The spring release of Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection on the Nintendo Switch surely delighted those who grew up with these games. Bundling the DS trilogy (with multiple versions of each game) plus extras, the nostalgic content was there. But for newer players (the majority), this niche sub-series may continue to be forgotten.

Yes, even with multiple versions, a la Pokémon, the Star Force games were not strong sellers, especially relative to the huge installed base of the Nintendo DS. Again, these won’t impact the nostalgic or those who enjoyed the Battle Network games that preceded them. Where does that leave Purely Trev? It’s a conundrum I’ve wrestled with for weeks.

When I think of Mega Man, I think of the classic series on NES, some of my favorite games to this day. Subsequent series, such as X and Zero/ZX, while not as enjoyable to me, still retained the action and remained quite good. The Star Force games are card-battling RPGs whose connection to Mega Man is loose at best. But I wanted to expand my knowledge of the Blue Bomber universe, so I took this collection for review with a modicum of reservation.

In short, only the third entry (Black Ace/Red Joker) held my interest beyond the first hour. It wasn’t for lack of trying. But too many things just added up to annoy me in the earlier games, beyond their detached relation to the Mega Man I know. I found the lead, 11-year-old Geo Stelar, rather whiny, and felt that several other characters developed subparly. The GBA-style visuals didn’t help either. More importantly, the repetitive and sluggish opening sections, along with constant battle interruptions and tutorials, disrupted the pacing. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and mine confirmed my earlier reservations. I’d sum it up in non-articulate fashion as “repetitive meh.”

So my advice, as someone new to the series, is to skip straight to the third entry. Geo comes off better and more likeable in this game, and other characters are more developed with less superfluous chatter. It also looks more like a proper DS game. The quicker and more original start makes for better flow and plot. And, the pacing improvements continue with fewer combat stoppages and tutorials. Which, of course, makes deck-driven combat across a grid more tolerable, albeit still repetitive. Adjust the encounter rates and speed accordingly, both welcomed options.

Extras include a gallery where you can view some attractive artwork and listen to the soundtrack from each game. The latter is especially appreciated, as Mega Man titles are known for their great music, and these tunes are very listenable. I recommend letting the full albums play from start to finish. I can’t fault Capcom for skimping on this collection, even if most of it isn’t my thing. The content and quality are here.

Products of their times, the Mega Man Star Force trilogy is unlikely to expand its niche audience. But those who came of age alongside protagonist Geo Stelar, this card-battling RPG collection will surely make you happy. Everyone else can wishlist it for a sale, or check out some of the superior Mega Man collections Capcom has on the Switch eShop.