Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Gregar [GBA]

When the original Mega Man Battle Network game first hit, it was a refreshing spin on an old standby. By bringing the Blue Bomber into the "real world" as a sentient program that lives in the computer network and works in tandem with his operator (shades of TRON, anyone?) the game combined light RPG elements with the collecting aspect of Pokemon. As the series progressed it's had a number of spin-off titles, but hasn't really evolved. While the latest version adds some new elements, the core gameplay feels much like it did when we first popped the original cart into the GBA five years ago.

The game begins with our hero, Lan, moving to a new city with his family. His father gets a job transfer and with it a series of new locations and new friends. One of the new twists actually allows Mega Man to enter the real world and interact with Lan and others on a direct basis. It's only temporary, but it's a good excuse to see more of Mega Man.

More changes are in store for the battle system as well, with the addition of the Cross System and Beast Out modes. The Cross System gives Mega Man the abilities of defeated Link Navis (much like in the original action games). When assuming the powers of a Navi, Mega Man also assumes their weakness, so choosing when and where to use a cross ability is a strategic move.

The Beast Out mode refers to one of the two title beasts, Cybeast Falzar or Cybeat Gregar. Depending on the game version, one of the beasts gets absorbed by Mega Man while the other serves as his nemesis. By using the Cybeast's power, Mega Man can temporarily go into a super powered state, however, if used for too long, it can cause him to go berserk and revert to a vulnerable condition. Beast Out can be combined with the Cross System for an extremely powerful attack.