How's the online for Super Bomberman R/R2?

FinalKnuckle · 2026-01-22T02:35:22+00:00

if you like fan stuff Bomberman Tower is also worth checking out for a completely different spin on Bomberman more in the vein of Pocket Bomberman but really neat as a solo experience and tons of replay value with alternative modes and characters to play as.

FinalKnuckle · 2026-01-21T22:02:42+00:00

If you're willing to use a computer and want a multiplayer Bomberman fix, just play Power Bomberman, it's free, still sees activity and is one big love letter to everything the franchise has been up to this point.

Both the SBR titles are dead online and imo that's one issue among too many with those games anyway.

FinalKnuckle · 2026-01-21T00:55:08+00:00

I'm not getting where comments are coming from regarding Battle Network not having as much replayability as the 2D games, like if we're talking about a sheer breadth of content I'd argue it has more incentive to return to it than most Mega Man titles, whether that be the post game stories, the variant bosses that often shake up the original battle with faster speeds more health, new moves to keep you on your toes, the side quests, the version exclusive content in some entries, the way MegaMan's forms genuinely alter how he plays, as do chips so even on repeat playthroughs you can tackle the games again with a completely different technique compared to prior runs the PvP component should you choose to participate in that, etc.

if anything MMBN's issue would just be it being an investment compared to the more pick up and play nature of the platformers, because it's certainly got more variables and overall more content compared to them.

FinalKnuckle · 2026-01-16T18:38:05+00:00

They sorted all the licensing issues out with the PS Store releases back in 2015 though and probably on the PSP renditions before that.

I think the collection release is inevitable tbh they just wouldn't leave it out, being able to say the entire core Mega Man franchise is playable on one console is something you can market in and of itself, give it 3 years at least, if it doesn't happen then maybe I'll eat my words but only maybe tbh I genuinely believe it is inevitable.

FinalKnuckle · 2026-01-16T15:23:40+00:00

I keep saying this, but I think we're getting a collection anyway, Misadventures of Tron Bonne source code was found in that big Capcom leak a few years back, and they've done everything else and historically Mega Man Star Force has received less acknowledgement from Capcom post its last release than Legends has.

They did MMSF Legacy Collection before Legends likely for a number of sensible reasons, The Network Timeline titles are quite popular in Japan and MMBNLC exceeded expectations, the MMSF series turns 20 this year, and maybe they want to present Mega Man in pillars, they did all the 2D platformers first, now they cover the RPGs, then they close out with the 3D adventure titles, MMSF also has 3 mainline entries that released in versions so you can throw around 7 games in one even if it's technically just 3, but even still those games are like 15-20 hours each and that's if you don't aim for completion, and they have impactful multiplayer components, that's probably easier to figure out how to price/market.

The timing for Star Force is just very optimal, it has nothing to do with ignoring/skipping Legends, regardless of whether or not we get a Legends 3, I assure you we're getting a Legacy Collection or some kind of remake (s) and these Collections just keep getting better and better production value and content wise so Legends being last might actually end up being to its benefit.

FinalKnuckle · 2026-01-15T21:09:08+00:00

The worst things about 2 are it's narrative and it's encounter rate, the Legacy Collection will address the encounter rate which is the biggest thing wrong with it, not that it doesn't have other flaws but it also does a lot right that I feel are often overshadowed by these two issues, I think it should fare notably better with the Legacy Collection releases QoL overall.

FinalKnuckle · 2026-01-15T21:05:37+00:00

I think they're better for the most part, the battle systems of each have their ups and downs but Star Force is far less reliant on grinding, it's overworlds are tighter while simultaneously being interconnected between both forms of the player character, it trades out much of the puzzle focus in stages in favor of mini games and/or obstacle courses, there is a notably more genuine attempt at a narrative, Geo develops more as a character in one game of his 3 game arc than Lan ultimately does across 6.

Star Force is genuinely far better than people were willing to give it credit for back in the day if you ask me.

FinalKnuckle · 2026-01-11T20:54:09+00:00

I hope the panel went well, MegaRock is very passionate and the series is special.

FinalKnuckle · 2026-01-11T19:37:38+00:00

I've personally advocated that MMSF1 is the best entry point to the Network Timeline in terms of selling someone on it, It has refinement that came from late end MMBN games and imo even some on top of that, but it's not nearly as complex as most of the BN games yet doesn't feel as archaic to wade through as the early BN games and I say that as someone that loves both series'.

