advertisement

Pokémon Battle Revolution Hands-On

By Ricardo Torres, GameSpotPosted May 25, 2007 12:14 am PT

Pokémon. Online battles. Get ready to rumble.

One of the marquee titles at Nintendo's Summer Preview Event was Pokémon Battle Revolution, the anticipated Wii game that lets fans of the long-running series throw down with friends locally or online. The work-in-progress game on display at the event let those in attendance rumble with the menageries they've gathered in the recently released Diamond and Pearl editions of Pokémon for the Nintendo DS. We took a quick run through the game to see if there have been any changes to the import version, which hit Japan last year.

The game is set on the island of Pokétopia and casts you as a trainer out to conquer 10 colosseums on the island. Your goal, of course, is to take over all of the colosseums, but the meat of the game lies in its multiplayer modes, which let you take on friends via your DS or the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The big hook to the title is the ability to use your DS to control the action, upload your personal array of Pokémon to use in the fray, and take on any comers via the Internet. Perks such as the ability to customize your trainer and create a "battle pass," which transfers your favorite Pokémon to your Wii Remote for battling at a friend's house, are neat little touches for those not rolling with a DS. The different variations of battle types and the option to use your DS in a fight are cool and should appeal to Pokémaniacs. Combat is still the turn-based rock-paper-scissors action that's served the long-lived series well.

The game looks identical to the import version and offers clean, polygonal graphics that bring the various Pokémon to life. The action stays focused around the battlefield and keeps the visuals simple and uncluttered. The game uses an art style in the same vein as the GameCube's Pokémon Colosseum title, but it offers cleaner-looking critters and some more special effects. The audio is spare, focusing mainly on the battle theme and the cries of the combatants.

Based on what we saw and played, Pokémon Battle Revolution should hit the spot for fans looking to test their skills on a broader playing field. The ability to challenge friends online is cool, as it's a feature fans have been hoping for. However, the game's faithful adherence to the Pokémon formula (though it's a successful one) may also make it a tough sell to longtime fans hungering for something more original.

128 Comments

  • newstuff13

    Posted Jun 26, 2007 8:39 am PT

    And it's NEW,NOT NOOB.I'm new to this site,but i am rank 4,paper boy.

  • newstuff13

    Posted Jun 26, 2007 8:32 am PT

    Thanks ,but i asked for rating,not advise.

  • aylabdawii

    Posted Jun 26, 2007 7:01 am PT

    Sound's sexy...)

  • lilromeo0606

    Posted Jun 26, 2007 1:12 am PT

    KageNaruto, i think what fon1988 was meaning to say is that much like how zelda transformed from the nes to the n64 with 3d graphics, they should do the same with pokemon; transform it from a top down on the gameboy, to a 3d world for the wii.

  • quinnydinny

    Posted Jun 25, 2007 6:24 pm PT

    Hey Noobstuff13. You may want to check out www.smogon.com to give you an idea of a team that WILL work.

  • newstuff13

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 2:46 pm PT

    Well,here is the team i am using for pbr. Torterra lv.75 item:quick claw
    moves:Earthquake,Razor leaf,leaf storm,and strength Empoleon lv.75 item:mystic water
    moves:Rock climb,Waterfall,Surf,Hydro cannon Staraptor lv.75 item:Shell bell
    moves:Fly,Aerial ace,Defog,Brave bird Infernape lv.75 nickname:{tot} item:charcoal
    moves:Close combat,Flamethrower,Flare blitz,Cut Lucario lv.75 item,Black belt
    moves:dark pulse,Close combat,aura sphere,rock smash Pikachu lv.75 item:Light ball
    moves:Thunderbolt,Quick attack,Iron tail,Volt tackle

  • KageNaruto

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 10:29 am PT

    fon1988, what's the point of a game on the console that resembles the handheld? That's really pointless IMO, and Pokemon Stadium rocked. Not to mention you contradict yourself, "evolve the series", "resembles gameboy games".

    just like every FPS, Pokemon is going to mainly stay the same.

