Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star
Encyclopedia
is a Mega Man
action role-playing
video game published and developed by Capcom
for the Nintendo DS
handheld video game console
. It was revealed at the 2009 World Hobby Fair in Japan and released on November 12, 2009.
The game is the first game in the Mega Man Battle Network
series since its conclusion with the release of the sixth title
in 2005, as well as an enhanced port
of the first Mega Man Battle Network title
and a crossover
with the Mega Man Star Force
series.
Capcom's Christian Svensson, Vice President of Strategic Planning & Business Development, stated that the company has no plans to localize the game for western territories.
The game is set in the Battle Network setting (specifically the first Battle Network title), but both MegaMan.EXE and Geo Stelar (as Mega Man) appear together and are playable. The game is largely identical to the original title with the exception of an extra chapter involving Geo's appearance and a battle against a new NetNavi named ClockMan. However this chapter is completely disconnected from the storyline of the game and is not mentioned again afterward.
The battle system is retained from the original Battle Network series, with the addition of some fine-tuning that the system saw throughout the series's progression. The player is able to control either Mega Man in battle after the ClockMan chapter. The two Mega Men do not play identically; Star Force Mega Man brings his ability to lock-on to far-away targets, as well as a brief shield to block minor attacks. Both Mega Men utilize Battle Chips instead of Battle Cards, and new Chips (including a Navi Chip representing Omega-Xis) appear.
The PET interface has been revamped to allow for touch-screen capabilities. The touch screen also serves as a map while traversing the cyber world (similar to the one in Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS) has also been added.
held their annual Mega Man boss design contest. However, unlike previous contests, it was unknown what upcoming Mega Man title the winning boss would appear in, nor was it revealed even after the winner was announced as Clock Genius in the April 2009 issue. At the 2009 World Hobby Fair convention in Japan, the new Mega Man title was finally unveiled as a cross-over between the Battle Network and Star Force series. There was early speculation that the title may not just be a crossover, but also a remake
of a previous Battle Network title, fueled by a comment made in an interview by GameTrailers
with series producer Takeshi Horinouchi. Horinouchi later confirmed the speculation with the launch of the official teaser website announcing that the game is an enhanced remake of the first Battle Network title
.
The Battle Network series officially ended in 2005 with the release of Mega Man Battle Network 6
for the Game Boy Advance
. Around the 25th anniversary of the Mega Man franchise, Capcom was receiving a strong sentiment from fans wanting a new Battle Network title. Horinouchi stated that they wanted one more try at the series. He explained, "This game’s inspiration is actually a celebratory image drawn by the designer for Mega Man’s 20th anniversary. From that time, I’d secretly been thinking 'In time we should try something neat with EXE and Star Force.’ Thus, our next project Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star has come to be started. Essentially, this is a Mega Man Battle Network 1 remake for the DS, porting it and adding something extra. You the fans may be wondering, what sort of theme comes with combining EXE and Shooting Star? This is something that Battle Network fans of course, and Star Force fans as well, will enjoy."
, Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star was the ninth best-selling game in Japan during its release week at approximately 23,000 copies sold. A total of 44,110 units were sold in Japan by the end of 2009.
Fans have speculated that low sales may be the reason that the game was never localized for western territories, but Capcom officials have not commented on this.
Mega Man
Mega Man is a video game franchise from Capcom, starring the eponymous character Mega Man, or one of his many counterparts. The series is well-known and comprises well over fifty releases, easily making it Capcom's most prolific franchise. As of December 31, 2010, the series has sold approximately...
action role-playing
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
video game published and developed by Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
handheld video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
. It was revealed at the 2009 World Hobby Fair in Japan and released on November 12, 2009.
