| Pocket Monsters Stadium | |
|---|---|
.webp) Japanese cover art depicting four pokémon: Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, and Pikachu | |
| Developer | Nintendo EAD |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Director | Takao Shimizu |
| Producers | |
| Programmer | Yasunari Nishida |
| Composers |
|
| Series | Pokémon |
| Platform | Nintendo 64 |
| Release |
|
| Genre | Turn-based strategy |
| Modes | Single-player,multiplayer |
Pocket Monsters Stadium[a] (also known asPocket Monster Stadium orPokémon Stadium in English) is a 1998strategyrole-playing video game developed and published byNintendo and released in Japan for theNintendo 64. Its gameplay is based upon thePokémon battle formula previously introduced in theGame Boy gamesPokémon Red andGreen, though only 40 of the games' 151 Pokémon are available to use in gameplay. Originally intended for the64DD, it was later developed into a standard console game. Using theTransfer Pak accessory that was bundled with the game, players are able to view, organize, store, and battle with Pokémon from the Game Boy games.
Pocket Monsters Stadium received mixed responses. Though it received positive reception for its Pokémon species animations, it was criticized for its lack of content, especially for those lacking a Game Boy to use the Transfer Pak features. A follow-up game, titledPokémon Stadium 2 in Japan, was announced in 1998, and later released asPokémon Stadium internationally.
Battles inStadium function similarly to battles in the Game BoyPokémon games, with players using different moves to battle Pokémon used by opponent trainers.[1]Pocket Monsters Stadium uses connectivity with theNintendo 64 Transfer Pak to connect with theGame Boy gamesPokémon Red,Green,Blue, andYellow.[1] Using the "Registration" feature, players can import Pokémon, and then use them in battles againstCPU controlled opponents or other players.[2] If players do not have access to a Game Boy, they can use rental Pokémon with pre-determined sets of moves.[3] In the game's "Tournament" mode, players assemble a team of six Pokémon, then select three Pokémon from their team for each battle against a CPU opponent.[1] The opposing Trainers in Tournament mode are based on the finalists of officialPokémon championships held in Japan between 1996 and 1998.[4] Tournament mode is split into two "divisions" based on the level of the opponents' Pokémon: one for levels 1–30, and one for levels 50–55.[5] A "Free Battle" mode allows players to battle CPU opponents or other players using a full team of six Pokémon with no level restrictions.[6]
The game features several game mode options. The "Computer" option allows players to store their Pokémon inStadium, with a "Picture Book" option allowing players to create a "photo album" and organize the stored Pokémon, allowing players to view their models. The "Quick Look" option allows players to view the stats and information related to an individual Pokémon, while a "Collection" feature lets players view information about any given species to find strategies for facing them.[2] Players can alsoemulate a connectedPokemon game through their television usingStadium's "GB" function.[7]
For the first time in thePokémon franchise's history, Pokémon utilized three-dimensional models.[1] An announcer commentates over battles.[1] Completing either tournament division with aPikachu transferred from the Game Boy games allows players to teach that Pikachu the move Surf, a move it cannot learn otherwise.[1][5] This can in turn be used to unlock a special minigame inPokémon Yellow.[8]
Only 40 different Pokémon are available to use in the game,[2] though an in-game encyclopedia function allows players to view all 151 species of Pokémon available in the Game Boy games.[1] The following Pokémon are available for use in battles:[9]
Connectivity with thePokémon Game Boy trilogy is available using the Transfer Pak (bundled with the game) in the same way as the internationally releasedPokémon Stadium.[10][11]HAL Laboratory presidentSatoru Iwata, who would later headNintendo itself, ported the battle system to the Nintendo 64, taking a week to read the entire Game Boysource code before converting designerShigeki Morimoto's programming from thePokémon games.[12] Iwata fixed compatibility issues with the Game Boy games andStadium single-handedly.[13][discuss] Because of technical limitations, only 40 Pokémon are available for battles, instead ofthe full 151 Pokémon from theGame Boy versions as originally planned.[10] Most of these 40 were chosen based on their use in officialPokémon tournaments, while others were added to ensure each of the game's types were represented.[14]
Once intended as a64DD launch title with a March 1998 release date,[15] the game was intended to take advantage of the 64DD's functionalities by allowing players to use Pokémon both on the go and at home.[16]Stadium was eventually converted to a standardNintendo 64 game on a32 MB cartridge.[10]Stadium was planned to have an initial Nintendo 64 release in Japan with a 64DD release later that year. No plans for other region releases were confirmed.[17]Pocket Monsters Stadium was released only in Japan on August 1, 1998.[1]GameSpot reported that it had 1.4 million pre-orders by June 1998.[18] A reported 270,000 copies of the game were sold in its first month of release,[19] and it accumulated 400,000 copies by October of the same year.[20]
A review in the64 Magazine highlighted the personality present in the Pokémon species models and animations, but criticized the game's lack of content, especially if a player lacks access to the Game Boy games.[21] A review inGamers highlighted the game's graphical qualities, comparing it positively to N64 gameBanjo-Kazooie.[22] A review inJoypad considered the game fun forPokémon fans and owners of the Game Boy games but a weaker title for those unfamiliar with the series.[3] Peer Schneider, in a review forIGN, stated that the game was not worth importing for US audiences due to the release ofPokémon Stadium, which Schneider stated had significantly more content thanPocket Monsters Stadium.[23]
Pocket Monsters Stadium was not released outside Japan.[24] A sequel, dubbedPokémon Stadium 2 in Japan, was announced in 1998.[25] The game was released internationally asPokémon Stadium.[4][11][26] A follow-up game, titledPokemon Stadium Gold/Silver in Japan[27] was released asPokémon Stadium 2 internationally.[28]
Pokemon Stadium (aka the Japanese Pocket Monsters Stadium 2
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