Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
Posted: November 22nd, 2005, 19:55
This has arrived, and I was playing it a bit last night.
I think I have worked out what the XD is. It doesn't stand for anything, it is an emoticon of the expression on the makers faces as they make their way to the bank.
I wasn't expecting a great deal of new features, the series excels at making things simple. For those that don't know, it works like your standard console RPG where your party fights against enemies which have various strengths and weaknesses (Fire, Ice, Water, etc.) except that instead of having some visual clue as to the enemies type, you basically have to recognise enemies type and probable abilities on sight - so it tests your memory as well as your strategy. I was, however expecting a little bit more.
Unfortunately this release seems to have less features than ever, and rather than adding interesting new twists to keep the series fresh, it seems to sound the death knell for the Pocket Monsters.
Here's a rough chronology:
Red, Blue (Green in Japan) and Yellow (GB)
All the same game with different start/available Pokémon. Story mode has you wandering around catching wild Pokémon, then battling them against a linear series of foes.
- with link cable, another copy of the game and another GB
Can trade between GBs and have battles against friends
Pokémon Stadium (N64)
No story mode, but many tournament modes battling using stock Pokémon against computer or friends , minigames
- with adapter (supplied) and a GB game
Use collected Pokémon in battles, Pokémon organiser and library, Play GB game through your TV. Allowed you to trade without having a GB!
Gold, Silver and Crystal (GBC)
New story, 100 new Pokémon and 2 new types (Dark, Steel), Pokémon can hold recovery items to use during battle, mate and produce eggs, enhanced Pokédex
- with link cable, another copy of the game and another GB
As before - limited compatibility with RGBY
Pokémon Stadium 2 (N64)
Probably the best release all things considered. Everything from the first one, plus support for the new Pokémon, enhanced library, item holding and information, Pokémon University, better minigames. Worked with all versions of the GB games
<-- This is the cutoff point, any Pokémon captured before or after this line are only compatible with games from the same era.
Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald (GBA)
New story to keep pace with the animation, 100 or so new Pokémon and new type (Light). Introduced day/night cycle, Pokédex became P*DA.
Link cable functions as before for trading/battling with other GBA owners
Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green (GBA)
Remakes of the original GB games, with additional Pokémon and features. Link cable as above.
Game Boy Player (GC)
Allows you play any GB, GBC or GBA game on your TV. Cannot be used for linking/trading.
Pokémon Coliseum (GC)
Tournament mode using stock Pokémon against computer or friends. Basic story mode with no wild Pokémon - the only ones you can catch are Shadow Pokémon, which are predetermined and always the same. No minigames (other than decorating a room with bonus items). No play-through TV option. No organiser. Minimal library.
- with GC-GBA link cable (different cable to GBA-GBA), a GBA and a GBA copy of the game
Use captured Pokémon in Tournament mode. Battle friends. No trading. Bonus items for regular connection (one a day)
Pokémon Box (GC)
A freebie given away with some copies of Pokémon Channel (an excrable, mind-melting game which awarded a hidden Pokémon for completion). Performed the library/storage functions absent in Coliseum, unsure whether trading was possible.
Pokémon XD (GC)
Story mode. The same as Coliseum's story so far, no wild Pokémon yet and the second town is exactly the same!
No tournament mode. No library. No minigames. No Pokémon school.
No bonus items. No trading. No play-though TV option.
You can connect GBAs for one-off battles only.
I think I have worked out what the XD is. It doesn't stand for anything, it is an emoticon of the expression on the makers faces as they make their way to the bank.
I wasn't expecting a great deal of new features, the series excels at making things simple. For those that don't know, it works like your standard console RPG where your party fights against enemies which have various strengths and weaknesses (Fire, Ice, Water, etc.) except that instead of having some visual clue as to the enemies type, you basically have to recognise enemies type and probable abilities on sight - so it tests your memory as well as your strategy. I was, however expecting a little bit more.
Unfortunately this release seems to have less features than ever, and rather than adding interesting new twists to keep the series fresh, it seems to sound the death knell for the Pocket Monsters.
Here's a rough chronology:
Red, Blue (Green in Japan) and Yellow (GB)
All the same game with different start/available Pokémon. Story mode has you wandering around catching wild Pokémon, then battling them against a linear series of foes.
- with link cable, another copy of the game and another GB
Can trade between GBs and have battles against friends
Pokémon Stadium (N64)
No story mode, but many tournament modes battling using stock Pokémon against computer or friends , minigames
- with adapter (supplied) and a GB game
Use collected Pokémon in battles, Pokémon organiser and library, Play GB game through your TV. Allowed you to trade without having a GB!
Gold, Silver and Crystal (GBC)
New story, 100 new Pokémon and 2 new types (Dark, Steel), Pokémon can hold recovery items to use during battle, mate and produce eggs, enhanced Pokédex
- with link cable, another copy of the game and another GB
As before - limited compatibility with RGBY
Pokémon Stadium 2 (N64)
Probably the best release all things considered. Everything from the first one, plus support for the new Pokémon, enhanced library, item holding and information, Pokémon University, better minigames. Worked with all versions of the GB games
<-- This is the cutoff point, any Pokémon captured before or after this line are only compatible with games from the same era.
Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald (GBA)
New story to keep pace with the animation, 100 or so new Pokémon and new type (Light). Introduced day/night cycle, Pokédex became P*DA.
Link cable functions as before for trading/battling with other GBA owners
Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green (GBA)
Remakes of the original GB games, with additional Pokémon and features. Link cable as above.
Game Boy Player (GC)
Allows you play any GB, GBC or GBA game on your TV. Cannot be used for linking/trading.
Pokémon Coliseum (GC)
Tournament mode using stock Pokémon against computer or friends. Basic story mode with no wild Pokémon - the only ones you can catch are Shadow Pokémon, which are predetermined and always the same. No minigames (other than decorating a room with bonus items). No play-through TV option. No organiser. Minimal library.
- with GC-GBA link cable (different cable to GBA-GBA), a GBA and a GBA copy of the game
Use captured Pokémon in Tournament mode. Battle friends. No trading. Bonus items for regular connection (one a day)
Pokémon Box (GC)
A freebie given away with some copies of Pokémon Channel (an excrable, mind-melting game which awarded a hidden Pokémon for completion). Performed the library/storage functions absent in Coliseum, unsure whether trading was possible.
Pokémon XD (GC)
Story mode. The same as Coliseum's story so far, no wild Pokémon yet and the second town is exactly the same!
No tournament mode. No library. No minigames. No Pokémon school.
No bonus items. No trading. No play-though TV option.
You can connect GBAs for one-off battles only.
