Pokémon Ranger (video game): Difference between revisions

This article is about the Nintendo DS game. For other uses, see Pokémon Ranger.

Pokémon Ranger (Japanese: ポケモンレンジャー) is an action-adventure game for the Nintendo DS developed jointly by Creatures, Inc. and HAL Laboratory, Inc.. It was released on March 23, 2006 in Japan, on October 30, 2006 in North America, on December 7, 2006 in Australia and on April 13, 2007 in Europe. The goal of the game is to travel all over the land of Fiore to capture all the 213 Pokémon that are available using the Nintendo DS touch screen and stylus. Instead of capturing Pokémon in Poké Balls, players use a device called the Capture Styler to add Pokémon to their party. The player can only use the Pokémon to help once; after using them, they leave the party. The only Pokémon that don't leave are the character's partner, a Minun or Plusle (based on the character's gender).

Pokémon Ranger is currently one of the only two ways to obtain a Manaphy egg, which can be transferred to Diamond and Pearl; the second way is by going through a similar procedure in the sequel game, Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia.

Ranger Net is unlockable by pressing R + X + Left after finishing the game.

Rangers

Ringtown

• Spenser and Fearow: Spenser is the leader of the Ringtown ranger base. He makes the hero a Pokémon Ranger. He was on the same ranger team as Joel, Cameron, and Elita when he was younger. His partner is his Fearow.

• Murph and Slowpoke: Murph is rather slow, but often says funny things. Sometimes he even makes up his own missions. His partner is his Slowpoke.

• Lunick/Solana: Lunick and Solana are the other two rangers that occupy the Ringtown base. The player takes control of one of them, according to their chosen gender; the other one becomes the player's friend.

Fall City

• Joel and Dodrio: Joel is the leader of the Fall City ranger base. He and Spenser were once fierce rivals, but they now share a close bond. His partner is his Dodrio.

• Aria: Aria is a little self-absorbed at the beginning, but she starts to respect the hero later on.

• Prof. Hastings: He is the leader of the Ranger Union and creator of the Capture Styler and Super Styler.

• Lind: Not much is known about him.

• Keith: Not much is known about him.

Summerland

• Cameron and Pelipper: Cameron is the leader of the Summerland ranger base. He trains at the sea capture challenge. His partner is his Pelipper.

• Percy and Politoed: Percy's partner Pokémon is stolen by the Go-Rock Squad earlier in the game, and the hero has to rescue it. He sees a Mew in the Ranger Net Mission "Find Mew, the Mirage!". His partner is his Politoed.

• Leilani: Not much is known about her.

Wintown

• Elita and Skarmory: Elita is the leader of the Wintown ranger base. She is known for being as cold as steel. Her partner is her Skarmory.

• Chris: Commonly known as "Silent Chris", he doesn't talk much except for during special mission 3, when he sees Rayquaza and is awestruck.

• The Go-Rock Squad: The main criminal team of all of this. Their aim is to replace the rangers by capturing the legendary Pokémon Raikou, Suicune, and Entei with an adaptation of Prof. Hastings' prototype Super Styler.

• Freddie: Not much is known about him.

Reception

Pokémon Ranger received mixed reviews from the press. The game was praised for its innovation [1] and lengthy main quest [2], however the repetitive nature of the gameplay was criticized, with NGamer UK commenting that it was "narrow-minded and frustrating" [3]. The lack of challenge the game provided was also criticized, Nintendo Power stated that "Pokémon veterans will breeze through the comparatively light challenge Ranger provides". The game received an average rating of 69% on Metacritic.

Trivia

• Prior to its release, the game was often known as Pokémon Ranger: The Road to Diamond and Pearl (Japanese: ポケモンレンジャー　ダイヤモンド・パールへの道).
• Wintown is the only town/city/land without a capture challenge.
• All of the towns are named after seasons:
  • Ringtown is named after spring.
  • Fall City is named after fall (autumn).
  • Summerland is named after summer.
  • Wintown is named after winter.
• After the game, the player will face Groudon and Kyogre, who have recently engaged in battle somewhere. This may be a reference to Pokémon Emerald, in which the duo face off in the climax of the story. However, Hoenn is not referenced in this regard, and it is not expressly stated that Kyogre and Groudon originated from another region.
• After the player captures Kyogre and Groudon, there is a final mission where the Go-Rock Squad has returned and has angered Rayquaza. If the player is able to overcome the challenge of capturing Rayquaza, then the player has completed the main game.
• Instead of a Pokédex, a Ranger Browser is built into the Capture Styler with 213 Pokémon.
• Even though all of the Eeveelutions prior to Generation IV appear, Eevee itself does not.
• To unlock the Manaphy Egg mission, go to the Ranger Net and hold down R, X, and left on the D-pad to enter the password. The password is P8M2-9D6F-43H7.

This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.