Megaman Battle Network 3 Review

8.0

Format Game Boy Advance

Developer Capcom

Publisher Unknown

Genre Shoot 'em Up, Role Playing, Puzzle

Virus-busting's best game yet

Like Pokémon, this latest action-packed Mega Man Battle bonanza comes in two colours. Both versions play the same, but feature different characters, enemies and a different range of chips.

These aren't the sort of chips you eat with a giant pink saveloy though, porky. These are microchips and in the Battle Network world, they're your most precious possession.

Cyber-Sexy Action
In a similar way to previous games in the series, you explore both the real world and cyberspace. This takes the form of sub-quests, which you need to complete to trounce viruses scattered all over the Net.

That said, the real meat of the game lies in the battles, which are an engrossing mix of turn-based strategic planning and real-time action. The idea is to select your chips at the start of the battle and then use them strategically during the fight. Once you've used them all, you can call on more randomly. There are loads of chips and myriad ways to play with and upgrade them. Anyone who's fond of battle strategy will love it - though it is similar to previous games.

Lee Skittrell