Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness Review (no fat)

Game Description

Pokemon returns once again to the Gamecube, in a similar but exciting new story, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness . With the help of Eevee, gamers play a young trainer on a mission to cleanse the Shadow Pokemon of the world.

Shadow Lugia Pokemon run rampant through the land, from the direct interference of an evil organization. Battle all kinds of Pokemon, in a smooth and colorful 30 frames per second, while figuring out a way to bring goodness back to the hearts of the Pokemon in Orre.

Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness Gameplay

Pokemon games have always been light hearted RPG’s with the focus on capturing and raising the levels of your Pokemon. But the last Pokemon game introduced to the console system a more story orientated form of gameplay…this outing is no different.

The focus centers on ‘purifying’ Shadow Pokemon, and then proceeding with the benefits of leveling. A clever contraption for the player allows them to not only spot Shadow Pokemon but to also capture them from rival trainers. The new machine in Gale of Darkness allows you to purify up to nine Pokemon plus yours at a time -- a big timesaver over the previous version. Choosing either that or the slower method of earning their trust will reap benefits, as cleansed Pokemons are allowed to level up and evolve properly.

Saves are also allowed anywhere, a welcome addition borrowed from the Gameboy format. Players will encounter a lot of interesting characters from the Pokemon world, and even search and battle in lands familiar to those of the earlier game.

The game really earns its bucks with the multiplayer battling, with enough tweaks from the original version to make this one stand on its own legs in multiplayer battling.

Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness Learning Curve

A lot of things won’t show themselves as options until later on in the game, which may confuse players. The best advice for gamers is to play through the early parts and get a feel for it, even if you have experienced the first version. A few changes here and there may restart your interest in certain areas and even educate you on things you did not know.

Capturing wild Pokemon is a new feature since now you can recruit out of battles. You can lure them with food and, once they take the bait, you are alerted and have to hurry to catch them before they get away. The process is innovative, but with both pros and cons.

Battling is self explanatory, even for someone who has never played a Pokemon game. Even with the two on two battles players will easily realize that battling is more along the lines of knowing the Pokemon's strengths and weaknesses. Turn based, all Pokemon games rely on a rock, paper, scissors way of battling. If you know Pokemon's then chances are battling will be as simple as choosing the proper Pokemon. Before even getting into serious battles it is important to take advantage of the many helpful places around you i.e. shops to power up your Pokemon, and Pokemon centers, for general keep up.

Pokemon's never die, but merely faint or turn tail and run when they know they are beaten. The while thing makes the game very kid friendly. Battles require very little user interaction, but do tax the mind. Here it would be very important to clarify that Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness isn’t very different from Colosseum, there is very little different except for the storyline.

Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness Graphics

The graphics are gorgeous, and really show off the Gamecube's underrated hardware. With colors and improved shades the game looks good enough to where it does the Pokemon cartoon series justice. The style of 3D has an anime touch that many followers can relate to, and battling with Pokemon is only enhanced with the new Trainer animations (a lot more expressive makes it more fun to battle). The animations for many things however stay the same. Pokemon still don’t come in contact with each other during battle .

Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness Sound

This is easily the best battle music in a Pokemon game, the tracks are limited throughout the rest of the game for similar quality but since battling is when most players will come alive it runs well.

Sounds effects are top notch, even with the lack of Pokemon voices. Having said that, it’s mostly a rehash of Pokemon Colosseum so you won’t get much original stuff here.

Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness Summing Up

Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness is what many will call a toss up. On one hand, the game is nothing more than a remake of Pokemon Colosseum with some bells and whistles, on the other hand, if you never played the Colosseum, it is pretty fun. Nintendo has a reputation especially with the Pokemon series of doing this, as fans of the GBC+GBA games will tell you from their many purchases of the same game, only for different Pokemon in the other.

While it is not the same story as was told in Pokemon Colosseum, the little touch ups do little to justify the brand new price tag. This is a great game to play if you have not played Colleseum, but unless you are a die hard Pokemon fan, you might want to hold on to your bucks until something ‘new’ comes up.

Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness Cost

Pokemon XD retails for $49.99US at the time of this review.