The Star Force series has often been overlooked in favour of Battle Network, and the decision to bring all seven versions of its three instalments into one comprehensive package is definitely a clever one. But is that enough to make Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection worth its price tag? Let’s take a look at what works and what doesn’t.

"Coming to the games themselves, your mileage is going to vary depending on how nostalgic they feel to you."

Star Force is set around two hundred years after Battle Network, introducing Geo Stelar as a new protagonist and host for Omega-Xis, or “Mega” as it prefers to be called. Mega is an extraterrestrial being from a planet known as FM, which Geo’s father had previously attempted to establish friendly relations with. That resulted in his disappearance, leaving Geo devastated and withdrawn from the world around him as a result.

The first game wastes no time in getting Geo and Mega to combine, taking on the Mega Man mantle in the process. It’s an interesting story for those who never played the Star Force games back in the day, but by modern standards, it can feel dated enough to make you roll your eyes at times. Nevertheless, Geo’s story is a coming-of-age adventure spread across three games that’s probably the biggest draw on offer in this collection.

But looking at it as only three games might be doing this collection a disservice, since it’s actually three versions of the first game, and a couple of variants each for the second and third ones. Those variations come with their own unique cards, often tied to the versions released in different regions, so returning players who have a preference for one version over another should be pleased. However, if you’re looking for something drastically different from each one, you’re going to be disappointed.

Coming to the games themselves, your mileage is going to vary depending on how nostalgic they feel to you. They’re faithful recreations of the original games for the most part, quality-of-life changes notwithstanding. Battles feel smoother and faster than they did in Battle Network, while the simplified deck-building makes the action more immediately engaging

"The story is paced quite well across the three games, and the worldbuilding is consistent enough across them all to give Geo’s story the emotional weight it needs to click with those of you who aren’t familiar with it."

But that doesn’t stop the battles themselves from being far too simplistic and repetitive from a modern standpoint. While things do improve over the second and third titles, there was only so much grid-based fighting I could do before the entire thing got stale. It doesn’t help that the first two games require you to find a Grid Wave before you can Phase In to the FM World as Mega Man, which quickly becomes tedious. Thankfully, the third game addresses this.

The story is paced quite well across the three games, and the worldbuilding is consistent enough across them all to give Geo’s story the emotional weight it needs to click with those of you who aren’t familiar with it. His banter with his friends and Mega stands out, and there’s a charm to it all that’s quite light-hearted and fun.

As a package, the collection gets stronger from game to game, and the overall quality remains fairly consistent throughout. I do wish the developer had included an option to skip tutorials in each game, because clicking through the same speech bubbles every time a character walks you through combat or other systems gets tedious fast.

All of what I’ve said thus far holds true for the original versions of each title, but this collection brings a few new additions to the table. Autosaving is quite nifty, as is the ability to pan your camera when you’re out in the game’s world. It can be quite helpful when you’re looking for an objective, and it definitely served me well during my time with Geo.

"Since Star Force was originally released on the DS, getting to play these titles on a PS5 was certainly novel."

The option to adjust the game’s speed, tweak encounter frequency, and recover lost HP after fights are all welcome additions. However, with the combat being as simple as it is, and a generous amount of recovery cards showing up during fights, that last one isn’t really a necessity. It’s still nice to have, as is the option to increase the amount of Zeni earned after each battle. That makes it easier to collect more cards, and can perhaps stave off boredom with the combat system to a large extent.

You also get the option to adjust the amount of damage your enemies get to do, as well as another one to guarantee an escape for rare occasions when you’re on the losing end of a fight. Once again, I didn’t find any need to use them for the most part, but they are thoughtful additions that make the package more accommodating.

I’d say that all of these upgrades are respectful to the original games, making them more palatable to both newcomers and veterans who are playing them for the story. That said, all three games are easy enough that most experienced players probably won’t need these options in the first place.

Since Star Force was originally released on the DS, getting to play these titles on a PS5 was certainly novel. However, the way the two-screen setup is implemented did force me to sit closer to my TV to clearly make out what was happening on the smaller screen. The customizable screen layouts don’t really help, but the option to tweak the experience to your liking is always welcome.

The menus are perfectly serviceable, the text is clear and readable, and I didn’t really miss the DS touchscreen while navigating them. However, I can see how players used to the original versions might find this one a tad frustrating, but I’d say it just takes some getting used to.

"Performance on a base PS5 was solid throughout, with a stable image, fast load times, and smooth gameplay across all three titles."

As far as extras go, this one brings a ton of artwork and soundtracks, battle card archives, and other goodies to the table that you may or may not appreciate based on how invested you are in the Mega Man franchise and its lore. If you are someone with only a passing interest in the character over the years, they wont entice you enough to give that part of the collection more than a second glance. Still, the extras themselves are well presented, for what that’s worth.

While I couldn’t test the collection’s online functionality, the lack of cross-platform support is disappointing, especially for a release spread across both current and last-gen systems. Performance on a base PS5 was solid throughout, with a stable image, fast load times, and smooth gameplay across all three titles. Considering their simplicity and lower resource-intensiveness, that isn’t really a surprise.

