Pokemon Colosseum

by Nintendo

Product Features

• After clearing various parts of the story, you'll compete in the incredible Pokemon Colosseums in every town
• Fight your way through a series of difficult battles, using more Pokemon and more complex strategies as you reach for the top
• Exciting RPG-style storyline and quests for a more advanced level of gameplay
• Upload Pokemon from Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire and battle them against friends with a GameCube
• Join with a friend for four-player multi-battles

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00009WAUF
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches ; 5.6 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: March 22, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (188 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,598 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Game Informer Review

If Pokemon had been around when I was 10, I would have been that crazy kid on your block who lived and breathed Pokemon in all its forms. However, the days that this would have interested me have passed, and I can only see this game for what it is: a shining example of working just hard enough to keep a franchise alive. The game isn't glaringly sub-standard, but there was little effort put into innovation or moving the series forward.

Colosseum is essentially two games, a Story Mode and a Battle Mode (which resembles the N64 Stadium titles). The plot of Story Mode is surprisingly dark and it would have been great for a 30 minute television episode; but, it doesn't really sustain a 30 hour RPG. You control a sort of anti-hero who steals a valuable accessory from the evil organization he is working for. It turns out that this item allows the wearer to snag Shadow Pokemon (which are Pokémon who have had their hearts sealed and who are generally ornery and unpredictable) away from their masters. It's a good thing that this thievery is encouraged, because in the barren wasteland setting, it is impossible to go out and collect Pokemon from the wild. Instead, you pump up your collection by stealing other people's monsters, gradually opening their hearts, and then having them fight by your side.

The absence of collecting in the traditional sense might come as a shock to those accustomed to the handheld RPGs, but the Battle Mode is as familiar as can be, with several types of matches to fight against the computer or your friends, providing they have Game Boy Advances. Connectivity is a big aspect of Colosseum; not only can you hook up your GBA and import your collection from Ruby or Sapphire, but you also need it if you want to play multiplayer Battle Mode. If you and your friends are pumped up about battling each other in the arena, though, odds are that you already have GBAs and nearly unbeatable Poke battalions from the previous games, so this requirement might not be too much of a drawback.

What is a drawback, however, is the ridiculously low level of challenge. Now, I understand that the game is geared toward younger players, but I was at least five hours into it before I got to a battle that didn't feel like it was set to "tutorial" difficulty. For a world where practically everyone trains Pokemon, there sure are a lot of awful trainers wandering around. The fact that my victory was assured before the battle even started just made me lose interest even faster.

If you're a fan, you'll love the premise, the gameplay, and the overwhelming number of little critters to collect and bend to your will. Even though none of these elements are so astounding as to bring outsiders into the fold, the franchise's debut on the GameCube (Pokemon Channel doesn't count) is a trainer's dream come true.

Concept:
Bring the two reigning genres of Pokémon games together under a single title

Graphics:
The environments are dull, but the creatures look as round, bouncy, and cuddly as you ever wanted them to

Sound:
Pika Pika? [Translation: Where are the cute little noises everything used to make?]

Playability:
Select commands from a menu. Repeat until bored

Entertainment:
Hours and hours of fun for current fans only. No others need apply

Replay:
High

Rated: 7 out of 10
Editor: Joe Juba
Issue: March 2004

2nd Opinion:
In all honesty, Pokemon Colosseum is what fans have been asking for at every opportunity during the last few years. The problem is that we got what we asked for, and I for one don't like it all too much. What was once a handheld RPG with the gotta-catch-‘em-all hook is now a bland and (because of the Game Boy editions) predicable trek that would look more at home on the N64. While some attack and environmental effects are nice, others are embarrassingly bad. The game also features a sadly mixed bag of sound – your critters and the townsfolk offer nothing more than beeps, but the score is painfully perky and overdone. Fans will and should pick this up. But many old devotees will be disappointed because, at best, Colosseum feels like a sad shell of the franchise's glory days and at worst, a poor example in the RPG genre.

