Pokemon Ranger

Pokémon Ranger (ポケモンレンジャー, Pokemon Renjā) is an action role-playing video game developed by HAL Laboratory and Creatures Inc., published by The Pokémon Company and distributed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS video game console. The game was released at various dates, varying between continents. The game was released in Japan on March 23, 2006, in North America and Australia during 2006, and in Europe in April 2007. It was released on the European Wii U Virtual Console on February 25, 2016.

Pokémon Ranger is compatible with Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver allowing players to transfer the egg of the legendary Pokémon Manaphy to those games. This game is set in the Fiore region.

Gameplay – Pokemon Ranger

Pokémon Ranger is a role-playing game which is designed in a format radically different from that of traditional Pokémon RPGs. The player controls a Pokémon Ranger in the Fiore region and catches Pokémon, temporarily, by using a device called a “capture styler”, which is controlled by the stylus. The storyline of the game is set out in 10 main missions with three sub-missions.

The only Pokémon that travels permanently with the player is a Minun if the player chooses the male hero or Plusle if the player chooses the female hero. The player must loop the Pokémon with the “styler” a certain number of times to capture them. Pokémon may attempt to flee the styler or attack it. The styler has an energy bar that is similar to an HP counter for Pokémon in the other Pokémon adventure games, when the energy bar of the styler is completely depleted, the player is transported to the last save terminal. The styler can be recharged in a Pokémon Center–like manner at a ranger base; save points are in the bases and scattered throughout the game.

There is a quick save option to use in emergencies when a save port can’t be found or is too far away. Temporarily caught Pokémon can be used in the field to accomplish tasks and solve puzzles by cutting, tackling, shooting fire, blowing water, etc. They can also be used to enhance the styler’s loop line. For example, if a water Pokémon is selected to aid in capturing a new Pokémon, the styler will produce a temporary bubble that immobilizes the target, preventing it from attacking or fleeing.

Plot – Pokemon Ranger

Setting – Pokemon Ranger

Pokémon Ranger is set in the Fiore region. The region’s name originates from the Italian word for flower. The Go-Rock Squad is the resident crime syndicate of this region. Fiore itself does not have any native Pokémon, but has many Pokémon from other regions. It also does not have any Pokémon Trainers. All people who live with Pokémon keep them outside of Poké Balls, like pets, as Pokémon are never trained here. Fiore is located quite some distance from the other regions of the Pokémon world up to the third generation.

It is a relatively small island region that is quite mountainous. There are four major settlements in Fiore, each named after the season it constantly experiences: Ringtown (spring) to the west, Fall City (fall) to the east, Wintown (winter) at foot of mountains to the north, and Summerland (summer) on an island to the south. The Krokka Tunnel connects Fall City and Ringtown. 

Reception

Pokémon Ranger sold 193,337 copies in Japan on its release week.^[7] In terms of games reviews, Pokémon Ranger received fairly positive reaction, with a 70% ratio from GameRankings.^[8] IGN gave the game an overall score of 7.1 out of 10,^[9] citing the presentation, gameplay and graphics as the game’s strong points but also citing the game’s use of sound as a major drawback, with issues such as the game’s use of the 8-bit sounds from the original Game Boy games as Pokémon cries.^[9] A lack of a multi-player mode was also a negative point in IGN’s review.^[9]