Pokemon Stadium
Reviewed by Doug Hales
Think you're a great Pokemon trainer? Well, you've got another thing
comin', pal! Pokemon Stadium is one hell of a ride, for beginners and
veterans alike. The options, the modes, the organization, the just plain
fun, all work together to blow you away! Even the most skilled Level
100 trainer will have to pull out all the stops when facing the fierce
trainers of the Prime Cup, while the beginning trainer will have his/her
skills tested to the limits in the Pika Cup and Petit Cup. Sound interesting
yet? Well, there's more! Remember all those Pokemon you wish you could've
photographed in Pokemon Snap, well now the Stadium's gallery lets you
take pictures of all 151 Pokemon, making for yet another way to show
off your Pokemon!
Graphics: 9.5 out of 10
Well after the glory of Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow, you really wonder
if anything could top it. Stadium definitely lives up to its hype! It's so
amazing, seeing all your wonderful Pokemon that make the Elite Four
crumble, all 151 in gorgeous 3-D! Even the arenas are well done, making
you feel as though you're really inside the Pokemon world!
Music and Sound: 7 out of 10
If there's one area that's always somewhat lacking for Nintendo, it's the
music. Well, Pokemon Stadium is quite similar. Sure the music is so-so
at first, but then the monotony is just ridiculous! For god's sake, aren't
there any new tunes in the developer's heads?
Other than the music, the sounds of Stadium are well done, explaining my
7 out of 10 rating. When you call your Pokemon out to battle, the cries they
make sound very lifelike, and the moves they do are supported quite nicely
in the audio department.
My only gripe in the sound department is the announcer. He's so shocked
every time a Pokemon is called out, or takes damage, or performs a move.
For cripes sake, stop making this guy so surprised!
Game Challenge: 10 out of 10
As usual, Nintendo delivers exceptionally in the challenge department. I
know I've spent many hours griping at my Stadium over how ridiculously
difficult the tournaments are, but then again my Pokemon aren't the most
skilled in the world, either. The bottom line is, Pokemon Stadium humbles
even the greatest of opponents, if not in the Gym Leader Castle or the
Stadium itself, then the fearsome battle with a Level 100 Mewtwo brings
most any adversary down to its knees.
Game Play-Fun: 10 out of 10
There's a certain rewarding feeling that overcomes you when your Pokemon
actually defeat the computer. I know that since I've bought Stadium, my
Pokemon have become much more diverse than I ever thought possible! The
fun never ends with Stadium. If you get sick of battling the computer, invite
a friend over, and battle his Pokemon with yours in either the Event Battle
or the Free Battle. Lastly, if you ever feel like playing good ol' Red, Blue, or
Yellow while playing Stadium, head on over the Game Boy Tower. As an added
bonus, once you've beaten the Poke Cup and/or Prime Cup, a Doduo and Dodrio
Game Boy is added to the tower, allowing you to play the Game Boy games at
up to three times normal speed! How's that for speed training?
Frustration
Like most any other challenging game, there are times with Stadium when
you just put it away and say, "I'm never touching that *&!# game again."
And yet, somehow, you always come crawling back to it.
Other than frustration with the game, my problems come when you
accidentally jiggle the controller, temporarily cutting off the connection
with the transfer pak, and forcing you to RESTART THE GAME. This happened
to me several times at the finals in the Poke Cup. Needless to say, a few
choice words were said!
Replayability: 10 out of 10
Providing you have at least one of the three game boy Pokemon games, the
replay value is limitless. Even should you beat the Pika, Petit, Poke, and
Prime Cups, as well as the Gym Leader Castle, Mewtwo still rears its ugly
head in the face of victory. IF you are accomplished enough of a trainer to
actually defeat Mewtwo (which I've not been able to achieve in the five
months I've had the game), Stadium brings on Round 2, and has you do it
all over again!
Game Value: 7.5 out of 10
Game value depends on two things: whether or not you have a Game Boy
Pokemon game, and whether you're a struggling trainer or a highly skilled
one. If you don't have a Game Boy Pokemon, DON'T BUY STADIUM! You'd be
forced to use the rentals provided, which have extraordinary move choices,
but the stats aren't nearly as high for the experience level as would be a
trained one.
As for the struggling/skilled trainer thing, well let's just say my friend
crumbled in the first round of the Poke Cup with his "best team", whereas
I construct a new WINNING team for the Poke Cup each week. In short, a
newbie Pokemon trainer just isn't going to find the fun of Stadium.
Overall: 8.5 out of 10
The only criterium I would give to help someone decide whether or not
to buy Stadium is simply this: Are you a Pokemon fanatic? If strongly
so, definitely buy the game. If you kind of are, rent it first, then think
about buying it. If you're not really that into it, DON'T buy it. There are
plenty of other people waiting to buy up the copies you "kinda sorta want".