Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia

 DS
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 79 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 79
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 79
  3. Negative: 4 out of 79
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  1. AnonymousMC
    Feb 19, 2009
    4
    I was interested until I turned the game on and realized that the graphics and music were exactly the same, the capturing technique embarrassingly easy, the dialogue stupid, repetitive, boring, repetitive, and goes on for hours telling me things that I already know.
    I decided quickly that this was not the game for me so I gave it to my little sister who is 8 years old. She was new to the    I was interested until I turned the game on and realized that the graphics and music were exactly the same, the capturing technique embarrassingly easy, the dialogue stupid, repetitive, boring, repetitive, and goes on for hours telling me things that I already know.
    I decided quickly that this was not the game for me so I gave it to my little sister who is 8 years old. She was new to the whole thing and found the game to be much too difficult for her.

    Pokemon is great, the first pokemon ranger was great, this is not.    … Expand
  2. 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, 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. ThisLike 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

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

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Gameplanet
    80
    While majorly different from ‘traditional’ Pokémon fare, Shadows of Almia provides a satisfying RPG-lite adventure for players of all ages. Varied puzzles and a wide range of Diamond/Pearl era creatures to chase give the game widespread appeal and charm.
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  2. IGN
    67
    If you never played as a Ranger the first time around, and are jonesing for a Manaphy, go for it. But for the Pokemon fans that already got their fix two years go, this isn't necessary.
    Read full review
  3. 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.
    Read full review
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