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A fresh and new style of Pokémon game sure to keep you busy!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 25 / 25
Date: September 25, 2006
Author: Amazon User

So, you're thinking about purchasing Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Force or Blue Rescue Force. Maybe this review will help you make up your mind. If you've been on the web, you may have noticed that Mystery Dungeon has been getting quite low scores for a Pokémon game. Well, I think those people are just afraid of change, underestimate the games, and expected something entirely different. Trust me; this is a very good game.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon goes where no Pokémon game has gone before--you finally get to become a Pokémon and see life through their eyes. You first take a simple personality quiz to determine what kind of Pokémon you best represent. After being told which one of the 16 possible Pokémon starters you are, you pick an appropriate partner. Then the real story begins, and you as a human are transformed into a Pokémon, you go on rescue missions, set up a rescue force, recruit new Pokémon, and learn why you have undergone these drastic changes.

The story and cutscenes of the games really surprised me. Being a fourteen year old, I expected the meat of the game to be a little corny, especially since it's such an interesting story that they've chosen. Boy, was I wrong, because the intriguing story and surprising turn of events really make the game stand out.

Since the two games are nearly identical, the graphics don't really differ between them. They are very good for Game Boy, and are still pretty good for Nintendo DS considering how huge the games are. The music suits the game very well, and I especially love the boss Pokémon tunes. As far as the replay value goes, the game takes anywhere from 14-20 hours to complete the main story, and another 20 or so hours to do the extra missions. Since there are always going to be missions for you to do from the Post Office and Message Board, the games literally never end.

The games, for the most part, hold true to the Pokémon theme, but put it into a different perspective. There are actually levels, commonly called caves or dungeons, which you traverse through and battle wild Pokémon in them. The battles are actually quite similar, but you stay on the same screen during battle and each move (attacking or walking) in the dungeon is one "turn". There are tons of new items, as well as classic ones, that add a new twist to the games. You need apples to keep from going hungry; rocks and sticks to throw at enemies as attacks; gummies to eat and increase IQ; accessories to change stats or allow certain abilities; seeds to eat and gain abilities or change stats. You can't "catch" Pokémon, you must recruit them by being a high level and having the appropriate "friend area" for them to live in. It takes a little bit to get used to, but once you've got the basics down, they stick with you.

The games are actually pretty difficult in the later levels, and require patience and strategy. Each floor of a dungeon is different, and they change every time you enter them (adding extra replay value), requiring you to traverse the entire floor to find the stairs to the next floor in some instances, or just walking a few steps to the stairs in others. Because it is so random, you should always be prepared! I hate it when I see other reviews saying that the game only has around 16 or so dungeons, because that is ENTIRELY wrong. If my counting is correct, I believe there are 43 or 44 different dungeons in the game. Some of the early ones have 3 or 4 floors, but some of the late ones have 99 floors! The bosses are yes, legendary Pokémon, and they are pretty hard. The boss battles are epic, and once you complete certain circumstances, you can go back, rebottle them, and even recruit them on your team! Hooray! (Once you beat the main story, you have the option to evolve your Pokémon, and play as other Pokémon other than your starter).

The Mystery Dungeon games have nothing inappropriate in them, aren't very violent at all, and shouldn't cause anything bad to enter your household. (Parents, you should pay attention to what your kids are playing!)

If you are trying to decide which version to get, here are some tips. The Red version is for Game Boy Advance, and the Blue is for Nintendo DS. If you only have a Game Boy, buy Red. If you have a DS, which can play Red and Blue, buy Blue because you can use the top screen to keep track of your map.

Overall, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red and Blue are very good games, and should keep you Pokémon fans busy while you await Diamond and Pearl.

Cute but pretty dull

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 26 / 28
Date: September 25, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Well, there was no way I was going to miss out on this one. I had my copy reserved since August, and on September 19 I was the first one to the store to bring home this game, which I had already determined in my mind as the best game ever. You get to play as a Pokemon, after all!

Needless to say, I was kinda disappointed. But I'll start with the things I liked.

The personality quiz at the beginning is very cool. The questions are random, so it's difficult to cheat, and the results are pretty darn accurate in my opinion. After being assigned my Pokemon (it was Pikachu, if anyone cares), I got into the real game.

The story is very cute, and even has some moments of drama or suspsense, surprisingly enough. All the Pokemon you meet (save for the wild ones you battle) have real personalities, and the best one of all is the special "partner" you get to choose at the beginning of the game, who adores you and follows you everywhere. Overall, it has much more of a plot than the normal Pokemon games, and Pokemon make better characters than humans anyway.

