Rockman & Forte: Mirai Kara no Chōsensha

Rockman & Forte: Mirai Kara no Chōsensha isn't a port of the identically named Super Famicom game, but a standalone title made specifically for the WonderSwan. Under Capcom's license, Bandai built a classic action platformer following the tried-and-true recipe: the player picks the order of levels from a selection screen, ends each one with a boss fight against a robot, and after defeating it gains a new weapon usable against the next opponent. Anyone who knows the Blue Bomber from 8-bit and 16-bit consoles knows exactly what to expect, including the need to memorize trap layouts by heart and carefully manage special-weapon energy.

The main draw is the choice of character. Rockman fires a chargeable shot and can slide, while Forte is more mobile, can aim in multiple directions, and relies on a short double jump. Both options change how the levels can be tackled and give the game a reason for repeat playthroughs. The boss lineup is entirely new for this version and keeps the playful, slightly absurd tone the series has always had. Technically the game handled the WonderSwan well. The sprites are large and legible, the pace stays brisk, and the monochrome image manages to distinguish the hero, enemies, and background even when a lot is happening on screen at once. The sound is necessarily more modest than on home consoles, yet still manages to hold onto the brand's recognizable rhythmic drive.

At the time, this was a very strong argument for owners of the new console, since Rockman was among the names Bandai needed so the WonderSwan wouldn't look like a mere collection of puzzle trifles. The game remained exclusively Japanese, though, so in the West it was long talked about more as a legend than as a title anyone had actually played. Today it's interesting precisely as a parallel branch of the series. It offers a solid, honestly challenging platformer that holds up alongside the handheld entries from the rival studio, and yet only a fraction of fans know it.