Good news for all you manga aficionados: the complete Rockman EXE manga just dropped on Amazon’s digital Kindle store!
Known as MegaMan NT Warrior in the west, the Rockman EXE manga was penned by Ryo Takamisaki and originally ran in CoroCoro Comic from 2002 to 2006. The story is loosely based on all six main games’ stories.
The versions being sold by Amazon are the 8-volume reprint versions released for Mega Man Battle Network’s 15th anniversary, featuring extra content. Of course, you’ll need to know Japanese if you want to be able to actually read these manga – but in terms of image quality, it’s hard to beat digital.
If you’d like to buy the digital edition of the Rockman EXE manga, all you need is a Japanese Amazon account and a credit card. Each volume is sold for ¥1,650 a pop (approximately $15 USD). Though denoted as “Kindle editions”, you can also view them on a PC using the free Kindle app.
You thought Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge‘s gameplay couldn’t be any more random? Well, you might want to think again! Developer Sam Donow has just released Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge Randomizer, adding on to the ever-growing list of MMBN randomizers.
The MMBCC Randomizer does exactly what you’d expect: given a English ROM for Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge, it will randomize various aspects of the game:
BattleChip and NaviChip stats (such as HP, MB, Attack Power)
Which operators and Navis appear in tournaments
BattleChip decks for enemy Navis
The MMBCC Randomizer can be used through a web interface at mmbccr.com (or this alternative link). Simply dump the ROM from your US or EU copy of Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge, and select it in the web interface. This will produce a randomized ROM, which you can then run on any GBA emulator or flash cart. You can also tweak the randomizer’s settings for a personalized experience.
For the technically inclined, Sam has also released the randomizer on GitHub, which can be used with Python 3. This version also has some additional features such as randomizing the names of the chips themselves.
Of course, as with many randomizers, the result could be pure chaos… but that’s the fun of randomizers! Either way, it’s sure to be a fresh experience. Will you be giving the MMBCC Randomizer a try? Let us know in the comments!
If you’re in the market for a new MMBN-inspired indie game, here’s a game that might pique your interest: Hero.EXE, which has been in the works for a little while now and has just launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund development. The team at Mystery Egg Games aims to bring the game to just about every console under the sun: PC DRM-free, Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One.
As the name suggests, Hero.EXE wears its MMBN inspiration on its sleeve. Combat works just like in MMBN: during the compile phase (Custom Screen), you’ll draw and select codes (BattleChips) from a deck of 30 for the next turn. The action itself is real-time and grid-based, taking place on a familiar red-and-blue battlefield.
The game’s setting is also quite similar to MMBN: you find yourself suddenly beamed into the Grid, a digital world plagued by glitches and governed by powerful bosses known as Monarchs. To survive, you’ll have to pair up with an A.V.A. (Navi), who will be your partner for the entire game. There are a number of A.V.A.s to choose from, each having their own unique abilities and personalities, adding plenty of replay value.
Seems like Rogue wasn’t content with just being the event boss for the “Bond that can’t be severed” event, so now he’s also coming to Rockman X DiVE as an S Rank playable character! As announced by Capcom Taiwan in the trailer above, players will be able to draw the Mu swordsman himself starting from September 15th, 4 PM (UTC+8) until September 22nd, 4 PM (UTC+8).
Rogue comes with attacks based on those from Mega Man Star Force 2: Rogue Fist, which launches him across the screen, dealing damage to any enemies he passes through. He can also use Rogue Break, a large AoE attack that enables him to use Rogue Fist again.
Of course, Rogue wouldn’t be Rogue without his signature EM barrier; a shield that temporarily renders him invincible. In addition, he also has a passive ability that increases his damage output when his HP is low.
For the time being, Rogue will only be available in the Asian version of Rockman X DiVE and will likely not arrive in the global version for a while.
The last major Mega Man series yet to cross over with Rockman X DiVE, Mega Man Star Force is finally about to go On The Air and pulse in to the Deep Log!
As announced by Capcom Taiwan, Star Force Mega Man and Harp Note will be making their way to Rockman X DiVE in just a few short days, as part of the Bond that can’t be severed event. The event starts on September 8th, 4:00 PM (UTC+8) and will run until September 22nd, 3:59 PM (UTC+8).
Note: for the time being, Star Force Mega Man and Harp Note will only be available in the Asian version of the game. The North American version (operated by NebulaJoy) will likely not receive this new event for a while.
Star Force Mega Man will be an A Rank character whom you can draw by spending Event Coupons. Harp Note, on the other hand, will be an S Rank character. If you manage to draw Harp Note, using her in the event will net you 40% bonus Event Coupons.
Harp Note comes with two skills, based on her attacks from the original games. Machine Gun String fires a set of guitar strings into the targeted enemy, and using this skill also summons a speaker. The speaker will stay on the field for a while and automatically fire towards enemies.
She can also use her Song of Pulse skill, an AoE attack that sends notes flying in all directions. Enemies hit by the notes will be inflicted with a negative status effect; and you have the option to choose between Out of Control, Defocus and Skill Seal. In addition, Harp Note can use a Shield and automatically lock on to enemies.
As part of the event, you can also challenge a special stage with a new boss at the end. Of course, it’s none other than Rogue, wielding his Mu sword from Mega Man Star Force 2.
Rockman X DiVE can be downloaded from the iOS App Store and Google Play in select regions. If you’re an Android user, you can also download and install the APK file for the game directly from the official website, regardless of which region you’re in.
Will you be pulsing into the Deep Log soon? Let us know in the comments!
