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Pokémon Colosseum

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Pokémon Colosseum
File:0004549696135 215X215.jpg
Developer(s)Genius Sonority
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Platform(s)Nintendo GameCube
ReleaseNovember 21, 2003 (JP)
March 22, 2004 (US)
May 14, 2004 (EU)
Genre(s)RPG
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Pokémon Colosseum (ポケモンコロシアム, Pokemon Koroshiamu) is the first GameCube incarnation of the Pokémon video game franchise. It follows the idea of the Nintendo 64 Pokémon Stadium video game series. The game was released in Japan on November 21, 2003, and was released in North America on March 23, 2004. It was released in Europe on May 7, 2004. It has since been followed up by Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, a 2005 sequel to this game.

Pokémon Colosseum puts significantly less importance on the non-RPG aspects of the game than Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2. For example, there are no minigames, nor is there a Gym Leader Tower. While it is the first 3D Pokémon video game with an RPG mode, it doesn't allow the player to use rental Pokémon the way the Pokémon Stadium games did. This was probably done because Pokémon are obtainable in the RPG mode, thus most of the features in the game are still usable without a Game Boy Advance Pokémon game or rentals. This title features support for the Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed and LeafGreen games.

It features all 386 known Pokémon as of the 3rd generation. The game feature a first for the Pokémon series, a true 3D role-playing game mode that allows the player to capture Pokémon that cannot be captured in Ruby and Sapphire, allowing them to eventually be transferred into said games. This includes Legendary Pokémon such as Ho-Oh. It also adds a new Pokémon status, Shadow Pokémon, which cannot be traded to any game until they lose their Shadow status.

Story

Template:Spoiler The game takes place in the region of Orre, a barren wasteland overrun with crime. It begins with Wes (the main character, whose name is chosen by the player) planting a bomb in the Team Snagem hideout and racing out as the place explodes. Wes also steals a handheld Snag Machine. Shortly after the explosion, the news network reports that the large Team Snagem "Snag Machine" was destroyed on the explosion and that a smaller, handheld version has been stolen. The latter is of particular concern because it allows the user to steal other trainers' Pokémon. The newscaster ends with the hopeful remark that the persons will be caught and the Snag Machine retrieved.

Meanwhile, as Wes enters Phenac City, he sees two suspicious-looking men attempting to haul a bag into their truck. He challenges them to a battle. After he wins, the men flee, and Wes unties the bag to reveal a girl named Rui. Rui is happy to be released and tells Wes that she can see a dark aura around some Pokémon, which is why the two thugs attempted to kidnap her. The two of them go to the mayor, named Es Cade, whom questions Rui's sightings but promises to help them out.

Along the way, Wes and Rui track down these suspicious Pokémon. From picking up a set of items known as the Ein Files, they learn that Shadow Pokémon are Pokémon whose hearts have been artificially closed. Whenever Wes goes into battle, Rui spots the Shadow Pokémon and alerts Wes, who can then use his Snag Machine to capture them. Along the way, they meet a number of admins, who hail from a criminal syndicate called Team Cipher. Wes and Rui defeat them all and trace the syndicate back to the head boss.

Finally, Wes and Rui arrive at Realgam Tower. After facing against the four admins once again, Wes obtains the key cards to reach the top of the tower. There, he is greeted by a large crowd, and a man named Nascour tells Wes that he will have to repay all of the debt that Wes had inflicted on them. After Wes defeats all of the trainers and then Nascour, Nascour attempts to save face, only to be interrupted by Es Cade. Es Cade reveals himself to be Evice, the secret head of the Cipher organization, and battles Wes. When Wes defeats him, Evice attempts to escape by helicopter, but the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh swoops in and destroys it.

Gameplay

Colosseum features a number of distinct gameplay elements from other pokemon games. It is the first game where the player can steal (Snag) other trainers' Pokémon without cheating. One of the most defining characteristics is the lack of random battles or ability to catch wild Pokémon. Battles are only conducted between trainers and in Colosseums and always in 2-on-2 format. It also features Shadow Pokémon, whose hearts have been artificially closed.

