Main » 2007 » July » 5 » Pokemon Battle Revolution gets Poor Reviews
Pokemon Battle Revolution gets Poor Reviews
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The recently released Pokemon Battle Revolution for the Nintendo Wii
has been panned by most of the gaming community as a poor game. Most
Pokemon fans also agree with this assessment and in fact the game is a
letdown and a step back from previous Pokemon console games like
Pokemon Stadium and Stadium 2. Below are a few excerpts from some of
the major game reviewing sites.
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<TD class="list" colspan="2" style="text-align:left; padding:3px;
margin-top:3px; margin-bottom:3px; border:1px solid #D3D3D3;">So
what's the point of Battle Revolution, then, if all it does is
duplicate a portion of the real Pokemon games in a less-fulfilling way?
Honestly, not much. Those who have drained every last moment of
enjoyment from the DS game might appreciate it as a way to eke a little
more challenge from the experience. And really obsessive types might
appreciate the fact that the announcer guy from the cartoon performs
(highly repetitious) running commentary during in-game battles.
Everyone else, though, will simply regard this as a waste of money.
</TD>
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<tr><td><b>Rating: 4.5/10 (Bad)</b></td>
<td>1UP Review: <a
href="http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3160748">http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3160748</a></td>
</tr>
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<TD class="list" colspan="2" style="text-align:left; padding:3px;
margin-top:3px; margin-bottom:3px; border:1px solid #D3D3D3;">The
real draw here should be competing with other players over Nintendo
Wi-Fi Connect. Sadly, it's far too difficult to really get anything
resembling a fulfilling online experience out of Pokemon Battle
Revolution. Until Nintendo decides to give its online gamers
leaderboards and true stat-tracking, this type of release can only be
recommended to the most die-hard of Pokemon fans.
</TD>
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<tr><td><b>Rating: 3/5 (Fair)</b></td>
<td>GameSpy Review: <a
href="http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/pokemon-wii/">http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/pokemon-wii/800791p1.html</A></td>
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<TD class="list" colspan="2" style="text-align:left; padding:3px;
margin-top:3px; margin-bottom:3px; border:1px solid #D3D3D3;">What
is perhaps most disappointing about Pokemon Battle Revolution is its
half-hearted job of making the fights look exciting. The Pokemon
themselves, the trainers, and the colosseums all look good, if a bit
aliased, but there's just no drama to the action. The game manages to
make watching the trainers throw out the pokeballs look exciting, and
some of the attacks have a good amount of flash. However, there are
also a number of really plain-looking attacks, and those are the ones
that you seem to see repeatedly. Most of all, the way the trainers
interact the Pokemon in the ring just looks stagy and stiff, as if
they're all just going through the motions. It's also worth noting that
there's a ridiculous play-by-play announcer who goes from accidentally
amusing to repetitive and grating within the first hour. Thankfully, he
can be muted.
</TD>
</TR>
<tr><td><b>Rating: 5.5/10 (mediocre)</b></td>
<td>GameSpot Review: <a
href="http://www.gamespot.com/wii/strategy/pokemonbattlerevolution/review.html?sid=6173476&tag=topslot;title;1">http://www.gamespot.com/</a></td>
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<TD class="list" colspan="2" style="text-align:left; padding:3px;
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#D3D3D3;">Stadium-style Pokemon games have been around since 2000 on
N64. We have watched the franchise become a worldwide phenomenon and
seen its evolvution over four portable systems and three consoles. For
whatever reason, however, Pokemon Battle Revolution takes a step back,
actually removing content from older attempts, making the true
"Stadium" experience a one-trick pony. Gone are the multiplayer
mini-games, the ability to play the portable game on the big screen,
the endless extra features, and overall "hub" feel of the console
Pokemon experience. Pokemon Battle Revolution is neither a full-fledged
RPG on Wii nor a fully-realized stadium effort, as the core of the game
has been cut down to online or offline battles. The single player mode
is a joke, there is a huge lack of true customization or depth, and the
multiplayer mode while certainly appealing to core gamers offers very
little beyond what DS had. You'll pay $50 for a stripped down
seven-year-old design that offers worldwide random battles in place of
a full-fledged RPG, voice chat, or any actual depth found in the
handheld versions. For less money you can get well over 60 hours of
gameplay on DS, and far more multiplayer (both local and online)
anywhere you go. Pokemon Battle Revolution is a $50 loyalty tax for Wii
Pokemon fans, and was far better seven years ago on Nintendo 64.
</TD>
</TR>
<tr><td><b>Rating: 5/10 (Meh)</b></td>
<td>IGN Review: <a href="http://wii.ign.com/articles/799/799944p1.html">http://wii.ign.com/</a></td>
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Nintendo really letdown the majority of Pokemon fans who have been
eagerly awaiting this game. Like many of the above reviews, we
recommend that you rent this game and save your money for upcoming
games like Super Smash Bros.