As for the gameplay, the controls are pretty intuitive, and the AI manages not to deserve banishment to the black lagoon (not that it's great, mind you. It's just passable).

So, what don't I like about this game? Well, for starters, it's very repetitive. Since the dungeons are randomly-generated, every adventure amounts to a series of simple enemy-filled mazes. This isn't so bad in the beginning, when the dungeons are small, but towards the end it's extremely boring. The final dungeon in story mode has a grand total of 35 floors, for crying out loud!

Making this worse is that the items, too, are random. You may get several great TMs, or you may wind up with squat. You may pick up tons of food on the ground, or you may starve (which causes fainting). Since some of the missions involve bringing a certain item to a Pokemon, this can get frustrating.

Another upsetting element is the "catching" of Pokemon. This part of the game is--you guessed it--random. After you beat an enemy, it may offer to join up with you. The problem is, this doesn't happen nearly enough. The only way to increase the odds of a joinup is to be at a much higher level than the potential teammate, and by then their joining you will be pointless anyway since they'll be too weak for you. So unless you want to spend hours trying, you'll pretty much have the same basic team for the majority of your play.

Finally, as a reviewer above me mentioned, many things that could have broken up the monotony are "saved" for after the credits roll. Despite raising my partner Chikorita to level 35, they refused to let her evolve even once until the end, when she went all the way to Meganium in one shot! I also never got to control any other Pokemon 'till after the ending, and by then I was bored of the game and didn't care. This really upset me, especially since I was wondering throughout the entire game when I would get to evolve!

So overall, should you get this game? Well, if you're up for something pretty quick (10-15 hours), love Pokemon, and don't mind being slightly bored, go for it. But on the other hand, there are tons of great games coming out this season, and it really might be better to wait for one of them. I almost wish that I had.

This review is for my nine-year-old son

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 31 / 37
Date: September 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

My son can't get enough of this game and has gone on many missions. He was particularly pleased about being able to play as a Pokemon instead of a trainer and he has not complained about the dungeons or design. He has both the red and blue games, but has not stopped playing the DS version to try the other, but I would imagine that they are basically the same game.

So, his overall rating is a solid five stars. If he is a representative nine-year-old boy, all young kids should like this game. I don't know about older kids, but he certainly loves it.

The Game Itself is a Mystery

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 17 / 21
Date: September 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The truth is, I really wanted to like this game. I really did. It's all because the Pokemon RPGs of the past have been good. The craze for the Red and Blue versions, and then the far superior Gold and Silver versions (arguably the best of the lot). Then Ruby and Sapphire came along. All these RPGs were simple, yet for some reason delightful to play. Now Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red and Blue come out, and it seems I had my hopes up for this one. It's no where near as interesting, and it's even sadder that even on the Gameboy Advance the game just didn't go above and beyond.

The basic premise of the story is, like every Pokemon game, rather simple. This one throws in a different twist, though. You're an aspiring trainer who one day falls asleep only to wake up as a pokemon. The pokemon you wake up as depends on how you answer the questions at the start of the new game. You'll also be able to choose a Pokemon partner who will be the one that awakens you. You and your partner will find yourself in a world completely full of pokemon. Unfortunately all is not safe. You and your ally will soon discover that other pokemon are always in need of help in this new world. So it's up to you to answer ditress calls of other pokemon, go to the specified dungeon and save them. As far as the story goes it's really not all that bad. It's full of the simplistic charm that Pokemon games are well known for. Plus, it's about time we actually got to play as the pokemon and not the trainer. Throughout the entire game you'll never spot one trainer. Ever.

Since there are no trainers, one has to wonder how to expand upon his or her party. Well, you still get new pokemon from the wild as you did before, but it's slightly different. When you defeat a wild pokemon they will offer to join your rescue team. It's up to you whether or not you want to take them. Learning moves however is almost exactly the same as previous games. You'll learn moves as you level up, or by TM's. That's all there is to learning moves. Your pokemon can also combine moves for some devastating attacks. You'll also still have to pay attention to types. Grass is weak vs. fire. Fire weak vs. water, etc. If you're a pokemon veteran, you've probably got that all memorized by now.

