Mega Man Battle Network X-1: Rise of Gideon

Mega Man Battle Network X-1: Rise of Gideon, otherwise known as MMBNX1 or Roger (Rise of Gideon shortened is RoG: the spelling of Rog is a slang term for Roger: the game devs acknowledged it as Roger during development). The game refers to the player character Navi, Gideon, who has less strength than MegaMan himself but more maneuverability and in some weapons more pure power.

The game is a shooter-type with RPG elements and melee attack systems, complete with quick-time comboes. Taking place after the events of Battle Network 6, Rise of Gideon starts six months after the Cybeast incident: where a newcomer, Lance Taylor, ends up moving in, along with his friend, Navi, and partner-in-crime Gideon. Though they know about the world-famous Lan Hikari and his navi MegaMan they tend not to treat them as celebrities and instead treat them as normal people... but are they really who they say they are?

Gameplay
Roger's gameplay is starkly different from any other Battle Network game: instead of an overworld and a turn-based battle system, Rog eschews this in favor of a third-person combat style which takes place in both the real world and cyberspace. Gideon is able to selectively avoid overworld combat or indulge in it to his heart's desire: when there is real-world combat, Lance is able to pretty much do the same, though sometimes he is forced to kill enemies. As well, in a bone taken from Metal Gear Solid, at any point Lance/Gideon are allowed to use hand-to-hand strikes on enemies in a play-by-play fighting style. Co-operative gameplay allows players to play as a holographic double of Gideon/Lance's literal partner in crime, a soldier. When not in co-op, Gideon and Lance will still have their co-op partners: they will be AI-controlled, however.

On the subject of weapons, Lance can only carry three: one in his hands, one on his leg, and one on his back. Gideon can carry five BattleChips at once which he can seamlessly swap between. Gideon can also earn Zenny from killed enemies and at some points accomplished objectives, and his account is for him only.

The game shares slight RPG elements in the fact that each in-game character has six stats derived from the Mario & Luigi RPG series (along with a similar level-up system): Health Points, Support Points, Attack Power, Defensive Power, Speed, and Luckiness. Each of the stats works differently: Health Points track the maximum amount of HP Gideon/Lance are allowed to have at any one time. Gideon has slight HP-restoration but Lance can take more damage. When Gideon/Lance lose all of their HP, if they're in co-op then they'll get "knocked down". While Knocked Down they have more freedom: they can play dead, lean up and shoot back, or move around at the risk of losing more health. Their co-op partner needs to give them a Recovery chip/first-aid kit to get them up again. If they get Knocked Down three times in co-op, their partner does not save them in time, or they aren't in co-op in the first place, they will bleed out/be deleted, which results in a Game Over and an option to restart from the last save point. At some points, for large boss fights, Dimensonal Areas from the Axess anime will be used, blurring the lines between the real world and cyberspace. This allows for four-player co-op boss fights.

Support Points entail the Call of Duty-style system of support measures that can be used on operations: each support measure costs SP to bring in, which includes anything from precision airstrikes to internet Daisy Cutters and carpet bombings. SP slowly replenishes, though.

Attack Power mostly effects Gideon. Though Lance's power stat means he'll get a damage bonus for melee attacks, melee weapons, and CQC attacks. Gideon, however, is directly affected: all of his attacks depend on the power stat, from melees to chip attacks like the Minigun and the Needle Buster (no matter where you are, hitting somehow shows an RPG-like damage stat of how much of a hit they took). Defensive Power affects both of them: it determines the strength of the uniform Lance wears and thus his resistance to attacks, and it also determines Gideon's HP loss and recovery when he takes a hit.

Speed is EXTREMELY important for both of them: they both carry Stamina bars in addition to Health bars (for Gideon it's a Power Bar). Lance depends on his Stamina to sprint, vault over barrier, and perform CQC. He'll deplete half of his bar or what is reasonably safe: large breath-taking attacks or bad punches will knock off his Stamina until he rests. If Lance's Stamina bar drains completely, then he'll become knocked out and you'll need to wait for his STA bar to refill before he gets back up, during which he is vulnerable to attacks (but a good bullet will wake him up). Gideon's Speed stat determines how long his Power Bar (which allows him to boost forwards in superspeed or use jets to augment jumps) lasts: if his Power runs out he simply has to wait until it recharges.

