Pokemon Rumble
A new Pokémon game is on it’s way to WiiWare this coming Monday, and though it won’t be making as big a splash as, say, Diamond or Pearl, for die-hard Pokémon fans, this is definitely not something you’ll want to miss. The biggest element to the game seems to be the multi-player mode, which allows players to jump in and out of the game during play, as well as providing both competitive and co-operative aspects of play.
One of the first things you’ll notice playing the game is the incredible simple interface. A central hub area allows players to choose their Pokémon (curiously, only Pokémon from the first and fourth generations of the series have been seen), as well as giving them access to several dungeon levels. These dungeons aren’t too difficult to traverse, and are mostly linear; you won’t have to worry about getting lost. Pokémon are controlled using the D-Pad to move, and the “1″ and “2″ buttons to attack. When you first start out, you only have one attack, but as you collect coins and battle more Pokémon, new attacks can be learned; however, each Pokémon can only have two attacks, unlike the set of four which have become a staple in the main series.
Besides the main gameplay, once a high enough level is reached, players have access to the “Battle Royale”. This mode, which also allows for single and multiple players, pits you against waves of weaker Pokémon, which grow in strength each round until you are facing Pokémon stronger than yourself, and even some Legendary Pokémon.
Even if you understand that this game isn’t much of a role-playing game, you might still be thinking it is a deep and immersive action/adventure. It’s time to crush that thought – after some hands-on time with the game, it became completely clear to me that this is nothing more than a button masher. Sure, it has a big name attached to it, which could bring up the hopes of many gamers, but at it’s core it is really just what it has been so heavily compared to - Gauntlet with Pokémon models from My Pokémon Ranch. For some, this could disappoint, but the simplicity of the game doesn’t ruin the fun. It’s multi-player element works quite well, and because the game is so easy to learn it could make a great party game.
Pokémon Rumble launches on November 16th for WiiWare.
lol, looks funny