Play Megaman Star Force 3 - Black Ace (US) Online

Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace came out on the Nintendo DS in 2009, developed and published by Capcom. It was part of the later wave of DS titles, a time when developers were really pushing what the dual screens and touch controls could do, even if this one didn't lean on the stylus too heavily. It's the third and final game in its sub-series, wrapping up the story that started with the first Star Force.

You control Geo Stelar, a kid who can fuse with an alien wave-being to become Mega Man. The main goal is to stop a mysterious noise wave from causing chaos, which involves exploring real world and wave world maps, talking to people, and diving into dungeons. The signature mechanics are the real-time card battles on a 3x3 grid, where you dodge enemy attacks while selecting battle cards from a custom deck you build; the BrotherBand system, which lets you connect with friends for bonuses; and the Noise system, which changes your form and abilities during combat. The pacing is brisk, with a good mix of exploration and frequent, challenging fights that require quick reflexes and smart deck building. It feels sharp and responsive when you pull off a perfect counter or finally put together a card combo that just works.