However, I did come across instances where I could not progress past a dialogue box, requiring a restart of the game and a tedious amount of clicking through the same conversations before I could continue. It happened often enough across all three titles to become a real annoyance.

"If you’re looking for a simple, fun experience for kids on your consoles, this one’s definitely worth looking into."

With all of what I’ve said up until this point, you might be wondering if the Star Force Legacy Collection is something I’d recommend to you. Well, if you’re a die-hard fan of Mega Man, and you’re looking to collect all of the games in this subseries, this one’s for you. But for everybody else, there may not be enough here to justify the asking price.

The deliciously retro look and feel of it all, along with the nostalgia that Geo’s story evokes, aren’t going to be enough to keep you invested in it from start to finish. However, if you’re looking for a simple, fun experience for kids on your consoles, this one’s definitely worth looking into. But as an adult, I found myself drifting off far too often for this one to be a first-day purchase. I’d recommend waiting for a sale.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

The Capcom Spotlight will focus on upcoming titles like Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, Pragmata, and Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection. The teaser has also confirmed that the company will reveal its future plans for Street Fighter 6, with Alex joining the roster on March 17th. You can also look forward to the reveal of the Excellence Awards winners for the Robot Master Design Contest in Mega Man: Dual Override.

Of its current slate of upcoming releases, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection will be the first one out, slated for March 13th on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2. It will be followed by Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection on March 27th on PC PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch. Finally, Pragmata is set for an April 24th launch across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2.

While Capcom hasn’t outright confirmed it, we might also get to see more details about games that haven’t been mentioned in the teaser. This could include expansion plans for Monster Hunter Wilds, and potentially even a future update for Resident Evil Requiem.

Speaking of which, the horror title was released on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 to quite a bit of success. While Capcom had already confirmed back in January that pre-orders had been performing better than internal expectations, launch day saw over 300,000 PC concurrent players jumping into the game. This success has since continued, with current SteamDB charts revealing over 100,000 concurrent players in the game at the time of publishing. You can check out more details about Resident Evil Requiem in our review, where we gave it a score of 9 out of 10.

As for Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, Capcom had recently released a new trailer showcasing how the concept art created for its locations were translated into in-game zones. The trailer gave us a look at three main locations – Azuria, Sheparden, and Galyad – with each area’s culture, fashion and architecture on full display. For those curious about the upcoming turn-based RPG, there is a free demo available that allows you to carry over your save data into the full game.

Pragmata has similarly gotten a free demo across all platforms that provides players with a taste of its third-person action combat that melds gunplay with puzzle solving. It even got a trailer back in February showcasing a new location that seems to be a holographic recreation of New York City. For more details, check out how Capcom struggled with properly portraying Diana as an android thanks to the game’s focus on photo-realistic visuals.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection was announced back in December, and is slated to feature every title in the Star Force series, from Mega Man Star Force Leo, Dragon, and Pegasus to Mega Man Star Force 2 Zerker x Ninja and Zerker x Saurian, and Mega Man Star Force 3 Black Ace and Red Joker.

Crimson Desert

The big one, with arguably the most hype, is Crimson Desert. It’s been a long journey towards release, and no matter how many interviews or videos we see, it has something new to reveal every time. Can it meet all the hype? Maybe. Maybe not. One thing that’s for sure is we’re looking forward to scouring Pywel for secrets, learning the ins and outs of each character’s fighting style, and wreaking havoc with our favorite mech/dragon/bear mount when it launches on March 19th.

Pokémon Pokopia

A Ditto imitating a human deciding to open a farm and bring on other Pokémon to help from the team behind Dynasty Warriors – sounds about right. Far be it from Pokémon Pokopia, out on March 5th, to just be Nintendo’s take on “Palworld” but with a 20 to 40 hour story, post-game content and even four-player co-op, there should be just enough to hold you over until the next generation arrives.

Marathon

Even as a Destiny player who’s been disappointed by many Bungie decisions over the years, I have to admit – Marathon doesn’t look half-bad. Maybe it’s because the six Runner Shells actually have compelling kits, or due to the quality of life features, or the killer presentation – from that sick match loading screen to the extraction. Either way, Marathon should have some impact when it launches on March 5th – whether Bungie can keep that going is another issue.

Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf

Following up on the original’s gorgeous hand-painted aesthetic and environmental storytelling, Children of the Leaf promises to be even bigger and more mysterious. Which is all well and good, but it’s also packing plenty of new mechanics, including expanded traversal options. If it can mirror the original’s cinematic excellence, Planet of Lana 2 could very well be a dark horse when it arrives on March 5th.

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake

If Fatal Frame proves anything, it’s that the camera is sometimes mightier than the gun and also sometimes just as ineffective against angry spirits if you can’t aim right. Fortunately, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake has a lot more going for it – including a new over-the-shoulder perspective, gorgeous overhauled visuals, and new features like holding hands – perfect for trying to survive the night. It’s out on March 12th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, and even includes a new ending over the original.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando

There’s something about the cheesy, 80s action movie-esque mayhem that Saber brings to the table in John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando. Maybe it’s also about seeing the Swarm Engine applied to zombies, ensuring plenty of massive hordes that you don’t know whether to shoot or gawk at (the former. Always the former). After the surprisingly fun demo, we’re keen to go commando even more when the full game launches on March 12th.

