Mega Man Star Force: Pegasus, Mega Man Star Force: Leo, and Mega Man Star Force: Dragon are 2006 action role-playing video games developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console; combined, they are the first game in the Mega Man Star Force series, a sub series of the greater Mega Man franchise—and a follow-up to the Mega Man Battle Network series. It takes place in the years of 220X, in which technology has advanced to the point where the world is now connected through EM waves. The game follows Geo Stelar, a fifth-grader in Echo Ridge who merges with an FM-ian named Omega-Xis after mourning the supposed death of his father.The Mega Man Battle Network series had concluded with the sixth game in 2005, with the developers citing the new DS hardware as their reasoning for its ending. Mega Man Star Force continues several gameplay and story elements introduced in Battle Network, with battles taking place on a 3-by-5 grid in which Mega Man is limited to moving left to right in one row and attacking using Battle Cards. Players are also able to play against each other, trade Battle Cards, and form a Brother Band with another player using the DS' wireless capabilities. Prior to its release, Capcom also commissioned anime and manga adaptations to help promote the game.
Mega Man Star Force received mixed reviews from critics upon release; it was often regarded as too similar to Battle Network due to its reuse of concepts, art style, and similar gameplay, with many generally finding it a disappointment. However, it was a commercial success, selling nearly 600,000 copies in Japan by the end of 2007. Mega Man Star Force would spawn two direct sequels for the same system, as well as a crossover in the form of an enhanced port of the first Battle Network game under the title Rockman.EXE: Operate Shooting Star (2009), released only in Japan.