During the Pokémon Presents last week, Nintendo showcased many special announcements. However, neither Pokopia nor Generation 10 can generate as much anticipation for MeinMMO editor Niko as a special spin-off that was released 20 years ago.
Like many others my age, I grew up with Pokémon. I played the games, watched the anime, and collected the cards. To this day, I still enjoy the series despite many strange decisions. The spin-offs were often as important to me as the main titles.
Mystery Dungeon had the best story and I love Pokémon Tekken just for its bizarre concept. As a kid, I never had a GameCube. We were a PS2 family back then.
That’s why I could never play Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. While I picked up Colosseum years ago, XD was simply too expensive for me. Looking on eBay, prices often reach €200, and even more if in good condition.
cheapprices for the game
That’s why I have been looking at this unusual Pokémon game from the outside for years. But then came the Pokémon Presents. The Pokémon Company even invited us to watch the Presents in a cinema in London. Alongside Generation 10 and its starters, a lot was showcased to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the franchise.
I didn’t care about any of that. A small trailer (Source: YouTube) featuring a yacht and a Lugia was enough for me to know which RPG I would spend my March with. Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness is coming to the Switch’s Expansion Pack subscription, and that is something special.
You can see some impressions from us in London here:
There is no Pokémon game like Colosseum and XD
Why is Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness so special? At its core, the main titles of the series are RPGs, but they have a strong identity of their own. The story runs alongside; it’s mainly about catching and training. This is even true for spin-offs like the two Legends titles.
Pokémon Colosseum and XD go in a different direction. They are significantly more linear and also more restrictive in terms of catching Pokémon. You don’t find them in tall grass; you steal them from nasty trainers. These so-called Crypto-Pokémon
are not friendly to you at first. You have to battle them to unlock further attacks and remove their Crypto status, which can be quite frustrating in battle.
At the same time, the titles focus on double battles. You have to develop different tactics due to the restrictions. Even though that sounds negative, I find it a rather interesting approach.
The other, perhaps more prominent feature is the atmosphere. Colosseum and XD are darker than the main series, have a unique graphic style and animations, and a strong soundtrack that gives both games their own identity. It’s not a battle simulator like Battle Revolution or Stadium; it’s a standalone GameCube JRPG – just with Pokémon.
The announcement not only made me happy because I can finally catch up without major hurdles, but also because a franchise anniversary should look like this.
This is how you should celebrate a big franchise
Pokémon is a special franchise because it combines so many elements. Games, plush toys, cards, and the anime. Pokémon fans enjoy different things, which were also showcased to us in London. You saw the large Lego set, many cards, and could also play Pokopia.
While these are not topics that currently interest me as a fan, the Presents was a nice potpourri for different parts of the community. Cozy fans got Pokopia, TCG players got a glimpse of a new set, and Generation 10 was presented to everyone.
For me, the announcement of XD means that the Pokémon Company is also looking at the old spin-offs, which may not be as popular as FireRed or LeafGreen. This is where the company needs to go further. The old games must be available on modern platforms so that new fans can catch up with the history of the franchise without needing to shop on eBay.
But there is still room for improvement because this is happening too slowly. Where are the other titles aside from FireRed and LeafGreen? Why is Pokémon Colosseum missing, and when will I finally get Pokémon Conquest in Germany? All of these may not be major topics that attract countless players, but for me, they belong to an anniversary.
Please give me more of this. I’m as excited as a teenager for Pokémon XD and hope this is just the beginning of exploring more obscure corners of the franchise again.
When can you play Pokémon XD? Currently, there is no concrete date, but March has already been mentioned as the release month. However, keep in mind that you need the subscription Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
to play GameCube games on your Switch 2.
But what was the most exciting announcement for you and which game would you like to see on the Switch? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. I have gathered many beautiful memories with Pokémon, even if I tricked my sister into it: Due to a wrong tip, I ruined Pokémon for my little sister
