More of the Same, though better
Electronics dominate the landscape, Net-Navis fight to the death and evil organizations are about to unveil yet another plan to take over the world. MWA HA HA HA HA! Yes, we return once more to the Mega Man alternative future 1 in MegaMan Battle Network 4, split between the Red Sun and the Blue Moon versions. This installment has lots of ups and downs. One the one hand, there are improved graphics, and the new Double Soul System works well. However, there would also be questionable design choices and a lame half-ass story. So, well, this game barely fulfills the standards its predecessors has set, but that's about it.
If you played other BN games, you know what to expect. You move around 2 worlds: The real world as your character, Lan, and the Internet world as Lan's E-friend MegaMan. You move around complete objectives on both areas, but the internet world has a lot more activity. You bust viruses and evil Navis, collect chips and Zennies (currency). Sure, that doesn't sound a lot, but the first two could be enjoyable. There are so many chips to collect (over 200) and there are so many viruses and baddies (and so many ways to carve them up).
The Navi Customizer, a program that improves MegaMan, is still here, as well as the grid-based battle sytem. You stand on a 3 x 3 (like your opponent), dishing out damage with your MegaBuster or, more often, with battlechips. The game also lasts as long as a typical RPG, around 10 or so hours, with new game pluses once you beat the game. But thankfully, the system has been somewhat revamped for the better. And the key change is the introduction of the Soul System.
By giving up one chip, MegaMan could draw the power within some Navis he previously fought, giving different attacks and abilities. There are 6 souls in each version, each very different from the other. I mention this because the Soul System requires a lot of thought on your part. Would you use it as a focal point of your attack? Or would you use it as a backup? Thinking about how to use the Soul System could easily alter your style of play and your chip deck. It's a powerful tool that I felt was well implemented.
Other key changes worth noting: Dark Chips. Released later on in the game, they are HELL strong, but they make Mega evil and you lose 1 HP from each battle with dark chips involved. And the Emotion Window. It depicts Mega's feelings. They give you minor benefits, like doubling battlechip damage, lets you use Dark Chips etc.
Although the game made some improvements, they also did some miscalculations as well. For instance, the ADD command, which lets you get more chips, is gone :( . Also the side-quests are significantly reduced. That's a HUGE mistake, because the EXE series is an RPG. Losing those sidequests would make the game MUCH more linear, something that is against the very essence of RPGs. And also the story. I mean, WTH is with THE STORY? The story revolves around a meteorite move towards Earth. The Earth needs to stop it. So they send you to stop it. Unfortunately, you know that until, like, nearly the end of the game (80% of the game through, maybe?) So you spent a good deal running around doing unimportant things, wasting your time. So SH- I mean, CRAP!
Besides the gameplay, I think the graphics are revamped well too. It looks the same, but I think that the character models, backgrounds just looks and feels a lot sharper (In fact, the only thing I could bash the graphics for is the backgrounds' disproportions. The sound doesn't stand out too much, passable at best.
Battle Network 4 certainly isn't a bad, it just doesn't expand or advance the series as well as it is hoped for. Newcomers could easily come in and pick this one to play, but guys who want something new won't find anything here that they can hang on to.
So here's the recap:
Story: 2/5
You only get involved in the real plot late in the game, so you would scratch your head thinking "What was I doing during the past few hours in this damn game?"
Gameplay: 3.5/5
Same old, same old around 90% of the time. But the Soul System is a very welcomed change, forcing you to further think out your strategy when you bust enemies and viruses.
Presentation: 3.5/5
Mostly the same, BUT it looks sharper on all fronts. Soundtracks won't hit the Billboards anytime soon, though.
Bonuses, Alternatives, Replay Value (BARs): 3.5/5
Lasts as long as other EXE games in the series (that means, pretty long), but Capcom punished itself for removing the majority of side-quests.
Overall: 12.5/20 (around 3 stars)
EXE fans, be prepared for most of the same things. But the game is approachable for newcomers to the series.