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Let the computer fight your battles for you.

The battle chips are back in the new GBA title Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge. The new game takes the battle chip aspect of the popular Network Battle series and ties it to a new battle tournament that's less interactive than it should be.

Network Battle veteran Lan and his electronic Net Navi pal Mega Man are set to enter the Battle Chip Grand Prix tournament in town. Besides Lan there are five other characters to choose from, each with their electronic counterpart - Kaito/ TURBOMAN, Mayl/ ROLL; Mary/ RING, Dex/ GUTSMAN, and Chaud /PROTOMAN.

Battle Chip Challenge is entirely menu driven and doesn't use any of the searching or battle aspects of the Network Battle series. Players can scroll to different areas using a PET navigator. Head to Higby's shop to buy battle chips, practice in the Free Battle area, or go for the gold in the Battle Chip tournament.

The main battle system takes advantage of battle chips. Each battle chip represents a different attack that the Net Navi can use. The chips need to be placed in a grid system that will act as a series of attacks. There are four levels to the grid and ten slots to place chips in. The computer will randomly choose one battle chip from each level to use in sequence when battling an opponent. The strategy involves placing the correct chips on each level to try to counter the opponent. All chips have an element attached to them that will override one another. Two players can duke it out via a link cable.

The problem starts after the chips are placed. Players just need to keep hitting the A button to scroll past each battle description and watch the computer automatically do the rest. The battles don't feel participatory and the game's non-use of the original, action-oriented Network Battle fight system is a letdown.

The visuals and sound are well done like the Network Battle series. Fights are shown in RPG fashion with each character taking hits in detail. The music is what's expected in the title - upbeat and friendly.

Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge is a title that pretty much plays itself. The game's simplistic spectator battle system doesn't warrant a separate game and most players won't want to log in.