As with just about anything brandishing the Pokémon name, Pokémon Stadium is a must-have for any Pokémaniac. But this title is especially geared towards owners of Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, or Pokémon Yellow for the Game Boy. Using the same battle system as the Game Boy games--think highly advanced rock-paper-scissors--Pokémon Stadium allows players to enter their Pokémon in a variety of tournaments and other battle modes, all featuring vibrant 3-D graphics and animation, as well as enhanced sounds and announcer commentary. Using the included Transfer Pak, players can use their own Pokémon from Game Boy Game Paks, or they can choose from a pool of rental Pokémon. Pokémon Stadium isn't all battles, though. The Kids Club mode features nine cutesy minigames that make for great multiplayer fun for all ages. Gallery mode lets players take snapshots of Pokémon (similar to Pokémon Snap), which can then be printed out as stickers at your local Pokémon Snap station.
While Pokémon Stadium doesn't require that you already have any Game Boy version of Pokémon, players won't be able to access two of the best features of the game without one. Pokémon Lab allows players to view, store, and better organize the data on their Game Paks, as well as trade Pokémon with another player (which requires an additional Transfer Pak, sold separately). GB Tower allows gamers to play their Game Boy Pokémon cartridge on the Nintendo 64. --Joe Hon
Pros:
- Tried-and-true Pokémon battle system with enhanced graphics and sounds
- Allows you to play your Game Boy Pokémon game on the Nintendo 64
- Ability to manipulate data on your Game Boy Pokémon game
- Minigames make for great multiplayer fun for all ages
Cons:
- Not likely to win over any Pokémon holdouts
- The Game Boy Pokémon games are a better starting point for newbies to the genre
