If you're an open-minded gamer, then Pokemon Dash is worth renting or trying out, despite what others say.
Ambrella, the developers that created Hey You Pikachu and Pokemon Channel, return with a light racing title featuring Pokemon. Though this isn't quite the racing game that everyone was hoping for, it's pretty decent and mildly unique in its own way. In the Regular GP mode, you have 5 cups, each featuring about 5 courses, which make a grand total of 25 courses in the game. In Pokemon Dash, you take control of Pikachu (the only racer you can play as) to get to goal sites. In each course goal sites are scattered across a huge field. You must run to each site in a certain order to complete the stage. There are usually between 6-10 goal sets in each course. In order to get to some goal sites, however, you must have a strategy to do this. There are options, such as using pads to increase your speed in certain areas, using balloons to fly very high and fall wherever you choose, and using a Lapras to get across deep waters. There are a few areas where you cannot cross, such as water, swamps and lava, unless you have a pad with you that can let you cross. At times, these strategies get a little confusing, so sometimes it's not as easy as it sounds. After you beat the Regular GP mode (and you will in about one hour if you play till the end.) You'll unlock the Hard GP mode, which truly is more difficult then the Regular, and Special mode, which lets to put in Pokemon GBA carts into the Nintendo DS cart slot to get extra content and courses for Pokemon Dash. But aside from that, the only other thing Pokemon Dash offers is a multiplayer mode, which probably nothing special. The gameplay itself in Pokemon Dash, is little unique, but it's not really enough to grab peoples attention a lot.
Graphics:
The game looks, in general, decent. The pokemon have solid details, but at times they have odd animations. The 3D character model for Pikachu is the one used in Pokemon Channel (since Ambrella also made that game) and it's pretty much the only good looking feature about Pokemon Dash. At times, the 2D graphics will look a little pixeled that's noticeable. But if you can ignore a couple problems, then Pokemon Dash isn't ugly to look at.
Sound:
There are only a few music tracks heard in this game, and only half of them sound good. The other music only sounds tolerable. Most of the songs are happy, if you get my point. Pikachu is back with his usual high-pitched, but cute, voice, which isn't a bad thing for me. Once again, Ambrella reuses some sound effects from their previous game, which also, isn't a problem with me. Overall, if you like happy music and other sounds, Pokemon Dash has some of it.
Conclusion:
After playing about 2 hours with Pokemon Dash, I must say it is fun...only for a short while. I can tell in the future I won't be playing it much. The game is short and offers little replay value. Instead of giving us a game where people play with Pikachu, Ambrella gives us a racing game that isn't recommended for everyone. So it comes down to this. If you like happy themed Pokemon games, and if you're open-minded, Pokemon Dash is a decent game to try out. But if you're looking for a great racing title for the DS, this is not it.
Pros:
-Mildly unique gameplay elements
-Solid graphics and music (aside from a few pixels)
-Pikachu's voice brightens some peoples lives.
Cons:
-Very little replay value
-Too short
-There are occasionally some issues with navigating to get to certain goal sets.