• Publisher: Nintendo
  • Release Date: Sep 18, 2006
Metascore
62 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 34 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 34
  2. Negative: 5 out of 34
  1. 100
    The lesson here is that just because the license is for kids, the game doesn't have to be. There’s a reason this sort of gameplay has been around for over 25 years: it works, whether you’re a green squirrel or an @. And Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is the game to prove it.
  2. With a decent story, interesting play mechanics, and a novel link/rescue system, it’s hard not to recommend this title for DS owners looking for a good RPG fix, especially since it’s got considerable longevity as well.
  3. 85
    You won't find a better handheld RPG so fitting for bite-size moments of play, and those cute 'n' marketable pocket monsters are only the icing on the cake.
  4. Graphically the DS version is only slightly better, but nothing that you will even notice unless you put them side by side. The one crucial advantage that the DS version holds over the GBA one is that it sounds much better. [JPN Import]
  5. Mystery Dungeon is not perfect, but its robust and original aspects form a game more solid than many expected. [Nov. 2006, p.86]
  6. Overall, it’s a satisfying Pokémon romp. The perspective is a little different but the addictive turn-based battles and exploration are in full effect and still lots of fun.
  7. 80
    It may confuse some and frustrate others, but its addictive nature should keep you hooked until you learn to appreciate the art of the dungeon crawl.
  8. 75
    With it's focus on dungeon crawling, this is a diversion that you'll want to return to again and again — and believe me, there are a lot of Pokemon waiting to be rescued!
  9. For one thing, storing and retrieving items is too much of a hassle. And second, whoever came up with the idea or permanently losing your valuables every time you die(which makes going back to finish the job much tougher)should have their head examined. [Nov. 2006, p.138]
  10. Only the most diehard Pokemon fans should ever consider picking this game up. The gameplay isn’t especially interesting, the game makes poor use of the Nintendo DS hardware, and the presentation is seriously outdated.
  11. Ironically, it's a game that'll probably be criticised for not being the same game as before. But actually that's one of its strengths. Especially if, like me, you're a massive fan of Rogue.
  12. Anyone with an established affection for roguelikes (apparently there are a lot of you) and even the slightest liking of Pokémon will really enjoy this. And ultimately, I did too - played one mission at a time, Mystery Dungeon's old-fashionedness in the context of the adorable setting is charming, and you can't fault it for a lack of longevity.
  13. A nice twist on the Pokemon formula, but this isn't the stuff of greatness. [Christmas 2006, p.58]
  14. Although the idea is interesting and the thought of being a Pokemon instead of training one is a fun twist, it's a shame the game itself is a bit of a let-down, with repetitive and boring missions. [Dec 2006, p.90]
  15. Something of a guilty pleasure. Objectively, it's not a good game at all -- it's ill-suited to its platform, repetitive to the extreme, too easy, presented with little flair, and a mere shadow of the best that both Pokemon and dungeon crawlers in general have to offer. But it's still sitting there in our DS's slot, waiting for the next time we have ten minutes of downtime.
  16. This is far and away the best Pokemon DS game out there. It's just not the full-fledged sequel that I'm still anticipating.
  17. 68
    The Mystery Dungeon games are definitely different than most Pokémon games, and there's fun to be had with them, but there are still a lot of better games available on the DS (including the second Pokémon Mystery Dungeon), which makes Blue Rescue Team difficult to recommend.
  18. 65
    It drags on and on without much change, which is why it's a good thing it's been structured in segments for quick-shot, handheld-friendly dungeon exploration.
  19. If you can stomach grinding through hundreds of dungeons, then there's dozens and dozens of hours for you to enjoy. If you're waiting for the next great Pokemon adventure, however, keep waiting. This isn't it.
  20. 60
    Mystery Dungeon is far from being a poor game by any standards, it’s just a game that makes terrible choices that limit its appeal greatly.
  21. While ploughing through the dungeons becomes repetitive, following your character's evolution and steady growth in skills becomes addictive.
  22. With oversimplified gameplay and sub-par graphics Pokemon Mystery Dungeon – Blue Rescue Team does not have the depth one would hope.
  23. All of the benefits of level grinding found in the classic Pokemon games are either removed or cheapened in this title. Without anything to look forward to, it's hard to deal with the monotony of the dungeons.
  24. Dungeon-crawling is deadly dull. [Dec 2006, p.50]
  25. The injection of Pokémon characters and aspects hasn't done anything to improve ChunSoft's oft-copied dungeon hack.
  26. The concept had a lot of potential, but we feel that far too much of this potential has gone unexplored.
  27. The unabashedly GBA presentation and flimsy integration of both Pokémon and the DS leave this game feeling boring and unexceptional.
  28. Compelling for a while, eventually Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team casts a powerful sleep spell over the toughest of pokéfans.
  29. 50
    If monotonous gaming and skimpy Pokemon action aren't your thing, then this is one mystery that's best left unsolved.
  30. I’m confident that you’ll eventually grow weary of the repetitious dungeon crawling.
  31. 40
    Being a hardcore Pokemaniac, it really hurts to see yet another Pokemon game succumb to mediocrity.
  32. Simply put, this game is bad and I hate it. [Nov. 2006, p.140]
  33. The game is a rapidly wearisome, dull dungeon crawling adventure with repetitive maps, dialogue and gameplay.
  34. Blue Rescue Team lacks most of the content that made Pokemon so popular in the first place. Instead, it features the ancient failings of Roguelike games, including dungeon restarts, level grinding and no versus play. Frankly, we’d rather catch a cold.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 20
  2. Negative: 5 out of 20
  1. This game is what was so badly needed...A pokemon game that isn't afraid to be difficult. Constantly difficult. It might not be exactly NetHack, but compared to an main-series pokemon game it hates you. I never found it get especially repetetive, as the constant tension kept things going. And as for The Very Definetaly Final Dungeon...You'll have nightmares about the sentence 'It's a monster house.' for weeks! Full Review »
  2. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Blue and Red Rescue Team are both great games which are written off in most gamers minds as Pokemon spin off. But I see it as a Role Playing Game (RPG) master piece which ties in Pokemon so perfectly that if they used something other than Pokemon, it would not feel right.
    For more visit http://www.16-bit-video-game-store-and-review.com/reviews/nintendo/pokemon-mystery-dungeon-blue-rescue-team/
    Full Review »
  3. 6
    The story is really nice and the game is fun. However the interminable dungeons become repetitive after a while and when you die and have to restart at the beginning it gets frustrating. Full Review »