There's something that's inherently odd about Super Pokémon Rumble and its WiiWare predecessor, Pokémon Rumble. Specifically, there's something unsettling about controlling miniature plastic toy Pokémon who need winding up before they're flung into battle with one another.
The sight of your Mii looming over a Beetlejuice-style model town in what appears to be somebody's badly lit basement is reminiscent of something straight out of Silence Of The Lambs.
But this isn't a horror film, it's Super Pokémon Rumble, the 3DS sequel to 2009's WiiWare game. In that game, you directly controlled a teensy Pokémon figurine as it battled and captured its way through variously themed stages. Occasionally you'd happen upon a Battle Royale, a sort of Pokémon free-for-all in which the last toy standing wins.
Unlike the usual Pokémon games in which every Pokémon patiently waits their turn depending on how fat they are, battles in Super Pokémon Rumble play out in real time. Move types and Pokémon types still count, as do levels, and your current Pokémon can be swapped out at any time for another from your collection.
On defeating an opponent - and they come at you thicker and faster than in any other Pokémon game - you're often given the opportunity to pick him up and drop him on your shelf, whereupon he either gathers dust or becomes available in future battles.
Like Clockwork
Boss Pokémon also appear at the end of levels and require a few more smacks to bring down. These chaps are typically the evolved form of whichever Pokéfodder you've been fighting throughout a level - we've seen an angry, relatively massive Herdier boss, for example - and they'll form an invaluable part of your ongoing collection of wind-up toys.
Two players can team up wirelessly to play co-operatively, making it much easier to defeat and capture the Pokémon you encounter. There's
also a StreetPass feature that allows two 3DS owners to invisibly thump one another's Pokémon in passing, as well as view your opponent's Miis with their personal toy Pokémon collection.
Super Pokémon Rumble is as much about the itch-scratching satisfaction of collecting a whole set of Pokémon as it is about the battling. And just as with the original Pokémon Rumble, new Pokémon can be unlocked in the game with special promotional codes.
Of course, the most appealing thing about Super Pokémon Rumble is that it's no longer trapped on WiiWare. The original was criticised for being repetitive, and what's on offer in Super Pokémon Rumble still isn't the sort of experience you'd sit in front of for more than 20 minutes at a time.
Instead it's found its spiritual home on handheld as a pick up and play, collect-'em-up distraction.
Wow! This looks epic!
Actually, this looks dreadful; b*****ks am I paying the full price of a 3DS game for the "sequel" (probably more of a revision or expansion pack) to a bloody WiiWare game.
If this wasn't Pokemon, nobody would give a care.
Lets hope this version is good, unlike the Wii one
cant wait for dis 2 come out
Looks a bit like Mystery Dungeon, except its in 3D and you can go in any direction!
As someone who has played it completely, it is not a revision or expansion pack to it. It is a vast, immersive game with a decent narrative and many varied levels
To be honest, it looks great. But those other games look great too, was that one piece I saw?
yaaaaaaaaaay im SO looking forward to this i cant wait!!!!!!!
I'm tempted to agree wiht singularity on this one. I mean, it look slike a good game and all but is it really worth spening Ł35 on when there are so many other good games coming out?
it would be great if it had wi-fi co-op play so you could play with people hundreds of miles away not someone at the other end of the sofa
As someone who has played it through, yes it is worth full price. It's a very deep game with massive replay value
great game to keep one playing for hours
I found the WiiWare demo to be little more than a button basher with the Pokemon name attached. Not a game I enjoyed in all honesty.
kewl...
If you're paying 35 quid for a game, then you sir, are obviously one of the people companies rely on to get ridiculously high profits. GAME isn't the only place that sells games! You can get Super Pokémon Rumble on Amazon for Ł28 if you wait! I never pay more than Ł30 for a brand new game, unless it has a Wii Remote or something.
I have to say, for me it's kind of a relief that a Pokemon spin-off got a relatively bad review, with the Wii U, Skyward Swords and Mario Land 3D; my wallet is crying, and it means one less game to purchase*. I'll still pick this up in a few months when it gets cheaper. (*Don't get me wrong, I love Pokemon and the Spin-Offs).
yayay cant wait 4 this i gope its good and i rely want a Pokemon blue or red remake
An almost-identical-looking sequel to a rubbish WiiWare title. Why is everyone looking forward to this? *sigh* Yet more wasted money, GameFreak.
Wonder whether I should get thins or not.
Have you ever considered that the first Pokemon Rumble might have been so good, that they decided to put it on a handheld console?
Just saying...