Who’s the biggest icon in gaming? For many, Mario is the only answer. After all, he’s done everything from starring in countless classic titles like the controversial andendlessly meme-worthySuper Mario Sunshineand utilizing power-ups from the most unmistakable Super Mushroom tothe totally obscure Pal Pill.For others, however, Capcom’sMega Manis the only gaming legend worth a mention.
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The Blue Bomber’s infamously difficult series has been confounding players with spike traps, tricky enemy spawns and devious boss battles since the original landed in 1987, butMega Man Battle Network 5was unique in that there were both Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS versions available: theTeam ProtoManandTeam Coloneleditions for the former handheld andMega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DSfor the latter. What were the major differences between the GBA and DS releases? Let’s take a look.
10ProtoMan And Colonel And Double Team, Oh My!
The first and most important difference between the GBA and DS releases is that they are, technically, entirely different games. As withPokémon Red & Blueand respective entries in that beloved series, the two editions that launched for the GBA were subtly distinct from each other—and not so subtly where the story was concerned.
Meanwhile,Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DSessentially combined the content from both into one package, making it somewhat of a definitive edition ofBattle Network 5.
9There Was No Need For Cumbersome Link Cables
Of course, the Game Boy Advance, in all its early-2000s glory, was severely lacking in the tech specs department compared to Nintendo DS. One important feature that the dual-screened wonder had over its predecessor was wireless functionality.
If you played theexcellentFinal Fantasyspin-offCrystal Chroniclesin its original GameCube form, you’ll remember what a pain it was to link up Game Boy Advances for multiplayer. Another huge plus forDouble Team DS, then, is the capacity for wireless battling!
8A More Convenient Saving System
One of the most frequently cited advantages of gaming on handheld systems is the ability to hop in and out. To truly take advantage of this, an equally convenient method of saving the game anywhere should be implemented.
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Sadly,Team ProtoManandTeam Coloneldidn’t seem to get this memo, with particular NetNavis—or simply Navis—tending to be the way forward there. Luckily,Double Team DSadded the ability to save once per turn, which mitigated a lot of this grief.
7Much More Navi Customization
Speaking of those handy Navis, this feature seemed perfect for those players who like to tinker with and perfect every little aspect of their build. There was a lot of potential to this system, given the differing ways that Navis behave and their abilities. It was just a shame that the Game Boy Advance title didn’t explore that very much.
In the shift to the DS, the Navi system really was overhauled. It became possible, through the new Party Battle System, for Mega Man to fight alongside these companions, opening up an array of new combat possibilities.
6The Tournament Mode Was Added
Nintendo is known as a family-friendly company, regardless ofhow brutally difficult some titles on their consoles can be, which sometimes holds them back when it comes to their tentative approach to online play, largely for the sake of keeping younger players safe. However, they’d grudgingly embraced Wi-Fi play by the time of the DS, andDouble Team DSwas all the better for it.
Unlike the GBA versions, this game has a tournament mode that allowed up to eight players to take turns in one-on-one matches to see who was the most powerful. This feature added a huge amount of replay value for competitive players.
5The Soundtrack
When it comes to the “video games as art” debate, the focus is often on the presentation and visuals. This is often to the detriment of the soundtrack, which is a huge element of the experience and atmosphere of games, movies, and TV shows alike.
In the case ofBattle Network 5, the DS release was given a complete remixed soundtrack. As always, opinions will differ, but the DS version’s soundtrack is arguably a vast improvement. Music has always been pivotal to theMega Manexperience—the series has brought us such iconic earworms as Snake Man’s theme fromMega Man 3—and it’s another factor that elevates the DS experience beyond its GBA counterpart for many.
4Team ProtoMan And Team Colonel Unlock Bonuses When They’re Inserted Into The DS’s Second Cartridge Slot
BeforeDark Soulsbecame the standard against which all difficult games are measured,Mega Manperhaps had that honor. The fiendish level design of the series speaks for itself. With that in mind, then, a little extra help in aMega Mangame never goes amiss.
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Thanks to the original DS’s second cartridge slot, players could insert a Game Boy Advance copy ofTeam ProtoManorTeam Colonel, unlocking different bonuses inDouble Team DS. The Extra Folder and opposite Gigas will be transferable, as will other useful little things like new offerings in the Free Space in Higsby’s Chip Shop. This also works with otherBattle Networktitles—the first in the series will unlock WarFolder inDoubleTeam DS, for instance—and more obscure titles like the solar-powered vampire hunting titleBoktai: The Sun Is In Your Handand its sequel. A convenient little extra to give players a boost!
3That Classic Nintendo DS Feature: The Bottom Screen Map
Asopen-world titles become ever more ambitious and expansive,their maps become ever harder to traverse without handy dandy fast travel options. Some players find it all too easy to get lost in games, as it is. These gamers surely appreciated the Nintendo DS’s second screen, which became the official home of the map in a whole array of different games, usually ones that couldn’t figure out what to do with that second screen.
What did this mean forDouble Team DS? An all-new Map Data, which could be collected and would make journeys around the Internet that much easier for those who were struggling. Some of them could certainly be a pain to find, though.
2Exclusive Minigames
On the subject of features that were liberally added to any Nintendo DS game worth its salt, how about a touchscreen minigame or two? Yep, Capcom had fans covered there, too.
Starting at the Queen Bohemia, fans were treated to a series of new Memory-based minigames which became available inDouble Team DS, revolving around those ever-present Navis. Completing the levels rewarded the player with Party Programs, which were nice little perks including HP boosts. It’s nothing spectacular, but it’s another example of a feature that sets this edition apart.
1It Utilized The Most Underappreciated Nintendo DS Feature Of All
At the time of its launch, Nintendo DS really was a revelation. The whole dual-screen setup made it unlike any system gamers would really have been familiar with, and touch screenplay was all but unheard of at the time, strange as that is to consider in the age of the smartphone.
One of the handheld’s most unique features was its microphone. When it was used, it was sometimes simply shoehorned in for the sake of it.Double Team DS, to its credit, at least tried to be creative with the microphone with the Voice Recovery System, which allowed gamers to cheer on Mega Man—or, more practically, simply blow on the device—to give him an item when the NetNavi is in a pinch. Interesting use of the emotion window mechanic, for sure.
NEXT:Mega Man: 5 Best Games In The Series (& 5 Worst)
