Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia: Difference between revisions

Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia (Japanese: ポケモンレンジャー バトナージ Pokémon Ranger Vatonage) is an action-adventure game for the Nintendo DS and the sequel to Pokémon Ranger. It was released in Japan on March 20, 2008, and it was released in America on November 10, 2008.

The game is set in a new region called Almia where the base of operations is a Ranger School that the main characters have just graduated from. The selection of partner Pokémon has risen from solely Plusle and Minun to a choice between 17 different species. Additionally, there are several side quests and a card collection system used to power up the Capture Styler.

Special missions can be downloaded from the Nintendo Wi-Fi service by using the Ranger Net.

Basic information

• It takes place in the region of Almia. In the story, the player character starts out as a student in a Pokémon Ranger School. After a few tasks, he or she then graduates.
• The player can choose to play as a male or a female protagonist. The male protagonist is known as Kellyn, and the female, Kate.
• The game features Generation IV Pokémon.
• The player will have a selectable Pokémon partner. After doing certain quests, the player can choose if he or she wants the Pokémon to come with them. Selectable partners include Munchlax, Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup, Kricketot, Mime Jr., Cranidos, Shieldon, Croagunk, Machop, Pachirisu, Starly, Hippopotas, Snover, Misdreavus, Sneasel, and Gible. They can be changed by talking to them in the places south of the player's house. It should be noted that each Pokémon is of one of the 17 elemental types of Pokémon.
• The villainous team is named Team Dim Sun (Japanese: ヤミヤミ団 Team Yamiyami).
• Team Dim Sun uses computers called Gigaremo Units to hypnotize Pokémon and put them under their control.
• The game has sixty optional, non-story-progressing missions called quests where the player helps citizens of towns. After doing all sixty, the player can go up against Regigigas. The player must currently have in their party Regirock, Regice and Registeel also. Regigigas is found in a quicksand pit, hidden in the Hippowdon Temple.
• A system of collectible cards can power up the Capture Styler.
• The player is able to ride on Pokémon in some environments, including lava, rivers and icy waters.
• There are three Pokémon unlocked in this game by Special Missions in Ranger Net, in the vein of the Manaphy egg mission in the prequel. These Pokémon are a second Manaphy egg, a Riolu with Aura Sphere and Darkrai with Dark Void.
• In addition to the aforementioned special missions, there is another group of missions called extra missions. The rare Pokémon encountered during these missions are Dialga, Palkia and Shaymin (Land Forme). Unlike in the special missions, the Pokémon captured in extra missions are not allowed to be transferred to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and Platinum.
• The game can utilize the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for unlocking both special and extra missions, but only for a limited period of time. They won't work for different regions, only the specific game version when the event is held.
• Missions can be repeated but sending the Pokémon can only be done once.

Reception

Shadows of Almia received mixed reviews in the press. It was described as being "more accessible and enjoyable than its predecessor" by Offical Nintendo Maganzine UK [1] and as "a no-nonsense fun game" by N-Europe Magazine. [2] However, it was criticized for its similarities to the original Pokémon Ranger, with IGN commenting that "for the Pokemon fans that already got their fix two years ago, this isn't necessary" [3] and GamePro stating that "there's nothing compelling or new enough." [4] The game received a average score of 67% on Metacritic, 2% lower than the first Pokémon Ranger.

Trivia

• Fiore is mentioned many times in the game, as are characters from the previous games.
  • The main character's family moved from the Fiore region.
  • Keith and Rhythmi were originally stationed in Fiore.
  • Marcus, an Operator in the Ranger Union, says he's in charge of Rangers in Fiore.
  • Professor Hastings returns, as does Murph, though he isn't a Ranger anymore.
  • There are references to Spenser and Elita on the Pledge Stone in the outdoor class; they both wrote their goals on it.
  • The Go-Rock Quads return as a famous band; they also mention that their name isn't "Go-Rock Squad".
• The Ranger Browser no longer gives flavor text. It only gives the Pokémon's attack data now.
• When describing the quest “Murph’s Ranger Contest”, Murph uses the word “Eeveelution”, which had never previously been used in the games, despite longtime usage as fan terminology.

External links

• Official Japanese Site
• Bulbanews: Pokémon Ranger Batonnage announced in February Coro Coro
• Serebii.net: Pokémon Ranger Shadows Of Almia
• Nintendo's Official Japanese Site
• Official Site

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