Pokemon Ranger

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]

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.

It may be no substitute for the real thing, but is by far and away the best stop-gap we’ve seen so far.

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]

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.

An interesting diversion from the usual adventure but it needs a bit more freedom. [May 2007, p.70]

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.

It's a meaty, albeit linear, adventure with some cool DS mechanics...it's just nothing earth shattering or classic.

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]

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.

Pokemon Ranger is worth a try, but like the gameplay, it ends up going around in circles.

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]

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.

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.

Despite being loveable and well-made, Pokémon Ranger's combat system is too shallow to grip your attention.

The new hands-on capture system is not enough to make this an essential Pokemon adventure.

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.

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.

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.