POKEMON RANGER: SHADOWS OF ALMIA

Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia is the sequel to the popular original Pokemon Ranger. The basic concepts of the overworld and capture systems remain the same, but getting used to a bunch of changes and additions is necessary. The most noticeable changes include the HP system for capturing rather than getting a certain number of loops at once. There are also new types of field moves that even let you ride Pokemon on water or lava.

This game takes place in the region of Almia, and 270 Pokemon from varying regions inhabit the area, specifically those from Sinnoh. The story starts with you being enrolled in a Ranger School, which serves as a tutorial system for the game, however if you have played the original game, the beginning in this one may feel a little drawn out. Anyway, you'll graduate eventually and become a Ranger for the adjacent Vientown.

One notable new feature is the addition of Quests. During lapses in the storyline and after the game is completed, there are several chores or tasks that can be taken care of for the population of Almia. These range from saving various Pokemon from danger or fetching a certain Pokemon for research.

Also new is the choice of Partner Pokemon. There are seventeen available, but you can only choose from three (Munchlax, Starly and Pachirisu) to start. There is one for every type, and thus one for every Poke Assist. New Partners can be earned through the story or Quests.

In all, the new Pokemon Ranger game is a big step up from the last game. There is much more content and a large new world to explore. Even if you didn't like the original game, this one could still be worth a try.

This section is written by tiger10x.