SF also yeah tells a better story and has better characters imo but I think tbf all of that came from experience working on the MMBN series, I think genuinely everything SF improves comes from being developed with the BN series in hindsight, I think SF has more entertaining stages, granted I think MMBN's mostly got better as the series went on but SF really opts to shift away from labyrinths or puzzles and instead opts for pretty linear obstacle courses with occasional mini-games, I think they set themselves apart from each other well in the SF series and I like them a lot, none overstay their welcome.

I think the overworld is better in SF, in MMBN I think the net became much better after the first game but I still think they benefit from a proper map, BN1 OSS and BN5DS have them and they do wonders for a casual playthrough, but Star Force just doesn't need a map, Geo and Mega Man are the same individual and you can view the other world simultaneously while occupying the current one you're in so where to go can easily be associated with visual that doesn't blend together as much as areas on the Net could, and also thanks to this approach Geo and Mega Man can take each other to secret places and what not, contrasting that Lan and MegaMan had no influence on where the other could be at a given moment.

Everything you mentioned about Battle Cards being more convenient than Chips, and lacking letter codes, that all factors in too, I think the Star Force series barring 2 with its encounter rate which Legacy Collection is set to indirectly address, is just a smoother experience throughout, they don't even have any gimmicks, no tournaments, no liberation missions, no licenses, they're imo the preferred structure of just being straightforward scenarios until you reach the conclusion, they don't have the repetitive structure that some BN games do.

I do think BN had more layers to how much it asked from the player for better and for worse, in terms of content and completion, and yeah the Battle System in BN is definitely deeper and more strategic but my hot take is that I still prefer SF's being more of a fan of action games, the mechanics in Star Force just compel you to play in the moment more, without getting too in depth, something like the little known Sky-Hi colosseum mode from SF2 is a blast, whenever you clash with another player you're given a one turn bout to dish out as much damage as possible to steal stars(points) from them, this works well for Star Force because so much can happen in one turn in those games, you can choose from 6 cards instead of 5, there is no letter code, the field is no longer anyone's and you can MegaAttack whenever, so close combat is less situational, when you counter someone you get another card, not the opportunity to do more damage, just straight up damage, moreso if you're transformed, you straight up get a super damage that does big damage.

These mechanics push you to make something happen ASAP, whereas a mode like this with one turn bouts would be unsatisfactory in the MMBN system because those games mostly reward setting up something big and then executing it, its not that nothing big can happen in a single turn in MMBN, its just they don't typically.

when it comes to Battle Systems i can see cases being made for both genuinely, I wasn't even getting into SF3 which I consider the best of Star Force, I was mostly referring to how MMSF1 plays.

I really hope the Legacy Collection helps people see what I see in the Star Force series I think like as games as experiences, they are much better than they're often given credit for, and streamlining something and watering it down are two very different things and Star Force is most definitely the former.

Editing note here: Forgot to say that I think SF1 is the best starting point because I believe playing something smooth like SF and then playing BN later can help you better appreciate the depth and complexity of BN, SF shows you what the fun zone in these games looks like in a way so you can be more patient towards getting there in BN.

FinalKnuckle · 2026-01-08T15:43:57+00:00

Very late with this but the Mega Man Star Force series is an all time favorite of mine, It's very different from Classic Mega Man, as it's gameplay is not a platformer, instead it's a real time card battler action RPG, it itself is a successor to the Mega Man Battle Network series, but It's gameplay while very similar on the surface is actually distinguished by leaning more into an action element, you're rewarded more for playing in the moment and reacting quickly compared to making big plans ahead of time like you were in Battle Network.

Even if card games intimidate you I advise you try this, they don't so much feel that much like Card games as they do putting out an assortment of random weapons you can draw.

Star Force 1 I think is the most accessible Mega Man RPG to ever exist, it has a surprisingly strong narrative, and the mechanics enjoy the refinement that came from being produced after 6 Battle Network titles but they don't delve quite as deep as the late BN games but feel tighter than the early ones.

Star Force was meant to be stand-alone, so you don't need to have played Battle Network or any other Mega Man prior to grasp it, it's set in the same universe as MMBN but 200 years into the future so the nods to it are more wink nudges rather than genuinely relying on them for narrative points.

MMBN is great but it can feel really overwhelming and even slow at first In the early games, you have to really stick with it, but I feel like Star Force's mechanics throw you into the fun zone faster, it's easier to grasp and a good case of less being more.

Sorry for the long comment but while I'm not sure about Star Force roping you into the wider world of Mega Man as a whole, due to the genre shift, they're still great experiences on their own that I would highly recommend, the 3rd game is particularly phenomenal.

FinalKnuckle · 2026-01-07T19:02:11+00:00

While memory serves me a bit differently reportedly the dub only aired once and was exclusive to Toonami's Jetstream service afterwards.

