Rockman Power Battle and Fighters (Neo Geo Pocket Color)

In 2000, Capcom and SNK were starting to become bedfellows as the two companies were the fighting game giants at the time. Capcom vs SNK would come to fruition, and many more partnerships would soon follow. As far as Mega Man's own dealings with SNK, he would get a port of Battle and Fighters to the Neo Geo Pocket Color.

The Neo Geo Pocket Color was released right as the turmoil of SNK's financial troubles started. As such, US releases were limited and most games, this one included, never made it state side. In Japan however, this would be the first time Battle and Fighters made its way out of the arcades an into homes across Japan. So how does it stack up against the original games?

Story

As far as I can tell only Power Fighters' story made it into the final game, as no matter who you beat the game with, it gives the same ending for that character for both games. I can't find translations for this game either, so I'm just assuming off the pictures of Zero in Bass's ending. I wouldn't worry either way, as the ending cutscenes are extremely short anyway and the original stories weren't really the point of this game.

Aesthetics

Take all characters from these games and make them into their 8-bit representations from previous games, while adding a few new ones for Bass and the Mega Man 7 robots. Most of the animations are recreated, sprite for sprite, in the 8-bit style and the game has a very good nostalgia look to it.

There are some minor complaints, a few of the bosses from the arcade games are missing, notably Mecha Dragon, Mad Grinder. The Yellow Devil is there, but he really suffered getting ported to 8-bit as he just looks like ass. The backgrounds and other aesthetic features are recreated well though.

Sound

The game opens up with Rockman yelling the title of the game in a high pitched Japanese squeal, though the rest of the actual sound effects of the game are fair enough. The musical track consist of ten midi's remixed from the original game. The music, while short, does add to the 8-bit nostalgia feel to the game though.

Design

Nearly identical to the original with a few minor touch ups. You choose as one of 4 characters, Mega Man, Bass, Proto Man, or Duo, then choose the robot masters you fight. This edition adds an option mode which allows you to change the time limit and difficulty, listen to the sound track and another option called "Pow," of which I'm not entirely sure of the function.

The game also features a database of the robot masters you defeat. I'm not sure as to how you go about filling it out as it seems to randomly add the boss after you defeat them. It could have to do with what character you use, or how fast you beat them, but I'm not sure. Otherwise, it's exactly the same.

Playability

To switch weapons, you have to pause the game and let whatever shot of your weapon that is still on the screen move off of it. The only problem with this is that the quit game option is directly below it and has no confirmation to stop it. Slippy fingers may cause you to have to restart the game. Aside from this one tiny complaint, the game plays just like the original.

Extras
You can trade the database information with another player but good luck ever using this feature.

Power Battle and Fighters as a whole isn't really that fantastic of a game to deserve all these releases in truth, but I think this version is the best just for all the nice 8-bit touches to it. You'll probably never see a physical copy of this game though.

Playthroughs
Lets Play Rockman Power Battle and Fighter by Corvus Moore (1 video)