Hello, Flash1225 here for my first review of any, really, any game on the website, specifically Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, and more specifically, the series as a whole.
Graphics: 8
The graphics has remained the same throughout installments 1 and 2, but it definitely improved in the third installment, Gates to Infinity. The graphics in the first 2 installments are pixelated and easy to see the individual pixels, but definitely good. Since Gates to Infinity was for the 3DS, which meant smoother graphics.
Sound: 9
The series' sound FX and music tracks have rather distinct variations; in Red and Blue Rescue Team, the FX have a distinct echoing effect, making it seem like it's coming straight out of the dungeon. The music was really good, and I think even the development team knew the soundtrack was amazing, which brings me to Explorers of Darkness, one of the three games in the third installment. The FX is basically the same as in the first installment, but without that echoing effect. The music has changed, of course, due to the new dungeons, but one of the post-game dungeons, Blizzard Island, is basically Throwback Mountain due to its music,a mix of Mt. Freeze, Sky Tower, Mt. Thunder, and Thunder-wave Cave, all from Red and Blue Rescue Team. Gates to Infinity has, with a better sound engine, better FX and soundtrack, and for sure a different mix of soundtracks, none from the previous installments' soundtracks.
Addictiveness: 9
Like the main Pokémon series, as I have seen from what other have said in their reviews, the Mystery Dungeon series is very addictive. The big thing throughout the series is that it's basically like snowflakes; no two floor layouts are the same. Gates to Infinity, though... Only interactive items, such as stairs, item, etc., as well as the starting point of each floor. The layout of the rooms and hallways are the same. One really fun thing about the post game in Gates to Infinity, though, is a dungeon's Mysteriousity, which affects how often strange events occur. Such events include all enemies being stronger, finding one type of item on a floor, or even finding yourself in a completely different dungeon!
Story: 7
The series has never really deviated from its basic story-line: You're a human who has been turned into a Pokémon and dropped into a world inhabited only by Pokémon. You can understand what they're saying, and moreover, your purpose in that world is initially unknown. Over time, though, it becomes clear what that purpose is: save the world from impending calamity that would destroy the world. Gates to Infinity, being really short, doesn't have enough time to deepen the plot, which kills my rating.
Depth: 9
I'd say the depth this games into their story can be pretty amazing. Plot twists, revelations, new mysteries, all of it is seen throughout the series. I don't really have much else to say about this one.
Difficulty: 7
The series has proved to be challenging if you don't really have any prior experience, and if you faint even once without a revival item on hand, you lose a usually small part of your inventory and all your money, so it's often a good idea to try not to faint in a dungeon. Gates to Infinity's difficulty can be broken with the new Companion Mode, which allows you to play as a team member back at your team base, and send items over to your team that's out in a dungeon via the storage box.
Overall: 8.8
I'd say the series as a whole is pretty good, but it does deserve a better rating, but I think if the developers did better when they developed the game, I might give the series a better rating. Hello, Flash1225 here for my first review of any, really, any game on the website, specifically Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, and more specifically, the series as a whole.
Graphics: 8
The graphics has remained the same throughout installments 1 and 2, but it definitely improved in the third installment, Gates to Infinity. The graphics in the first 2 installments are pixelated and easy to see the individual pixels, but definitely good. Since Gates to Infinity was for the 3DS, which meant smoother graphics.
Sound: 9
The series' sound FX and music tracks have rather distinct variations; in Red and Blue Rescue Team, the FX have a distinct echoing effect, making it seem like it's coming straight out of the dungeon. The music was really good, and I think even the development team knew the soundtrack was amazing, which brings me to Explorers of Darkness, one of the three games in the third installment. The FX is basically the same as in the first installment, but without that echoing effect. The music has changed, of course, due to the new dungeons, but one of the post-game dungeons, Blizzard Island, is basically Throwback Mountain due to its music,a mix of Mt. Freeze, Sky Tower, Mt. Thunder, and Thunder-wave Cave, all from Red and Blue Rescue Team. Gates to Infinity has, with a better sound engine, better FX and soundtrack, and for sure a different mix of soundtracks, none from the previous installments' soundtracks.
Addictiveness: 9
Like the main Pokémon series, as I have seen from what other have said in their reviews, the Mystery Dungeon series is very addictive. The big thing throughout the series is that it's basically like snowflakes; no two floor layouts are the same. Gates to Infinity, though... Only interactive items, such as stairs, item, etc., as well as the starting point of each floor. The layout of the rooms and hallways are the same. One really fun thing about the post game in Gates to Infinity, though, is a dungeon's Mysteriousity, which affects how often strange events occur. Such events include all enemies being stronger, finding one type of item on a floor, or even finding yourself in a completely different dungeon!
Story: 7
The series has never really deviated from its basic story-line: You're a human who has been turned into a Pokémon and dropped into a world inhabited only by Pokémon. You can understand what they're saying, and moreover, your purpose in that world is initially unknown. Over time, though, it becomes clear what that purpose is: save the world from impending calamity that would destroy the world. Gates to Infinity, being really short, doesn't have enough time to deepen the plot, which kills my rating.
Depth: 9
I'd say the depth this games into their story can be pretty amazing. Plot twists, revelations, new mysteries, all of it is seen throughout the series. I don't really have much else to say about this one.
Difficulty: 7
The series has proved to be challenging if you don't really have any prior experience, and if you faint even once without a revival item on hand, you lose a usually small part of your inventory and all your money, so it's often a good idea to try not to faint in a dungeon. Gates to Infinity's difficulty can be broken with the new Companion Mode, which allows you to play as a team member back at your team base, and send items over to your team that's out in a dungeon via the storage box.
Overall: 8.8
I'd say the series as a whole is pretty good, but it does deserve a better rating, but I think if the developers did better when they developed the game, I might give the series a better rating. |
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