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When it comes to Mega Man handheld spin-offs, the Battle Network entries are some that tend to steal the show, but seeing the effort Capcom put into Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection makes me hope this compilation will help more people appreciate this trilogy as well. With this selection, we’re seeing full and complete versions of games, including elements that were formerly exclusive to Japan, while preserving the online experience for people who do want to play that way. It’s yet another solid example of Capcom game preservation.
With the artistic direction, pairing of a young adult with a powerful ally who can help them save and protect their community, and collection of cards for attacks, it’s easy to make comparisons between Mega Man: Battle Network and Star Force, and I generally think there are enough commonalities with regards to design and narrative choices to make one worth trying if you like the other. Here, we follow the adventures of a young man named Geo Stelar. After the trauma of losing his father, he wants desperately to hope he’s still alive and follow in his footsteps as an astronaut. It’s because of that drive and grief that he’s given the Visualizer by his father’s former coworker and friend. When he uses it, he meets Omega-Xis, an alien from Planet FM who knew his father. The two of them end up fusing to become Mega Man. With that ability, the two can head into the Wave World and protect the Andromeda Key while working toward Geo and his father’s dreams.
Things start with us seeing Geo deal with his grief over the loss of his father, get accustomed to socializing with peers, handle the shock that comes from being paired with an alien being, and grow into a hero capable of handling the responsibility and abilities thrust upon him. I will say that the first game (Dragon/Leo/Pegasus) does take a bit of time to find its footing both with the narrative and gameplay, especially since it’s new to us. By the end, it all comes together, and the series then very much hits its stride by the sequel Zerker x Ninja/Zerker x Saurian. I suspect someone will be fully invested in Geo and Mega’s story and in finding the best combos.
In terms of gameplay, Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection’s three entries combine the collecting element and balance of real-world and Wave World elements. Like Lan in the Battle Network series, Geo is collecting abilities and forming a deck of sorts for battles. The difference here is perspective. While the exploration feels similar, the fights feel like action-RPG rather than a strategic situation. We watch from behind the Mega Man fusion of Geo and Mega, then select the Battle Cards that appear from our set folders to attack. By picking certain ones in the right order, we can trigger combos. So yes, there’s a strategic element to it, but it feels faster-paced and more active.
Which makes it feel like a good time to talk about why the Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is honestly sort of worth it just for said Battle Cards. This compilation includes what are essentially full and complete versions of each version of the three entries in the series. Capcom completely preserved pretty much everything. Now, each installment had some exclusive cards. So if you’re playing Mega Man Star Force: Dragon, Leo, or Pegasus, there will be some abilities only in each game like Dragon Sky GX, Life Aura, or Pegasus Magic. However, there were also some only available via events or crossovers that previously only appeared in Japan, like the Andromeda Giga Card or Lunar Knights crossover ones. Those are here! It’s a fantastic and, as I’ve mentioned a couple times already, a wonderful means of preserving the full experience as Capcom intended.
Another element that’s preserved is online multiplayer. You can battle other people and trade cards. There is a platform limitation in effect, so there’s no cross-play. However, it does mean you could pick one version and trade with someone else online to complete a Battle Card collection. Casual, Friend, and Ranked Match options are all available.
It’s also taking cues from past Capcom compilations, as the Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection features a lot of quality of life changes, with some of them being optional, and the standard art gallery and jukebox for soundtracks. For example, you can choose the standard appearance or an HD filter that updates the appearance, and there is a similar choice for the Battle Cards art and soundtrack. Minigames use buttons instead of touch screens. There is a new optional difficulty and you can use a Mega Buster Mode to make battles easier. There’s an auto-save, which I appreciated. Most importantly, the Noise Mod Gear is present and immediately available without any unlocking in Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace and Red Joker. So you have the Noise, Purpose, and White Cards.
But the real gem here is how much control you have over gameplay. It isn’t just about choosing a difficulty or using an upgraded buster to breeze through a fight in Assist. You can determine how often you encounter enemies, with four varying degrees or the ability to turn them off completely. It’s possibel to turn guaranteed escape on. You can adjust damage reduction percentage. After a fight, you can choose to have Mega Man fully recover and determine how much reward Zenny he gets. You can turn the EX/V2 Boss Locator on or off. It’s even possible to set up a TATE mode display so both the top and bottom screens appear, as there are center, top/bottom, left/right, and vertical as possibilities. The only downside is, if you have a Flip Grip, Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection isn’t really compatible with it. That’s because when you select “vertical,” then insert the Switch in that peripheral, it will automatically be upside down.
There are some elements to Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection that bother me a bit, but they’re incredibly minor compared to the additions present. Some of the UI choices look a bit odd, in terms of fonts, and it features the same sort of filter as the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection did. But then, I’m also the sort of person who’d probably have been happy to get all of these games on more platforms without any HD additions or adjustments. It’s something you do eventually get used to, but given how many other times we get choices to choose how we want the games to sound or what the dual screen layout should look like, I sort of wish there was a UI option as well. Likewise, sometimes the HD filter bugs me in the same way the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection’s did.
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is another win for Capcom game preservation efforts. It grants us access to elements unseen outside of Japan. We get complete control over the experience, with opportunities to make it easier or more difficult. We choose exactly how it displays, making the two-screen game feel as comfortable as someone would like. I’m still a bit disappointed with some font and HD filter appearances. But if you love Mega Man, this is another lovely tribute to an enjoyable spin-off series.
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
