Game Review: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon (Blue)

Truth be told, I haven't played a pokemon game since Crystal came out on Gameboy Colour. That said, all the pokemon games in the series have the same standard gameplay and premise: you catch 'em, keep 'em, train 'em and fight with 'em. This game and it's partner (red) are a refreshing change from all of that. Most importantly, YOU are the pokemon now. So get ready for a brand-new look at the world of Pokemon.

Graphics: Reminiscent of the traditional Gameboy Colour graphics, original pokemon depictions haven't changed much, save a few tweaks here and there. The backgrounds, however, are bright and colourful and really quite beautiful in some cases. A little improvement in the actual characters would have enhanced gameplay even further.

Sound: Again, standard pokemon series themes. Happy, cheerful and peppy, the music will not be lost on Nintendo buffs who loved games like Yoshi's Story and adore their Wii. That said, everyone will probably mute it to avoid listening to the repetitive loops.

Characterisation: Well executed. Each pokemon is individual and has a specialised personality. In addition to that, the partner pokemon that you receive at the beginning of the game proves to be an invaluable companion throughout the game. The cryptic messages passed on by the seemingly-aloof legendary pokemon can be rather annoying but that's just who they are and the role they play. While waiting for the real answers takes time, you can pretty much work it out for yourself what they are.

Gameplay: Addictive. Playing as a Pokemon for the first time, you actually get a feel for what it's like to have another pokemon bashing you to hell and back, especially those nasty legendary pokemon like Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. You face pretty much every legendary pokemon from each of the pokemon games. You can also recruit these suckers to your rescue team, giving you a nice advantage in-game. But they aren't easy to get and your best bet is the pokemon that first joins your party out in the field (not going to spoil the ending now...)

Plot: Intriguing and even after the main storyline is over, you still have plenty of mysteries to solve, not to mention plently of pokemon to recruit as well as missions to complete! The side missions are tedious and a lot of them don't reward you particularly amply, but occasionally you run into missions that really ARE worth your time and effort and earn you some really nice goodies! Truly a great release from Satoshi Taijiri, the mastermind behind the original pokemon games.

Overall: A great addition to any DS collection and a great way to waste a weekend or a few hours mindlessly. Pick this up even if the pokemon craze passed you by, as it focusses more on the story and less on catching every little critter that passes your way. Highly recommended for lovers of the pokemon series.