Pokemon Colosseum

"Not Wonderful, but a Solid Addition to the Series"

On GameCube, Mario got his chance to shine, Samus reached her prime, and Link blew the Cel-da idiots away. Pokemon never got a GameCube game, until now. After seeing the hilarious commercial, I was ready for a brand new Pokemon experience. Is Colosseum an evolution of Stadium, or is it as bad as Nintendo's spelling? Obviously, that's why you are reading this review.

The mode that most greatly separates Colosseum from its ancestors is the Story Mode. You begin as a seventeen year-old stealing a Snag Machine from Team Snagem. You send the base sky-high and escape in your motorcycle with your trusty Umbreon and Espion by your side. As you progress through the game, you will find a girl that knows about the wonders of Shadow Pokemon, another thing to think about on your quest.

Your quest is not the average Pokemon nature walk. Instead, you are in the Orre Region, a vast desert barren of life. Forget asking a random professor for a midget to start your quest, you begin with a Level 25 Espion and a Level 26 Umbreon. This also ditches selecting ''Tackle'' or ''Scratch'' a hundred times in a row (Blessed be our God!). Rather than have just a few 2 vs. 2 battles, every battle in Story Mode is a team effort. There's one more difference - no more wild Pokemon.

This is where Snagging is called for duty. Your big-eyed partner will identify a Shadow Pokemon, a Pokemon that has had its heart locked away. Using the same method as catching a Pokemon, it can be whittled down and snagged. However, a Shadow Pokemon is not a normal Pokemon with a cool name. Upon snagging, the Pokemon will only know one attack: Shadow Rush. This attack has no type, making it relatively useful. On the down side, the cute little creature will sometimes go into Hyper Mode. When in Hyper Mode, the chance for a critical hit goes up. However, it also makes the Pokemon less obedient. By calling the Pokemon, it will snap back to its senses (or awaken it from slumber). As you battle with the Shadow Pokemon, it will learn new attacks. Eventually, it can be taken to a relic and be purified of its misery.

As for the actual exploration, it is similar to the other Pokemon games. The towns have Pokemon Centers, Pokemon Marts, a Colosseum for battle, etc. As you travel, your short-skirted partner will follow closely behind. Though she usually stays out of your way, she can ruin a tight U-turn. There are no Routes. Instead, a map screen appears upon departing from a city. Once you select your destination, you will see a neat little scene of the hero in his motorcycle. The story progresses in a straightforward manner, but there are side quests and plenty of extras for the true Pokemon Masters.

The battles of Pokemon Colosseum are true to the Pokemon roots, which is usually a good thing. Now that two Pokemon are on the field, there is much less playing rock-paper-scissors with over a dozen types. Each Pokemon is still limited to four moves, some of which are learned through experience, others through items. Every Pokemon can hold an item that may effect its status or heal hit points when in danger. There are tons of attacks to choose from, allowing for some lethal combos and surprises. Equip a Fire Type with Solar Beam when possible to send those Rock Types packing! However, the battles require no more than strength when easy. However, a hard battle requires much thinking and planning. Whittling down Shadow Pokemon is a fun and delicate operation as well.

Before you get the impression that this is the perfect Pokemon game, let me tell you one new flaw. The game is very easy at first. I breezed through the game and was as sleepy as a Snorlax, preparing negative quotes for this review. I did not find any true challenge until I battled a Mexican five or six hours into the game. After this, the game actually gets slightly frustrating, mostly in unsuccessful snagging, but nothing that will make you hate the game. In fact, it makes snagging that Pokemon from the idiot even more satisfying. The quest is only fifteen or less hours long in you choose to ignore side quests and extras. If you can endure the five hours of boredom that is the beginning, you will find a fun, little role-playing game.

The action also goes on to Battle Mode. This mode is similar to the Stadium games in that it allows you to test your skills against talented trainers. The only cups are for Pokemon around Level 50 and Level 100. Your crew of Pokemon from Story Mode will be able to fight, making this mode quite satisfying. It allows you to know whether your team is skilled or not. Unlike the Stadium games where it felt like work making good Level 15 Pokemon, this feels like a fun challenge. However, the Level 100 Pokemon challenge is just an advertisement for Game Shark. Very few people feel like spending hours upon hours doing nothing but battle. There is also Mt. Battle, which puts you against 100 trainers. You can save every 10 battles, but do not lose! The last feature is Battle Now, which gives you a team to battle with for a quick battle. The true disappointment of Battle Mode is the lack of Rental Pokemon. Those who do not have the free time to raise Pokemon themselves cannot even play in the mode. I find this to be a big thorn in the game's side.

Finally, there is a multiplayer mode for you to enjoy with friends. You can upload your Ruby, Sapphire, Fire Red, or Leaf Green Pokemon to compete. Only one person can be the Colosseum team. Connectivity is required for gang battles, which is a minus.

The graphics of Pokemon Colosseum are a mixed bag. The environments look the quality of a Dreamcast game, but still manage to be cool. The cities are full of detail, and each environment has its own unique feel. There are some cities that look built for thugs, while others are bright and colorful. The Pokemon themselves are disappointing. Many of the Pokemon had their appearances recycled from Pokemon Stadium 2, which is very glaring. The Pokemon from Ruby and Sapphire, however, are smooth and colorful. The attacks still show no actual contact between Pokemon, but are cool nevertheless. The trainers on the field are the biggest downfall in the graphics department. They look like they belong on a Nintendo 64, which is more obvious when the rest of the visuals are solid. The graphics are far from stunning, but still get the job done.

The sound of Pokemon Colosseum can also be described as a mixed bag. The music when exploring towns is quite cool and catchy. Some of the music even has snapping in the background. The battle tunes are great and are motivational for another exciting battle, but sometimes feel a bit repetitive. The sound effects almost seem forgotten. The hero makes no noise as his feet move, but the sound effects in battle are good. The trainers have no voices, and the Pokemon themselves are almost completely stifled as well. Luckily, there is no announcer in battle, so the mute button will not be touched. The audio portion of Pokemon Colosseum is not horrible, but could have been a good deal better.

Pokemon Colosseum is not a revolutionary role-playing game that will go down in video game history books, but is a fun quest nevertheless. The decorations are not flattering, but the gameplay was done with mostly caring hands. This game may not shine with the greatness of Nintendo's other games, but it is still a pretty good time.

Overall Rate: 7.3/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 03/28/04