8Bit/Digi

Mega Man Star Force is an action RPG series released on the Nintendo DS from 2006 to 2008. A Battle Network spin-off and sequel, it follows Geo Stelar and Omega-Xis as they defend Earth from FM invaders together. The franchise produced three mainline games and an anime series that aired from 2008 to 2009. After the final DS entry, the series went dormant until Capcom announced a modern collection for current consoles.

Mega Man Star Force Collection will bring the entire series into one package and make it available on all major consoles, plus the PC. This is a preview of what to expect and a look at how Capcom brought a DS title to the PC. Please note that this isn’t a review, but rather an overview of the collection and my thoughts on it.

A Close Encounter

As with many portable RPGs from that era, you often got multiple versions of the same game with minor differences. Mega Man Star Force was no exception, offering two to three versions per entry. While the story stayed the same, the biggest changes came down to version-exclusive content or a different gameplay focus. For example, Mega Man Star Force had Pegasus, Leo, and Dragon, with the key differences being exclusive Battle Cards and signature Giga Cards.

With all that said, here is a breakdown of each title in the Mega Man Star Force Collection consists of the following titles:

• Mega Man Star Force Pegasus
• Mega Man Star Force Leo
• Mega Man Star Force Dragon
• Mega Man Star Force 2 Zerker x Ninja
• Mega Man Star Force 2 Zerker x Saurian
• Mega Man Star Force 3 Black Ace
• Mega Man Star Force 3 Red Joker

Playing Mega Man Star Force

During my playthrough of the Collection, I split my time between Mega Man Star Force: Pegasus, Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker x Ninja, and Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace. I wanted to see how the series began and ended while tracking how its mechanics evolved, and how new features improved the overall experience. I also wanted to see how well these Nintendo DS games translate to PC.

My playthrough of all three games focused on the first hour of each title to get a feel for the story and gameplay. I spend most of my playthrough with Pegasus, since it introduces Geo Stelar and shows how meeting Omega-Xis lets him become Mega Man and defend Earth from FM invaders. At the sametime it does give a good idea of the gameplay that will be used for the other entries. For Zerker x Ninja and Black Ace, I sped through the opening since it largely repeats the series’ core mechanics and worldbuilding. Instead, I wanted to get to the story and explore the changes made to the world.

When it comes to gameplay, all three are action RPGs split between the real world and the Wave World. Players explore the real world, meet key characters, and build friendships that can provide support. Combat takes place in the Wave World on a grid, where Battle Cards trigger special attacks against foes. Additional Battle Cards are collected throughout the game and organized into a folder for use in battle. While each one has some alteration or upgrade, the core mechanics remain the same across all three games.

Thoughts on  Mega Man Star Force

This is the kind of collection that should appeal not only to fans who played it on the Nintendo DS, but also to Mega Man fans in general. It’s not the Mega Man I grew up with; it’s a different take that adapts the concept into an action RPG. Even so, the story, worldbuilding, and aesthetics keep that familiar sense that you’re still playing a Mega Man game.

As a remaster of a Nintendo DS game, it’s one of the best examples of a handheld title brought to console and PC. Its core gameplay and features have been carried over without compromising the experience or quality. The graphics and visual design still hold up, and the presentation benefits from modern hardware.

Mega Man Star Force Collection is set to launch for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation consoles, Xbox consoles, and PC on March 26th. This preview is based on playing the PC version of the game.

Disclaimer: The publisher, through a PR representative, provided the game used for this review.

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