Mega Man Battle Network 5

MegaMan Battle Network 5, known in Japan as Rockman EXE 5 (ロックマン エグゼ５) is a game from the MegaMan Battle Network series released for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance with two versions: Team Colonel (Team of Colonel) and Team ProtoMan (Team of Blues).

A few months later, MegaMan Battle Network 5: Double Team DS, known in Japan as Rockman EXE 5 DS: Twin Leaders (ロックマン エグゼ５ＤＳ ツインリーダーズ), was released for Nintendo DS which includes content from both GBA versions together and extras.

Introduction
Direct from the Instruction Manual


 * ROBBED!

It's been a month since the battle with Nebula, the Dark Chip Syndicate - a battle for the fate of the earth itself. Today Lan and his friends are visiting Lan's father in SciLab, the Department of Science. Lan's father has exciting news.

Just before Dr. Hikari shares his big news, a mysterious group of Navis appears out of nowhere and takes over the Internet!! Even the lab's own computers are hacked, and all systems shut down! Amid the chaos, suddenly sleeping gas is hurled into the lab. One person after another drops to the ground,, including Lan's father.

Luckily Lan is off to the side when the sleeping gas goes off, and manages to hold on to consciousness for a while longer. Lying there in a groggy state, Lan sees Dr. Regal, leader of Nebula, towering over the unconscious bodies. So Regal is alive after all!

"...Well, well, Dr. Hikari...."

"Master Regal, what about his friends?"

"Confiscate their PETs. Without them, they'll be helpless anyway."

After stealing everyone's PETs, Regal rushes out of the Department of Science. And this is the last thing Lan sees before finally succumbing to the sleeping gas.

Characters

 * Lan Hikari: A 6th-grader at ACDC Elementary School, in ACDC Town, Lan's grades aren't the best, but his Virus Busting Skills are top notch. His best friend is Mega Man, his Net Navi. In Battles, these two make a powerful team.
 * MegaMan.EXE: The main character of the MegaMan Battle Network series, MegaMan is Lan's NetNavi and the character whom the player almost always plays as. His Order Point ability allows him to liberate 2 panels deep like a Long Sword.

Team Colonel

 * Baryl: Baryl is an official NetBattler, who formed Colonel's Anti-Nebula Corps. Baryl operates Colonel and is always doing his duty before emotion. Baryl's history before Battle Network 5 is unknown.
 * Colonel.EXE: Colonel is the first Navi you fight. In battle on MegaMan's side his charged attack is screen divide, a V slash with the point facing them. The attack automaticly adjusts range, but you need to be in the same row as the enemy for it to do that. Otherwise the attack hits 3 panels forward. His special chip is C-Cannon, which is a tank cannon that doesn't break panels. His liberation special command liberates 3 panels next to each other like a Wide Sword.


 * Princess Pride: Pride operates KnightMan and is harvesting MagnoMetal when Lan first meet her. Pride also wishes Lan no harm, but KnightMan is driven crazy by the MagnoMetal she is taking.
 * KnightMan.EXE: KnightMan first joins your side when you save him from the effects of MagnoMetal, which drives him insane, and the player has to fight him. While playing as him, his Charged Buster is his Royal Wrecking Ball. His special chip is Kingdom Crusher, which shoots his mace down the row he's on. He does not take any damage outside of battle, and will protect anyone in the same square as him.


 * Dark Miyabi: Dark is the operator of ShadowMan. Dark joins at the request of Baryl and is a mercenary for hire. Dark wishes to test Lan vigorously before agreeing to Baryl's request. These tests include a search, a game of tag and a battle.
 * ShadowMan.EXE: ShadowMan joins your side after he tests MegaMan in speed and agility. While playing as him, ShadowMan's Charged Buster is similar to AntiDmg, where he jumps in the air and throws a shuriken at the nearest virus. He is not effected by panels, and his special chip is Split-Up, where ShadowMan makes a clone that uses Long Sword on a virus. His out-of-battle ability is Sneak Attack, which does damage to an enemy two panels away, from a normal panel.


 * Dingo: Dingo is descended from natives of the land, and is the operator of TomahawkMan. Dingo steals the Booster System, and was going to destroy it, when Lan convinces him that he needs to do good for Electopia.
 * TomahawkMan.EXE: TomahawkMan joins your side when you prove that you can do good on it. While playing as him, he can't flinch, so charging his buster isn't a problem, and his charge is his Tomahawk Air Raid. His special chip is Tomahawk Swing, which does a 3x2 range swing. His out of battle ability is also Tomahawk Swing, and it liberates a 3x2 area.


 * Higsby: Higsby is the owner of the most successful chip shop in Electopia. NumberMan is Higsby's NetNavi, and he is begging to join so he can prove he is a "man".
 * NumberMan.EXE: NumberMan begs Baryl to join Team Colonel, and is only helpful for opening complicated doors. While playing as him, he can check a 3x2 area ahead of him, and collect items and remove traps without engaging in battle. In battle, his Charge Shot is Dice Bomb, and his special chip is Number Trap.