All these things are really engrossing, and they've got some neat things going for it, but it doesn't separate from a few things. The dungeons you go through each have floors that are randomly generated. These dungeons aren't really exciting in design. In fact, each and every floor looks virtually the same. The wild pokemon in each dungeon also just aren't plentiful enough. You'll encounter the same three or four pokemon until you get to the end of a dungeon. This wouldn't be so bad if battling were actually somewhat fun. You can wander around with up to four pokemon at a time in your party, yourself included. The problem is, these wild pokemon don't even begin to put up a fight, even when they have a clear type advantage. The other problem is that you can only control one pokemon. The AI will take over the rest, and it's not really all that good in most cases. Even with the lackluster AI, though, you could do virtually the same strategy for just about every battle you get into. Boss battles aren't a real challenge, either. In some cases you can even just sit back and let your AI controlled characters do all the work, and they'll win the battle with hardly a scratch, despite the AI! This includes bosses, mind you. This goes to show just how bad the AI for your enemies is. Rinse and repeat through the entire story mode. After a while this process gets really repetative, especially considering the lack of the challenge the game has going for it. The random dungeon generator doesn't help either. They don't always come out too good. You could, for example, enter the next floor right next to the exit.

The world also isn't all that big. There's nothing you can do on the world map except shop and save. That's it. There's really not much, if any, exploration at all in this game.

What's really urking about this game is that the most interesting aspects of it can't be done until after you've completed the story mode. Your pokemon evolve in this game, but they are incapable of doing so until you've completed the main story. That means Bulbasaur will be Bulbasaur until you complete the main story, regardless of what level you bring him to. Other aspects of the game like being able to take control of other pokemon, or abilities don't become availible until after you've completed the story mode. If some of these aspects had been included in the actual story mode the game could've been so much better and more interesting to play. Instead the story mode gets stale and repetative before it ever actually gets good. And that's sad considering the story isn't half bad for a pokemon game.

What would a Pokemon game be without two versions? There's the Blue version which is on the Nintendo DS, and then the Red version which is on the GBA. Don't be fooled, however. They're basically the same game. Just like every other set of Pokemon games, though, each version has exclusive pokemon. It's yet another ploy to get you to either convince your friend to get the opposite version you have or to just go out and buy both. The Nintendo DS version is, of course, the better of the two.

The saving grace of this set up, however, is all the connectivity features that can be done. If you insert both games into your DS at a time, you can import Pokemon from one game to another. This is an easy way to start collecting all of the 387 pokemon to be had throughout the game. It's very interesting. It's also really neat that you can trade items, missions, and pokemon this way. In addition, if you get KO'd in a dungeon and your party gets wiped out, you could send out a message to your friend and he/she will have to come and rescue you. The connectivity features are very engrossing. And of course, you can hook up via wireless (for DS owners) or link cable (GBA owners) and battle with your friends.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon doesn't really look all that great. It's no surprise; Pokemon games never look fantastic graphically. The two versions look exactly the same. The game is certainly colorful, but there's just not enough varitey in the enviornments. All the floors in the dungeons use the same boring backgrounds and such. For the Gameboy Advance this isn't nearly as hurtful as it is to the DS version. However, the GBA is capable of much more when compared to even early GBA games. Even in battle the pokemon still aren't that animated with their attacks. Pokemon has been this way since it's initial release on the outdated original Gameboy.

Worse than the graphics is the sound, though. A lot of the sound effects and such come directly from the normal gameboy games that are almost ten years old. The music itself isn't so bad, but it is quite repetative. Again, however, it's no surprise because as usual, Pokemon games don't usually push a system to its limits.

It's hard to suggest Pokemon Myster Dungeon. It's a Pokemon game, but it's a rather bland Pokemon game. It's neat that you can finally play as a Pokemon, but the game as a whole could've been presented far better than it actually was. There's little variety to it, actually, which is really sad considering how big and expansive previous Pokemon games are. It's got plenty of rescue missions, but after a while they're much more repetative than exciting. I can't suggest one buy this. Even the most die hard of Pokemon fans will have trouble getting into this game.

On the positive side
+It's an interesting idea, full of the simple, yet charming, story motives that Pokemon is known for
+There's plenty of connectivity stuff to be done between both versions, mastering the game as a whole will take a really long time
+There's never and end to rescue missions, even long after you've completed the story mode

On the negative side
-Story mode is rather short
-Dungeons are really bland and boring
-Dungeon designs are terrible
-Battles are stale and boring, wild pokemon just don't do much of anything
-The AI for your enemies and allies are bad, yet the game is still easy, and your AI controlled characters are still competant enough to get through the battle without you
-Most of the more interesting tweaks of the game are availible only AFTER story mode is complete, such as evolving your pokemon, or taking control of other pokemon
-Graphically the game doesn't hold up
-The sound effects are absolutely terrible

Keeps You Hooked

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: November 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is very different from the other Pokemon games. Instead of capturing pokemon and traveling, you are the pokemon, helping other pokemon like yourself from natural disasters while trying to solve the mystery as to why you became a pokemon in the first place.

