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Pokemon Dash

Published By: Alan Jordan On: 06/07/2005 12:00
Rating: G Difficulty: Too Easy Learning Curve: 5 Min

THE SCOREBOARD

6.0
Average

Gameplay	6.0	"An interesting attempt at creating a new brand of racing game."
Graphics	6.0
Sound	6.0
Value	6.0

By Alan Jordan

Pokémon, the wonderous mega-seller that has single handedly maintained Nintendo's stranglehold on the handheld market, has appeared on the Nintendo DS system for the first time in the form of Pokémon Dash. Unlike it's siblings, Dash is not an RPG - instead, the goal is simple: using your stylus, race Pikachu against a bevy of other Pokémon in a variety of ever increasingly complex racing circuits. Beat the other Pokémon to the end to ensure progress to later, more challenging levels.

Unlike many similar racers (Micro Machines springs to mind, thanks to the top-down nature of the presentation), the racing surface itself becomes increasingly involved as the difficulty increases; you'll drown in water or go very slowly in sand - you can even get in a balloon and float over otherwise impassable obstacles. Each increasingly complex surface type or gameplay mechanic (such as the balloon) is introduced gradually as you progress, ensuring that it's the difficulty that catches you out, not the surprise.

In addition to the power-sapping surfaces, powerups can be obtained that enable you to navigate each particular surface. Be warned, though, if you are currently using the "sand" powerup, you'll go faster over sand than normal – but you'll go slower over all other surfaces in the game, even the regular (non-slowing) surface. This adds to the strategy and allows for a certain free-form approach when tackling each track; should you avoid the powerup and just duck into the slow stuff to get the checkpoint, then go the long way around or should you grab the powerup and fly over the rough stuff the short way only to slow down at the other side?

The balloons that allow you to fly up into the air, and over otherwise impassable terrain, like ocean, are operated by sliding your stylus over the up / down section of the interface which appears when you are using a balloon. In addition, you can choose to pop one (or more) of the balloons, speeding up your descent - you can't reinflate, however, so choose your moment wisely; a Pikachu that goes splat is a very slow Pikachu indeed.

The game is presented using the system's twin screens, pretty much as expected. The action is top down, Pikachu-centric on the bottom screen and the top screen is used to show a map of the upcoming action. Movement of your little Pokémon is achieved by rapidly (and repeatedly) running the stylus up the screen in the direction you would like to go. Want to turn? Stroke the stylus on the angle that you would like to go in. The faster you stroke, the faster you go.

The races and challenges are broken up into a series of "cups" - very much in line with titles like Mario Kart or Micro Machines. Complete a series of them, according to the cup's requirements, and you will unlock the next series. At any time you can elect to play a cup that you have already unlocked, instead of continually trying the top cup in an attempt to unlock more.

As far as Nintendo DS games go, this is a pretty lack-lustre affair. It's nothing special and verges on annoying at times. In the gameplay department, the control system is tiresome and be painful (literally) after a short while. The graphics are so-so and there's really not very much to do. If you're looking for something to show off your DS to your mates, this isn't the title. If you've got younger gamers in the house and want something inoffensive to capture their attention, this fits the bill adequately - just don't let them play it too long or they'll develop carpal tunnel syndrome and spend the rest of their lives on the benefit.

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