After five games and nearly eight months, we are finally reaching a conclusion. Released on November 23, 2005 in Japan as Rockman.EXE 6 with Cyber Beast Grega and Cyber Beast Falzar versions and on June 13, 2006 in the United States as Megaman Battle Network 6 Cybeast Gregar and Cybeast Falzar, Battle Network 6 is the sixth and final game in the Battle Network sub-series, and at the time only the second one to reach a formal conclusion.
If Battle Network 4 was the bottom of the barrel for the series and Battle Network 5 was a step in the right direction, then Battle Network 6 is the Hail Mary. Compared to its two predecessors, it is a prime example of a Surprisingly Improved Sequel in all of the areas that 4 and 5 were weak in – writing, graphical style, characterization, and so forth. The tone of the game also happens to be a lot more self-aware than it's been in the past. Even in the final game, there still remain some refinements to the battle system. Gameplay is polished to a fine sheen, perhaps too fine a sheen, in some cases. After the follies of the two Nebula games, the series managed to go out on a high note.
This time around I will be playing the Cybeast Gregar version of the game. Battle Network 6 continues the trend set by 4 and 5 of version exclusive bosses and transformations, though this time around they're more peripheral in nature, with very little influence on the game's storyline.
The cast, one final time.
Lan Hikari
◊ and Megaman.EXE
◊
Having saved the world five times now, Lan and his Navi will be facing a challenge of an unusual sort. They are made to say goodbye to familiar friends and home as they move from Den City to Cyber City. What sorts of new people, friends, and enemies will they meet in their new home?
Mick
◊
A delinquent classmate of Lan's at his new school, Cyber Academy. Mick's always getting into trouble, both as victim and instigator.
Another new classmate of Lan's, who's very respectful of him and whose family runs a chip shop located in Central Town called Aster Land.
Lan's new homeroom teacher, a hot-blooded man that truly cares for his students and believes in the value of education. His name is a reference to Speed Racer.
Iris
◊
A quiet, enigmatic girl that Lan encounter in and around Central Town. As mysterious, quiet girls have a history of being keys to the plot in many an anime/manga, you can bet that will be the case here, right?
The former leader of Team Colonel crosses paths with Megaman once again, though on terms that are far from friendly. What has happened to bring about such a change in the caped Navi, and what of his operator, Baryl?
Links
- Megaman Battle Network 1 Liveblog
- Megaman Battle Network 2 Liveblog
- Megaman Battle Network 3 Liveblog
- Megaman Battle Network 4 Liveblog
- Megaman Battle Network 5 Liveblog
Comments
