Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia

 DS
Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Image
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 79 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: In Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, you once again play as a Pokemon Ranger, working to help people, Pokemon and nature in a new area called the Almia Region. Starting out as a Student Ranger, you quickly earn the title of a full-fledged Pokemon Ranger. As you succeed in more and moreIn Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, you once again play as a Pokemon Ranger, working to help people, Pokemon and nature in a new area called the Almia Region. Starting out as a Student Ranger, you quickly earn the title of a full-fledged Pokemon Ranger. As you succeed in more and more missions, you will aspire to become the highest Ranger rank: Top Ranger. Along the way you meet and capture all kinds of different Pokemon. [Nintendo]… Expand
Buy Now
Buy on

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    84
    A handful of niggles, but not enough to stop this from being more accessible and enjoyable than its predecessor.
  2. N-Europe
    80
    A simple game which doesn’t require much brain power, a no-nonsense fun game.
  3. Da Gameboyz
    75
    While the Pokemon series of games and anime is not my preferred style, there are some cool aspects of Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia that I enjoyed.
  4. Cheat Code Central
    68
    I really wanted to enjoy Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, but it was really the repetitive nature of the game that weakened the overall package.
  5. Kombo
    65
    Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia is a relatively simple game which has its charms, but may not be deep enough for some players.
  6. Eurogamer
    60
    It's just that what it does still isn't that exciting or memorable, and without the lure of permanently capturing your Poképals, it falls to the rather dull storyline to try and keep players engaged.
  7. GamePro
    50
    If you're going to pick up Shadows of Almia, just keep in mind that while it can be fun, there's nothing compelling or new enough to impress a hardcore Pokemanic.

See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 20
  3. Negative: 2 out of 20
  1. deaththekid922
    Sep 17, 2016
    10
    really good game that fixed alot problems main Pokemon games have ( NPCs only being there for giving you items) it had alot memorablereally good game that fixed alot problems main Pokemon games have ( NPCs only being there for giving you items) it had alot memorable characters and a good plot… Expand
  2. Merkup
    Jul 8, 2020
    10
    this game makes me pog so hard. i cannot believe how gamer and poggers this game is. imagine not playing pokemon ranger shadows of almia forthis game makes me pog so hard. i cannot believe how gamer and poggers this game is. imagine not playing pokemon ranger shadows of almia for the nintendo ds… Expand
  4. Churigogobashu
    Jan 20, 2012
    10
    I love the game with all the looping and greater graphics and more pokemon. Love the character mostly Rythmi who always bugs my rival. I likeI love the game with all the looping and greater graphics and more pokemon. Love the character mostly Rythmi who always bugs my rival. I like this game.… Expand
  5. AlfaFire17
    Apr 20, 2022
    8
    It has a very good story and better mechanics than the first one, however the postgame happens to me the same as with the first one, it is aIt has a very good story and better mechanics than the first one, however the postgame happens to me the same as with the first one, it is a bit short and without content, the difficulty is quite good and it is a game of many hours.… Expand
  6. UnturnedAntics
    Oct 7, 2021
    7
    Shadows of Almia is a simple story and gameplay can be hard at times but this game is special it's a new look at the pokemon world and isShadows of Almia is a simple story and gameplay can be hard at times but this game is special it's a new look at the pokemon world and is all-around fun with some good characters. not much to be said about this one but it is fun to replay 7/10 good game.… Expand
  7. Atonnie
    Sep 5, 2023
    6
    Jeu pokemon assez excentrique par rapport au autre mais reste malgré tout un très bon concept et très bonne utilisation de la ds. Cependant leJeu pokemon assez excentrique par rapport au autre mais reste malgré tout un très bon concept et très bonne utilisation de la ds. Cependant le jeu si on enlève l'histoire est vide les graphisme sont sympa sans plus et le niveau est élevé surtout sur un écran aussi petit que la ds… Expand
  8. Uvag0NX
    Apr 8, 2023
    0
    Like many people in the Pokémon fandom, I have been fooled and utterly bamboozled by this game's charming and delightful art style, playfulLike many people in the Pokémon fandom, I have been fooled and utterly bamboozled by this game's charming and delightful art style, playful and comedic tone and, of course, its supposedly well-thought-out and implemented quest system. For this game is not delightful. It is not playful, nor comedic. And certainly, it is not, I repeat, not, well thought out. This is a game about murder. This is a game about betrayal. Not in its story, but in the expectations it gives to the players about the relationship and friendship that you have as ranger, and Pokemon. This game gives you the hopes and dreams of a fledgling adventurer, bonding with your allies and making friends, only to rip it away at the very end. And the villain of this game? Not the buffoonery and chicanery of the secondary Team Dim Sun, oh no. The true villain of this game. Murph. Murph, and his horrendous, insatiable, inhumane, deplorable and downright criminal love for eevelutions.

