Poll of the Day > Reminder that Battle Network 4 is the second best selling Mega Man game

(+) Yeah! (+)

No wonder the entire Mega Man franchise died.

wait whut?

I didn't think Network 4 was that popular... I know 5 wasn't well received, even though I liked it, but I would have thought something like Megaman 9 thanks to being on almost all platforms or Megaman 1 by virtue of compilations would be among the highest

4 was the worst one!

Because Battle Network 3 was very well recieved, and also the anime and other merchandise began to catch on, so then everyone was on Battle Network hype, but unfortunately BN4 was the next game and it promptly killed the Battle Network hype.

Metalsonic66 posted...

4 was the worst one!

Thankfully 5, 6, and Starforce 1-3 were decent.

I've never actually played BN5, 6 or any Starforce, but I've heard that sentiment a lot.

5 and 6 were good at least.

Starforce didn't really scratch the same itch

It was praised as the EXE game with the best battle system at the time when the series was still relevant on the Rockman EXE forum that was relevant (TUS). The problem was the story was awful. It was a direct upgrade in every way besides story.

The Dark Chip mechanic was also unpopular

And the endgame felt less interesting than 3's

Metalsonic66 posted...

The Dark Chip mechanic was also unpopular

Yes and no:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/918999-mega-man-battle-network-4-red-sun/41153575
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/918999-mega-man-battle-network-4-red-sun/52081949
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/918999-mega-man-battle-network-4-red-sun/53387074
This lead me to a little tangent which lead me to a few GameFAQs users I was friend with in another lifetime. There was actually a way to make it so Dark Chips would not reduce your HP when used, but it was not well known (and maybe even not released in the Japan) to the point where the person I'd consider the expert in this subject didn't really know the details on this (He might now, but I'm not going to waste his time with this random tangent of mine).

I never played proper Megaman games before and loved the battle network games. Then went back and played proper megaman and it was meh. Never really cared for platformers or 2d shooters.

Even though Network 3 is probably the best - I have a connection with the second game, probably because of its secret stars system

hypnox posted...

I never played proper Megaman games before and loved the battle network games. Then went back and played proper megaman and it was meh. Never really cared for platformers or 2d shooters.

The first Mega Man game has aged really poorly. I'm a big fan of the Classic games though. Such great music and level design.

Also I just found out battle network 7 came out last year?

First, it's worth noting MMBN 4 is a double-version so it's ridiculous to compare it to single-versions. Second, MMBN 4 came out right when the anime was picking up steam.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, "second-best" is relatively whatever. The best-selling one is MM2 and the third-best-selling is MM11. While it's surprisingly hard to get the statistics, I'm guessing if MMBN4 wasn't a 2-version game, it probably wouldn't be top 5

Metalsonic66 posted...

4 was the worst one!

I never played 6, but that still sounds right. 4's tourney system with generic Navis was fucking stupid. Great idea in theory, just terrible execution.

Metalsonic66 posted...

5 and 6 were good at least.

Starforce didn't really scratch the same itch

5's gameplay sucked, specifically the stupid mission mechanic.

I loved what I played of the Starforce games. I know I beat the first one, I think I beat the second, and I regret not getting the third when it wasn't crazy expensive (but I hadn't wanted to buy it used). Granted, the prices probably aren't crazy now so maybe I should get it at some point.

I think 3 and 5 were also dual-version

I remember a lot of Pokemon comparisons at the time

The_Viscount posted...

I loved what I played of the Starforce games. I know I beat the first one, I think I beat the second, and I regret not getting the third when it wasn't crazy expensive (but I hadn't wanted to buy it used). Granted, the prices probably aren't crazy now so maybe I should get it at some point.

If you've got a WiiU, I believe 3 is still on the eShop for like $10.

hypnox posted...

Also I just found out battle network 7 came out last year?

WTF how did I not hear about this

Metalsonic66 posted...

WTF how did I not hear about this

whoah! I thought they were just doing Starforge or whatever that spinoff was

*gets*

adjl posted...

If you've got a WiiU, I believe 3 is still on the eShop for like $10.

I do not. And is the WiiU's eshop still a thing?

90% of the battle network games are exactly the same i never found comparisons of them really relevant lol
you can put them one after the other as one game

Wanded posted...

90% of the battle network games are exactly the same i never found comparisons of them really relevant lol
you can put them one after the other as one game

Indeed. That's kinda how sequels worked until about 2004 or so

Wanded posted...

90% of the battle network games are exactly the same i never found comparisons of them really relevant lol
you can put them one after the other as one game

90% is weird when you're talking about a franchise with 6-8 games. The spinoffs are nowhere near close to the normal games. However, even getting past that, the mechanics are massively different in 5 thanks to its mission system and the story handling in 4 is just plain weird.

1-3 are comparable, but 4 & 5 kinda aren't, and NT Transmission and BC Challenge are different things.

The_Viscount posted...

90% is weird when you're talking about a franchise with 6-8 games. The spinoffs are nowhere near close to the normal games. However, even getting past that, the mechanics are massively different in 5 thanks to its mission system and the story handling in 4 is just plain weird.

1-3 are comparable, but 4 & 5 kinda aren't, and NT Transmission and BC Challenge are different things.

I meant if you compare the content and mechanics of battle network 1-6, most of it would be the same across the six games, how it looks, how you move, the battle system etc...
not that it's a bad thing, i'm pro "if it ain't broke don't fix it"

Lokarin posted...

Indeed. That's kinda how sequels worked until about 2004 or so

Moreso on the gba too, it was the same with mega man zero and sonic

Because of this topic I watched someone's "review" of three through five which were more summaries of his entire play throughs and honestly those games are so bad compared to what I remember. The busy quests and the stupid "go to the other side of the world practically" were WAY over used.

hypnox posted...

Because of this topic I watched someone's "review" of three through five which were more summaries of his entire play throughs and honestly those games are so bad compared to what I remember. The busy quests and the stupid "go to the other side of the world practically" were WAY over used.

These? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSu6stzfh98mBZKzciYpgGQ
They are top-tier quality. I would recommend them to anyone in this thread/

Wanded posted...

90% of the battle network games are exactly the same i never found comparisons of them really relevant lol
you can put them one after the other as one game

I'd say that works better as a criticism of the Classic games (specifically 2-6, 9, and 10)

hypnox posted...

The busy quests and the stupid "go to the other side of the world practically"

that's most rpgs though

Metalsonic66 posted...

I'd say that works better as a criticism of the Classic games (specifically 2-6, 9, and 10)

yeah the notion exists there better for sure
wouldn't call it a criticism though, imo "if it ain't broken don't fix it"

hypnox posted...

go to the other side of the world practically

The world wasn't really that big

Yeah I think that Battle Network 7 thing is just like a made up thing. It's on the Fantendo wiki, which is like a wishful thinking kind of website.
However, apparently there was a big announcement planned for last year, but was delayed indefinitely due to covid. I'm gonna guess there *might* be a Battle Network Legacy Collection announcement on the horizon. But I don't know for sure.

The_Viscount posted...

I do not. And is the WiiU's eshop still a thing?

For another year. They're shutting down the WiiU/3DS shops next March.

EXE7 is probably in reference to the fan game (ChronoX), or the game/mod that the N1GP discord is making.

Make a BN MMO Capcom

Or a Monster Hunter Clone

Four was god-awful
five wasn't much of an improvement
Six may have been one of the best ones matched with 3. one was the classic, two improved on it

Wanded posted...

I meant if you compare the content and mechanics of battle network 1-6, most of it would be the same across the six games, how it looks, how you move, the battle system etc...
not that it's a bad thing, i'm pro "if it ain't broke don't fix it"

They "fixed" it multiple times

Metalsonic66 posted...

I'd say that works better as a criticism of the Classic games (specifically 2-6, 9, and 10)

Slide and charge change things, though

Thanks to this topic I have been watching Battlenetwork lets plays....

I wonder if I could program (good) netplay for GBA to actually get a usable non-EXE6 multiplayer going.
I wonder why people haven't done this before.

I liked 3 and 6 the best.
but let's be honest the series died because they released the same game 6 times in a row.

The_Viscount posted...

Slide and charge change things, though

And Rush Jet!

Oh Apparently I can't post that gif without it messing up. :(

It's the car crash in MMBN1 on repeat but it looks bad on gamefaqs