  • fon1988

    Posted Jun 24, 2007 4:18 am PT

    The game sounds cool but in all honesty it just seems to be an updated Pokemon Stadium. When are they going to give us a full fledged, online adventure game that resembles the gameboy games and finally evolves the series? I've played Pokemon games since I was eight years old and though I love the formula and love diamond/pearl, It's becoming too bland.

  • newstuff13

    Posted Jun 22, 2007 9:50 am PT

    Hey,i can't wait for this.I started training for the game.Look at my team and rate them1 to 5,good to bad{i'm still training,so i'll update it probably tomorrow} Torterra lv.71 item:quick claw
    moves:Earthquake,Razor leaf,leaf storm,and strength Empoleon lv.71 item:mystic water
    moves:Rock climb,Waterfall,Surf,Hydro cannon Staraptor lv.70 item:Shell bell
    moves:Fly,Aerial ace,Defog,Brave bird Infernape lv.75 nickname:{tot} item:charcoal
    moves:Close combat,Flamethrower,Flare blitz,Cut Lucario lv.75 item,Black belt
    movesark pulse,Close combat,aura sphere,rock smash Pikachu lv.75 item:Light ball
    moves:Thunderbolt,Quick attack,Iron tail,Volt tackle

  • DarthMGH

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 8:58 pm PT

    This author is not a very good one. He used many expressions too many times.

  • KageNaruto

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 4:50 am PT

    This is a dream come true for the fans of competitive battling in Pokemon. Even a ranking system is in place! What's the point of catching or raising Pokes in this game when you can do it on the DS? I am super happy with the way it is, targetted straight at online play. Owning ubers with UU is going to be one of the most satisfactory feelings ever. This isn't just an add-on, it's a pass to endless competitive battling, the thing Pokemon was created for. This game is almost targetting a select audience, and I say, I can't fudgin' wait!

  • zeusape

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 7:48 pm PT

    will there be the free battle mode again like from pokemon stadiums 1 and 2? that was one of my favorite parts, fighting with any pokemon you wanted.

  • knight0029

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 1:56 pm PT

    This game is going to be so cool! Since we can play online and stuff...

  • maxxehdood

    Posted Jun 16, 2007 2:18 pm PT

    isnt mario football the first online wii game? lol

  • HiddenOakTree

    Posted Jun 16, 2007 8:26 am PT

    The graphics are impressive and being the 1st Wii game online, I surely am gonna check it out!

  • Lobezno_D

    Posted Jun 15, 2007 8:52 pm PT

    I say bring on the battles. I'm ready to rock out with my Poke out.

  • switchdude98

    Posted Jun 15, 2007 2:42 pm PT

    im not a big fan anymore but with online this game will probably bee pretty good

  • dannyfresh1991

    Posted Jun 15, 2007 5:47 am PT

    all the pokemon games that have came out for consoles look like they are just like pokemon stadium, i dont see a diference

  • Lord_Jala

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 4:34 pm PT

    chaos_dragon06

    "make a pokemon game with a somewhat Smash bros. gameplay. like for example, a battle has two pokemon wich you have full control over so you can move away from pokemon attacks. the higher the accuracy of the attack, the longer the range is and so on. if thats difficult to make, do something similar to parasite eve." although thats a good thought its simply to hard. the game would have too many variables. they would have to figure weakness and resistances, attack, spc. attack, and all the stats, also 3D motion. something the wii doesnt have the memory to do. if you havent noticed the wii is a pretty basic system. nintendo is drying up they cant make games with real graphics just animated graphics. but dont get me wrong i love pokemon and mario and such but nintendo should give it up. ps3 has everything they got and good graphics. ur idea would work on the ps3. it has enough memory and everything else it would require.

  • gamerdude747

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 3:43 pm PT

    i haven't seen a game like this since i used to play pokemon stadium 2 for the N64

Pokemon Battle Revolution Quick Links

Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum | Check Prices

advertisement
advertisement
Click Here

Related Unions

Pokemon Battle Revolution Boxshot Enlarge the boxshot
Pokemon Battle Revolution

Game Stats

Full Game Details »Close

Games you may like…

Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.

See More Similar Games
advertisement