Ahead of the launch of the Mega Man Star Force: Legacy Collection later this month, we had the opportunity to interview director Koji Oda and producer Shingo Izumi.
We discussed the Mega Man franchise’s growth, the potential of future collections, the impact of the Star Force sub-series’ identity, and more.
Most significantly, Izumi and Oda emphasized the efforts that went into bringing back this underrated series for dedicated fans, while ensuring that those who never experienced it can still feel its impact in contemporary times. If you’re looking to learn more about how one of the more unique Mega Man spin-offs plays, check out our preview.
Orpheus Joshua: Despite the lack of brand-new entries in recent years, Mega Man has stayed surprisingly relevant. From your perspective, what core elements make Mega Man a timeless franchise, and how does Star Force specifically contribute to that legacy?
Director, Koji Oda: The most fundamental source of motivation during gameplay is the way the game constantly stimulates the player’s spirit of challenge.
While the Star Force series is not a purely action-based game, it provides numerous ways to compensate even for players who are not confident with action gameplay. This allows them to tackle difficult obstacles with a feel that’s similar to the 2D Mega Man titles, where we believe the series’ traditional elements can still be clearly found.
Orpheus Joshua: Looking back at the original Mega Man Star Force releases, especially considering their setting and themes, what parts of their design philosophy feel especially relevant today? How did those ideas influence the direction of this new Legacy Collection?
Director, Koji Oda: It is the idea that Mega Man’s strength is born from connections between people. In the original version, hardware limitations imposed strict restrictions on how many players could be connected at the same time, and once a relationship was broken, it was difficult to restore it through one’s own efforts. While this may have allowed for deeper, more concentrated relationships, those constraints were also limiting.
This time, we have been able to remove those restrictions, and we believe players will enjoy building and exploring new kinds of connections as a result.
Orpheus Joshua: In what ways do you see the DNA of the original Star Force games, particularly its worldbuilding and battle system innovations, carrying over into newer Mega Man projects or even other Capcom titles?
Director, Koji Oda: Rather than being bound by a fixed form rooted solely in tradition, the Star Force series continued to explore new ideas, undergoing dramatic changes even within its own numbered entries. Similar approaches can be seen not only in the Mega Man series, but also across many different Capcom titles, where this spirit of constant experimentation continues to live on.
Orpheus Joshua: Star Force was originally built for the Nintendo DS, with hardware features and limitations unique to that era. What were the biggest challenges in faithfully preserving that experience on modern platforms? Were there any elements that had to be reworked or rebuilt from the ground up?
Director, Koji Oda: The hardware was unique in that it featured highly distinctive touch controls that allowed players to make selections and decisions intuitively. However, because we were unable to use that system at all this time, it was necessary to rebuild every related feature from the ground up.
What we realized after development began was that when “intuitive” touch-based interactions are replaced with menu-driven or selection-based controls, layouts that are neatly aligned vertically and horizontally make it easier for players to anticipate where the cursor will move next. In contrast, when elements are arranged less uniformly, there was a significant gap between where different players expected the cursor to land, often resulting in situations where the controls felt unintuitive or frustrating.
By carefully refining both the visual presentation of the menus and the control methods, we worked to bring the experience as close as possible to that original sense of intuitive interaction.
Orpheus Joshua: Compared to Battle Network, the Star Force series had a shorter run. Did revisiting it bring up any lingering ideas or creative decisions you wish you could have explored further at the time?
Director, Koji Oda: It’s a difficult question to answer since I am not the original creator, but speaking from my own perspective, I see that potential in the Brother Band system.
In the Star Force series, actively forming connections was an essential part of the gameplay structure. However, as a character’s circumstances and environment change, their way of thinking does too. In some cases, taking distance from others can actually be a positive development. Exploring such dynamics could bring the relationships closer to real human experiences—making them more interesting, and perhaps even something players can genuinely reflect on or struggle with.
Orpheus Joshua: Mega Man fans are known for their long-term passion and dedication. How did community feedback shape the approach to the Star Force Legacy Collection? Were there specific fan requests that directly influenced development decisions?
Director, Koji Oda: While respecting the original work, we received a great deal of candid feedback pointing out elements that, although faithful, were not fully conveying their appeal or were detracting from the overall enjoyment. Reproducing the original experience is, of course, important—but we felt that doing so alone was not enough.
In order for players to truly enjoy every detail to the fullest, we believed it was essential to go a step further. With that in mind, we implemented features that allow players themselves to customize and adjust the game’s design to suit their own preferences.
Orpheus Joshua: Star Force evolved the Battle Network formula with its over-the-shoulder battle perspective and more streamlined mechanics. Looking back now, how do you view that shift? Is that the kind of experimentation you’d consider exploring again in future entries?
Director, Koji Oda: Battles in the Battle Network series had a somewhat puzzle-like feel, where even firing the Mega Buster was less about directly aiming at enemies and more about lining up coordinates to attack. In the Star Force series, however, combat became more three-dimensional, allowing players to truly experience the sensation of aiming carefully—judging landing positions and timing before firing.
In addition, Battle Cards are now unleashed with visually flashy effects that clearly convey their impact, making this a bold and successful evolution from the Battle Network games. This kind of progression is not limited to the Mega Man series; it is something that should always be considered in the evolution of any game or franchise.
Orpheus Joshua: When revisiting a series that many fans consider underrated, how do you decide which elements are foundational and untouchable, and which aspects can evolve to better connect with today’s players?
Director, Koji Oda: Even after reaching the ending, the Star Force series offers a wealth of diverse and deeply hidden content that reveals new layers of enjoyment. Even for players at the time of the original release, accessing all of these elements posed a very high hurdle. It was an era when players could understand why a game would not readily reveal everything it had to offer, yet at the same time, the experience often demanded an extraordinary level of effort that could not be overcome by skill alone.
With this collection, we chose not to hold back any of that content. We believe that allowing every player who picks up the game to experience all of its depth and variety is the key to truly understanding the series’ original potential. For that reason, we positioned adjustable freedom—giving players control over how they engage with the game—as a core element. This approach allows players to feel a sense of evolution while preserving the fundamental identity of the Star Force series.
Orpheus Joshua: The various Mega Man Legacy Collections have helped reconnect players with different eras of the franchise. While this may be a long shot, do you see room for additional Legacy Collections in the future?
Producer, Shingo Izumi: There are still many titles within the Mega Man franchise that have yet to be released as collections, so we would like to continue exploring the possibilities for new collection projects moving forward.
Orpheus Joshua: As you reflect on Star Force’s legacy and the renewed interest brought on by this collection, what excites you most about the future of Mega Man? Could that future include entirely new Star Force titles?
Producer, Shingo Izumi: Mega Man is a franchise with a long history and is loved by fans all over the world. What excites us is that it offers an approachability that allows people of all ages to pick it up with confidence, along with a rich cast of characters and stories that deliver dreams, hope, and energy to players.
By making the most of this uniquely “Mega Man–like” spirit, we want as many people as possible to experience these games. Looking ahead, we plan to continue working steadily over the long term, exploring every possible avenue across all series—whether it be the original Mega Man, X, Battle Network, Star Force, Legends, and beyond.
Mega Man Star Force: Legacy Collection will be released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on March 27, 2026.