Star Force fan-game Mega Man Star Force: EndWave has received a new demo, just in time for SAGE 2021! We last checked out this project two years ago, and it’s come a long way since then. Unlike a previous demo, which was mainly a battle system demonstration, the new Version 1.3 now includes an overworld and story cutscenes.
Mega Man Star Force: EndWave is a fan-game based on the rumored cancelled concept for Mega Man Star Force 4. Geo and Omega-Xis team up with genius hacker Kazuma to investigate a mysterious threat manipulating people’s emotions. This draws the ire of the Satella Police as Geo and Kazuma find themselves wanted outlaws. In the first chapter, Mega Man is tasked with investigating an old PET, which is now emitting a signal pointing to Geo and Kazuma’s location.
The battle system is a 2D version of the system used in the official Mega Man Star Force games, where the camera is always at a side view rather than over-the-shoulder – similar to the Battle Network games. You can move up and down on your column, use a Shield to block incoming attacks and Lock-on to enemies for close-range attacks. EndWave also features a dynamic difficulty system, which increases enemies’ strength as well as the rewards they drop if you play well.
The Custom Screen has been simplified from the previous demo and official games, too. You can now pick any three from the four available cards on the screen. In addition, there’s a Wave Special card that powers up each time you land a Counter Hit, but can only be used once per battle.
BA BA BAN! Another collaboration for Rockman EXE? Two beloved Game Boy and anime series from the 2000’s involving a kid and their partner robot finally clash! This time the collab is with Medarot S, the newest mobile game for the Medarot series (known as Medabots in some countries)! The game’s official Twitter has posted a promotional video, along with a 17 minute information video on YouTube.
The collab will feature obtainable Medarots with motifs of 3 iconic Navis. The Rockman and Forte Medarots can be obtained through the event limited gacha, while the Roll Medarot will be the event reward. 4 special BGM for the new “Sound Customization Function” such as “THEME OF ROCKMAN EXE” will also be available.
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Medarot S is a Japan only game available on Android and iOS. The event will start on August 5th, until August 19th.
MegaMan.EXE returns in Mega Man X DiVE, with a twist. This time, it’s Dark MegaMan.EXE‘s time to shine. For a limited time, you’ll be able to draw him in the upcoming DiVE Festival, which starts 7th July 2021 at 4 P.M. (UTC+8) and lasts for one week. You’ll also be able to get 40 Dark MegaMan.EXE Memory when you draw, as well as have increased odds for S rank characters and weapons.
First appearing in Mega Man Battle Network 4, Dark MegaMan is the form MegaMan takes when he’s corrupted by DarkChips and taken over by his DarkSoul. As a Mega Man X DiVE character, Dark MegaMan can use his iconic DarkSword attack, as well as DarkThunder.
True to the source material, these DarkChip attacks are very strong, but they inflict bugs on Dark MegaMan and cause him to lose HP! DarkSword is a large AoE attack which causes you to become confused and temporarily disables the Auto-aim function. On the other hand, DarkThunder can travel through walls and paralyze enemies, but you lose HP when using it.
In addition, Dark MegaMan’s passive ability increases your attack power whenever you use a skill, but you lose HP in return. This ability stacks up to 15 times and cannot be removed. Thankfully, in Mega Man X DiVE the HP loss is only temporary!
Mega Man X DiVE is available for Android and iOS in select regions. If you have an Android device, you can play the game even if it’s not available in Google Play in your region by installing the .APK file from the game’s official website. In addition, a global version of the game is now in Early Access, but this version will likely not be getting Dark MegaMan.EXE for a while.
Entire Mega Man Battle Network game OSTs are now easily accessible within your fingertips! Rockman-Unity has announced that the Rockman EXE Sound Box has become available on Spotify and iTunes! And the best part? It’s region-free! The pages will be accessible once it has hit April 24th in your time zone.
The Rockman EXE Sound Box is a CD box set that was first released physically in 2016 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the EXE series. It contains the soundtracks for every GBA Mega Man Battle Network game including EXE4.5 and Battle Chip Challenge, along with the DS version of BN5 and N1 Battle for the Wonderswan. However, it has omitted the Crossover Battle 2 theme from Rockman EXE 6 (a remix of the Count’s boss music from Boktai).
In addition to the games’ OST, there are album exclusive songs, such as farewell ~vocalise~, an enchanting vocalization of BN3’s credits song. As well as Past & Future, a vocal version of BN6’s Central Town sung by series writer, Masakazu Eguchi and composer, Yoshino Aoki! And be sure to check out Battle Theme -EXE4 Style- from BN5DS, which has a second part not heard in the game!
Capcom has also released a new overall Mega Man series album, CAP-TUNE/CAP-JAMS. Battle Network makes an appearance with a remix of BN1’s NumberMan stage theme.
Mitsuru Ishihara did the anime character designs for the first four series of Rockman EXE (original, Axess, Stream, Beast), the role was passed on to Shingo Adachi for the final series, Rockman EXE Beast+. He’s a still-active animator who has worked on various Rockman animation, including Irregular Hunter X’s Day of Sigma and Ryusei no Rockman Tribe. While affiliated with the animation studio Xebec, it has since gone defunct with their staff absorbed by Sunrise and Production I.G. The last time we’ve seen a Rockman art by him was in 2007 for Classic Rockman’s 20th Anniversary.
In addition to that, Ryo Takamisaki and Fukkan have previewed some pages of his manga for the Box, now titled “Runaway ProtoMan” (ブルースの家出). Takamisaki is well-known for the MegaMan and Bass focus in his manga, having ProtoMan as the center of this new work is a pleasant surprise!
