Pokémon Ranger
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| Pokémon Ranger | |
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| Developer(s) | HAL Laboratory, Inc. |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Release date(s) | JPN March 23, 2006 NA October 30, 2006 AU December 7, 2006 EUR April 13, 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Action RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: E (Everyone) CERO: All Ages OFLC: G |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS |
| Input | Nintendo DS stylus |
Pokémon Ranger (ポケモンレンジャー Pokemon Renjā?), also referred to as Pokémon Ranger: The Road to Diamond and Pearl (ポケモンレジャー ダイヤモンド・パールへの道 Pokemon Renjā Daiyamondo Pāru e no Michi?) in some preliminary materials, is an action/role-playing video game developed by HAL Laboratory, Inc. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS video game console. It was released in Japan on March 22, 2006, and was released in North America on October 30, 2006, in Nintendo World two days in advance. It was released in Australia on December 7, 2006, and will be released in Europe on April 13, 2007. It is compatible with Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, also for the Nintendo DS, allowing players to transfer the egg of the legendary Pokémon Manaphy to a Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl game.
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[edit] Gameplay
Pokémon Ranger is a role-playing game which is designed in a format radically different than that of traditional Pokémon RPGs. The player controls a Pokémon Ranger in the Fiore region. Rangers are often older than the trainers of the conventional Pokémon role-playing games. The player uses an object called the Capture Styler to capture Pokémon by using the stylus to circle the Pokémon a pre-determined number of times while also avoiding the Pokémon's attacks. When certain Pokémon are caught, players can use their powers, called Poké Assists, to help them. For example, if Torchic is caught, its Fire type Poké Assist can be used. Each Assist gives a unique advantage. Torchic's assist, for example, creates flames to prevent the target from moving. You can also use the Pokémon in the field, such as using Hariyama to smash a large boulder or using Tangela to cross a chasm. The Pokémon Assist or field ability of captured Pokémon can only be used once before they are automatically released. Additionally, each Pokémon captured is automatically registered in the Ranger Browser, which is the Pokédex for this game. There is a total of 213 Pokémon available in Ranger, including three Pokémon that can only be in obtained in Ranger Net missions, although they are not needed to complete the Browser.
There are 3 towns and 1 city in this game. The names resemble the four seasons; for example, the town in which the story begins is called Ring Town; the next town is Summerland, after which is Fall City; the last is Wintown. The weather in each of these towns matches the season the respective towns stand for.
[edit] Capture Styler
This is the newest way to catch Pokémon, seen only in Pokémon Ranger and the Pokémon anime. The device is established as a remote-controlled machine that circles the Pokémon, creating beams that, when formed into a loop, transmit one's feelings, sense of justice, and other comforting feelings to the Pokémon being captured, in order to make it more willing to be caught. This replaces the standard battle and capture systems of other Pokémon games. This device is seen as a more humane way to capture Pokémon than the Poké Ball system, as Pokémon join by choice rather than force, and walk around freely rather than being locked away in a Poké Ball. The Styler does nothing to hurt the Pokémon, and is also able to calm them down should they be angered or hurt.
Capturing Pokémon with the Styler requires skill and speed, as the beams can be broken by a Pokémon attack, or even by the Pokémon themselves. Energy is drained from the styler if it is attacked by a Pokémon, as well as if Steel-type Pokémon disrupt the beam. Once the Styler's energy is depleted, it breaks and causes the player to start from the last place saved. The Styler can be recharged by using Electric Pokémon, or by leveling up the Styler, which will also raises the Styler's energy capacity. The maximum level of the Styler is twenty, and it will have sixty energy points.
[edit] Characters
The storyline revolves around a single Pokémon Ranger — Lunick (カヅキ Kazuki?) or Solana (ヒナタ Hinata?), depending on the player's choice. In addition to the male, female and professor protagonist characters in the game, several other Pokémon Rangers are part of the Ranger Union. Each ranger leader holds domain over that town's rangers. These rangers are named Cameron (カムリ Kamuri?), Elita (エリダ Erida?), Joel (ジョウ Jō?), and Spenser (ハヤテ Hayate?). A professor named Professor Hastings (シンバラ教授 Shinbara-kyōju?, Professor Shinbara) also plays a significant role in the game, as the Chief of Technology for the Ranger Union.
The new group, the Go-Rock Squad (ゴーゴー団 Gōgō-dan?, Team Go-Go), has four sub-leaders called the Go-Rock Quads. Similar to Jessie and James of Team Rocket, the Quads have a motto they repeat every time they are encountered. Their names are Billy (ユウキ Yūki?), Garret (ヤライ Yarai?), Clyde (ヨウジ Yōji?) and Tiffany (ミライ Mirai?). The supreme leader is called Gordor (ラゴウ Ragō?).