Docked

Of course, Saber Interactive doesn’t just want to cater to your urge for co-op chaos. No, it also knows there’s an audience for operating big machinery and solving real-world problems, like in Docked. As the lead operator of a dock wrecked by a hurricane, it’s your job to keep the cargo moving, managing and operating heavy equipment, bringing in contracts, and building it back up. It’s out on March 5th for just $29.99 on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection

Maybe you’re interested in the antics of Azuria and Vermeil, two kingdoms at odds while the Crystal Encroachment wreaks havoc. But if you’re just here for the monsters, Monster Hunter Stories 3, launching on March 13th, has plenty to throw at you. From old-school classics like Yama Tsukami to the contemporary, Malzeno, Narwa, Ibushi and Arkveld, there is a lot to choose from. And best of all, you can obtain variants with Habitat Restoration, including a fiery Zinogre.

Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!

Speaking of surprisingly fun demos, Starship Troopers may very well be back courtesy of Auroch Digital’s raucous new first-person shooter, which launches on March 16th. No building or resource collection here – it’s a straight-up, Boltgun-style retro shooter where you slay many, many bugs. Does it feel a little Helldivers-esque at times, especially with the drop pods? Well, sure, but full circle and whatnot, and how can you possibly say no to Johnny Rico himself?

GreedFall: The Dying World

The other game to drop the “2”, that too before Overwatch, is GreedFall: The Dying World. Furthermore, it’s out on March 12th, finally exiting early access after an…ambitious entry on September 24th. But there’s new content, improved combat, more companions, additional quests, and even more to come, including a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S release. Maybe it can finally redeem the GreedFall name, such as it is.

Screamer

I’ll admit to some consternation, especially after JDM: Japanese Drift Master tried to fuse manga and street racing, but Screamer is clearly on another level. Boasting anime cutscenes, multiple playable characters, and the ECHO for power-ups like Strikes and Boosts, it’s a surprisingly intriguing mix. The futuristic setting and team racing modes, where your crew can take on others, are just the icing on top when Screamer launches on March 26th.

WWE 2K26

WWE Creative being dull and CM Punk headlining a new video game – name a more iconic duo. Thankfully, the latter means a new 2K Showcase focused on his best matches and some fantasy warfare against Legends that could have been. Other notable features include the return of Inferno, I Quit and 3 Stages of Hell matches, the ability to stack tables, and over 400 characters, perhaps the largest in history (and that’s not including DLC following the post-March 13th release).

Scott Pilgrim EX

Toronto’s time-space has been messed up, with fantastical threats like Robots and Vegans laying claim to the city. Who better to fight back, other than literally anyone else, than Scott Pilgrim and friends? Following up on Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, this is a new beat ’em up from Tribute Games with seven playable fighters, four-player local and online co-op (with drop-in/drop-out supported) and a progression system centered around Badges. If you enjoyed Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, then EX may be up your alley when it launches on March 3rd.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection

Following up on the well-received Battle Network Legacy Collection, Mega Man Star Force gets its own compilation on March 27th with all three titles and their versions. And considering the dozens of hours you can invest in each, complete with a new gallery and online play for battling, it may be just what the Doctor (not Wily) ordered.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (PC)

One of the least surprising announcements of all time – thanks ESRB and Kojima – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach nevertheless promises to be the most stunning version when it releases on March 19th. It includes Ultrawide support, upscaling and Frame Generation across DLSS 4, FSR 3 and XeSS 2.0, and even lets you enable Decima’s own Pico upscaling tech. Combine this with hardware requirements that are more than achievable – just maybe buy a new SSD – and it may very well warrant another playthrough.

The collection includes every game in the series, from Mega Man Star Force Leo, Dragon, and Pegasus to Mega Man Star Force 2 Zerker x Ninja and Zerker x Saurian, and Mega Man Star Force 3 Black Ace and Red Joker. Players can look forward to online play, a gallery for viewing illustrations, and a music player (with four special arrangements for existing tracks).

You can also select Omega-Xis and Geo Stelar (casual outfit) as character models. If that wasn’t enough, there are Speed Boost, Autosaving, and Camera Panning options. It’s also possible to adjust Damage Reduction, initiate HP recovery after fights, and even bolster the Mega Buster’s damage.

The eagerly anticipated survival horror, which crossed one million wishlists within a few weeks of its announcement, is part of the publisher’s line-up for the show. If Gamescom is anything to go by, it might be playable on the show floor, but you shouldn’t expect any new information during the Special Program.

Perhaps it’s a reveal for Sony’s rumored State of Play? That’s always a possibility, but we’ll have to wait for it to be made official. On the bright side, you can expect the “latest updates” on Pragmata and Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection, new details on Monster Hunter Wilds’ Title Update 3 (out later this month), and C. Viper, the latest character for Street Fighter 6.

The “latest footage” for Onimusha: Way of the Sword will also be showcased, while Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection sees producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and director Kenji Oguro providing new details and highlights. As always, stay tuned for more coverage next week.