    You see, when I took on this game's wide and open world, handling missions and quests as a growing ranger, there was a pokemon who never left my side. Not the partner pokemon the game tries to force upon you, to manipulate and steer your emotions away from those who truly matter - the master of gaslighting this game aims to be. No, the pokemon by my side . . . A graveler, named Rollston Royce. A sturdy, heroic little boulder who, no matter where we went or what we did, came with us every step of the way. Be it the perilous depths of a volcanic cave, the frozen wildlands of the highlands, or even the ancient traps of a desert temple - Rollston Royce never abandoned our side. Even at the climactic battle, when all was dark; we had Rollston. He was, quite literally, our rock.

    And then came Murph. Murph. The loathsome, treacherous and despicable mastermind behind the true maliciousness this game had to display. Murph, having been there the whole time we ventured and surely knew of the kindhearted and heroic nature of Rollston, demanded that we bring him eevelutions in exchange for a false, deceitful notion of stardom. Not 1, nor 2 or 3, not even 4 or 5. Not even 6. But 7. 7 god damn eevelutions. And for what reason?? For what cause did he see this request as just??? FOR WHAT TRIFE, ENTROPIC, RATIONALE DID MURPH FORCE OUR HAND TO RELINQUISH OUR BELOVED HERO? OUR TRUE, IRREPLACEABLE BOY SAVIOUR. For petty bloodshed. For meaningless, unfeeling bloodshed. He had nothing to give us, nothing really. Stardom? Hah! All I was left to wallow in was the emptiness of cold space. A void, ripped open into my chest and filled with grief as I watched our boy, Rollston, roll away into a world where he was not appreciated. Not cherished. All for Murph's sick, sick, need for validation. How could we have ever trusted such a heinous reprobate who requests to see all 7 eevelutions at once, knowing full well the reputation of . . . Vaporeon.

    Rollston Royce. My boy. I have not forgotten you, and I doubt I ever will. How could I? Your smug, confident smile. Your strong, sturdy arms always held me steady when I needed comfort. From when we first met, back in the cave by Vientown, I knew we would make history. And we did. For while you were not cherished as a hero by the world Rollston Royce, you will always be cherished in my heart. Your passing was needless, cruel and unsavoury. And I am sorry that we were forced to make it so. You deserved better. You. Deserved. Better.

    Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia is a game that lures you in on the premise of a good time, friends and even . . . True love. And, showing its insidious nature, the venomous serviper that is is, strikes you down at the near end and makes you give all that you hold near and dear. If you want to play this game, I'm sorry. The greatest sacrifices require the strongest of wills, and the cruellest of Murphs. It twas not Guardian Signs which killed the franchise, but the gall of the creators who fashioned such a narrative. Who fashioned such a torturous experience. Who fashions Rollston Royce, the hero. Not just a hero, the hero.
    Don't play this game, don't make Rollston Royce suffer any more than he needs to. He wouldn't want the same for you; and yet, he would shoulder all the pain in the world just for you. He shouldered it for us.

    That's why, Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, I turn my back on you giving you a 0 out of 10. 0, just like the number of Rollston Royces we finished the game with. I cannot be as good as soul as Rollston Royce, who would give you a 10 for the memories you gave to us . . . But unlike him, I cannot Rollston with the punches. All I can do is live in a grave-ler world. A Rollston Royceless world.    … Expand

See all 20 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

71
#71 Best DS Game of 2008
14
#14 Most Discussed DS Game of 2008
45
#45 Most Shared DS Game of 2008