Pokémon Colosseum 5 Reasons We Need A Remake & 5 Reasons Pokémon XD Gale Of Darkness Would Be Better

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Pokémon Colosseum 5 Reasons We Need A Remake & 5 Reasons Pokémon XD Gale Of Darkness Would Be Better

These games are not perfectly equal and there are a few reasons why each game might be more worth a revival than the other. Many long-time fans have fond memories of Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. Unlike most Pokémon spin-offs, these two titles are famous for containing a full 3D Pokémon adventure nearly a decade before the mainline series became entirely three-dimensional in Pokémon X & Y. With the excitement surrounding 's return in , it’s clear there’s plenty of nostalgia to be had with , so a remake or remaster of either game would be spectacular. These games are not perfectly equal, though, and there are a few reasons why each game might be more worth a revival than the other. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY

Colosseum Higher-Level Start

One of the biggest problems with most Pokémon games is the beginning, which can be a drag for veteran players looking for complex gameplay and a slow start for excited beginners. Despite using the battle mechanics of the mainline games, Pokémon Colosseum is still , and it uses this unique position to start with a pair of Pokémon at level 25 and 26. This helps the game feel exciting right out the gate, and while battles are still relatively simpler to start, the game is much more intense earlier on. These games are designed with experienced players in mind since there are few tutorials of old mechanics, so there’s no reason it has to start with such low levels.

Gale of Darkness Better Level Scaling

Pokémon Colosseum might have a later start than Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, but it also leads to some issues in terms of its difficulty. The game starts on a great note, but many trainers will either have weak Pokémon that grant too little experience, or alarmingly high-level Pokémon that greatly outclass yours. Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness starts with a weaker earlier level 10 Eevee, but the progression of the game is significantly smoother. It reaches the same high levels of Pokémon Colosseum by the end, but you’re much more likely to scale with your opponents better thanks to the later game’s better level balancing.

Colosseum Johto Underdogs

One of the largest differences between Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness is their respective Pokémon selections. While both can receive the full Pokédex up to the point of the Game Boy Advance games, there’s a specific set of themes that each GameCube title intended to provide, as many Pokémon were hard to obtain in both Hoenn and Kanto. For Pokémon Colosseum, the emphasis was primarily on Pokémon Gold & Silver’s Pokédex, as there weren’t many available in Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire and Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen hadn’t been released yet. This means that many underrated favorites like Hitmontop, Tyranitar, , and even the Legendary Dogs get as much time to shine as they did on the Game Boy Color.

Gale of Darkness Kanto & Hoenn Favorites

With only three regions to choose from, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness doesn’t have as many underrepresented Pokémon in its Pokédex. This is hardly a problem, though, as its selection is far wider than Pokémon Colosseum’s list of obtainable party members by featuring Pokémon from throughout the series at that point. The game's selection features many like Gardevoir and Salamence to round out the Pokédex, but these primarily just cushion a massive Kanto focus. This includes several rare classics from Pokémon Red & Blue like Dragonite, Kangaskhan, and the original Legendary Birds that are set to appear as Galarian Forms in ’s upcoming Crown Tundra DLC.

Colosseum Linear Adventure

One of the biggest strikes against Pokémon Colosseum by many fans was that it was a story-based adventure. Many players have longed for more games, and while there are some battle challenges in this game, it’s a dominantly linear game without much to do after completion. That said, this is hardly a bad thing thanks to its odd mechanics of healing Shadow Pokémon, and since it’s not a mainline Pokémon game it can get away with some structural differences. Alternatively, a great benefit to beating the game is the ability to trade with the Game Boy Advance titles, and this could be accomplished by letting players transfer their partners into Pokémon Home after beating the game.

Gale of Darkness Side Content

There are still not many similarities between the Pokémon Stadium series and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, but there’s much more similar amount of things to do in both these games than there is in Pokémon Colosseum. There are more battle challenges, several side quests through your journey, and lots of optional content to explore and test your skills with. Pokémon Colosseum has its value as a singular journey, but a remake of Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness would likely give players a much more long-lasting adventure. This game also features a fairly larger variety of Pokémon to obtain , something quite lacking in Pokémon Colosseum.

Colosseum Straightforward Shadow Battles

have recently made a unique return in , but they had a significantly different set of mechanics in Pokémon Colosseum. Before they could level up normally, these Pokémon caught from cruel trainers had to first be purified of their dark energy, and they would always start with a singular simple damage move called Shadow Rush. This meant that using Shadow Pokémon felt like a bit of a grind, but while being purified they also will learn their usual moves one at a time. As the game goes on, purification becomes progressively faster, and it makes for a simple-yet-enjoyable form of progression and training.

Gale of Darkness Shadow Moves

Pokémon Colosseum’s version of Shadow Pokémon is certainly acceptable, but Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness gave a lot more power to its corrupted Pokémon. Rather than just Shadow Rush, different Pokémon will have one of several Shadow Moves that have different effects, adding to the depth of each one before they’ve been purified. This includes moves like Shadow Rave that affect both opponents in Double Battles, and even a weather move called Shadow Sky that deals damage to non-Shadow Pokémon each turn. It creates a much deeper battle system and means trainers are encouraged to catch every Shadow Pokémon to see what unique skill it’s capable of.

Colosseum It s a Classic

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness might have evolved Pokémon Colosseum’s mechanics further, but the original game is far from obsolete. It’s still a spectacular journey and a much simpler one for those who haven’t played either of the GameCube games, and a remake of it would be a great way to revisit an often-forgotten game that was slightly overshadowed by its sequel. Additionally, much like Pokémon Red & Blue on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console, there’s still a lot of charm to old Pokémon games . Its Shadow Pokémon mechanics weren’t perfected yet, but it absolutely stands the test of time as a strong and unique entry in the Pokémon series.

Gale of Darkness It s Polished

If quality is something more important to you than milestones, it’s clear that Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness is the better pick. This game was built on the unusual foundation that came from Pokémon Colosseum and manages to utilize Shadow Pokémon and the unusual Orre Region to a much better degree. Pokémon Colosseum might have been the first, but Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness is a much better game in many respects. A remake or remaster of this game would likely be a much more positive experience for , and old players would surely be excited to see a long-awaited return of Shadow Lugia.