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Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team ds Game Reviews
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
Critic Score
Metascore: 62 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.4 out of 10
based on 33 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 39 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

For the first time ever, the player is a Pokémon, speaking and interacting with other characters in a world populated only by Pokémon! Features a deep, involving and dramatic story brings the player into a world of Pokémon not seen or experienced before. Strategic battles enhance the adventure. Randomly generated dungeons make every mission unique. One day the player awakens to find that he or she has been turned into a Pokémon. The land is being ravaged by natural disasters so the player decides to form a rescue team with a partner Pokémon. The player can interact with many different Pokémon on various missions while trying to uncover their true purpose and destiny. An engrossing story of adventure, redemption and, most of all, friendship. [Nintendo]

PUBLISHER: Nintendo
DEVELOPER: ChunSoft
GENRE(S): Role-Playing Game
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: September 18, 2006

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
GameShark
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.
Read Full Review
93
eToychest
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.
Read Full Review
85
1UP
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.
Read Full Review
83
GameBrink
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]
Read Full Review
80
GameSpy
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.
Read Full Review
80
Nintendo Power
Mystery Dungeon is not perfect, but its robust and original aspects form a game more solid than many expected. [Nov. 2006, p.86]
80
Armchair Empire
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.
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75
Deeko
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!
Read Full Review
72
PGNx Media
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.
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72
Electronic Gaming Monthly
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]
Read Full Review
70
EuroGamer
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.
Read Full Review
70
Official Nintendo Magazine UK
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]
70
VideoGamer
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.
Read Full Review
70
Games Master UK
A nice twist on the Pokemon formula, but this isn't the stuff of greatness. [Christmas 2006, p.58]
70
Yahoo! Games
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.
Read Full Review
70
GamerFeed
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.
Read Full Review
65
IGN
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.
Read Full Review
60
Games Radar
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.
Read Full Review
60
Sydney Morning Herald
While ploughing through the dungeons becomes repetitive, following your character's evolution and steady growth in skills becomes addictive.
Read Full Review
60
PALGN
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.
Read Full Review
56
Da Gameboyz
With oversimplified gameplay and sub-par graphics Pokemon Mystery Dungeon – Blue Rescue Team does not have the depth one would hope.
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55
NintendoWorldReport
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.
Read Full Review
55
NGamer UK
Dungeon-crawling is deadly dull. [Dec 2006, p.50]
52
GameSpot
The injection of Pokémon characters and aspects hasn't done anything to improve ChunSoft's oft-copied dungeon hack.
Read Full Review
50
GamePro
If monotonous gaming and skimpy Pokemon action aren't your thing, then this is one mystery that's best left unsolved.
Read Full Review
50
Gamestyle
The concept had a lot of potential, but we feel that far too much of this potential has gone unexplored.
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50
AceGamez
The unabashedly GBA presentation and flimsy integration of both Pokémon and the DS leave this game feeling boring and unexceptional.
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50
Pocket Gamer UK
Compelling for a while, eventually Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team casts a powerful sleep spell over the toughest of pokéfans.
Read Full Review
48
Cheat Code Central
I’m confident that you’ll eventually grow weary of the repetitious dungeon crawling.
Read Full Review
40
Modojo
Being a hardcore Pokemaniac, it really hurts to see yet another Pokemon game succumb to mediocrity.
Read Full Review
30
WHAM! Gaming
The game is a rapidly wearisome, dull dungeon crawling adventure with repetitive maps, dialogue and gameplay.
Read Full Review
30
Game Informer
Simply put, this game is bad and I hate it. [Nov. 2006, p.140]
25
Game Revolution
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.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 7.4 (out of 10) based on 39 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Tony H. gave it a3:
While this pokemon game is sort of an upset due to it following a complete different style of gameplay from the orginals that we love. The graphics were really nothing wow worthy and it is definitely not worth the $29.99. I would reccomend playing the originals or pokemon diamond and pearl!

Robert C. gave it a0:
Horrible game! I would not recommend it to anyone. I am an avid pokemon game fan but can't believe how boring this game is.....snoooooorre.

Caz C. gave it a6:
Extremely cute and cuddly version of Pokemon where you become the actual pocket monster yourself. Pretty random and repetative at times but fun to complete and definately worth trying it out.

Adam E. gave it a0:
I think Pokemon is brilliant, but this game is terrible! It's repetitive to a fault, with no special sequences. Random generation may provide endless gameplay, but there's a reason why awesome gaming sequences are actually designed by people! This is the worst game on DS and anyone who likes this should play a real game, not something that took about half a month to make.

Mc Mucrkle gave it a0:
This game is pants. I am definitely right, and anyone who likes this game is definitely wrong and is insane and boring. The game is rubbish: repetitive (1 town, endless identical dungeons), theres nothing to do except walk in dungeons, boring storyline, generally irritating. It made me want to die quickly. Do not buy this game. Bore off.

Weronika C. gave it a10:
This game is perfect for anyone who loves adventures, and especially mysteries. This game is based on partnership, where you and your partner try to save the world, and perhaps even others.

Justin B. gave it a9:
This game is awesome, UNTIL after you defeat Zapdos, then you end up grueling over dying again and again in the next dungeon.

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