 * Ribitta: Ribbita is a news reporter, and tries to convince Lan to let her join Team Colonel, with a battle being the only way Lan succumbs to her persuading.
 * ToadMan.EXE: ToadMan is unconditionally joined to your team when he constantly asks. He is needed to open the flaming purple doors in the Undernet. While playing as him, his Charge Shot allows him to dive in and attack the nearest enemy, and his special chip is his Homing Note attack. He possesses a powerful ability, allowing him to sing to a Navi, making it able to liberate 5 panels in a straight line.

Team ProtoMan

 * Eugene Chaud: ProtoMan's NetOp and a rival of MegaMan and Lan. He is rather arrogant, which leaves him with very few friends. He is the sole heir of BlazeQuest Games, and the business rival of Ayano Tech games, so naturally he picks on Yai. He forms Team ProtoMan in the version of the game with same name.
 * ProtoMan.EXE: the somewhat arrogant Navi of Chaud's. ProtoMan is quick, powerful, and skilled with swords. He leads the Team ProtoMan liberation team. His Charge Shot is Wide Sword, and his special chip is Step Sword. Outside of battle, he can liberate 3 adjacent panels in a fashion similar to Wide Sword.


 * Tesla Magnus: the daughter of Gauss Magnus, former Gospel member. She harvests MagnoMetal in her job, and tends to get frustrated easily.
 * MagnetMan.EXE: a former Gospel NetNavi. Inherited by Tesla, he always obeys her orders, despite reluctantly doing so at times. His Order Point ability allows him to generate a barrier that will protect all teammates from damage outside battle. In battle, his Charge Shot is Mag Missile, and his special chip is NS Tackle.


 * Charlie Airstar: a mischievous and flirtatious helicopter pilot, and is enlisted on Chaud's request. He wishes to test MegaMan before he joins the team, though tests like a "game of tag".
 * GyroMan.EXE: Charlie's NetNavi, able to fly over Dark Clouds and destroy the Dark Chips spawning them. Similarly, GyroMan can fly over Dark Panels, and liberate an empty one immediately without engaging in battle. In battle, he is unaffected by panels and can stand on holes, his Charge Shot is Gyro Cutter, and his special chip is Gyro Air Raid.


 * Fyrefox: a brash NetBattler hired to entertain the guests on the ship. He has a love of fireworks, and steals the Booster system to achieve his dream of making the greatest fireworks display. He joins the team to make up for what he did.
 * NapalmMan.EXE: Fyrefox's NetNavi. His Order Point ability allows him to liberate an extended cross-shaped area. He possesses a rapid-fire Buster in battle (he has no Charge Shot), and his special chip is Napalm Bomb, which lobs a bomb 4 squares ahead.


 * Raika: Raika returns from Battle Network 4 Red Sun, enlisted by Chaud so that he can lend his professional skills to the team. However, his "lone wolf" personality results in him preferring to take care of things by himself instead of as a team.
 * SearchMan.EXE: Raika's NetNavi. His Order Point ability allows him to scan down an entire row, liberating panels with items in them, and destroying traps. In battle, his Charge Shot is his invis-piercing Scope Gun, and his special chip is Satellite.


 * Jasmine: initially searching for a cure for her sick grandfather, and ends up heading for the UnderNet to get the cure. However, she accidentally causes ProtoMan to become a Darkloid, and convinces Lan to get her to join the team after some persuasion.
 * Meddy.EXE: Jasmine's NetNavi, able to open the flaming purple doors that obstruct the team's path. In battle, Meddy's Charge Shot is Capsule Bomb, and her Special Chip is Meddy Capsule. Her Order Point ability is Twin Liberate, where she and another Navi can liberate a full line of panels between each other.

Others

 * Mayl is Roll's NetOp and she's hip, smart as a whip, and full of life. Just like her Navi, Roll, she can fool you: they are both fun until it comes to NetBattling. Unfortunately, Roll is kidnapped during the start of the story.
 * Yai is Glide's NetOp and Yai is a pint sized prodigy, with one heck of an attitude. Like Roll, Glide is also kidnapped.
 * Dex is GutsMan.EXE's NetOp, and kind of a bully in the gang. GutsMan was also kidnapped at the start of the story.
 * GridMan.EXE is Mr. Famous' experimental Navi. Famous challenges Lan to Netbattle GridMan as he tries to get in sync with the Navi.
 * LarkMan.EXE is an autonomous Navi located in the Undernet. He sees himself as "free", and is willing to spar with anyone who can find him.
 * Bass.EXE is a Navi fought after the main plot is completed. He is fought as a "Lord of Chaos", and afterward can be challenged in a random encounter for the Bass icon.

Nebula

 * Dr. Regal: The mastermind of the whole operation, Regal is in charge of creating DarkChips, which corrupt a Navi's soul into evil.
 * Lackey: Lackeys only have ordinary HeelNavis, which can only attack with viruses. Their traditional garb is a single-tube gas mask uniform which needs a key to take off.