The game is the first game in the Mega Man Battle Network
Mega Man Battle Network
The Mega Man Battle Network series is one of Capcom's Mega Man series and debuted in 2001 on the Game Boy Advance. It is a spin-off series based on the original Mega Man. In Japan, as of the release of Rockman EXE Transmission in 2003, the series has been known as Rockman EXE; prior to this it was...
series since its conclusion with the release of the sixth title
Mega Man Battle Network 6
MegaMan Battle Network 6, known as in Japan, is a video game developed by Capcom for the Game Boy Advance handheld game console. As with the previous three games, the Japanese edition was released in two separate versions: and . The North American releases are titled Cybeast Falzar and Cybeast...
in 2005, as well as an enhanced port
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
of the first Mega Man Battle Network title
Mega Man Battle Network (video game)
Mega Man Battle Network, known as in Japan, is a video game developed by Capcom for the Game Boy Advance handheld console. It is the first of the Mega Man Battle Network series of video games...
and a crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
with the Mega Man Star Force
Mega Man Star Force
Mega Man Star Force, known in Japan as , is a Mega Man action role-playing video game published and developed by Capcom for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console...
series.
Capcom's Christian Svensson, Vice President of Strategic Planning & Business Development, stated that the company has no plans to localize the game for western territories.
Gameplay
The battle system is retained from the original Battle Network series, with the addition of some fine-tuning that the system saw throughout the series's progression. The player is able to control either Mega Man in battle after the ClockMan chapter. The two Mega Men do not play identically; Star Force Mega Man brings his ability to lock-on to far-away targets, as well as a brief shield to block minor attacks. Both Mega Men utilize Battle Chips instead of Battle Cards, and new Chips (including a Navi Chip representing Omega-Xis) appear.
The PET interface has been revamped to allow for touch-screen capabilities. The touch screen also serves as a map while traversing the cyber world (similar to the one in Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS) has also been added.
Development
In January 2009, monthly Japanese magazine CoroCoro ComicCoroCoro Comic
is a Japanese monthly manga magazine published by Shogakukan, starting on May 15, 1977. Its main target is elementary school aged boys, younger than the readers of shōnen manga...
held their annual Mega Man boss design contest. However, unlike previous contests, it was unknown what upcoming Mega Man title the winning boss would appear in, nor was it revealed even after the winner was announced as Clock Genius in the April 2009 issue. At the 2009 World Hobby Fair convention in Japan, the new Mega Man title was finally unveiled as a cross-over between the Battle Network and Star Force series. There was early speculation that the title may not just be a crossover, but also a remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of a previous Battle Network title, fueled by a comment made in an interview by GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
with series producer Takeshi Horinouchi. Horinouchi later confirmed the speculation with the launch of the official teaser website announcing that the game is an enhanced remake of the first Battle Network title
Mega Man Battle Network (video game)
Mega Man Battle Network, known as in Japan, is a video game developed by Capcom for the Game Boy Advance handheld console. It is the first of the Mega Man Battle Network series of video games...
.
The Battle Network series officially ended in 2005 with the release of Mega Man Battle Network 6
Mega Man Battle Network 6
MegaMan Battle Network 6, known as in Japan, is a video game developed by Capcom for the Game Boy Advance handheld game console. As with the previous three games, the Japanese edition was released in two separate versions: and . The North American releases are titled Cybeast Falzar and Cybeast...
for the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
. Around the 25th anniversary of the Mega Man franchise, Capcom was receiving a strong sentiment from fans wanting a new Battle Network title. Horinouchi stated that they wanted one more try at the series. He explained, "This game’s inspiration is actually a celebratory image drawn by the designer for Mega Man’s 20th anniversary. From that time, I’d secretly been thinking 'In time we should try something neat with EXE and Star Force.’ Thus, our next project Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star has come to be started. Essentially, this is a Mega Man Battle Network 1 remake for the DS, porting it and adding something extra. You the fans may be wondering, what sort of theme comes with combining EXE and Shooting Star? This is something that Battle Network fans of course, and Star Force fans as well, will enjoy."
Reception
According to the Japanese publication FamitsuFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
, Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star was the ninth best-selling game in Japan during its release week at approximately 23,000 copies sold. A total of 44,110 units were sold in Japan by the end of 2009.
Fans have speculated that low sales may be the reason that the game was never localized for western territories, but Capcom officials have not commented on this.