Mega Man Star Force 2 has 2 versions: Zerker X Saurian and Zerker X Ninja. Both versions come with two different games, much like Mega Man Battle Network 5 Double Team DS did. These games are exclusively for the Nintendo DS system.


Plot:

In the year 220X, humans use EM Waves for everything. There exists a Wave World, were EM Beings work about making people's lives comfortable. Humans can't see this world, and only by the aid of a special visor called the Visualizer can the protagonist, Geo Stellar, see it.

In the first Star Force game, the space station Peace, with the mission to connect peacefully with extraterrestrial life, disappeared without a trace. Geo Stellar's father was on the space station, and with the loss of his father, he became a reclusive kid, hardly going outside, and hadn't gone to school since the incident. Three years later, after receiving the Visualizer, an EM alien known as Omega-Xis arrives on Earth and tells Geo that if he lent him his body, he would tell Geo about his father. After doing an EM Wave Change, Geo and Omega-Xis merge into MegaMan. In this form, they battle the FM-ians, which were planning to destroy Earth with Andromeda, the ultimate weapon.

Two months later...

Geo is enjoying a happy life with new friends. This peace is interrupted when a new threat appears. UMAs, or Unidentified Mysterious Animals, start appearing and wreaking havoc. A group of mysterious people is planning to rule the world. It is up to Geo and Omega-Xis to stop them.


Overworld Gameplay:

There are two types of overworlds: The real world and the Wave World. Geo can run around the real world and talk to people, and examine things, much like Battle Network's hero Lan. Geo can put on the Visualizer (by pressing Y) to see the Wave World. Geo can use the Visualizer to locate hidden Wave Holes which he can use to enter the Wave World.

There are three main Wave World types. The regular Wave World that is accessible in every location. EM Wave Signals that act like the computer maps from Battle Network, and the Sky Wave, which circles the entire planet.

Geo can become MegaMan by doing an EM Wave Change with Omega-Xis. While in this form, he can access the Wave Roads that connect to the ground and to high up locations otherwise unreachable, and look in people's Star Carriers to do side quests.

Mystery Wave objects can be examined to get items. There are four types of Mystery Waves: Green, Blue, Purple, and Gold. Green waves are always random and can be restored when you leave the Wave World. Blue waves contain special items and are always preset. They can't be restored when leaving. Purple waves are like blue waves but require an Unlocker item to access. Gold waves are like green waves, but extremely rare and usually yield powerful battle cards.

Certain objects, once examined in either human or MegaMan form, will reveal portals to EM Wave Signals or "ES"s for short. Inside, there are usually 1-2 Blue Mystery Waves in these locations.

The Sky Wave orbits high above the Earth, and allows MegaMan to travel to several foreign countries.

MegaMan can also talk to EM beings while in the Wave World.

Most importantly, battles are fought in the wave world.


Battle System:

The battle system is similar to the Battle Network games, with random Battle Cards being uploaded to the Custom screen. There are two rows and three columns on the custom screen.

Cards can be selected if they're in the same column, or if they are duplicates. White colored cards can be selected with other cards regardless of position.

The battlefield consists of 3 columns with 5 rows of panels. The camera is angled behind MegaMan. Holding down "B" will fire the MegaBuster continuously, while not holding it will allow it to charge up to do 10 times more damage. MegaMan can move left and right on his rear row, while enemies can move around the rest of the field. Pressing Down on the D-Pad will allow MegaMan to lock on to and jump to and attack enemies with typically close range cards (such as swords, etc.)

To delete EM Viruses, MegaMan must drop their HP to zero. If MegaMan is deleted, then it's a game over.

The Custom Bar will gradually fill up as the battle progresses. When it's full, the Custom Screen can be accessed again.

Depending on how much time it took to win or how much damage you took, you will be rated with a Busting Level. Typically, the higher level, the better the item you get after battle will be.

After some point in the game, an object known as an OOPArt (Out Of Place Artifact) will play an important role in the plot. There is a different OOPArt for the different versions. A sword for Zerker, a dinosaur skull for Saurian, and a shuriken for Ninja. After obtaining it, MegaMan is able to Tribe-On, or transform into that game's specific form. By linking with other players of different versions (and the game's Auto Brother), MegaMan can Double Tribe or Triple Tribe, combining each of the games' unique abilities. MegaMan's element and charge shot will be changed, and will be able to select cards of the same row as well as the same column in battle. If MegaMan is hit by an opposing element, his transformation will be canceled.

Ah yes, elements. There are five different elements: Electric, Wood, Fire, Water, and Neutral. Neutral is basic, and MegaMan's basic form falls under this category. Various viruses and bosses are weak against opposing elements. The element weakness lineup is this:

(The arrows indicate "weak against")

Fire < Water < Electric < Wood < Fire .... Etc.

Damaging with an opposing element doubles the damage the virus or boss takes.

Bosses are pretty slick in this game. Several return from the previous game, with updates, and there are plenty of new bosses. There are also several super bosses that are accessible towards the end of the game. The bosses, unlike the previous game, are based on UMAs, such as Dark Phantom and Yeti Blizzard being based on ghosts and yetis, rather than being based on constellations.


Brother Band System:

Linking with other players online or wirelessly can give you the option to form a Brother Band. This will allow you to choose your "Brother's" favorite cards or combos in battle. This will also get you their version's Tribe ability. Forming a Brother Band will increase MegaMan's "Link Power," which is used to access certain areas, side quests, and allow for more power-ups to be equipped. There are four in-game brothers, and room for six real brothers.


Pluses and Minuses:

Mega Man Star Force 2 surpasses its predecessor graphically and gameplay wise. You are now able to traverse the ground as MegaMan instead of just the Wave Road, and a majority of the music seems better quality. Bosses are challenging and fun to fight. The story is set up so you don't have to know the story of the first game as much if you're a first time player. There is a lot of stuff to do, such as collecting battle cards, and completing side quests, and beating the super bosses of Le Mu Xa, Apollo Flame, and Rogue SX.

There are downsides. Virus battles can get monotonous easily. Collecting every battle card can be extremely tedious. Certain plot elements almost seem contradictory to the previous Star Force game. The main theme for the villain of the game seems cliched, especially with similar villain mindsets from other Mega Man games.

The game almost seems too short, and certain areas are inaccessible to players who don't have anyone else to play with or without access to Nintendo Wi-Fi connection.


Overall Rating:

The good outweighs the bad, in my opinion. I enjoyed the game and can't wait for the 3rd one (already announced for some reason). I do have a problem with the monotony of virus battles, but that can be a side affect from every RPG. My overall score is

4/5 stars

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