Unlike the main handheld series, the protagonist (Wes) is already a Pokémon trainer before the start of the game, and starts off as an "anti hero" character beforehand. Rui is the first non-playable character to follow the progatonist around. Wes also begins with two starter Pokémon, instead of one, and Colosseum is the first game to feature the protagonist with the Eevee family as starters. Prior to this game, Pokémon Yellow featured an Eevee as a starter, but only the rival received the Eevee.

Battle Mode

In the non-RPG portion of the game, there are several options present here.

Solo Mode

  • Colosseum Battle: Similar to Pokémon Stadium, this is the mode where you battle with a registered team (Either from Story mode or Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald/Leaf Green/Fire Red). Unlike Pokémon Stadium, Colosseum battle is divided by Colosseums instead of cups. There are four colosseums of rising difficulty for Level 50 pokémon, and 2 colosseums for Level 100 Pokémon. Additionally, each Colosseum is playable in Single Battle or Double Battle mode. Victory (8 Battles) is rewarded with PokéCoupons.
  • Mt. Battle VS 100: Similar to the one in Story Mode, this mode pits the player against 100 trainers of increasing difficulty. Every 10 battles there is a rest stop where the player is awarded some Pokécoupons and is given the option to take the coupons and end the game. The challenge is that the Pokécoupons are only awarded if the player chooses to end the game at a rest stop or beats all 100 trainers. Also playable in Single or Double Battle modes. After beating the 100 trainers and having caught and purified all Shadow Pokémon, Ho-Oh will be transferred into the PC, saying that it will give its service upon you.* PokéCoupon Exchange: PokéCoupons are awarded for completing Colosseum or Mt. Battle mode. This mode allows a player to exchange their hard earned PokéCoupons for items, some of which can only be obtained this way. Note that using Legendary Pokémon in either mode reduces the amount of PokéCoupons earned.

Gang Battle

This mode allows up to 4 players to fight against each other. The first player can either use the Story Mode team or their own from a GBA, but each additional player must have their own GBA to play. Custom Rules are available. 2 Player battles occur in Pyrite Colosseum, while 4 player Battles occur in The Under Colosseum.

Locations

Main article: Orre

Colosseum takes place in the new region of Orre.

Pre-order

Pre-orders for the game started on February 9, 2004. Players who pre-ordered the game received a special Pokémon Colosseum Bonus Disk that contains the normally unobtainable Pokémon Jirachi (a similar promotion in Japan contained the similar Pokémon Celebi). It also povides a fix for the "berry glitch" in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. This offer was only for North America, however people living in Europe and Australia could still obtain Jirachi by completing Pokémon Channel.

Manga

There have been two manga released in Japan based on this game One was a one chapter strategy guide and the other was more than just a strategy guide and ran in the Netkun Grade 2 magazine in the January, February, and March editions and ran for a short three chapters. Both are nearly impossible to find to this day as they were never reprinted.

Reception

  • This game currently has an aggregate review score of 74.4% on Game Rankings [1]. Most reviewers praised the game because it had a story line in comparsion to the fighting-dominated game of its predecessor, Pokémon Stadium. The aspect of not being able to catch wild Pokémon was noted, but reviewers found the system of Shadow Pokémon to be unique, although some complained that the process of purification was tedious [2].
  • In 2006, television network HGTV produced new program advertisements for Designed to Sell. One of these featured a preteen boy playing with a game (you can clearly see the Z button on the GameCube controller, as the view of the controller is from the side). The host blocks the screen and talks to the boy about home improvement. At the end, the host's body does not fully block the screen, resulting in a status bar for Armaldo appearing (it was in the upper right corner of the depicted TV) in full Colosseum style.

References

  1. ^ Pokémon Colosseum Reviews. Game Rankings. Retrieved December 6, 2006.
  2. ^ Davis, Ryan Pokémon Colossum for GameCube review. GameSpot. March 22, 2004.
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