When I bought this I thought it was awful considering how bad the first Mystery Dungeon was. Boy was I shocked!
In the game you start off as a human who's turned into a Pokemon and you team up with a partner and try to find the truth- oh wait that's the first one. This one actually makes more since, but at the same time that's not the whole main focus of the game. I would give away MAJOR spoilers so I won't say what but this game has many twist plots and shocks that it feels like you're playing a video game in a book. (In a good way, mind you)
The main focus of the game is exploring dungeons. It's a Dungeon Exploring RPG and it fits in quite nicely. You level up your character and have moves and stats like a RPG but you go exploring through dungeons collecting treasure too. But this is one of the few problems I have with this game. It gets a little repetitive. There is enough stuff to change up the action but it just feels repetitive.
The music in this game is amazing. All of the music in these levels are so well made, you'll be humming them for a while.
The graphics while a little out-dated our still colorful and cheerful and bright. It is very pleasant to look at this game.. expect for the fact this is 2010 and this isn't back in the Gameboy days. Well, it isn't like they took the graphics from the old gameboy version and didn't change them at all- except they did. Yes. What you are seeing Pokemon wise and item wise is all copied from a gameboy game. They could of done better with the graphics, no doubt about that.
But that aside, Nintendo's policy is always "Graphics Don't make the game. Gameplay does." and this game fits completely. Just look at Wind Waker for an example. Many people hated the artwork (in my opinion I loved the graphics) it was one of the best games every made. Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and Darkness is an enjoyable game and even if it was a little repetive- it still was a fun ride in the end.