Pokemon Colosseum

"A Breakthough for the Pokemon World"

~Introduction~
Pokemon....the Franchise that has made Millions of dollars for things like snakes, games, cards, book bags, anime, magna, and other things spawned from this single, Japanese game. Since 1996, The main pokemon series has been on the Game Boy, and although has had quite a few 3D games, has never actually had a 3D RPG, until the Gamecube...

Gamefreak has taken the series one step further then the GBA games. Forced to be the same ''Get 8 Badges and defeat the Elite 4!'' gameplay that is overused and tired on the game boy versions. Instead of doing that, they have put you in the position as a Psudo Good/Bad guy. (Although the main intention is to help, your acts are still somewhat illegal in the game.)

~Review~
Although the main part of the gameplay may seem to take place in the Colosseum part of the game, the RPG part is the main part of the game. Unlike other Pokemon games that have you start out at level 5, you jump in with two high level pokemon and rarely face anything below level 20.

The main objective of RPG mode is to capture other trainers Dark Pokemon, or in other words ''Snatch'' them. You then must use them in battle until their Darkness bars are fully gone, and then take them to a shrine and have them fully healed, only then will you be able to raise their levels, and be named their trainer.

The downside, though, is you just can't capture any pokemon. The pokemon must be dark (Pointed out by your partner at the beginning of each battle) and you can not catch Wild Pokemon, as there is none. As well as the catching restrictions, Dark Pokemon do gain EXP, but cannot actually raise a level until they are fully healed, as well as the fact that they only have one move, dark rush, which not only damages your pokemon, but may make them go into hyper mode (A state where they cannot attack, and can only be healed by calling out to them, another way to lower their dark meter).

As well as catching Dark Pokemon, your other objective is to stop both Team Snatch and Team Dark, two teams that have the goal to steal and raise dark pokemon.

Unlike other pokemon games, you must choose towns/city's by choosing from a world map once you leave a city (due to the fact that there is no wild pokemon...), but like other pokemon games, the camera is set overhead and can go to places such as Pokemon Centers, shops, houses, etc.

The actual battles in RPG mode take place in 2 on 2 formation, first introduced in Pokemon R/S. The rules are the exact same as in R/S, although it is somewhat harder to have control because of the hyper states on Dark pokemon and the 2 on 2 battleing.

Colosseum mode is somewhat of a extension of RPG mode, taking place in the same stadiums RPG mode took place in. Fortunatly, it is somewhat similar to Stadium on the N64, the different options and so forth, although it has been downgraded somewhat.

~Graphics~
A rather interesting, and dissapointing approach that Gamefreak did. The actual town graphics can range from N64 material, to very beautiful. The character models, though, are rather ugly and repetitive, like the Game Boy games. Now for the pokemon models. The newer pokemon from R/S have beautiful models, top notch Gamecube material, while the older pokemon from RBY/GSC, have been upgraded from the Stadium days, but remain largely unchanged. The attacks, though, look simply beautiful and very advanced.

~Music~
No voice acting here, unfortunatly, but the music is pretty good. Battle music ranges from New Age music, to catchy salsa music (There is a actual afro trainer in the game that has this catchy theme...but anyways). There is a lack of older music (Only having the Pokemon center music and all the same pokemon cry's from the R/S version) but otherwise, the music is decent.

~Control~
A mixture of FF7 with Skies of Arcadia. The town and house gameplay is very similar to Skies of Arcadia (With a lack of first person view), while the Battles are similar to both the pokemon games, and FF7 (You can actually use items now). The only real problem with the camera is the fact that it is locked into place, and cannot be moved, meaning that it can be hard to find pathways to other areas, but is tolorable.

~Length~
Something that can be different depending on what you play. RPG mode is somewhat small, and can be completed within 10-15 hours of gameplay, while Colosseum mode can take several weeks to do everything. Overall, the game will keep you hooked (Especially with the GBA games) for as long as the GBA games have offered.

~Final~
Although it is rather appearant that this is Gamefreaks first 3D RPG, it is still has a origional feel to it, which it good for modern day RPG's. If you have the GBA games and a link, you will get a little more out of the game then the ones without (Since the RPG mode is made mainly to get 97 out of the 100 pokemon from GSC), but overall, both new and old fans will enjoy this game, while some will be whining about a lack of Gym leader gameplay.

~Scores~
Graphics: 6/10
Sound: 8/10
Control: 8/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Length: 10-15 Hours
Difficulty: Medium-Hard
FINAL: 8.5 OUT OF 10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/11/04