Additionally, the Manaphy Egg from Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea makes an appearance in a special mission.
[edit] Fiore
Fiore (フィオレ地方 Fiore-chihō?) is a region in the fictional universe of Pokémon. It is the setting for the Pokémon Ranger video game. Its name is Italian for "flower". Although Fiore does not appear in the Pokémon anime, the female protagonist of Pokémon Ranger, Solana, has made an appearance.
Fiore is located quite some distance from the other regions of the Pokémon world. It is a relatively small island region that is quite mountainous. There are four known areas in Fiore, each named after the season it constantly experiences — Ringtown (spring), Fall City (fall), Wintown (winter) and Summerland (summer). Fiore doesn't 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, much like pets.
The Go-Rock Squad is the resident crime syndicate of this region.
[edit] Ranger Net
The Ranger Net is available after completion of the game. This feature allows players to face legendary Pokémon and is used in the obtainment of the Pokémon Manaphy, which can be traded to the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl games. Players are unable to save during Ranger Net missions, and captures are more difficult than those of regular missions.
[edit] Manaphy Egg
One quest in Pokémon Ranger involves saving an egg, which happens to be a Manaphy egg, from the Go-Rock Squad. Once the quest is complete, the player is told that the egg cannot be hatched in Fiore, but must be transferred to Sinnoh, or, in other words, Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl. The player must have two Nintendo DS systems, one containing the Diamond or Pearl cartridge, and the other containing the Pokémon Ranger cartridge. The Manaphy egg will be transferred to the Diamond or Pearl file, allowing the player to hatch the egg and receive Manaphy at level 1. A video of this mission is available at PokéWiki. This mission is available in the English version by inputting a password in the password mode of Ranger Net. The password mode is acquired by simultaneously pressing R, X, left on the D-pad on the Ranger Net screen. On Wednesday, December 6, 2006, the Manaphy Egg advertisement with a question mark appeared on Pokémon.com with a date of December 15 for people to check out the Pokémon Ranger mini-site, which led to speculation as to the possible release of information in regards to obtaining the Manaphy egg in Pokémon Ranger. On December 15, 2006, the use of the password feature was publicly revealed, and has been confirmed to be used to obtain the Manaphy egg.
The official website added a Manaphy minisite[1] announcing the Manaphy egg code revelation date, after weeks of waiting. More information was revealed along with a countdown to the code's revelation, such as news articles relating to the Manaphy egg as well as Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Pearl, and Pokémon Ranger, small details about the 9th movie, Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, and the in-battle capabilities of Manaphy. The website once again asked the readers to keep watch on the Manaphy minisite during the official countdown to the date on which the Manaphy egg code would be revealed. The code was released on January 20, 2007, and is P8M2-9D6F-43H7. The code unlocks a mission called, "Recover the Precious Egg!". This mission is unique in that the other Ranger Net missions can be replayed an unlimited number of times, whilst "Recover the Precious Egg!" can only be played once. If the player selects this mission after completing it the first time, a short cutscene involving Professor Hastings and the Pokémon Rangers will play, but after this, the game auto-saves and returns the player to the title screen, so it is pointless to try again.
[edit] Development
Information regarding Pokémon Ranger was first published in the July 2005 issue of CoroCoro Comic Magazine. As expected, vague details were told, which mostly hinted that it was a game and a movie. The “official” Pokémon Ranger announcement came on as a short teaser at the end of the 8th Pokémon movie. Little information was known beyond the fact that it was a game and a movie. This game's development was confused for being the same game as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon.
[edit] Promotion in the Pokémon anime and games
A few episodes of the Pokémon animated series have included Pokémon Rangers. They seem to go on special missions to help preserve Pokémon and human relations, and they are closely related to Pokémon breeders. They also have a device that allows them to temporarily control wild Pokémon; this device also allows them to scan Pokémon, check how healthy they are, and make sure that they are not being interfered with by outside forces. Solana herself has appeared on two episodes of the Pokémon anime. Several Pokémon Rangers can also be battled in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald, and are depicted as protecting the environment and wild Pokémon.
[edit] Merchandise
A game watch has been manufactured in the theme of Pokémon Ranger. The watch is designed to look like the Pokémon Rangers' Capture Styler used for capturing Pokémon. The Pokémon Ranger Strategy Guide Booklet is very good for new players. [1]
[edit] Sales information
Pokémon Ranger sold 193,337 copies in Japan on its release week. [2]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Pokémon Ranger at Nintendo.com
- Official Site
- Official Site (Japanese)
- Pokémon Ranger at GameFAQs
- Pokémon Ranger review at Netjak
- Review of Pokémon Ranger on Green Hill Zone.
- Pokémon character photos
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