Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker X Ninja (E)

OK for fans of the series, otherwise mega boring.

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Common Sense rates it

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details

Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Video Games - Role Playing Games
Release Date: 06/24/2008
Online Enabled: Yes
ESRB Rating: E
ESRB Explanation: Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: $29.99

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that while the Mega Man series as a whole imparts good skills like reading, the plot here is badly written and boring. Kids who like their games to have action may be put off, as may most adults. There are turned-based battles throughout, but they are bland and not gory. This is the companion title to Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker X Saurian. You can play with others who are in close proximity via Nintendo's wireless connection, but Internet connectivity is limited to trading cards and powers. Common Sense Media does not recommend letting anyone under age 12 play online without adult supervision.

Families can talk about what makes Mega Man a hero. Are the same characteristics found in all great heroes? Is a hero someone who takes on super-dangerous missions and crazed criminals, or can he be the local cop, fireman, even Dad or Mom?

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

Mega Man is a squeaky clean hero, albeit immersed in a laughable plot.

Consumerism:

None.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

None.

Educational Value:

There's a fair amount of reading and strategizing here that's good for the mind.

Violence

Some fighting and shooting, but the battles are bland, not gory.

Sex

None.

Language

None.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Harold Goldberg

Mega Man, one of Capcom's earliest gaming super heroes, has been around for 21 years, longer than most video game franchises. The newest chapter offered is MEGA MAN STAR FORCE 2: ZERKER X NINJA (reviewed here) and the companion title of Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker X Saurian. Both feature the iconic character as a kid in a futuristic world who turns into Mega Man. Using battle cards a la Yu-Gi-Oh!, you try to stop evil doers like the Dark Phantom and Unidentified Mysterious Animals from capturing humans. This type of role-playing game is known as a dungeon-crawler and it's focus is on battling bad guys in turn-based combat. You'll move around a 3X6 grid from left to right or right to left as you play.

The idea here is similar to the Pokemon series of DS games. There's a ton of strategic gameplay in each game. You can play as the Zerker warriors in each of the two games. But for you to play as the Ninjas or the Saurians, you have to purchase both versions. Buying both gives you access to more powers. (But only long time Mega Man fans will be obsessive enough to get both.)

Is it any good?

There's a lot of logic involved in winning here, and that's enhanced by the ability to play the game with a pal via Nintendo's Wi-Fi connection, a real plus. Beyond the local DS connection, you can play via the Internet, but only to exchange cards and powers. The music seems to be the same as in other Mega Man games, and the graphics make you feel as is you're playing a game from years ago. Often, because of the amount of cards and powers, these kinds of games skimp on artwork and beautiful cut scenes. But the look of the game is so poor and the dialog so often inane, it may even put off the most diehard Mega Man fan, even though there are a mammoth 279 battle cards provided in the deck.While Star Force 2 has potential because of its Wi-Fi abilities and many battle cards, something important is lost through abysmal writing and old school graphics.