Rated: 6.75 out of 10
Editor: Lisa Mason


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Product Description

Pokemon Colosseum - If you've conquered the Pokemon Stadium games, then the next step up is winning in the massive Colosseums! In this game, you'll be challenged to retrain and convert the infamous "Dark Pokemon". These are Pokemon that were mistreated during training. Open their hearts through kindness & training, then battle them against champion trainers in the Colosseums! Work with Dark Pokemon to develop a strong relationship with them -- open its heart so that it'll fight for you in the Colosseum!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pokemon colosseum, better than previous stadium games, March 15, 2004

By 

"ssj4superveggito" (Miami, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pokemon Colosseum (Video Game)

First of all, Pokemon colosseum will be the first console pokemon game to have a RPG mode. The storyline is a little darker than your usual pokemon games. The story deals with a guy whose main mission is to catch Dark pokemon (Pokemon whose hearts have darken)from trainers and heal them. There are about 40+ catchable pokemon (mostly Gold/Silver). The game is compatible with Ruby/Sapphire/and future titles Fire Red and Leaf Green. Also, the bonus disk that comes with the game includes the secret pokemon character known as Jirachi. One of the coolest features of the game is the ability to catch johto pokemon from colosseum and trade them to your Ruby and Sapphire games. That feature enable the user to breed johto pokemon and (i.e. catching bayleef, then trading to RU/SA, and getting a chikorita)and expands your list to it's full potential (386). However the pokedex will not be updated until you start trading with FR/LG (To obtain the NationalDex). I give this game a 9/10.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This game is an incredible improvement from Pokemon Stadium!, September 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Pokemon Colosseum (Video Game)

If I had a penny for every time I said "WOW!" I could buy the game a million times. The graphics are just increadible! I thought I was seeing the real thing! You'll be amazed, too, if you saw what it was like!
Finally, attacks that hit the pokemon and not just go through them and make them unhappy-looking. And there are trainers! The pokeballs don't fall out of trees, come out of doors, or magically appear!
This game is certainly an improvement from the last pokemon stadium! If I were you, I'd buy it!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Pokemon Game Yet!, April 12, 2005

A Kid's Review

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Pokemon Colosseum (Video Game)

This is definately a good choice if you want a game full of adventure, action, and pokemon! With great graphics, cool music, and more, Pokemon Colosseum is the best pokemon game yet!

Graphics-8/10: This game's graphics could be better for a gamecube game, but for a pokemon game, they are very cool. The people/pokemon look pretty good, but the battle moves look completely awesome!

Sound-7/10: Although the game's music can get a little annoying when you're in a town, you completely forget about that when you get in a battle! The battle music is incredible and once you start the battle, you don't wanna stop because the music is so addicting!

Game Length-7/10: The first time you play the game, it may seem like it will take FOREVER for the game to end. But the truth is, it really is a quick game. In fact, if you work hard enough, you can finish in maybe 5 days or less. But I do think that the makers of the game could've made it a little longer...

Fun Level-10/10: Yes, you read right. A 10 out of 10! The minute you fight that first battle, you won't want to put the game down! It is still has the classic game style, like battling and completing special missions. But since you can steal other people's pokemon and open their hearts, it gives the game a fun new twist!

Story-9/10: Greatest story yet! After over 3 sets of games, they finally gave a pokemon game something new and more fun! Instead of your quest of being a pokemon master and collecting EVERY pokemon, you have to snag and purify pokemon from their shadow self. Like I said before, it gives the game a fun new twist!

Gamer Friendly-9/10: The game is still pretty simple. It has all of the basic controlls, but now, you have to go to a special computer to save instead of saving whenever you want. And to me, that gets a little annoying...but it is still simple and fun. And since there is pretty much NO violence, it makes a perfect game for anyone!

Overall-10/10: Although some people may think that the old story was better and easier, this game is just as fun as the others! It is very addicting and to me, the best pokemon game yet! But maybe, Nintendo will do even better next time. Although that will be very hard to do! ^_^