Pokedex 3D Pro Game by The Pokemon Company/Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK Inc. Reviewed by Philip "Pocket Squirrel" Wesley Size: 3350 Blocks Save: battery Released: 2012 Works with: 3DS/3DS XL ESRB Rated: E Quick Opinion: Buy? It depends... **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Somewhere in the world, there are people who need information on Pokemon. Nintendo and Pokemon Company have rushed to the rescue of those people by developing and providing the populous with Pokedex 3D Pro. This is also one of the few times I will be reviewing a game that is "not a game." Shall we begin? **************************************************************************** Gameplay Description: Pokedex 3D Pro "gameplay" consists of how you use it. When you first turn the game on, there are a handful of options from which you can choose. Pokedex is the first option and where the bulk of the production in this application. There are 747 entries covering 647 different Pokemon from 5 generations of Pokemon games. Genesect and Meloetta have to be unlocked by finishing specific quizzes in the Pokemon Challenge mode. Each entry in the Pokedex contains a 3D model of a Pokemon which can be rotated and positioned on a changeable background. Each 3D Model has an animation sequence you can activate and pause at specific times, if you want. There is also a broad range of information on that Pokemon listed on the bottom screen. Here is the information you will find on each and every Pokemon. Name of the Pokemon Secondary title (Example: Bulbasaur is a "Seed Pokemon.") National Pokedex number Pokemon Elemental Types Available Genders Height Weight Compatible Egg Groups A brief Pokedex Description Cry A pronounced name An AR code that can be used for taking pictures of it in the AR Viewer. Ratings for each of of its statistics like HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed A list of abilities and hidden abilities Evolution Data Attack Type Effectivity Charts A list of moves that includes how to teach the move, the move type, power, base PP, Accuracy, area of effect (Physical/Special/Et Cetra) You can edit the look of the Pokedex by deciding to list by Number, Evolution, Name, Weight, Height. There is a quick search option. You have 6 backgrounds, 6 looks for the interface, 3 background music options, an option to reduce the 3D effect, and six different language options to choose from. Each Language Option has it's own Pronounced Name. Which is kind of a fun option. The basic reason for the Pokedex is to be a reference guide for people playing Pokemon Black & White or Black 2 & White 2. This guide does not list EV or IV Values. You can use the L & R buttons to zoom in on the 3D Models of each Pokemon as well. I would say that the purpose of the Pokedex option is to allow gamers to plan their Pokemon for tournament play. Example, you might want to build a particular kind of Charmander, you can find how to teach it the moves you need by checking the Pokedex. This does not list Natures, so you will still need to go check forums or other places for information on Natures, EVs, and IVs. This also does not demonstrate Shiny variations. It does show off the stats for various forms of some Pokemon. The "real" purpose for this game is how you can use it outside of the context of the games. This game allows you to see each Pokemon from any angle, which is useful for people who DRAW Pokemon, create Pokemon related costumes, or make Pokemon crafts. Oh, you can also access any AR pictures you take of each Pokemon inside of their Pokedex entry. Move Dex is the second option and it is a list of about 557 different moves that you can arrange by NAME or POWER. This lists a description of the move with with BASE PP, Accuracy, Power, Kind, Range, Long Status (This is for Triple Battles), and if the move is a "Direct Attack" which means it makes physical contact. The Move Dex also lists which Pokemon can learn the move and the Effect of the move. Overall, this is more for studying the moves for use in battle strategy. Pokemon Challenge is the third option and it contains quick trivia games that test your Pokemon knowledge. Remember those screens that show up in the animated series? There is a style of trivia which acts exactly like those screens where you have to identify a Pokemon from a blacked out silhouette. Some of the other variations include naming their evolution chains, what moves they can learn, identifying a Pokemon by its CRY (ridiculously hard), or by their description. These are fun for a short burst and it feels like you are being tested on a science class for something that does not exist. The meta game for Pokemon is so insanely ridiculous. I expect people to use this thing to criticize people who write Fan Fiction. (Of course, that Manaphy can NOT learn Submission, only 7 Pokemon can currently learn it. So, when the author had Manaphy use Submission in their Manaphy/May Lemon Fic, that was entirely inaccurate! Such a blatant disregard to facts is why I give that story a 3 out of 10. At least they had Manaphy use Helping Hand and Sleep Talk in the erotic narrative. That was correct, but Submission is just stretching it, literally. Worst. Fic. Ever.) Pokemon Challenge is really just there to allow you to memorize useless information in an efficient way. Records/Album is the fourth option and it allows you to keep track of how much of the Pokedex you have completed. Have you read all of the entries? Have you seen QR codes for all of the Pokemon? Have you unlocked all of the base challenges? How many perfects do you have in the challenges? Have you remembered the information you learned in the Pokedex? You can also view any AR pictures you have taken. AR Viewer is the fifth option and it requires you to be very proactive in how you use this game. Your