Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness

Older gamers may find Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness simply lacks the challenge that they're used to in an RPG, meaning that this is a title best left for those youngsters that were toddlers (or not even born yet) when the series first made its mark on Japanese shores.

Saccharine, ultra kid-friendly situations and plot lines.

This title does have a weaker story when compared to the other Pokémon RPGs, which only helps to expose the fighting engine for what it is: a monotonous series of button presses resulting in a win and a quick trip to the Pokécenter to get your Pokémon ready for the next fight.

The GameCube only serves to illustrate how basic the gameplay really is. It just doesn't translate well onto a more powerful system. Much of the problem is that the developers don't know what else to do with all the left over processing power.

I can only hope that with advent of Revolution, as well as the DS solidifying itself as a innovative portable machine, that future releases of this fan favourite will finally advance beyond its staple gameplay and provide those who want to hunt Pokémon with a new style of play along with all new looks.

With the franchise failing to replicated its handheld success on the console, XD is hampered by linear gameplay and limited options.

Whether it's the glaring lack of cinematics (the story is told mainly with endless screens of type to read) or the lack of exploration -- the adventure babies gamers, basically leading them by the hand from one area to the next -- "Gale of Darkness" is a low point for the Pokemon series, a sequel that doesn't offer updates or improvement.

You'll have to complete a few too many fetch quests, and listening to the in-game tunes is about as pleasant as Sandshrew's nails on a chalkboard. Even so, if you haven't spent quality time with Pikachu for a while, Gale is a good series re-entry point.

Fails to stand up to typical console RPGs in terms of story telling and game mechanics. It simply does not offer the complexity that console gamers would expect and hope for in an RPG title.

As far as Nintendo seems to be concerned, at least until the first DS outing, Pokémon begins and ends with the Game Boy. Pokémon XD is tedious and restrictive. The message is clear: if you want Pokémon, crack open a GBA.

The game is addictive, fun, and quite lengthy, but these half-fledged console outings are wearing thin, if only because the franchise has the potential to be something great.

I think it's worse than its predecessor. [Nov 2005, p.163]

Maybe it would be more exciting if there was some actual challenge involved, but most of the battles amount to a rock, paper, scissors competition where your opponent is limited to 'rock' for their arsenal.

Catching new 'recruits' is as addictive as ever, and the range of missions is impressive - whether retrieving stolen Pokemon or saving friends from the extra dimension, XD always feels fresh and exciting. This is the Game Boy classic fully reborn as a top Gamecube RPG. [GamesMaster]

Gale of Darkness retains the basic monster-battling formula as its predecessor, but with a longer single-player game and a few minor gameplay tweaks to address some common complaints about the previous game. As a result, the only people who will really appreciate this game are those who are already familiar with the series.

XD is a decent enough effort, and it's certainly not a bad game, but considering how well crafted the handheld RPGs are, the unrealized potential and missed opportunities of XD become all the more apparent.

Pokemon XD has merit on its own for players who may not have experienced the first GameCube design, but as a sequel this one doesn't have nearly the same "oomph" as the original.

An overall unimpressive title from people who should know better, Pokémon XD feels like a quickie cash-grab.

Gale of Darkness is one of those games that will use its claws to grab you by the gonads until you complete it.

While Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness certainly has an improved tweaking of the battle system from the previous game, the story is insufferable and there's very little in the game beyond Lugia to justify picking it up over any other Pokémon title – and pretty much every Pokémon fan had that information in hand well before the game itself came out, really rendering this review pointless.

With the phenomenal graphics and custom rule sets, XD provides a perfect environment for battling friends. [Nov 2005, p.102]

If the graphics were reverted to the Game Boy look, people wouldn't notice the difference.

A competent RPG that has some remote appeal but it doesn't take enough of the things that made the Game Boy versions so enjoyable.

Goes back to basics and melts your heart as easily as before. If only there were some depth and new ideas, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness would be a true gem. [Nov 2005]

The presentation disappoints. It seems bafflingly incongruous that fans have to endure the same simple and repetitive animations and sound effects from the handheld versions when playing on the technically superior GameCube.