Pokemon Stadium
Reviewed by Roy Koopa
Pokemon Stadium is an awesome game, especially for people who love
Pokemon and have played the original game. If you liked battling on the
Game Boy, then you'll love battling on the Nintendo 64 in 3-D! This is an
absolutely excellent game that combines everything fun about Pokemon
and puts it all in an awesome game pak!
Graphics: A+
This is the number one game in the graphics category I own. The
three-dimensional Pokemon are absolutely awesome, and the gym and
stadium backgrounds perfectly match what you would expect in that
particular gym or stadium. This game excels in this category more than
any other one I know, and that's what adds to everything else good
about this game.
Music and Sound: A+
This is another awesome category for this game. The old battle music
is super spiced up and sounds absolutely awesome! It makes the monotonous
music from the original cool to listen to. Plus, the sound effects (such as
the Hydro Pump, Ember, and Rock Slide moves) are absolutely outstanding!
This game absolutely rocks in this category as well!
Game Challenge: A+
The challenge to this game is incredibly difficult. It is the most difficult
game I have ever beaten, and it keeps getting harder and harder. In Round
1 alone, it is nearly impossible to win with rental Pokemon. But how are
you supposed to get six Pokemon pumped up to level 100 if you're having
trouble with the Prime Cup Master Ball if you don't have hours upon hours
to spend beating the Elite Four over and over? You have to use the Missingno
trick, in my opinion, because it is hard enough beating Round 1. In Round 2,
it is impossible (unless you have good enough luck to win the lottery) to
win with rentals. Even Pokemon raised but not having the best TM's will
lose. You must have hundreds of Rare Candy, Protein, etc. if you want to
stand a chance. You play Round 2 paralyzed almost every battle. Without
enough strength enhancers and Rare Candy to build each Pokemon to the
right level, you will not be able to win. I found that the Poke Cup Master
Ball Round 2 Final Battle was the hardest battle you could possibly imagine.
You must raise a different Pokemon for each Cup. (My favorite to use
besides Mewtwo is Starmie, but that's getting off the point.) The game,
in short, is as challenging as you could possibly imagine for a strategy
game. It is nearly impossible, but it is beatable.
Game Play-Fun: A-
Here's probably the lowest grade of all the great grades this pak has. That
is only because the frustration of paralysis in all the tough battles you
think you have won takes away the fun of slamming your opponent. But what
is the most fun is playing multi player. Everyone is constantly switching their
Pokemon, making it a funny outcome when they both come out. The mini-games
are also a load of fun, especially the Lickitung and Ekans mini-games. The fun
to this game is trying eccentric Pokemon and using moves like Metronome in
multi player battles, which still gives this game a high grade.
Frustration
This game is absolutely one of the most frustrating games I have ever
played. Getting paralyzed is my worst fear, because I feel I am unstoppable
if I always move first. It really gets on my nerves when the computers score
Critical Hits and their Pokemon, who should be weak against yours, end up
with devastating blows on yours. Extremely frustrating is an understatement.
Replayability: A
Another awesome category for this one. You will be playing this day and
night once you really get the hang of it, and in multi player battles, you'll
want to play over and over and over again. The only negative thing in this
category is the fact that after Round 2, there's nothing much to do. But you
also have the option of trying to beat the Gym Leader Castle a whole bunch
of times to pick up Squirtles, Eevees, Bulbasaurs, Charmanders, Kabutos,
Omanytes, Hitmonlees, and Hitmonchans. This is another strong category.
Game Value: A
This game was worth the $60 I paid for it and an awesome Transfer Pak.
(It is really about $100 thanks to the fact that without a strategy guide
and Pokemon game, you can't beat Round 2.) You ought to buy this for however
much they charge at the place you want to buy it at. It's worth it, believe me.
Overall: A+
This game is absolutely awesome and aces an awesome grade thanks to
great graphics, music, challenge, and, of course, Pokemon!