Mega Man Network Transmission Critic Reviews

Fans of Mega Man's pure platforming adventures might be put off by the chip idea, while fans of the RPG Mega Man might not enjoy the platforming aspect. It's a bit of a catch-22. However, Capcom and Arika did a fantastic job of melding the two together.

Would I be getting a great classic Mega Man game with minimal Role Playing Game elements, or would I get more of a true Battle Network type game? I was quite satisfied to find out that this game has a near perfect balance of both.

This wonderful plot, as charming and exciting as it may be, sadly interferes with what was once a staple of the franchise, the ability to play the first 8 stages in the order you desire.

While not quite perfect, it's one of the most worthwhile Mega Man platformers in years, as it shakes the boat in a bunch of cool ways.

Plays like the 2-D games of old, which is great news to any Mega Man fan.

The game only loses points because of limited replayablility and a poor story.

A little less difficulty in the early going, ramping up later on would have helped, but anyone that can get past the first few stages will find Network Transmission oddly satisfying and a great deal of fun.

While I wished they had done a little more to push the story graphically, the challenge and solid 2D action were enough to keep me going.

The action is addictive enough to try and finish it, which will take about 15 hours.

The highly stylized graphics and familiar music add to MMNT's atmosphere perfectly.

One of the oddest things about Network Transmission is the game's learning curve that bucks convention by starting out frustratingly difficult and getting progressively easier.

Little room for personality, not many instances of clear level design, and not a whole lot of time before the game gets dull.

I found some of the levels, particularly during boss fights, to be difficult to the point of becoming tedious, and that's never a good thing.

A potentially fun, but ultimately frustrating, entry in the series, and fans of the Battle Network universe would be much better off sticking with their GBAs.

Looks fantastic and has excellent level design but is ridiculously hard for the wrong reasons.

There's a lot to like about Transmission, but its difficulty really drags it down. If you can handle it, though, you'll have a good time.

It's definitely different, but in ways that are detrimental to the experience you'll have with it.

With a less-frustrating difficulty level, revamped weapons system, and a graphical look that wasn't so...dull, Transmission could have been very good.

There's a bit more up and down, certainly, but all that really distinguishes it is the sharp, cartoony look, smooth framerate (even if we couldn't find a 60Hz option) and web-like interface for loading each level.

This is the toughest game the series has ever offered, and the extreme challenge will annoy, frustrate, and ultimately eradicate nearly every gamer who attempts to tackle it.