enjoyment of this feature depends on how much time you are willing to spend with it. For example, you can make your QR codes on Graph Paper using the information provided in each Pokedex Entry. OR you can track down the QR codes online and print them on heavy paper in various sizes. The idea is simple, point the camera at the QR code and the Pokemon it represents pops up. Then you can take a picture of it. You can also pick pictures you have taken previously to over lay onto the QR code picture that you took in real time. You can activate the various animation that each Pokemon has as well. I would suggest that -if you have Colors 3D or Art Academy on your 3DS- you can make your own backgrounds OR you can take an AR picture and use it as a paint reference in Art Academy. Do you want to add a Pokemon to your Sparkle Shots pictures. You can certainly do that. You can even import that picture into some games like Metal Gear Solid 3D Snake Eater. If you take screenshots in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, you can use the QR codes to attach Pokemon into those screenshots with this application and then use Swapnote to send those to all of your friends. The AR function can read and detect more than one QR code at once. Which could lead to making "Pokemon Battle" pictures. You can do a lot with the AR function. You can even test what Pokemon are damaged by what types of attacks from the QR function. It is pretty well done. There are even weirder things to do with this APP. If you have the proper cables, you can use it to record isolated Pokemon Cries for use in making music samples or sound boards. Make yourself some sweet Octillery DROPS for use in your extremely bizarre dub step mix. Oh, the cries used for the original 151 are the ones used in the Game Boy Advance ports, so they have less "Square" sound signatures. Sorry if that comes as a disappointment. One more note: There is a "Today's Challenge" option that shows up after a while, so why not check in and see how many questions you can get right in a row! Liked: This is a bit insane as far as applications go, there is a lot to do in here if you use it as a "learning" tool for Pokemon. Do you have a child who loves Pokemon? Do they read EVERYTHING related to Pokemon? They might find this to be interesting. This is a really interesting creative tool. You can use it in conjunction with many other applications on the 3DS. Hated: That said, it is not much of a game in the traditional sense. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: The interface is a bit dense in places, but the 3D models for the Pokemon are really well done. The 3D effect is well done and everything makes sense. I just wish that they would use these sweet 3D models in the games more often. Liked: Everything looks awesome and the interface is packed with some crazy information. Hated: Nothing to really complain about here. I would like additional animation loops and the ability to see SHINY versions of the Pokemon. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: All of the cries are here and the background music that you can choose from is very pleasant. I would have liked to have some more background music. Liked: It sounds pretty good and all of the cries are there. Hated: Maybe there should be more music. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: There are a lot of options in this game and the ability to choose from them works pretty well. The AR (Augmented Reality) features in the game work pretty well. The "Today's Challenge" option and the "Pokemon Challenge" are interesting challenges. This really is not a proper game, but it is a really interesting application for people who are willing to invest the time and effort into using what it provides in a way that is constructive. Liked: Everything works in the way it should. Hated: There is some room for improvement. **************************************************************************** Improve: So, what could and should be done to improve this title? If I were making it, I would have liked to see it as a full price retail title on the 3DS. I would add the following items. The ability to see Shiny versions of Pokemon. The ability to choose between a Male or Female Pokedex Voice. The ability to have the description read to you by that voice. The ability to access background music from your AAC files on your 3DS. Multiple Animation Sequences for every Pokemon. The ability to tabulate EV and IV numbers. Since the application keeps track of the time and date, I would like some kind of CLOCK or CALCULATOR function included. Also, I want to record AR Videos. RIYL: Pokemon, but only if you are really into the creative fan base of the games. **************************************************************************** Final Words: The Phanpy in the room on this title is that many people feel the $14.99 price for it is a bit excessive. Well, I feel that this is a legitimate complaint, it really depends on how much you are going to use the application for. If you are a creative person and intend to use the game for reference, the $14.99 is not that big of a hurdle. I would say that you should go for it in that regard. If you are a casual Pokemon player and are not busting out a notepad while playing the game or preparing for tournament play, skip this application. The final word on this is that it is really well made and packed with information and production value. Is it worth the money? Only if you intend to use it. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: *** Graphics: **** Sound/Music: *** Play Control/Game Design: *** Value: **** Star Total: 51% Personal Opinion Merit: 20% Add the Star Score and Merit Score together for the final % score. Final Score: 71% Letter Grade: B ****************************************************************************