Mega Man: Battle Networkis not the side-scrolling game that fans  have grown up with, but rather an isometric, role-playing adventure game. For  those cringing at this evolution, don't despair--with an amazing real-time  battle system, this game should appease even die-hard platform-shooter fans.In the near future, the Net is connected to virtually everything--from computers  to office water coolers. An evil group is bent on dominating the world by  corrupting the Net with viruses. You play as Lan, a young hacker, who must stop  this threat with the help of his virus-busting program (and best friend) Mega  Man.exe.Lan can walk up to just about any object and either use it or get some  interesting (and often funny) information about it. In fact, this kind of  exploration is necessary, because there are Net jacks in the strangest  places--even a doghouse. And while Mega Man.exe is deployed fighting viruses on the Net,  you often have to go out and collect clues in the real world. This teamwork adds  some refreshing complexity to the game.Fans of Pokémon will like the battle chip system. Finding chips and  upgrading Mega Man.exe is the name of the game, enabling the program to unleash  more powerful attacks. Battle chips can be sold, traded, and combined into  rarer, more powerful chips. In addition, you can link up with a friend and trade  chips, or battle for them.The game's best element, however, is its battle system. Battles occur in real  time, with fast arcade action. Mega Man.exe can lob bombs, shoot his hallmark  cannon, summon other virus-busting programs to his aid, and more--depending on  which of the 175 battle chips you find and deploy in battle.Mega Man: Battle Networkis a solid performer, but its story is geared to  a younger crowd. Still, there's plenty here to satisfy fans of the series.--Bryan KarshPros:Amazing real-time battle systemTrade chips via link cable, or fight for them against a friend's copy of the  gameInteractive world in which almost every object has a purposeCons:Story line might be too childish for older players