Bosses

 * Colonel.EXE\ProtoMan.EXE
 * BlizzardMan.EXE
 * KnightMan.EXE\MagnetMan.EXE
 * ShadeMan.EXE
 * ShadowMan.EXE\GyroMan.EXE
 * CloudMan.EXE
 * TomahawkMan.EXE\NapalmMan.EXE
 * DarkMega
 * NumberMan.EXE\SearchMan.EXE
 * CosmoMan.EXE
 * ToadMan.EXE\Meddy.EXE
 * DarkColonel\DarkProto
 * Nebula Grey
 * GridMan.EXE
 * LarkMan.EXE
 * Bass.EXE

Changes From Previous Games
The largest change in BN5 would be the introduction of Liberation Missions, which blends the traditional tactics of the game with turn-based strategy games. The player has a set number of turns where he must attempt to complete the Liberation Mission if he wishes to get one of its better rewards. This is also the opportunity where he can take control of different Navis other than MegaMan, and do battle using these Navis.

Dark Chips now have a library of their own - and they can be inserted into the folder, complete with their own element and code. They are restricted to 3 per folder, and can be used to activate the new transformation - Chaos Unisons. They allow for the player to use the sacrificed Dark Chip as their charged shot without its side effects, at the risk of having to time it properly, lest they face its harmful (and occaisionaly deadly) side effects when it backfires.

Soul Unisons also have undergone some changes too. Their charged attacks are now Buster-dependent, and Navicust parts have been introduced so as to allow their duration to be extended. They can also be obtained another way, as complete a Liberation Mission involving that NetNavi.

DS chips are now obtained by defeating boss Navis, and can be obtained if you S-rank Beta versions, or score a rank of 8-10 for Omega versions.

Double Team DS Extras
MegaMan Battle Network 5 Double Team DS is, essentially, both Team Colonel and Team ProtoMan versions of MegaMan Battle Network 5 packaged into one Nintendo DS game (though the games are still separate, so all elements from one game are separate from another), with a few new features, including the new "fuan" Emotional State. In this state, the Emotion Window would turn pink and the player would yell something into the microphone. If they succeeded, MegaMan would gain some randomly selected combination of two bonuses from instant Full Synchro, HP recovery or a barrier. This game features also:


 * Bass Cross: Gained by putting the Game Boy Advance games Team ProtoMan or Team Colonel with the Bass icon on the games inside the GBA slot.
 * Sol Cross: Gained by putting Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django (or Boktai 3 in the Japanese version) in the GBA slot.
 * The Party Battle System: In the non-critical parts of the plot, one can select two Navis on Lan's HP and one can use it in battles.
 * Transport Chip: A "Transport Chip", or TP Chip for short, can be used in Liberation battles. Basically it switches a Navi with a corresponding one in the other version (e.g. ProtoMan -&gt; Colonel). There are 4 Transport Chips.
 * Remixed Battle Music: If one has a Battle Network 1, 2, 3, 4 or 4.5 game in the GBA slot, the game plays remixed battle music of that title. In fact, even with no Game Boy game in, all the music is remixed.

Small Plot Changes Between Team Protoman and Colonel

 * After MegaMan is captured by Nebula, Chaud/Baryl will call Lan to SciLab's harbor where Lan is asked to take a new navi to continue on the next mission. Lan refuses and cannot believe that his leader is suggesting replacing MegaMan. In Team Colonel, Baryl slaps Lan telling him to get to his senses to realize that taking this navi is the only way to save MegaMan. However, in Team Protoman, Lan's rage at Chaud causes him to slap/punch Chaud across the face and realizes on his own that saving MegaMan means taking the new navi from Chaud.

Misspellings/Grammatical Errors
Many textual errors exist in the games' dialogue.
 * When Lan meets Mayl in front of the Metroline Station, Lan exclaims "What am I doing here?" when he should have said "What are you doing here?".
 * When Lan is being asked to join team Colonel as the only way to save Lan's father, Baryl says that joining is "the only way to save me". He should've said "him" (Lan's father) instead of 'me'.
 * When Nebula attempts to recapture Oran Area 3, if Lan talks to Mayl she will say "If you go on the net, be "Areful Lan". "Areful" is Careful without the "C".
 * When cornering ShadowMan.EXE in Scilab 2, Lan will yell "MegaMan, is coming!" before engaging in battle. It should read "MegaMan, he's coming!".

Trivia

 * Intense hacking reveals an incomplete Chaos Unison tutorial, but it was scrapped and put in the instruction manual instead.
 * It is interesting to note the the first Navis to join in both versions were related to the Gospel Organization from MegaMan Battle Network 2, except that MagnetMan.EXE was operated by Tesla Magnus, Gauss Magnus' daughter.
 * In total, 3 NetNavis that where related to Gospel join Lan's team (1 in Team ProtoMan and 2 in Team Colonel).