Mega Man Star Force version differences for each game in the Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection
The Mega Man Star Force trilogy follows the adventures of grade-school boy, Geo Steller, and his alien companion, Omega Xis, as they work together to protect the Earth and the surrounding space as the mighty Mega Man. Adopting the multi-version approach popularized by games like Pokémon and Star Force's predecessor, the GBA's Mega Man Battle Network, each of the three main Star Force games saw multiple versions released. Each has slight differences and exclusives to set them apart from their siblings. With the release of the new Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection (check out our review here), all eight games are now bundled together in a single stellar bundle. Pun intended. Here is a breakdown of each version's exclusives, including form changes, battle cards, and bosses. If you want to know which platform to play these great games on, you can check out our performance breakdown.
Mega Man Star Force 1 version differences
The first of the trilogy, initially released back on the Nintendo DS in 2007, introduces players to the main cast of characters that will stick around for the series, from Geo and Omega-Xis to the various FMians. Star Force came in three versions - Pegasus (blue), Leo (red), and Dragon (green) - with each based on the large Satelites that were special plot elements to the game, and geared towards the aqua, fire, and wood elements, respectively. While each version could, on its own, only access certain things, through the series' Brother Band system, you could gain some of the benefits from the other versions by connecting with friends with those versions. These games also featured training, allowing you to get the version-exclusive battle cards, too, similar to how trading worked in the Battle Network.
Mega Man Star Force 1 Exclusive Form changes
Carried over from Battle Network, at a certain point in the games, Mega Man will gain the ability to boost his power by taking on a special form based correlated to the version you are playing, each with special bonuses and buffs. By forming a Brother Band with friends playing the other games, you will be able to assume those version forms regardless of the version you are playing.
Pegasus:
- Changes your charge shot into an aqua-element shot that freezes the enemy it hits
- Big Bang attack:
Leo:
- Changes your charge shot into a fire-element that shoots down and hits all enemies in a single column.
- Big Bang attack:
Dragon:
- Changes your charge shot into a wood-element multi-hit show that covers multiple columns, but does not pass through enemies.
- Mega Man becomes immune to most status effects
- Big Bang attack:
Mega Man Star Force 1 Boosts from Brother Bands
Becoming friends with other players with other versions of the game would give you various benefits, depending on their version of the game.
Pegasus:
- Increases the speed at which their brother’s Custom Gauge fills
Leo:
- Increases the damage their brother’s basic mega buster does.
Dragon:
- Increases the limit of how many Mega-class battle cards their brother can have in their folder by 1
Mega Man Star Force 1 Exclusive Bosses
A special super boss that is exclusive to each version is based on the Satellite Admins you can fight against
Pegasus:
- Pegasus Magic
Leo:
- Leo Kingdom
Dragon:
- Dragon Sky
Mega Man Star Force 1 Exclusive Battle Cards
In addition to each unique boss's Mega and Giga cards you can earn, each version has some other cards you can only grab in that game.
Pegasus:
- PegasusMgc
- PegasusMgc EX
- PegasusMgc SP
- PegasusMgc GX
- Aqua +50
- Dark Sword
- BrkTmeBmb
- Ox Tackle
Leo:
- LeoKingdom
- LeoKingdom EX
- LeoKingdom SP
- LeoKingdom GX
- Fire +50
- GeminiThndr
- LifeAura
- DrknesHole
Dragon:
- DragonSky
- DragonSky EX
- DragonSky SP
- DragonSky GX
- Wood +50
- PoisonPhar
- DestrMissile
- GorgonEye
Mega Man Star Force 2 game version differences
Star Force 2 is a bit of a departure from the other entries in that while there are three versions to pick from, there were only two versions released, but each option came with two games to pick from - Zerker and either Saurian or Ninja. Each one serves as its own save slot. Many of the types of exclusives are the same from the first game to its sequel, albeit with different specifics.
Mega Man Star Force 2 Exclusive Form changes
Similar to the first game, each version comes with its own form change by default, referred to as "Tribe On" this time around. And also like the previous games, by having Brother Bands with owners of the other varieties of Star Force 2 will allow you to utilize their forms. Additionally, if you have friends of both of the other versions, you will gain access to the incredibly powerful Tribe King form!
Zerker:
- Charge shot becomes Electric element and stuns enemies hit
- Charge cards to cause them to be used one after the next in a combo
- Able to select cards in your custom screen horizontally in addition to the usual vertical.
Saurian:
- Charge shot becomes Fire elemental and hits 4 panels at the same time.
- Charge a standard battle card to boost its damage.
- Attacks won’t cause you to flinch, keeping your Busting level from decreasing when hit.
Ninja:
- Charge shot becomes a multi-hitting sword attack.
- Charge standard battle cards to auto-lock onto an enemy that can get through the invisible status.
- Pressing Up and Shield will let you counter enemy attacks with a sword slash.
Mega Man Star Force 2 Exclusive Battle Cards
Zerker:
- GeminiThndr
- RogueBreak
- Avalanche
- PoisonPhar
- MilliKick
Saurian:
- OxTackle
- MTMagic
- Normal +50
- BrkTmeBmb
- PhantomSlash
Ninja:
- FlyingImpact
- DarknessHole
- BusterMax
- TrrntWave
- GorgonEve
Mega Man Star Force 3 version differences
Unlike the other Star Force games, the third and final iteration only features two versions - Black Ace and Red Joker - with each version referring to the special form that Mega Man can assume in the respective version.
Mega Man Star Force 3 Noise Changes
Mega Man is able to assume a far larger number of forms this time around, through the new Noise Change system. These forms are handled a bit differently, and are randomly earned, but there is a chance for you to earn ALL versions of these forms in both games. There are simply some Noise Changes that are more likley to occur in one version over the other, and the lists below highlight which changes are more likely to happen in the specific version.
Black Ace:
- Libra Noise
- Corvus Noise
- Cancer Noise
- Gemini Noise
- Ophiuca Noise
Red Joker:
- Cygnus Noise
- Taurus Noise
- Virgo Noise
- Crown Noise
- Wolf Noise
Mega Man Star Force 3 Exclusive "Finalization" Form abilities
To go even further beyond, when Mega Man reaches 200% higher of Noise Level, you are able to activate the Finalization feature, a special form unique to each version. Along with a sweet new look and different abilities, when in these forms, you gain access to powerful libraries of battle cards to use, with the higher your Noise Level percentage, the better cards you will have access to. Black Ace features a move set and library focused on quick movement and multi-hit attacks, while Red Joker is all about big, heavy, damaging attacks.
Black Ace:
- Custom gauge fills faster
- Lock-on is constantly active
- Ground panels do not affect you
- The Mega Buster’s stats are maxed out
Red Joker:
- Attacks don’t cause you to flinch
- Becomes immune to most status effects
- The Mega Buster’s stats are maxed out
Mega Man Star Force 3 Exclusive Battle Cards
You know the deal by now. Each version has exclusive cards; trade with the others to get them all.
Black Ace:
- MuBarrier
- BrkTmeBmb
- WingBlade
- DarknessHole
- MilliKick
Red Joker:
- MirrorsEdge
- OxTackle
- BusterMax
- DreadLazer
- DestrMiss
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is out now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC (Steam).