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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Pokemon Ranger
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 21 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 21 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: HAL Labs
Genre(s): Action, Role-Playing Game
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: October 30, 2006
Summary
(Also known as "Pokemon Ranger: The Road to Diamond and Pearl") With the help of Pokemon, set out on a fun-filled adventure! You play as a Pokemon Ranger in the Fiore Region, where you work to preserve nature and protect Pokemon. Circle Pokemon using the Capture Styler with Nintendo DS stylus control. Use each Pokemon's special abilities to clear obstacles and to help capture other Pokemon. Capture and interact with more than 200 of your favorite Pokemon. Work your way up the Pokémon Ranger ranks by succeeding at official missions throughout the Fiore region. Pokemon Ranger is unlike any Pokemon game you've played before. You control your character using the stylus, and all Pokemon are captured using a Capture Styler instead of a Poke Ball. Since you're a Pokemon Ranger and not a trainer, you must release each captured Pokemon back into the wild after they help you. [Nintendo]
Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats
Also On The Web: Official Website
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...
eToychest
It’s simple without being easy, and it’s fun without being frustrating.
Read Full Review >GameBrink
With next generation touch screen gameplay that works perfectly, an incredibly well created main quest, and a lot of extra Pokemon to catch this is a must for fans of the series and fans of Action RPGs. The use of the DS’ touch screen is unprecedented and has really captured a new form of gameplay. [JPN Import]
Read Full Review >NintendoWorldReport
This game is the best Pokemon spinoff I have ever played, and I dare tread into volatile territory and say this is the best Pokemon game I have ever played. It was fun every step of the way, even if I lost at times. I was always motivated to have “just one more crack" at catching the tricky ones, especially the ones at the Jungle Relic dungeon.
Read Full Review >Official Nintendo Magazine UK
Pokemon Ranger isn't as deep and involving as the main Pokemon adventures, but as far as spin-offs go this is one of the best. A simple but fun adventure. [Apr 2007, p.85]
AceGamez
Pokémon fans will lap it up, but will likely be left craving the more traditional Trainer-based titles when the game comes to a close.
Read Full Review >Jolt Online Gaming UK
It may be no substitute for the real thing, but is by far and away the best stop-gap we’ve seen so far.
Read Full Review >Games Master UK
An interesting diversion from the usual adventure but it needs a bit more freedom. [May 2007, p.70]
GameSpot
Pokemon Ranger has a similar look and feel to all the other lighthearted Pokemon games, but invites you to capture all those critters in a rather exciting new way.
Read Full Review >IGN
It's a meaty, albeit linear, adventure with some cool DS mechanics...it's just nothing earth shattering or classic.
Read Full Review >Nintendo Power
Pokemon veterans will also breeze through the comparatively light challenge Ranger provides, but newcomers to the franchise will enjoy the challenge. [Dec. 2006, p.112]
NGamer UK
Narrow-minded and frustrating, but Pokemon Ranger demands genuine skill. It gets so many things right that the RPGs get wrong. Give it a whirl. [May 2007, p.67]
GameSpy
As was the case in Mystery Dungeon, it's nice to take another trip though this monster-infested world in a game that doesn't play like, well, 90% of the other Pokémon titles. I just wish that Ranger's gameplay didn't grow old so quickly.
Read Full Review >GameDaily
Pokemon Ranger is worth a try, but like the gameplay, it ends up going around in circles.
Read Full Review >Da Gameboyz
Pokemon Ranger is definitely a game for pokemanicas looking for a fix until the next true chapters in the series are finally released in N. America.
Read Full Review >Games Radar (in-house)
Pokemon Ranger is an enjoyable marketing sidequest, despite lacking depth or challenge. Pokemon fans will find it a satisfactory appetizer to tide them over until the main course arrives next year.
Read Full Review >Pocket Gamer UK
Despite being loveable and well-made, Pokémon Ranger's combat system is too shallow to grip your attention.
Read Full Review >Sydney Morning Herald
The new hands-on capture system is not enough to make this an essential Pokemon adventure.
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
The real disappointment, aside from the painful hand-holding of the main storyline, is the glint of true potential the game's main mechanic shows at times.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
It’s good to see Nintendo keep trying new things to refresh an aging title, and taking advantage of the unique opportunities the DS offers. But by putting a little bit more thought into the music and graphics, they could have made a pretty good game, instead of one that is merely okay.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
The dull, simplistic puzzle-solving relies on a gimmicky control scheme to distract you from the fact that it’s barely a game in any sense of the word.
Read Full Review >netjak
Pokémon Ranger is one of the big misses in this franchise’s history. It can be entertaining for a short time, but uninteresting game mechanics and utter lack of difficulty will result in most players putting this game aside for good even before the relatively short story is completed.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Lauren W. gave it a10:
Wonderful! A MUST HAVE for Pokemon fans. It is a little short, but totally worth buying.
Sam M. gave it a10:
Top game! I'm half way through it. it has a top story line. you can unlock a manaphy egg for diamond and pearl. the game play is fun and easy to pick up, but hard to master. all these things will keep me playing it for quite a while. i may even try to catch every single pokemon you can possibly catch.
Jerry T. gave it a1:
This game is terrible. its just incredibly frustrating. you just circle these pokemon over and over and some of them move around all retardedly or there will be 3 of them that will move around retardedly. the only reason i played this game all the way through was to get the manaphy egg for the diamond/pearl. so to sum it all up dont buy this unless youre gunna get diamond/pearl.
Brian L. gave it a1:
I really dont like the way that you get to ask your pokemon for help. i perfer just sticking to the same idea as all the other games, where you have to rely on your own skilsl to solve obstacles that get in your way.
