"For the obsessive Pokemon fan only"

Pokemon. The name alone must bring smiles to Nintendo's stock market investors. Since the original Gameboy game in 95, followed by its sequels over the coming years. And every possible Pokemon merchandise from cards to Pikachu toilet seats, yes Pokemon is one marketing force to be reckoned with.

Pokemon Channel is a spin-off. Has nothing to do with the usual Pokemon concept, and instead takes a vast amount of the characters and puts them into a strange concept of a game.

GAMEPLAY 3/10

Now yes, game developers are usually blamed at not trying new ideas, instead shelving out "Another Sports Sim Version 2532" or whatever other genre. And for the sake of originality, Pokemon Channel is as unique as finding out you have purple grass growing in your back garden.

The concept is this, Oak wants you to test out a new TV channel, funnily enough named Pokemon Channel. Apparently so it appeals to both humans and pokemon. While you sit around the first show or two, a wild Pikachu wants to come in your house and uh...watch TV with you. Eventually your supposed to look after Pikachu, while Oak gives you new shows to watch daily. And there you have the basic plot. If you should call that one. But unique anyway.

Except for the fact this is not what you call a game. There is hardly much interaction involved, you have just watch more and more Pokemon TV, report to Oak, and wait for more shows to appear. On the first day of play, you try to go outside but Pikachu forces you to, yes, watch more TV. Torture is not a word best used here.

The shows themselves are lackluster and boring at best, even when one is a Pokemon fan. At the start you have:

Quiz Wobbafett

Consists of about 5 rounds where the contestant pokemon either guess "Whos that pokemon" by voice or by peek-a-boo method. You also have two rounds where you can gain pokemon money.

Pokemon News Broadcast

Psyduck is the host. Tries to be funny but fails at best. Gives clues to Nice Cards whereabouts.

Pichu & Pichu In Party Panic

Probably one of the only shows worth watching....about twice. It is an anime that is split into 5 parts given day by day.

Shop 'N Squirtle

Buy actual items with Pokemon money you may have collected. Probably the show you'll visit most. Since you can get Pokemon Mini games, Nice Cards, and other random stuff.

Now if it was not enough that to watch just those takes little over 15mins, since the game is in real-time you have to wait a whole day for the next bunch. Unless, that is, you change the GC clock forward every 20 or so mins, meaning the game lasts about an hour or two.

The most "game" you'll get is from the Pokemon Mini games you can find/buy. They are the same exact games from the actual Pokemon Mini Nintendo released during the 2001-2002 period. But as fun as they are, they're nothing special, and lose the whole purpose of being able to play them handheld.

GRAPHICS 7/10

It's polished. For that you can't deny. The pokemon themselves are high-res, but nothing amazing. The three areas you vist, snow/village/seaside are hardly something to write home about, especially since you can't do much but click things and test your pokemon knowledge. A shame since by this time you'll be sure that "Oh man. There's got to be some depth to this".

The menu screens are rather dull. The odd touch of being able to decorate your room is a nice one, but nothing amazing there either. Which brings me to Smeagle Art, you can take any part of any show on Pokemon Channel and paint it to your liking. This is a great idea...until you realize its not simple to do at all, lack of colors and then you'll be run out of interest also.

SOUND 4/10

Pokemon games usually have good music, which this has also let down. The plinky plonky tunes of the Game Boy are better then the stuff here. Un-inspired stuff. You'll probably be mainly listening to the Pichu Bros theme over and over. For about 4 times before that gets old as well, anyway.

As for sound effects, all the Pokemon noises are here. Although some Pokemon Veterans might notice some pokemon have their voices changed from the anime. Which is strange. But for the most part it's all fine.
However, this is also a downfall. Hearing Pikachu saying it's name a million times during play can drive you up the wall. Makes it seem more like a test of "How much can you endure before you can switch this game off?". This also happens in the shows.

REPLAY 5/10

After the six real-time days of play ( I feel your pain, viewers who have done this ) you have a few things left to do. Firstly there is always the art program, which won't last long. And likewise to the Pokemon Mini games.
Then you have the Pokemon Nice Cards. Which you can buy, or other Pokemon can give you in the three areas/levels in the game. Will you want to do this? If you're a completist, perhaps. But I'd fear for your sanity. After the 101 Nice cards, you can happily take the disc out and play catch with your pet dog in the park, using the Pokemon Channel game disc, of course.

OVERALL 4/10

How Nintendo? How did you let this past Quality Control? I mean, do you really think it would sale from it's name alone? Oh right, you added a downloadable Jirachi.

So folks. Want to complete your Pokedex for only the price of a new game? Then go ahead and buy this. Jirachi itself is a great addition to Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire. And it's unique Phycic/Steel skill is sure to please many of you.

If you're buying this in hope of an actual game, stay away. Let it rot in the bargin bins until it starts to smell so rotten it's sent back to Nintendo. No don't give me the "it's for small kids" excuse. Even children of 5 and below will tell how dreadful this game is.

This would actually be 2/10. It's only Jirachi and the Pokemon Mini games that save it. And you need to cope with the game to appreciate both. And I'm sure many, many won't.

Nintendo, you have made a loyal fan upset and angry. I hope nothing like this is published by you in the light of day again.

Final Score:4/10

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 05/26/04