Retro Review: Pokémon Stadium 2 (N64).

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Pokémon is a franchise recognized worldwide for its multiple games distributed among the Nintendo portable consoles (the first and second generation for the Game Boy Color, the third generation for the Game Boy Advance and so on). His fame has been so great that there are many spin-off games that are not in the classic line of history (the story of Red in Kanto or Gold in Johto for example). Maybe there are many people who do not know about these games, because they did not have the impact that they did generate games of the classical line in their premieres (the first generation games, the second, third, etc.), but the truth is that they are very good and entertaining.

Pokémon Stadium 2 (continuation of Pokémon Stadium) is a videogame based on the Pokémon series that was produced for the desktop console created by Nintendo, the N64, achieving an emotional boom among lovers of the saga, partly due to its visual and technical changes, that the portable consoles could not offer us.

For the time of its premiere, being able to observe our Pokémon in 3D was something unthinkable, and Pokémon Stadium 2 (like its predecessor) managed to fulfill the dream of many lovers of this great video game of pocket monsters.

Unlike portable video games where we have a story to follow, pokemons to capture to complete the Pokedex or do some sidequest, here is completely different. Pokémon Stadium 2 is a game that consists of fulfilling the missions and objectives that the game give under its rules and with its resources (unless we use the Pokémon of our portable games, but I'll talk about that later).

As is customary in the Pokémon saga, in this video game we can challenge the Gym Leaders or participate in some fights in the Stadium, to obtain medals and trophies that are necessary if we want to complete this game.

The game starts with a menu that proposes five options, two of them are linked to an additional article (Transfer Pak) that serves to link our game of Pokémon of first or second generation with Pokémon Stadium 2. The others may be used without any problem. These options are:

• Options: Here we can manipulate certain information regarding the game; sound or to save files.
• Mysterious Gift (to be able to enjoy this option, it is necessary to use a Transfer Pak): Place where we can receive a gift in a random way. This option is not available for first generation games.
• Fight Now!: In this mode you can play individually or vs. The game gives us 6 pokémons to each player of which they must use only three for combat. They are chosen at random.
• Event Battle: Place where we participate in fights with the same rules of the Stadium Cups or personalized rules. It will be necessary to use a Transfer Pak to be able to access most of the options.
• City: Here is where we will be most of the game. We have multiple options that are what really give the essence to the game. Fights, minigames, gym leaders, all this is available in this place.

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When selecting the option of the City, the game shows us a map with the most modalities. To enter some of these modalities, we will have to use the Transfer Pak; although they will not be many.

Centrally and principally, we have the Stadium, which has a great variety of Cups. Each of them have their rules in particular, making them different from each other. Here we can fight the most intense battles against a series of trainers in order to obtain the final prize and be named as the Cup Champion. To participate in them, we will assemble a team of 6 Pokémon (with those of the game or those that we have in our Game Boy Color games that we can use through the Transfer Pak). The Pokémon of the game will have predetermined attacks, so we will have to review the statistics and attacks of each of them to know which one will help us or like the most.

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One of the great strengths of this game is found in the Minigame Mode, mode we can enter individually or multiplayer. Here the protagonists are a series of Pokémon that participate in quite funny contests. In total there are 12 mini-games, different among them. The mental agility, quickness in our fingers or simply the good calculation of points will be determining factors to be able to win the minigames.

But not everything ends there, there is a very interesting Questions Mode. All these questions are based on the Gold & Silver game. The participation here can be individual or multiplayer, and will win the one that answers the greatest amount of questions that are asked.

Visiting Professor Oak is possible in this game. He gives us a series of options based on his investigations, but to enter them, it will be necessary to use the Pak transfer. Here it will be necessary to check our first or second generation Game Boy Color game. The options linked to this area are similar to those we see in the portable game; visit the PC, see the Pokédex or exchange Pokémon will be possible while we are here.

                                                                                                                                  

The GB Tower allows us to play our first and second generation games on our television using Pokémon Stadium 2 game. It is necessary to say that this tower enjoys improvements by means of obtaining cups or medals from gyms. To be able to enjoy this option, it is necessary to use Transfer Pak.

Visiting the room of the character that we manage in our Gold & Silver games is possible, but only through the Transfer Pak. With the help of the objects that we get in our adventure (from the portable games), we can customize the room the way we want. Maybe it seems a fairly simple or not very relevant option, but these are the options that allow us to customize our game more and more.

                                                                                                                                                                                         

Do you want to know more about the Pokémon? So this is the best place to learn and nurture our knowledge as Pokémon trainers. A very particular character, named Earl will be in charge of receiving us in this bookshop, that has a classroom. In the library, we will find a lot of information regarding the Pokémon, evolutions, statistics and everything related to them. If we choose the option to visit the classroom, we can participate in a series of lessons and exams that will test all our knowledge about the Pokémon and its extensive world.

                         

Now, let's talk about one of the most interesting options of the game, the Free Battle Mode. We can participate in battles where the rules are personalized, but it is much more attractive if we play in multiplayer mode, as we will fight against other people and we will test each of our strategies as a Pokémon Trainer. With the Pokémon of the game (which contains all the first and second generation Pokémon) or with the help of the Transfer Pak, we will assemble teams of six members in order to defeat our opponent.

                                        

But if what we want is to feel like a conqueror of gyms, The Castle Mode of Gym Leaders is ideal for us. As it happens in portable games or in the same animated series, we will have to defeat a series of trainers to be able to challenge the Gym Leader, in order to obtain a Gym Medal. Once we have obtained all the medals, we can challenge the High Command, which is led by Lance.

After having completed and defeated the trainers, we are shown a pedestal where the shapes of the medals of the gymnasiums of the Kanto region are sculpted. Seeing this pedestal causes some nostalgia, but in reality it is a great challenge for any trainer. Once we have defeated the Gym Leaders of that region (including Blue), we will fight against Red, the best Pokémon trainer in the Kanto region.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Particularities like this are what make this title quite simple but quite epic. Pokémon Stadium 2 is a great complement for first and second generation games.

The game has a fairly simple combat mechanics, classic of all Pokémon. The theme is still that of an RPG that is managed through options reflected in a menu. As usual and depending on the circumstance, attacking, using defensive moves or changing Pokémon will be crucial to take advantage of our opponent and ensure our victory. The movements are handled with the buttons on the right side of the control; each having different functions from the other. The yellow buttons, which are called C Buttons, will be responsible for selecting the attack that we want to use, while the buttons A & B for other functions.

     

The game has some pretty good graphics, the Pokémon looked pretty good but does not bring many new things to what we had seen in his previous game. The colors used for the Pokémon are quite vivid and striking, while the scenarios set the battles in a better way.

The sounds also do not change much to what we saw in the last installment, but they are still pretty good. Each of them continues to reflect the actions our pocket pets perform, either when they perform an attack or when they receive it. In the same way, each stage has its own personalized song, making the experience in each of them different.

Playing the games of Pokémon Stadium 1 & 2 is really a great experience, and despite not enjoying what we normally see in the main saga of laptops (a story), it gives us good times and lots of fun. Maybe it looks like a party game, but the truth is that it has all the potential to take it as a more serious game, because it is quite difficult to complete it. In his time it was considered by many gamers as an "all in one" for its multiple options and modalities, and it was those factors that made it a very attractive videogame to the consuming public. We are many fans who cry out for the continuation of the Stadium saga, we can only wait to see if that dream comes true.