Megaman Star Force
The Mega Man franchise takes place in two separate timelines, one where robotic technology flourished and another where network technology prospered instead. The Battle Network series was placed in the network timeline, causing it to be completely disconnected from every other Mega Man series (Classic, X, Zero, ZX, and Legends). Mega Man Star Force explicitly states that it takes place approximately two-hundred years into the future of Battle Network, thus placing it into the network timeline. As such, Star Force deviates greatly from the standard Mega Man fare because it draws almost exclusively on elements from Battle Network (mostly gameplay elements), making very few references or allusions to the other Mega Man series. However, Capcom has produced Star Force as a stand-alone series, meaning players can fully enjoy the title without being familiar with the Battle Network series.
Set in the fictional year 220X, emphasis on internet technology has lessened, and instead, the world has become networked through use of EM waves. Though cyber worlds and NetNavis still exist in Star Force, human dependency on them has greatly decreased, and people no longer have Navi companions. Three large satellites orbiting the Earth—Pegasus, Leo, and Dragon—power the EM Wave World that exists around the Earth's atmosphere, keeping the world networked. While the EM Wave World is normally invisible to the human eye, a special piece of eye-wear called the Visualizer (possessed by the series' protagonist) allows a human to see this other world. However, like with the cyber worlds of Battle Network, viruses (known as EM Wave Viruses) inhabit the EM Wave World, causing problems in every day life.
In Battle Network, people operated PErsonal Terminals (PETs) to constantly interact with the network. Similar devices called Transers are used in the Star Force world. Transers are compatible with Battle Cards (the Star Force version of the previous Battle Chips), and when swiped through, they provide means to deleting viruses that infect the EM Wave World and other electronic devices. A group of Satella Police also exist, dedicated to stopping virus attacks and thwarting criminals who manipulate the EM Wave World in order to break the law.
Furthermore, there exists an alien planet known as "Planet FM," inhabited by extraterrestrial beings called FM-ians. FM-ians can traverse in both worlds, and also possess the ability to physically merge with human beings through a process called "Electromagnetic Wave Change" (????, denpa henkan?). Other than lending a human the FM-ian's powers, this process also transforms an ordinary human into an "EM Wave Human," allowing him or her to freely operate in the EM Wave World (as well as cyber networks within specific electronic devices).
The protagonist of Star Force is Geo Stelar, the son of a famous scientist and astronaut. He has an encounter with a rogue FM-ian known as Omega-Xis who takes residency in Geo's Transer. When the two go through an Electromagnetic Wave Change they form an entity known as Mega Man.
Whereas a large focus in the Battle Network series were the NetNavis (who are mostly based on Robot Masters from the Classic Mega Man series), Star Force focuses on FM-ians based on many real-life constellations.
Characters
Hoshikawa Subaru: Our new hero for the game. His
last name translates to "star river", while his first name means "star
cluster." Obviously, there will be A LOT of astological references
throughout the game. His father, who was working in space research (EXE
Connection?) had disappeared in the past, and Subaru has still not been
able to get over that loss. Subaru is currently in the 5th grade, and
has now, by meeting "Rock" opened up an amazing future for himself. The
glasses Subaru wears on his head are called the "Visualizer". With that
Subaru is able to see the Denpa Sekai (Radio Wave World), which from
the pictures appears right above the real world (on the Wave Roads)
only when Subaru transforms into Rockman.
War Rock: Subaru's partner in this game is not a
navi, but a new entity labeled an FM: an alien from space called "War
Rock." War Rock finds it strange upon meeting Subaru that Subaru is
able to see him, as he is under the impression that humans of that
planet should not be able to see him. But during conversation, War Rock
lets Subaru know to call him Rock. Rock, seems to have a body of his
own, but upon fusing with Subaru, their bodies combine and he becomes
Subaru's Rock Buster and Subaru becomes a Rockman. Also, it seems War
Rock knows about the disappearance of Subaru's father.
Ushijima Gonta: The tough kid who acts like the
boss of all the other kids (Dex anyone?). The name of this character
implies a bit of a stupidity. Gonta's sound is often used for these
types of characters. We've seen him in several images already as one of
the friends Subaru has, who fights both with and against Subaru. His
mark is ox horns and the face, and he too has an FM.
Ox Fire: Gonta's FM, and seemingly the first boss.
Other characters aside from Subaru too, of course have FMs. Ox Fire
seems to fuze with Gonta (although looks nothing like Gonta) to fight
against Rockman. Ox Fire has burners on the back of both arms and often
charges from the back row at Rockman. He too, of course, as an FM is an
alien to the planet Earth. No information about how Gonta came in
contact with Ox Fire, nor does it say for sure that Ox Fire is Gonta's
FM... but based on the kanji used in Ushijima (ushi - cow/ox) and the
mark appearing on both Gonta and Ox Fire, it seems obvious to me this
is indeed so.
Shirogane Luna: A daughter of an high class family
who shows much self-importance (Yai anyone?), and one of Subaru's
friends. Shirogane is a place in Tokyo where the high class people in
Japan live. It's apparently a well known, famous place. They even call
the housewives in Shirogane: Shiroganeze meaning the people do nothing
but spend money, dress up and have parties. Luna, of course, is a
reference to the moon. Little information is given on her, but based on
the poster given with the Corocoro she will have an FM too where she
will likely turn into the character who has a heart logo and a guitar
also shaped a bit like an heart.
Saishouin Kizamaro: A well informed kid who is one
of Subaru's other friends. Saishouin sounds similar to the name of a
temple, but exactly what it implies is unknown. Kizamaro seems to
relate to his confidence from "kiza" and "maro" is from an old term
used form aristocrats. Thus he seems to be a high class, confident and
intelligent kid. It gives my girlfriend the image of history from his
first and last name. Nothing else much is said about him yet, and it is
not known if he has an FM.
Amachi: A man working for JAXA(?). His name seems
to be a reference to the planet Earth as his kanji are Heaven and
Earth. He's shown very briefly in one small image of the gameplay
showing the conversation system where he's being introduced. It seems
Amachi-san works for JAXA, which seems to be the company made by
Subaru's father. This is not yet confirmed.
Gameplay
Conversation: The conversation system is the same
as EXE, so most people know how that works. Go up to someone, press a
button and talk. Of course, when not in battle you are in the EXE-style
overhead view.
Missions: Seems that with the "Brother Band
System" you receive missions from the planet/star. Our staff member,
Ryken, proposed that the "Brother Band System" may actually be a pun on
the word "BroadBand." If you remember back, in the EXE Development
Team's Letter to the Fans, they mentioned that they wanted to
incorporate the wireless idea into the game itself, which can mean into
the plotline. It can be specualted that perhaps it's a plot device by
which you connect to other people for missions and/or battles/trades.
Battle: Here's a very interesting point. This time
it is not Battle Chips, but Battle Cards, used with the touch screen to
fight on what I previously jumped the gun about when I saw the video;
what is actually a 3x5 battle screen in 3D is known as a "Wave Battle."
Enemies appear to be able to move all the way to the very back (where
Rockman seems to be in all the images). Or at least Ox Fire can move
that far.
Character Status: One image, although not very
imformative, seems to show Hoshikawa Subaru at Level 1 with 100/100 HP
using the "Personal Transfer System" to change his "Personal Card"
around. .
Games
Sources
The Undernet Square and Wikipedia
|
