Friendship is a CircleHi I'm back again with another review. Hope you all enjoy this one as well. So let's go!
Graphics: 8
So the graphics of this game are good but compared to the two sequels and other games on the DS it could have been better. But It was one of the first Pokémon games to have a full character not an 8-bit figure. You could see a lot more detail about your character this way. Plus the landscapes were well made. Full 3D figures of Pokémon not in wild grass were present as well. Seeing as this game has a different encounter style and capture method than the main series games, this was a nice change.
Sound: 10
Ok, so If you have read my other Pokémon Ranger review for the third game you will know that I love the music. It's one of the best parts of the game. They stick with me even as I'm writing this...(or maybe I'm actually listening to it right now but still) The music is awesome. I love certain parts more than others my favorite being the Go Rock Quad Theme. So awesome.
Addictiveness: 9
I like to play through this game from the beginning occasionally but its less likely for me to restart this one as there are several spots completely hate. I won't go into detail but I'm not good at stealth so yeah.... But there are some parts I love so it's hit or miss. But if I decide to do a three game run I start with this one. And then beat the second and third in order. That is time consuming but definitely an interesting way to play through them all.
Story: 8
While the story was there and good it was a bit vague at times. It was also a bit choppy. It focused on the missions most and a little back story and stuff. This game did not have side quests so it was pretty linear. But there were capture challenges that were fun and also to a point necessary for completely capturing all the Pokémon in the region. But mostly non-deviating and a little vague describes it pretty well.
Depth: 9
There is a lot of stuff to do but much of it is in the Ten mission story and a lot of tedious hunting afterward to find the other more elusive Pokémon. Plus a few that only appear after you beat the game or are only accessible after beating the main story. Some are only found in the sea and plains capture games. And even then only after capturing certain Pokémon first. I had to use a guide to get some of them.
Difficulty: 8
This game has many hard spots. From difficult captures to a stealth part (Arrrgg!!!) to simply trying to find all the Pokémon. So much is at a higher difficulty than I would have expected from the first of its kind. The simple fact that if your capture line breaks you have to circle the Pokémon again from the beginning. You get really good at dodging their attacks though. Don't even get me started on multiple Pokémon on the field. Then the final boss is ridiculously difficult Having three back to back captures. The first two are fine. But the third one I lost to so many times only to have to restart the entire final battle. (E4 much only three instead) The stealth I'm just no good at so yeah... The finding the Pokémon I described already so I won't do that again.
Overall: 8.6
Ok to sum this up this is a great game but with a few draw backs as to be expected of the first of it's line. This was one of my first two DS games I got when I first got my first DS. So I may be a bit biased but not really by much. It did a lot of good things but some thing were just infuriating. It's definitely a game to pick up if you get the chance. And if you like try the other two. They definitely build on the good qualities and fix the bad stuff.
Graphics
8 Sound
10 Addictive
9 Depth
9 Story
8 Difficulty
8