26-Apr-2004 Colosseum isn't quite the Pokemon you know and love, but you'll still have a (Poke)ball playing it Pokémon fans rejoice, as the mother of all monster battles is about to be unleashed on Cube. In this update of Pokémon Stadium, you not only get the chance to battle with the critters you collected on your travels in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire on Game Boy Advance, but there's also a brand new RPG Story Mode.
Essentially you're getting two games for the price of... at least two. Because if you want to get the most from Colosseum, it's wise to have already fully explored either Pokémon Ruby or Sapphire and collected as many monsters as you can. You can then unleash them in 3D arena battles on the GameCube.
Hey, What Is This? But newcomers aren't unwelcome. For if you've never played a Pokémon title before, you're not excluded from the fun or required to fork out on all the cross-title connectors and monster swapping antics.
The brand new Story Mode lets you explore the world of Pokémon for the first time in 3D. We may have seen the monsters in all their 3D glory before, but this time you also get to see Pokémon Centres, rival trainers, villages and towns in 3D too. It's quite a treat on the eyes, coming on like a cuddly version of Final Fantasy.
Don't Call Me The Wanderer There's also a treat for players who are tired of spending hours and hours wandering about in the Pokémon wilderness waiting for an appearance from a rare creature. In Colosseum's Story Mode, there's no wandering at all. You simply choose a location you want to travel to on a map, hey presto and a cut-scene later, you're there! This 'innovation' means that there are no wild monsters to be caught. Instead you're on the lookout for Shadow Pokémon.
The Shadow Knows "Shadow Pokémon!" you say, spitting your cornflakes all over the page. What the hell are they? Only sweet and innocent Pokémon that have been changed by an evil organisation so that their hearts remain shut. It's the saddest story we've ever heard. This tinkering under the bonnet by the dastardly evil organisation means Shadow Pokémon can launch attacks on rival trainers and are a bugger to train.
A new type of genetically modified Pokémon means a modified version of the Pokémon rules. No longer is it forbidden to catch a rival trainer's Pokémon during battle, but on one condition: only if it's a Shadow Pokemon. Before you shout bad form in an old-fashioned and very British way, don't feel bad about stealing from your opponents. The story sets up the action of stealing Shadow Pokémon as a worthy cause. Don't think of it as stealing, it's more liberating, more humane, more er... Poké-mane!
Pokemon Paradise But wait, there's more! That's just the Story Mode we've covered. There's also the entirely separate Battle Mode. This part of the game is essentially the Cube update to the N64 Pokémon Stadium. To fully enjoy this section you really have to invest in all the add-ons. These include a GBA, a GBA-Cube link cable and a copy of Pokémon Ruby or Sapphire.
Once they're all hooked up - and you'll need the help of NASA scientists to perform this - you can import your monster squad from the Game Boy titles and battle all-comers in lavish 3D arenas. There are loads of configurations to play around with, with two-on-two battles, the more traditional one-on-one and loads of ways to get your friends linked into the action too. Great stuff!
So, is it a worthy entry in the Pokémon universe, or just another way of extracting a little more cash from your Pokémon-loving mitts? We'd say a definite worthy entry. The Battle side alone is worth the price of admission. Seeing the Game Boy monsters in full 3D with great animation is a lot different to how they look on a tiny GBA screen. Then the Story Mode points towards an exciting future for the series. One that's not limited to portable gaming, but could flourish as an epic RPG series played on a top home system. Pokémon we salute you.
A dream for Poké-holics, the Battle mode would have been good enough on its own, but the added RPG is a great reason to rush out and buy. No, honestly.
It wouldn't be a Pokémon game without some link-up action, and Colosseum offers the mother of all link-ups. You even have to interact in the GBA world before you can unleash your monsters on the Cube. It's all very clever.
Seeing your GBA monsters on the GameCube is a real thrill – it’s like they’ve been set free
Select your monsters for battle – a human opponent can’t see who you’ve chosen until the fight begins
Chat to the lady at the desk and you can upload your Pokémon party into the Colosseum world
Enter a Pokémon Centre on your GBA, go to the upstairs room and approach the person at the first desk
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