This game brings back many of the previous games features, with some features veterans will love, and seem familiar...
Your thirty-card folder is your method of "Leveling-up". You can buy, trade, and find power-ups and abilities. HP-ups come in 10 and 20s. They are automatically equipped and can't be unequipped.
The other method of leveling is abilities. They can be bought, found, or received by helping others. Then they can be equipped, but there is a limit on how many. Each ability uses "link points" which are received through brother-bands. You get several by just progressing through the game, but by doing side quests you can gain up to 15 plus 6 real brothers.
The fight system hasn't changed much, but you can diminish the amount of area there is, temporarily of course.
The last discussable item is the noise system. It's very hard to use, but is a lot like styles from Megaman Battle Network 2 and 3. Kind of like Styles+. There are over 10 different Noises, they have any of 5 elements and one of 8 weakness. To completely activate your noise form you have to raise the noise level to 50% (An easy feat). The best method is non elemental chips, such as swords. This excludes all Mega and Giga Cards and dimming cards. However if you get hit with your weakness, your noise level will be lowered to 0%.
Now for points:
Game play: 6.5/10 (2.5 out of battle, 6 for in battle)
Story: 6/10 (4 for length, 2 for depth)
Graphics: 7/10 (2 for real world and wave roads, 5 for in battle)
Audios: 8/10 (Catchy, but it's not perfect and can get annoying)
Average: 6.9
Now for bonus points, I can add up to 10 points to the average. This is because of 2 things convenience and unmentioned points of the game.
Bonus points: 3 for post-game story, wi-fi, noise system.
Final Score: 7.6