Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia

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Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia

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. Players can choose the name of their protagonist, the defaults of which are Kellyn (male) and Kate (female).
• 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 player's family farm south of the player's house. It should be noted that each Pokémon is of one of the 17 elemental types of Pokémon, and that each Pokemon has a different length of a Partner Energy bar. The partner's energy may also be filled faster when it is in a happy mood, signaled by black or multi-colored music notes rising above it.
• The villainous team is named Team Dim Sun (Japanese: ヤミヤミ団 Team Yamiyami).
• Team Dim Sun uses computers called Miniremo 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 Almia.
• After capturing the first 266 Pokémon in the Browser, the player can go up against Regigigas. The player must currently have in their party Regirock, Regice and Registeel. 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 were three Pokémon unlocked in this game by Special Missions in Ranger Net, in the vein of the Manaphy egg mission in the prequel. These missions are no longer available. The Pokémon available were a 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.
• Special Missions can be repeated but sending the Pokémon can only be done once. This is an improvement over the original, as replaying the Manaphy mission only played a cutscene in which Lunick, Solana, and the Professor's assistant discuss Manaphy.
• A Capture Arena is available after the game for players to hone their skills.

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 an 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 after graduation.
  • 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; 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.
• When looking through Brighton's Diary, Murph says Brighton... Brighton... Isn't that some kind of candy?. This is likely a reference to the popular English candy called Rock, which is mainly found in the city of Brighton along the South Coast of the United Kingdom, and is sometimes referred to as Brighton Rock or Brighton Rock-Candy.
• Failing to stop the stop the sinking Cargo Ship is the first occasion the player character in a Pokémon game can die.

In other languages

• French: Pokémon Ranger: Nuit sur Almia
• Spanish: Pokémon Ranger: Sombras de Almia
• German: Pokémon Ranger: Finsternis über Almia
• Italian: Pokémon Ranger: Ombre su Almia
• Dutch: Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia

External links

Bulbanews has multiple articles related to this subject:

Articles relating to Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia

• Official Japanese Site
• Nintendo's Official Japanese Site
• Official Site
• Official European site

This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames.