"Capcom predicted the Internet of Things and AI assistants like Siri and Alexa in the early 2000s, but their interpretation is way cooler and more fun than what we have going on, tbh"
so unlike many of the other Mega Man games, the Battle Network games aren't action-platformers, they're more like action RPGs, but with a real-time battle system that handles your attacks and special moves in a collectible trading card game/deckbuilding kinda way. It sounds really strange, and to be honest, it absolutely is, but the games do go over the mechanics step by step, so it's still relatively easy to learn. imo it's one of those "easy to pick up, hard to master" kinda deals, because you can do some wild shit in some of these games if you know what you're doing!
in these games, you generally play as either MegaMan in the Cyberworld or his human operator Lan Hikari in the real world, where you explore, talk with NPCs, buy new battle chips and power-ups for MegaMan.
Almost all of the action also happens in the Cyberworld, where you get into random encounters against computer viruses, and the typical themed stages of the platformer Mega Man games are also basically here, but more like in the vain of classic RPG dungeons with puzzles and bossfights.
the first game in the series definitely suffers under some serious First Installment Jank, but it's still a fun time. I do recommend using a map for that game's Cyberworld, though, because it's very non-descript and confusing to navigate. the sequels take the foundation that BN1 introduced and build upon it, like with better world design, better folder building rules, different forms for MegaMan that give him different abilities and such!
the stories of these games, as should be expected for handheld games where the target demographic was mainly kids and teenagers, are generally very lighthearted and cheesy, but they have the fun kind of cheese, imo! but there are definitely some moments where things are getting pretty dark if you think about it. but I dunno, I loved the stories that (most of) these games told as a kid (BN4 doesn't have much of a story, tbh, because that game was very clearly rushed, unfortunately), and even as an adult I find myself enjoying the fun, cheesy and generally optimistic vibes of these games.
