You Need To Play Pokemon Ranger: Shadows Of Almia Again
Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia deserves your attention all over again, and should be regarded as one of the series' greatest spin-offs.
28th Dec 2022 11:31
Images: The Pokemon Company
You Need To Play Pokemon Ranger: Shadows Of Almia Again
Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia deserves your attention all over again, and should be regarded as one of the series' greatest spin-offs.
28th Dec 2022 11:31
Images: The Pokemon Company
Now that Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are finally unleashed across the world, we've got a brand-new region to explore and brand-new mates to make - and players are delighted.
Launch bugs and glitches aside, the game is a real treat for fans of the core Pokemon experience. But Pokemon isn't all we've expected of it over the years.
We've had wealths of spin-offs over the years, from pinball to card games, to racing games and games where you talk directly to Pikachu… for some reason. Few have been able to completely top the writing of the core games. And the Pokemon Ranger series is easily the most impressive of the bunch.
Pokemon Ranger Has The Best Gimmick In The Whole Franchise
For the uninitiated, it'd be fair to assume that yet another Pokemon spin-off on the Nintendo DS would be something to pass up - but the Pokemon Ranger games make a case for the fact that they shouldn't be slept on whatsoever.
The series introduces the chance to step into the shoes of a Pokemon Ranger, a legion of do-gooders in the world of Pokemon who don't capture and train Pokemon, but instead, befriend and are accompanied by them, almost like pets.
The Pokemon are swayed to the player's side using the Capture Styler, which translates in-game to the player drawing repeated circles around them as they attack in attempt to escape.
It's a fascinating way to approach the world of Pokemon, and it comes together with incredible satisfaction - especially when you finally get that Snorlax.
Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Is The First Truly Funny Pokemon Game
Though the first game in the vastly underrated Pokemon Ranger series is a pretty fantastic romp in the world of Pokemon, it's the second game that really embraces itself in the writer's room.
The game's foes are Team Dim Sun and are the greatest example of total narrative freedom beyond what Pokemon is used to, being such cantankerous buffoons that they're a delight to trample over.
This fresh approach to the standard story structure of Pokemon gives Ranger a new chance to shine alongside its fantastic new gameplay additions, and transforms the game into a fully-fledged narrative adventure.
It may be more linear than your traditional Pokemon game (with the freedom granted players in Scarlet & Violet), but Shadows of Almia uses this to become a refined narrative experience that truly stands on its own.
Pokemon Ranger is a series that has been remembered in cult circles since release, but it has never been what it truly deserves. The game and its fantastic sequel deserve their dues with fans once again, and so it's about time you take it for another spin. You won't regret it.
About The Author
Joseph Kime
Joseph Kime is the Senior Trending News Journalist for GGRecon from Devon, UK. Before graduating from MarJon University with a degree in Journalism, he started writing music reviews for his own website before writing for the likes of FANDOM, Zavvi and The Digital Fix. He is host of the Big Screen Book Club podcast, and author of Building A Universe, a book that chronicles the history of superhero movies. His favourite games include DOOM (2016), Celeste and Pokemon Emerald.
