Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness with Custom GameCube Skin

by Nintendo

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000AMJVPI
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,294 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Similar .. but BETTER than Colosseum, October 9, 2005

By 

S. Price (Laurel MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness with Custom GameCube Skin (Video Game)

A fun trip back to the land of Orre with some familiar faces and some new friends. If you liked Colosseum, you will find the upgrades in this game to be a godsend. I still don't enjoy the GameCube versions as much as the GBA ones, but everything that I WISHED I could do in Colosseum can be done in XD.

The main differences are as follows:

1. What we all wished for has happened .. you can SAVE the game anywhere, anytime, as often as you like! This was by far the most annoying thing that I discovered when I first bought Colosseum. I was so used to saving my game before any major battle, or before trying to catch a "one-shot-only" Pokemon. With XD, you no longer have to seek out a PokeCenter or a computer to save the game. This makes all the difference in the world. I am no longer "afraid" of what's lurking around the corner because I can always start over if I wasn't ready for what was lurking in the darkness! LOL

2. You can catch WILD POKEMON in XD. Another thing that I could never get used to in Colosseum. In XD you are shown three "Poke Spots" where you leave treats (bait) for wild Pokemon. You have a Pokemon-detector that goes off if any wild Pokemon are munching your treats at a Poke Spot. Again, with the new "save feature", you can save the game and THEN go hunting. If you kill the wild Pokemon by accident, just restart.

3. There is a cool new Purification machine so you can purify up to NINE pokemon at the same time. Very much a time saver. No more dragging around Pokemon that you never intend to use just to open up their hearts.

4. New story line. Some old towns, some new towns but an interesting storyline throughout.

5. Graphics. Graphics are noticibly better in XD.

6. Shadow Moves. Instead of one shadow move, all shadow pokemon automatically come with two. There are many possible shadow moves .. all with different strengths and effects. Much more interesting.

7. New Pokemon. There are (at least) two new Pokemon. You can't catch them, but I think their appearance foreshadows a new batch of Pokemon which will probably be available in the next version of the game.

All in all, much better than Colosseum. Just adding a few simple changes (most notably the "save feature") brings a whole new enjoyment to an older game. Pokemaniacs will not be disappointed with this purchase.

NOTE: As I have suggested in my other reviews, buy the NINTENDO POWER guide instead of the Prima guide. MUCH more complete.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everything Pokemon Colosseum Should Have Been, October 14, 2005

By 

lasher (Space and the Great Beyond) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness with Custom GameCube Skin (Video Game)

I had fun with Pokemon Colosseum, it was an interesting departure and fun to take the pokemon 3D and into an RPG format. This game really is everything Colosseum should have been but wasn't.

STORY

Overall the story is more deep, its still rather kid friendly, so please understand that it means there's more to it, more involved and much more to do and places to go. The last game felt like you were just getting into it when it ended. The characters seem to be a bit more flushed out too, though it still has that pokemon tongue in cheek feel to it.

GRAPHICS

This once again is a huge improvement, the last game's pokemons shadows were pixelated which by this days graphics is inexcusable. This time the graphics are smoother, more detailed, even the pokemon attacks seem more brilliant and thought out. The fire, water, electric and ground attacks look really nice, makes it much more fun when your pokemon does an ember or hydro attack. Also at Dr. Kaminko's house there are nice lightning effects, its a small thing I know, but in the game world those are the things that take an average game and make it great.

GAMEPLAY

The game play is fairly standard to any pokemon game, console or handheld, but this I think falls into the area, if it ain't broke, don't fix it theory. Subdue badguys, save helpless pokemon, be a new hero. The fact now that you can save anywhere is a big plus, I hated how I had to backtrack to a save point in the last game, took forever especially in the caves. Also the purification comes along a lot earlier in this version and is much more user-friendly.

POKEMON

Now this is where it all comes down to it. If a game like this doesn't tons of available pokemon it will be a failure. It definately hurt Pokemon Colosseum in that it only really had about 50 available pokemon in it. This one has around 100 available pokemon, not to mention new moves for certain pokemon that have previously unavailable. Plus you can also catch a few wild pokemon in this game which is a nice thing. My only issue is that they should have allowed for more catchable wild pokemon, they have almost all in the game, attacks included, so its not like they don't have them already programed in. Also, the ability to earn badges and ribbons would have been nice.

Overall the game is a drastic improvement to Colosseum, its fun, playful and nice to see the game in all its 3D glory. If you love pokemon this is definately a keeper, and with this version you get the exclusive GameCube Skin.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just one word F-U-N!!!, November 8, 2005

By 

Jack (Oklahoma, USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness with Custom GameCube Skin (Video Game)

I am not a Pokemon fan at all. I got this game because it came in a bundlepack with the gamecube. I played it. Yes I a 22 year old played PokemanXD Gale of Darkness and I enjoyed it. It is actually quite addicting and fun. The graphics are great load times really aren't anything at all unlike the PS2 ( really do hate that thing ). There are so many different Pokemon and some actually are fierce looking not some cutesy cartoony wimpy looking pokemon. I really can't see nothing wrong with this game. However voice overs would have been nice. Only one word to describe this game fun.