestructible virus capable of wiping out the Net and all associated devices. Some of the confrontations with the various members of the WWW involve desperate, life-threatening situations including rigging a bus to explode, cutting off air at a large party, freezing all clean water in a city, and re-educating school students to be mindless slaves to the WWW.

During the final confrontation with the WWW, it is revealed the MegaMan.EXE is actually a unique Navi that Lan's scientist father created. Lan had a twin brother, Hub ("Saito"), who died at a young age. Dr. Hikari was able to essentially transfer him into a computer program to become the NetNavi MegaMan.EXE.

Characters

Lan Hikari and MegaMan / Netto ["Net"] Hikari (光熱斗; Hikari Netto) and RockMan

The main characters of the game. Lan is a 5th grader whose father is one of the top scientists and Navi researchers in the world. Megaman.EXE and Lan are noted throught the game as having extraordinary cooperation. The reason for this is revealed toward the games ending. MegaMan was created by fusing the soul of Hub Hikari (Lan's brother) into a revolutionary NetNavi program designed by their father, which utilized human DNA in order to produce a truly sentient program capable of befriending its operator.

Mayl Sakurai /Meiru ["Mail"] Sakurai (桜井メイル; Sakurai Meiru) and Roll

Mayl is Lan's childhood friend who lives next door to him. She is also noted as his girlfriend, which is best shown in a comical romantic scene after Lan saves her life. Her NetNavi is Roll, who is based on Roll from the other Mega Man games, though she is not related to MegaMan is this version. Both Mayl and Roll take on a romantic role in the series. Roll has the ability to attack other Navis with her antennae, as well as heal friendly programs. Roll (along with other NetNavis) also takes the form of a Battle Chip which allows her to be summoned for a single, but powerful, attack which then heals Megaman for about half the damage that it deals.

Yai Ayano / Yaito Ayanokoji (綾小路やいと; Ayanokōji Yaito) and Glyde

Yai is the brilliant daughter of a rich CEO. She is smaller and younger than most of the other characters, yet she is also more intelligent than most of them. Her NetNavi, Glyde, is not suited for battle, and must rely on the rare and powerful battlechips in Yai's collection. His character is based on Glyde from The Misadventures of Tron Bonne.

Dex Ogreon / Dekao Oyama (大山デカオ; Ōyama Dekao) and GutsMan

Dex is somewhat like the school bully, but he is far from being bad. He and Lan become good friends due to the fact that they share the same passion for Net battles. His NetNavi, Guts Man, is bulky and powerful, similar to Guts Man from the original Mega Man game.

Eugene Chaud and ProtoMan / Enzan Ijuuin (伊集院炎山; Ijūin Enzan) and Blues

Chaud is an official "NetBattler," commissioned by the government in order to investigate Net Crimes. Chaud is Lan's primary rival, both working towards a similar goal. This eventually leads to a degree of mutual respect and friendship between the two boys. ProtoMan is based on the same character from the original series, however the design is notably similar to Zero from the X and Zero series (especially his sword based attacks). Like the original character, both ProtoMan and Chaud carry a lone wolf attitude, take umbrage at help, and are convinced of their superior battle technique.

Dr. Wily

The mastermind behind the WWW. He was once a government scientist who worked with Dr. Hikari (Lan's grandfather) until funding was stopped for Wily's robotics research. He began the WWW to get revenge on the entire Net base society. To date, he has died twice in the games, but once his death was faked, and it seems that his second death was false as well, as he has talked to his son Dr. Regal in BN5, two games after his 'death'. This proves to be true when he makes his final stand in BN6. Wily, like his classic counterpart, survives the entire series.

Bass.EXE / Forte.EXE

The so-called 'Super Navi', Bass was created 10 years ago in a secret project, but was later attacked when he was believed to be causing system failures that were actually caused by the "primal" internet, Alpha. Surviving, Bass swore vengeance on all humans, and any Navi who dares ally with them. Despite various defeats at the hands of MegaMan, Bass still manages to survive every encounter, and comes back later stronger than ever. He manages to steal Dr. Wily's completed Life Aura and uses it for himself.

Dr. Yuichiro Hikari (光祐一郎; Hikari Yūichiro) and Dr. Tadashi Hikari (the latter is unnamed until the third game)

The father and grandfather of Lan respectively, they are considered the greatest scientists of their generations, and many expect Lan to follow in their footsteps. Dr Hikari (who isn't given a first name in the U.S. version) invented, among other things, the NaviCustomizer (which does not appear until the third game) and advanced versions of the PET. His father, Dr. Tadashi Hikari, is credited with creating the first PET and programming the first NetNavi.

Mr. Match / Hinoken

Mr. Match is the one minor villain who appears in the most Battle Network games, appearing in all but BN5. As his name implies, he is a fiery and passionate individual whose specialty is lighting fires on the net that reflect on the real world. He's not a bad actor, either. In this game he commands the navi Fireman, who appears as the first boss of the game inside of Lan's oven.