First look: Mega Man Battle Network 3

Capcom showed off a build of Mega Man Battle Network 3, the third installment in its Game Boy Advance series that mixes action and RPG gameplay elements, at its press event yesterday. The game is slated to ship in two unique versions, Blue and White, that will offer distinct features much like Nintendo's Pokémon games. The game expands on both the story and the gameplay of its predecessors to offer a unique experience.

The game's story again puts you in the role of Lan and his cyber alter ego, Mega Man. The pair is tapped to investigate strange goings-on while on a field trip to a research center. You'll interact with many familiar faces from the previous games as you explore the real world and cyberspace for clues.

While the core game structure is the same as before--you'll interact with characters in the real world and cyberspace and battle enemies using the battle chips you collect for Mega Man--several gameplay mechanics have been tweaked. You'll now be able to customize your net navi to suit your gameplay style. Over the course of the game, you'll collect program parts that you can arrange into a "memory map" that has the potential to enhance Mega Man's abilities. You'll find four different core program-part styles in the game: guts, custom, brother, and shield. The guts style enhances Mega Man's buster attacks. The custom style lets you use multiple attack chips in a fight. The brother style helps defeat enemy navi quickly and rewards you with rare chips. Finally, the shield style helps you block enemy attacks during a fight. You'll also find styles that are unique to the White and Blue versions of the game. The White version will offer ground style, which lets you control the topography of the cyberspace environment you explore. The Blue version will feature the shadow style, which lets you hide in the shadows in the game to avoid enemies.

In addition to offering unique styles, the White and Blue versions of the game will feature unique battle chips, enemies, bosses, and a few more surprises. Players will be able to exchange battle chips between the two versions via link cable, as in the previous installments in the series. The big catch to both games is that, while the White version will be found across stores nationwide, it appears that the Blue version will be exclusive to one retail chain.

In terms of graphics, the game features some tweaks and enhancements that keep it looking good. For example, you'll find a completely redone sequence when jacking into cyberspace. The game's audio appears to be about the same, featuring a solid assortment of sound effects.

If you were a fan of the previous games, Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue and Mega Man Battle Network 3 White should offer another solid fix of Mega Man-style action RPG gaming. The new gameplay features and separate versions should make for an engaging time. Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue and Mega Man Battle Network 3 White are slated to ship in the US this spring.