Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team

"One day, you awaken as a Pokemon..."

-Introduction-
As you sleep through the night, you dream of meeting a Pokemon, a Pokemon named Gardevoir. You see her in your dream, but you haven't the faintest idea of what that means...yet. The next morning, you wake up, and you're a Pokemon! You take a small test that determines which Pokemon you are, and bam, instant Pokemon! Not knowing what has happened, you step outside, only to discover that everyone else has transformed into a Pokemon as well. Feeling rather scared of your new look, you helplessly stumble further outside, where you meet your chosen companion, team member and friend. You have a list of what Pokemon you would like as a partner. After much chattering and preparation, you two decide to create a team; a rescue team. Since every other Pokemon that has a dream is doing it. You both decide on making a rescue team, given, the Blue Rescue Team. Your job is to check your mailbox and/or bulletin board for posts by people seeking help; you are to answer these plights by entering dungeons of different floors (some dungeons have as many as 30 floors, while some only have 3) and rescue whoever is lost/in need of help, or to obtain an item that the client has requested. After much toil and hardship, you finally realize the reason why you have been transformed...and that, is where the real fun begins!

-Gameplay-
As you set forth into the game, you discover that you're not alone; there are many people, much like yourself, who desire help. A person of much pious, you feel more than obligated to assist everyone you possibly can. Setting into the day with your partner, you take on missions, battle other Pokemon and help stop evil Pokemon (like Gengar) from ruining the world of Pokemon, and your dreams and even your chances of ever going back home (to your old self again).

-Story-
As said in the "Introduction" section, you awaken one day as a Pokemon. You feel confused, disoriented and a little nauseated. You set out with a newly met and found partner, who will assist you and the rest of the team in your quest to save the land of Pokemon. The game revolves around your main starter, which is chosen by aide of a test that you take before the actual game begins. There is a large variety of Pokemon to become, just experiment with the test before you actually intend to save your game, so you can keep going back and retaking it if you start out with something like Machop, which quite frankly, isn't the best bet. And since all of the questions for the test are always different, it's hard to rig one. Regardless, keep trying and soon you'll find the Pokemon that best reflects you! Just remember, you can choose to answer these questions honestly, or dishonestly; either way, it won't matter except for the fact that it will determine which Pokemon you become. Just keep that in mind.

-Sound-
The sound is ok. After you've played this game 15 minutes, the music will become annoying, but other than that, it's great. Nice effects to the moves as well. Different effects and animations make battling wild Pokemon in free-movement style is really a nice change to the turn-based no movement battle style everyone is used to playing.

-Controls-
Seems hard at first, but becomes quite simple. Simple enough that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to learn them. You can assign one of your moves to a button and have it set for easier and quicker access. Instead of just going into your move pool and then selecting the move from there. For the ripe alternative to pressing buttons (I know how this can be a burden at times), you can also use the stylus, just touch which option/item/action/command/etc. you want and there you go. Same effect as using buttons. Many other Nintendo DS games don't match their button-functions with the stylus features; this one does.

-Challenge-
At times, it can hold a tremendous challenge; at others, it's a lot easier than it sounds. For even more fun, you can double up on the fun and link up with people either wirelessly (two game cards), or via Nintendo WiFi. Either way, you can post friend codes, etc. And then post codes for your friends to enter and rescue you from any dungeon you're in, regardless of the floor. That way, if you run out of items, or are close to fainting, your friend(s) can come help you. What fun!

-Replay Value-
Aside from the story and as far as I know, it's endless. You can continue taking on missions/jobs, and rescuing other Pokemon and doing personal missions for them. Also, you can always rely on your friends to come rescue you if you're stuck in a dungeon and need a way out. I think the replay value of this game is a lot better than some of the other Pokemon games out there.

-Buy or Rent?-
I'd definitely buy this one. Not just because it's a Pokemon game, but because it's a fun RPG that rests on the same shoulders as other fun Pokemon games, but operates a lot differently. I would really recommend buying this, as it's hard to come by such fun and unique games like these!

-Conclusion-
To wrap things up here, I would like to give my props to the makers of this game, and their brilliant techs. Also, thanks Nintendo. For publishing another priceless artifact. I've had this game for a long time now and I still play it off and on to this day. Go Pokemon!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/19/07