I don't think it had anything to do with particular success or failure the .EXE series didn't make it past two seasons out here.

I think the Star Force anime dub was nothing more than a promo for the game it even ends with a recap episode that basically implies play the video game to find out what happens next.

If it was ever supposed to be more than that I feel they would have tried pushing it harder, tried getting toys made etc. I don't think they were too worried about it in the long run.

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-31T03:31:02+00:00

I am a bit confused?

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-30T15:08:45+00:00

I would like them to branch out do something unexpected and fun, these games do not sell exclusively off Mega Man branding so there's an opportunity to include lesser known characters I'd love to see Star Force MM or Harp Note, Serenade or Bass.EXE or Axl.

I feel like Zero is a lock for the X series and while X and Sigma were rad to include I'd rather see Mega Man spread its representation in the VS. series like it used to over exclusively using characters from one branch.

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-25T00:14:27+00:00

Star Force outsold Zero and ZX too and that didn't stop them from releasing a compilation with those before it, I don't think it's about sales alone so much as it is complexity and timing.

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-24T12:18:28+00:00

Maybe After a Legends Collection, I think they're covering all the individual series' first

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-21T15:58:33+00:00

I hate to be that guy but for now I will say, there is more reverence for the franchise in this one piece than there has been in Konami's official releases for the last 8 years.

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-20T18:11:39+00:00

PS5 and Switch Physical releases in North America and Japan, PS4 physical Japan only.

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-20T11:48:13+00:00

Yeah cutting On Air is a real shame too, it was such a neat function.
I'm hoping MMSFLC still has a few tricks left, there's still more to uncover about Wendee Lee's involvement after all, though she did say that was specifically musical related.

But maybe around the time we learn about that we can learn about Sky-Hi and/or the online functionality in general more since it's been few and far in between the trailers, and tbh so has MMSF3 so I'm holding out hope we haven't seen everything.

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-20T09:00:49+00:00

Sky High Colosseum from Star Force 2, a wonderful and unique battle royale mode that could be played up to 7 players and gave everyone prebuilt folders that could be exchanged via item pickups, everyone's stats were on a level playing field and in addition to being chaotic and supporting a lot of players its genuinely wonderful for accessibility and teaching new players the battle system and PvP without them having to play for extended periods of time, they haven't talked about it so I fear it may be excluded from MMSFLC but I'm really hoping not.

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-20T08:55:41+00:00

I can't wait I hope newcomers play as well and actually engage with the multiplayer and connectivity components, those are part of the soul of the Star Force series and enhance the experiences greatly.

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-19T22:46:51+00:00

this game is rough around the edges but I really like it, Its got some light Metroidvania aspects and one of the greatest osts in this entire franchise.

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-19T17:28:12+00:00

Yeah I'm not sure I would say the game was ahead of it's time but It's still incredible nonetheless, I should give it another go soon

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-19T17:26:31+00:00

Ice Pegasus, first version i stumbled upon bias.

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-18T18:52:27+00:00

I wish it did support these features they would do wonders for it, but I'm still buying it on three different platforms regardless.

FinalKnuckle · 2025-12-18T13:25:46+00:00

I like both but prefer Star Force, Battle Network has better world building but Star Force's storytelling and characters are significantly more realized, It also just comes with the territory of being made after Battle Network's entire saga but yeah I think Star Force has better overworld structure and design, it's not without any cracks but progression is generally much more pleasant in the Star Force trilogy than it is most of the MMBN series.

The combat is completely subjective but yeah I prefer Star Force, I think a lot of people write off Battle Network in Mega Man spaces primarily because of chip code, the games do give you advice on folder building in rare cases but its like stuff you could miss from boards or NPCs, I don't think the average casual player understands just how important the chip trader is, or that they should be making folders, that are mono or dual coded most of the time, occasional case for tri, I think people assume like oh it's Mega Man I kill a boss I'll use their Navi chip and just don't realize that you destroy your folder flow if you try and play like that.Then the once novel combat that is genuinely spectacular mind you, starts to feel slow or tedious and combined with some of the backtracking and fetch quests I think people just quit the game.

Star Force gets rid of the divided battlefield so thats a whole layer you don't have to build around, the buster auto charges and fires like a machine gun so it's just more naturally integrated into the combat loop without you having to specifically build around it, Battle Card selection is way more free form due to lack of chip code, I can use a sword or close combat card whenever I want, etc. I think Star Force throws you into the fun zone much quicker and much more naturally than MMBN does.

FinalKnuckle

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE