Pokémon Colosseum
| Pokémon Colosseum | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Genius Sonority |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo GameCube |
| Release | November 21, 2003 (JP) March 22, 2004 (US) May 14, 2004 (EU) |
| Genre(s) | RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
Pokémon Colosseum is the 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. Pre-orders for the game started on February 9, 2004 and those who pre-ordered the game were able to receive a special bonus disc that contains the normally unobtainable Pokémon Jirachi (a similar promotion in Japan contained the similar Pokémon Celebi), as well as a fix for the infamous "berry glitch" in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Europeans saw the game released on May 7, 2004, minus the bonus disc.
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.
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.
Pokémon Colosseum also 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.
This new RPG takes place in the arid Orre region, and features new Shadow Pokémon and a brand new criminal organization, Team Cipher. They are similar in some respects to Team Rocket of previous games. The evil organization is attempting to turn all Pokémon into Shadow Pokémon by closing their hearts off, and it is the player's job to stop them. In another twist to the Pokémon series, this is be the first game ever where other Trainers' Pokémon can be captured—or snagged, as it is called. However, snagging only applies to Shadow Pokémon, and the purpose of capturing the Shadow Pokémon is so that they can later be purified, changing them back into normal Pokémon. The player's character has a female partner who has the ability to see the dark aura surrounding Shadow Pokémon.
While it has limited storage ability for Pokémon, another GameCube software title, Pokémon Box, has taken over the storage duties from the Pokémon Stadium games.
Story
The game takes place in the region of Orre, a barren wasteland overrun with crime. Wes (the main character whose name is chosen by the player), is a former member of Team Snagem, now on the run for stealing their Snag Machine, an item which allowed them the ability to take Pokémon from other Trainers.
As the game progresses, Wes begins to learn of a diabolical plot by another organization known as Cipher, involving the transformation of the Pokémon stolen by Snagem into heartless Shadow Pokémon. Along with Rui (also player's choice of name), a girl who has the supernatural ability to see the dark auras of Shadow Pokémon, Wes seeks to capture and purify them, while bringing down the sinister organisation.
Main characters
- Wes: The hero of the game. He was once a member of Team Snagem. His main Pokémon are Umbreon and Espeon. Wes stole the Snag Machine from Team Snagem's headquarters and met Rui, a girl that could see Shadow Pokémon. (The player can choose his name, as well as Rui's. Wes is briefly mentioned by a number of NPCs in Pokémon XD, the sequel, but his name is never mentioned.) Where he is by the time of XD is unknown.
- Rui: The heroine of the game. Rui is a red-head that can see whether a Pokémon is a Shadow Pokémon or not. She was kidnapped by thugs, but was saved by Wes and his Pokémon. She follows him for the rest of the game. (Rui is briefly mentioned by a number of NPCs in the sequel but her name is never mentioned.) Where she is by the time of XD is unknown.
- Nascour: Nascour is the chief executive of Team Cipher. He has a very intimidating air, with a scale-covered outfit and long, silver hair reminiscient of Sephiroth's from Final Fantasy. Nascour seems to be the leader of Cipher, but he may be taking orders from someone else. Nascour has a Shadow Metagross.
- Gonzap: Gonzap is the muscular leader of Team Snagem. He is mean and he had a grudge to settle with Wes after he made off with the Snag Machine and blew up the Team Snagem headquarters. Gonzap has a Shadow Skarmory, which can be seen in the beginning scenes flying in the background.
- Miror B.: Miror B is an Admin of Cipher. He loves to dance, and that is probably why he is dressed like a man from the seventies. He is famous for his giant afro and his squad of Ludicolos. He has a Shadow Sudowoodo.
- Dakim: Dakim is an Admin of Cipher. He is bad-tempered and has wavy red hair. He likes power and crushes his enemies with his mighty Pokémon. He mainly uses Earthquake and Protect in battles. Dakim has a Shadow Entei.
- Venus: Venus is an Admin of Cipher. She was an idol in The Under, until Wes and Rui stopped her. Venus mostly relies on status effects in Pokémon Battles. If she loses, she starts to scream angrily. She has a Shadow Suicune.
- Ein: Ein is an Admin of Cipher. He is also the Chief Scientist for the Shadow Pokémon Plan. Ein likes to be responsible and enjoys battling. Ein mainly uses electric and water Pokémon. He has a Shadow Raikou, of which he is very proud, to the point where he has styled his hair after Raikou's tail.
- Kid's Grid: The Kid's Grid is a club which several children across Orre talk to each other and send secret information about Snagem. It was blocked by Cipher's computers. The Kid's Grid consists of Secc, Marcia, Nett, Bitt, Perr and Megg.
- Duking: Duking is the colosseum owner in Pyrite Town. He often helps Wes by giving him information about the shadow Pokémon plan. He has four children: Secc, Marcia, Perr and Tara, who all are part of the Kids Grid underground community. Duking's friend is Silva and he has a Plusle as a Pokémon.
- Silva: Silva is Duking's friend. At the beginning of the game he is first seen arguing with Duking about why Duking is not trying to stop Cipher. He later gives Wes useful information at the Under and the Colosseum.
- Chief Sherles: Police chief of Pyrite Town. He usually stays in his office while Johnson patrols the streets of Pyrite.
- Johnson: Johnson is the main police officer of Pyrite Town. He works with Sherles. He sometimes has to deal with Cail, who has a Shadow Furret. He is very clumsy and will often crash in to people if he's in a hurry (which is often)
- Eagun, Beluh and Pikachu: Eagun is Rui's grandfather and also a famous retired Pokémon Master. He lives with his wife, Beluh, in Agate Village. Beluh is Rui's grandmother and she worries a lot. They share their house with Eagun's Pikachu. (NOTE: It has been theorized that Eagun is really Red from the first Pokémon game. This is hinted at by Rui, who states that Eagun was a "Legendary Pokémon Master" when he was younger. While the anime contradicts this, the games have first priority.)
- Es Cade(WARNING! May contain spoilers): Es Cade is the mayor of Phenac City. He seems to help Wes and Rui in the beginning of the game, although it can not be plainer that he is making no effort whatsoever. He leaves his home frequently, which leads to the suspicion that he may be doing other things. In fact, he is actually Evice, the head of Cipher, who Wes battles at the Tower Colosseum. He has a Shadow Tyranitar.
- Vander: Vander is an area leader at Mt. Battle. He owns the Time Flute, which can summon Celebi to the shrine in Agate Village.
- Ho-oh: This legendary bird can be seen after thwarting Cipher, defeating Nascour, and defeating the secret boss of Cipher.
Locations
Sequels
The long rumored Pokémon XD was confirmed when Nintendo Executive Reggie Fils-Aime said in an interview with IGN that the game will have deep RPG gameplay similar to Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
Its full Japanese name is Pokémon XD: Dark Winds Dark Lugia, while its full English name is Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. It has similar gameplay to Colosseum, complete with snaggable shadow Pokémon. The player starts with a level 10 Eevee this time, and levels progress more closely to the Game Boy RPG's. Some 4th generation Pokémon also make an appearance, such as Munchlax and Bonsly, however they are not catchable, although the player has the ability to battle with a simulated Bonsly in a bonus Battle Bingo card.
A new trainer named Michael becomes the hero in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. It is known that Miror B makes an appearance in Pokémon XD but after Colosseum he becomes a common thief along with the thugs in the beginning of the Colosseum, Trudly and Folly. Team Snagem also make reappearances.
Pokémon Battle Revolution has been announced for the Wii and is suspected to be a sequel to the GameCube RPGs.
External links
- Nintendo.com's information page
- Pokémon-Games.com special
- GameFAQ: Pokémon Colosseum (features guides, secrets, saves etc.)
- IGN: Pokémon Colosseum (features reviews, images, video's etc.)
- Pokemon Colosseum Soundtrack