Finally, Luckiness determines several things, critical of which is Crit factor. Characters in-game can score lucky Critical Hits on targets (Gideon is more likely to than Lance), which deal double damage to targets and makes them flinch. Once Luck hits a large enough level, Lance and Gideon can perform Instakill moves on certain targets (at the expense of half of Lance's stamina/half of Gideon's power) and get Ultra-Critical Hits (which deal x4 damage and stun targets). As well, an old MegaMan Battle Network attack, the Counter-Attack, is restored for online: if Gideon hits an enemy just as they're about to attack, they'll be stunned for a few seconds to allow Gideon to close in and finish the job.

Plot
Around six months after the events of MegaMan Battle Network 6, MegaMan is still waking Lan up for school, which is used as an introductory cutscene (and an introduction to the world of MegaMan.EXE at large). At school, Ms. Mari introduces a new student: Lance Taylor and his NetNavi Gideon, who seem to have no trouble adjusting to their new world and quickly make friends with the rest of the group. Upon seeing Lan, he notices Lan instantly, and when he says "No autographs" Lance laughs and says, "I'm not bugging you.. not like the others." When it comes time for NetBattle class, MegaMan uses his signature buster, several swords, and a cannon in a QTE cutscene to eliminate the Mets thrown at him. When it comes time to pick the next one, GutsMan and Dex, eager to test the newbie, call on Gideon.

Thrown into a battlefield with three Mets, players (through Lance) are given a quick tutorial for controlling Gideon (on later replays this can skip) and using basic advanced techniques. Through a series of quick movements and stylish uses of the MachBuster he carries, plus his signature weapon: a katana, Gideon defeats the Mets with style, earning respect. GutsMan pits him against higher-up levels, which Gideon also obliterates, this time katana-only. Miffed, GutsMan walks off, and Dex challenges Lance to a NetBattle after school. Agreeing to it, he shows up later (which is also a usage of real life control systems). This leads to GutsMan, the player's first (and easiest) boss fight (and a tutorial of the BattleChip System).

Weapons
Weapons simply details the type of guns Lance is able to use. Though he starts with one (the Pistol), through a system of government contracts he can outfit himself with different weapons and weapon skins. He can also level-up weapons.

Pistol
A standard Netopia-made Five-seveN handgun. Nothing much to look at, really. Starting weapon, 20 rounds per magazine.

Pistol Rank 2 - A standard Five-seveN equipped with a supressor. Costs 500 Zenny for upgrade.

Pistol Rank 3 - A not-so-standard-anymore Five-seveN with a supressor and a laser aiming module. Costs 1000 Zenny for upgrade.

Pistol Skins
M9 - A Creamland-made assault handgun.

USP .45 - A nice little Netopian-made forty-five calibre pistol.

Crossover Weapon: "Sally" - An Ameuropean M1911A1 handgun with the name "Sally" carved into the slide. (Unlocked by carrying a Call of Duty: Black Ops save file or by purchasing the "Black Ops Gun Pack".)

Crossover Weapon: Maria - An unidentified 9mm combat pistol which has Our Lady of Guadalupe carved into the handle. (Unlocked by carrying a Fallout: New Vegas save file.)

Magnum
A Netopian-made Desert Eagle firing potent high-caliber pistol rounds.

Magnum Rank 2 - A Desert Eagle equipped with a laser aiming module. Costs 500 Zenny for upgrade.

Magnum Rank 3 - A Desert Eagle which has been given a lengthened barrel and a low-powered scope, turning it into a sniper handgun.

Magnum Skins
AMT AutoMag V - A light Ameuropean high-caliber handgun.

LAR Grizzly Win Mag - An Ameuropean M1911 handgun, heavily modified to fire the .50 AE cartridge.

Crossover Weapon: Weathered N99 - An Ameuropean prototype handgun that has seen lots of action. Whatever it is, it looks VERY trustworthy. (Unlocked by carrying a Fallout: New Vegas save file or purchasing the "New Vegas Weapons" DLC pack.)

Crossover Weapon: M6G Magnum - A heavy Magnum handgun which looks like it was made for some sort of supersoldier to use. The camera was removed easily, revealing iron sights - oh well, good enough. (Unlocked by carrying a Halo: Reach save file or purchasing the "Reach Gun Pack" DLC).