Pokemon Colosseum

"Little advice: the real meat is the scenario mode."

Ah Pokemon Stadium, that game brang back some memories. Bringing your monsters into 3D was nothing short of amazing back in 1999. Those tiny N64 carts were packed to the brim with voice samples, mini-games and other Gameboy utilities.
Zoom into 2004. GameCube is now out, which means the graphics should be at least 40 times better, the disc space should allow for tons of voice samples even for Pokemon in addition to better sounding remixes of your favorite
Pokemon themes than the Game Boy/Advance's tinny chip music.
Also the games had secrets, such as battling elusive Pokemon or unlocking features as a reward for beating the stadium modes.

Colosseum does try to continue the legacy of the Stadium games. As previously stated, the cosmetic upgrades are there. However in this installment, you may very well spend less time on the Stadium mode or rather feel less inclined to play it altogether. You can't even get rental Pokemon anymore which kind of sucks but it comes to show that you NEED a GB Link Cable and a copy of Pokemon Ruby or Sapphire to get around Stadium mode. Gone is the announcer. That's right, the only service I wanted 4Kids to do for Pokemon was omitted. There are still level set Cups to compete in and rules to later modify but this time around there are different variations and difficulties for each level. For example you may be only allowed to have certain types compete in one cup over another or there may be a size restraint. Also to note, the level rules are STRICT. No Levels over 50 for one... come on!

New to the game is the Scenario mode, in which like the previous games, you name your character who is out to stop yet another organization while competing in the local leagues on the side (a complete inverse of the Gameboy games). The exploration is fairly limited as there are no 'routes' to, from and around other cities and landmarks.
In a sense you could say it's Nintendo's (meaning developed by or close party of) first RPG on the GameCube seeing how the game was created by ex-Earthbound and Dragon Warrior developers. The storyline and scenario are a little deeper than the Gameboy Games and looks as though they were reaching a wider appeal.

If you plan on getting this game, it should be strictly for the scenario mode. Colosseum will break your heart...that it unless you need to unlock some items in your copy of R/S.

Good luck if you have 3 friends with Ruby/Sapphire and GBA-GC cables. Because I know I'll never get a chance to play gang battle

Gameplay: 6/10

Scenario
Standard Pokemon fare. You walk, talk...er well people talk to you. There are towns with item shops and sometimes Pokemon Centers. You battle and capture. The only thing is that the Pokemon you capture are the ones you have to cure. Some you may not find on your copy of Ruby and Sapphire which is a must! Curing Shadow Pokemon can be risky but luckily you'll always fight 2-on-2 in the Orre Region so build on your Pokemon's teamwork.

Stadium
Same as the previous games. The only difference is that there are no button context commands due to the lack of buttons on the GameCube controller and GBA. On single player mode it works the same way as it does on Game Boy but one can only imagine that multiplayer will be more secretive what with all the individual screens and such.

Graphics (6/10)

As far as the Stadium games went, this is quite an overhaul. However as far as GameCube games go, Colosseum's visuals are only slightly above average. Pokemon models animate smooth and shiny but many are still ripped from the N64 games, water effects are rough but still clear enough to make you thirsty, landscapes are a fair representative of the Gamecube's power as opposed to all that multiplatformed junk. Good but not great.

Sound (8/10)

The strongest point in the game (I said the same for Kirby's Air Ride) is the music. Scenario sports some original themes in addition to some classics (so far all I heard was the Pokemon Center) which break the mold of Pokemon music being 'dull'. Haven't heard all of Stadium's tracks yet but there is a good remix of the R/S Battle theme (though nowhere near as good as the anime version)

Replay value (4/10)

Well you could transfer the scenario Pokemon into the GBA games and start anew but you'd probably want to pick something else up by that time. Other than that, feel free to see how well you raised your Absol or Dusklops while you wait to afford something else.

Rent or Buy?

I bought mine but I had to have Jirachi. Pokemon fans or people who have been curious about Pokemon should at least rent it.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 03/23/04