Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection review – A retro treat for series fans

We’ve had numerous Mega Man Legacy Collections now. But Capcom thinks more games from the series’ extensive catalogue are worth bundling up for modern audiences to enjoy, and who am I to argue? So, here we are with Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection. Serving up all the games in the Mega Man Star Force series, originally released on the Nintendo DS, action RPG fans might find it a bit of a retro treat.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Mega Man Star Force series, it essentially follows on from the Battle Network series of games. And if you’re unfamiliar with them, well, these aren’t your usual Mega Man games. Putting players in control of a new protagonist called Geo Stelar, rather than being rock-hard action platformers, these games are action RPGs in which you run around via an isometric viewpoint, progressing a story by talking to NPCs and suchlike, and getting in many, many battles along the way.

In the Star Force series, these battles play out in real time, with you choosing cards from a deck and moving your character left and right on a grid to unleash your chosen abilities. It seems simple on the surface, but it’s actually got some depth to it, with you needing to pick your cards carefully if you wish to succeed. Fail to make use of things like combos and counters, and you might find yourself having a hard time.

I would say that Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection includes three games, with each of them having two or three versions available, much like the Pokémon series. But with each of them sold separately back in the day, you might to consider it as seven games. In any case, there’s Mega Man Star Force Pegasus, Leo and Dragon, Mega Man Star Force 2 Zerker x Ninja and Zerker x Saurian, and Mega Man Star Force 3 Black Ace and Red Joker. It’s a great collection whether you’re a fan or a newcomer, then.

Aside from the usual upgrades such as enhanced visuals, which are especially noticeable during battles, you can also tailor your experience to your preferences in Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection. Assist options let you boost your speed and increase or decrease the encounter rate, which is a very nice touch. Additional difficulty options also let you change parameters such as Mega Buster Power, HP Recovery, Damage Reduction, and more.

These are on top of customisations such as screen layout, button remapping and wallpaper selection. Throw in a gallery where you can peruse artwork from the series, as well as listen to each games’ soundtrack and view battle card illustrations, and you have a package that will no doubt please those who enjoyed these games all those years ago. Better still, online multiplayer is available for those who fancy battling others or trading cards.

The Star Force series was somewhat entertaining but unspectacular when it first released all those years ago, and that remain the case now. And newcomers might have a harder time engaging with them due to how dated some elements feel today. Mega Man fans who remember these games with fondness will no doubt get a kick out of this collection, however, and so too might those who have never played them before but have enjoyed the Battle Network series. In any case, the extras and enhancements here are great, as usual.