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BATTLE SYSTEM
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INTERACTION
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ORIGINALITY
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STORY
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MUSIC & SOUND
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VISUALS
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CHALLENGE
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Easy to Medium
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COMPLETION TIME
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30-50 hrs.
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OVERALL
2.5/5
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Rating definitions
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Although it lacks the depth of its Game Boy counterparts, Pokemon Colosseum
offers some unique and interesting challenges that should make it a worthwhile purchase for any fan
of the series. However, due to the general lack of depth, Colosseum would not make a very good
introduction to the world of Pokemon, and like most Pokemon games, will most certainly not change
the mind of anyone who already knows how they feel about the series. Pokemon Colosseum is very firmly
aimed at entrenched Pokemon fans, specifically those who have become bored with what the GBA Pokemon
titles have to offer.
Pokemon Colosseum has two modes; the first is Colosseum mode, which closely
resembles the Pokemon Stadium games for the N64. It features six Colosseums, two of which must be
unlocked, which can be completed in one-on-one or two-on-two matches. These battles range from the
ridiculously easy to insanely difficult, and can prove a challenge to even the most accomplished
trainer. Colosseum mode also features multi-player options and a special 100-match challenge. This
mode rewards players for completing the often difficult challenges with PokeCoupons, which allow the
player to buy rare items and berries that were previously unobtainable. It is odd, however, that the
designers would choose to penalize the player for using the same Legendary creatures as their computer
opponents. The other mode featured is Story Mode, which features a plot set in a previously
unexplored region of the Pokemon world known as Orre.
One of the unique things about Pokemon Colosseum in general, and the Orre
region in particular, is that there are no wild Pokemon. Instead players are given the chance to
"Snag", or steal, Pokemon from opposing Trainers. There is a hitch however; players may only snag
Shadow Pokemon, which are described as Pokemon who have "had the door to their heart closed off."
Technically, Shadow Pokemon are just normal critters who have had their moves deleted and their EXP
meter sealed in order to gain the ability to attack humans. As the hero of the story, it is the
player's job to steal these creatures back from their trainers and purify their hearts, reopening
them to the influence of Trainers. This story does take the Pokemon world in a slightly darker
direction - none of the other games dealt with such a serious and imminent bodily threat - but for
the most part the tone is very similar to that of the earlier games in the series. No one is ever
seriously injured, Pokemon do not die in battle but merely "faint", and despite the seriousness of
the threat involved, humans never directly conflict. In fact, despite the thunderbolts and fireballs
flying every which way during battles, the actual violence is surprisingly tame. This does make the
story come off as more than just a little contrived, but this is hardly anything new to those who've
played earlier Pokemon games.
Colosseum is just about the only place to get Pokemon from G/S.
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The visuals of Pokemon Colosseum bring a new and interesting dimension to the
Pokemon themselves with a higher level of detail and a surprising amount of attention put into the
character models and animation. The various visual effects used throughout the game are well done,
but the lack of variety in the animations undermines the overall effect. The game's style is slightly
darker, slightly more punk than earlier Pokemon games. Whereas in Ruby and Sapphire the player faced
off against Bug Catchers and Lasses, Colosseum pits the player against Bodybuilders, Peons, Chasers,
and in one memorable battle, against a disco dancing Administrator with a giant multicolored afro.
Again, this slight shift in style and presentation makes Pokemon a bit more accessible to older gamers,
but in a game where the player can pit a pink bulldog in a dress against a small blue lungfish in a
battle for domination, the only real prerequisite is the ability to leave common sense by the side of
the road.
Combat differs from the norm in that two-on-two matches, which were something
of a gimmick in Ruby and Sapphire, are now the preferred method of battling. Two-on-two battles
require a slight but important shift in tactics, as the player now has to think about the shared
weaknesses of their Pokemon - releasing two Pokemon with the same weakness opens them up to a potentially
devastating attack should the opposing Pokemon use a move they are both weak against. The game also
differs by being genuinely difficult in places. Enemies are now more aware not only of the concept and
interaction of elemental strengths and weaknesses, but also of the relative strengths in levels,
defenses and method of attack, and will adjust their tactics accordingly. One thing the game does which
is a measure of the increased difficulty, as well as a fairly cheap tactic by the programmers, is
altering its initial combat lineup to better counter that of the player. While on the one hand it is
nice to be challenged by a Pokemon game for a change, the designers should have found a better way to
do it than by blatantly cheating.
Transferring your hard-trained Pokemon opens up some interesting battles.
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The music of Pokemon Colosseum is a decided improvement upon that of earlier
entries, both in sound quality and in quality of composition. There is a great variety of music in
Pokemon Colosseum, ranging from acoustic Western-style guitar tracks to classical string to straight
up Disco-boogie. The music doesn't always mesh perfectly with the onscreen action, but for the most
part it isn't a bad soundtrack. The decidedly limited sound effects, on the other hand, are a fairly
dull lot. Most of the Pokemon cries appear to have been lifted directly from the GBA and GBC games
from which they originate, and so remain extremely mechanical-sounding. The music isn't a bad
collection of ear candy, but the sound effects are a bit of a black mark on the overall sound.
The interface is a bit of an improvement over previous Pokemon games. Although
it does have a significant lag when bringing up the menu, the condensed menus and simplified field
controls make it easy to learn and use. The translation is fair, but lacks some polish. The game is
seriously contrived in more places than is really comfortable, which comes off as something of an
insult towards the children this game is aimed at. It's as though Nintendo didn't think that they had
to go very far with the plot simply because of the age group of their target audience. Overall the
translation isn't horrible, but it's not the sort of thing which will earn Nintendo any awards.
The combination of Story Mode and Colosseum Mode gives Pokemon Colosseum a
leg up on the Stadium games, but in the end it suffers from the same problem - a general lack of depth.
Pokemon Colosseum is by no means a poor game, but there are better RPGs on the market and better
Pokemon games on the Game Boy Advance. In general, Pokemon Colosseum is for those gamers who have
exhausted the possibilities of the GBA Pokemon titles and are looking for a new challenge.
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