The quiz in the beginning is fun and it's very hard to cheat on it. The results are very accurate if you answer the questions truthfully.

Most of the pokemon in the game(except the ones you battle in the dungeons)have real personalities, unlike past Pokemon games. You hvae your rival team who wants to be the best by cheating and causing mayhem, your loyal pokemon partner who sticks by you through thick and thin, and your more experienced pokemon who don't just rely on their physical skills but mental ones as well.

The game progresses as you complete mission, manditory and optional, and takes an unexpectng turn in the middle, just adding to the plot. You beat bosses like the legendary birds and Mewtwo and can befirend them when you defeat them. The end is sad and sentimental and makes everything you have gone through worthwhile.

Even after the main plot is over, there is still much to unlock and discover so the game does not get dull over time.

This game is a must have for all Pokemon fans, kids and teens alike. Even as a fourteen year old, I find this game addicting and unable to put it down.

This is the best pokemon yet

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: October 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

if you like pokemon This is the game for you. You Take a personality quiz to determine which pokemon you are (I ended up as Cyndaquil) Then you choose your partner ( I chose Mudkip) then you start doing a series of rescue missions in dungeons. The bosses are legendary pokemon (of course). Yes everything is randomly generated but that is what keeps it interesting If you did the same thing over and over again you wouldn't And you don't evolve until the end but it's still fun even if you don't evolve for a while.Whatever anyone said this game is not repetitive (well if you like pokemon anyway. Yes everything is randomly generated but that is what keeps it interesting If you did the same thing over and over again you wouldn't have any fun(Then it really would be repetitive)for anyone. over all this is my favorite game for my SP and if you have a DS get pokemon blue rescue team.

A Wonderful Experience

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: October 08, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I've been a fan of Pokemon in all of its various forms for several years now, so I've seen the gradual evolution of the games, and I have mostly enjoyed them. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is something entirely different though, and I have to say that in my opinion it is by far the best of the lot.

I can understand why some people won't agree with that, though. Mystery Dungeon is very different from the previous Pokemon titles, and if a player is looking for the original formula it will be hard to recognize here. Most of the differences though are very pleasant surprises. Best of all, I think, is that this game has a wonderful and very involving story. For all of the fun I have had playing Pokemon in the past, I cannot remember ever thinking that about any of the other games. The characters are endearing, the story is good-natured but dramatic in an interesting way, and the presentation, from the music to the graphics, is very, very good.

I personally can't think of a single thing to complain about with this game. So, if you are already a Pokemon fan and you haven't played Mystery Dungeon, let go of your expectations and enjoy it for what it is- something unique. And if this is your first experience with a Pokemon game, prepare to be pleasantly surprised.

Fine for kids, boring for older pokefans

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: March 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I baight this game expecting it to have the depth of the other games. Those can keep me going for months on end. This one was fine, but once the story was over, I was done with it. I was actually falling asleep trying to go through the 37+ levels in some of these missions. and if you die, you have to start all over again! I'm sorry but I dont even have that attention span. All the levels look the same even though they are randomly generated, they use the same tiles over and over. like I said, one the story was dont, I got rid of it for credit twards one of the newer games like dimond or perl.

Currently into Pokemon Ranger. Much better than this one. Highly recoment this one. Great side story.
There is a reason they are makeing a movie from the Ranger story and not from the rescue team story...

BEST IN SERIES!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: October 15, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is the best game in the series, i think. If you even slightly like Pokemon BUY THIS!

THE BEST GAME EVER!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: April 16, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game. You start as a pokemon,battle more pokemon,finish missions,and more. You can pick up items,and use them. There's the Pokemon Square,where you can buy stuff. Later,everyone thinks you are making things go wrong,and you go on a journey.You go into never-before-seen places,battle bosses[Zapdos and Articuno],and find ninetales. Then you go back to your base. You can also get Exp. points by killing pokemon. You can get friends by getting Friend Areas[pokemon can settles in the right one],kill the pokemon,then it can join the team.There's more. My pokemon is Machop,and my partner is Pikachu and I have a lot of friends. One more thing, you can rescue someone who died. So get this game,it's the best.

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