Play Megaman Battle Network (e)(rocket) Online

I first played MegaMan Battle Network on the Game Boy Advance back in 2001. It was a Capcom release that felt different from the other platformers and RPGs I was used to on the handheld. The game presented a world where the internet was a physical space you could explore, which was a novel concept at the time.

You control a boy named Lan and his NetNavi, MegaMan.EXE. Most of your time is split between navigating the real world, talking to people to advance the story, and then jacking into the internet to fight viruses in a grid-based battle system. Your main goal is to stop a criminal organization from causing chaos in the net. The combat is a real-time mix of action and strategy; you select attack chips from a custom folder while dodging enemy fire on a split screen. You also constantly collect and upgrade these battle chips, which gives a great sense of progression. The pacing is brisk, with random encounters keeping you on your toes, and some of the later net areas can be surprisingly tricky to clear. It feels satisfying to build a powerful chip folder and smoothly dismantle a tough boss.