More Pokemon! This one has always been alluring to me. The promise of exploring a 3D environment, interacting directly with Pokemon, certainly has appeal. When I saw that you could play as Surfing Pikachu, I (having got on at the Yellow floor) knew I had to try it.

Unfortunately, it seems I didn’t do enough research beforehand. The game I ended up with seems targeted well below my demographic. What I mean is it’s essentially a baby game for babies. Very simple mechanics, a lot of repetition and boring music, and the rough edges you come to expect in a game for those with low expectations. That’s not to say I didn’t have fun. In fact, I’m trying for 100%.

You could say I myself have low expectations. All I want is to run around and meet some Pokemon. This game delivers that. I find it interesting to see them wandering around their chosen environment, calling out their names. It’s all a bit stiff, but I can forgive it because it’s really quite charming. The Pokes all have their own personalities and dialogue, although I get the feeling it was more distinctive to each one before getting the translation treatment. Always a tricky problem when you’re stuck with just text.

The main part of the game is doing minigames. The framing context is reasonably solid, but it is just a series of repetitive tasks when you get down to it. You have interactions with each Poke you come across as Pikachu, either battling them or chasing them as they run away, which is done in the world as you come across them. You also then have Attractions, which are segmented off into their own little loading zones and more structured. They’re mostly different, and use unique control schemes, and you also get to choose to play as any of the other Pokes you’ve befriended.

The way I play Attractions, by repeating them with each Poke I have to get the bonuses, makes it a bit tedious. There’s some variety between them but not much between Pokes in the same event. I find it the most efficient to do it that way though because of the loading screens and such. Oh well.

I’d like to mention the control scheme, because normally holding the Wii remote sideways is terrible. “Oh it’s like a NES controller” well phooey. The NES controller was terrible and both it and the Wiimote dig into your hands uncomfortably. The button layout is also inconvenient, and when used on modern games, like Metroid Other M, you find that they jam too many functions on the same button and it just sucks to play. Pokepark is not so bad in this respect because of its simplicity, but I do talk sometimes when I want to jump. The simple one remote set up though allows them to switch it up easily for the Attractions, so I reckon it gets a pass overall, especially because like I said, it’s easy for kids I suppose.

I had to toss up whether to get this game or the sequel, but if the second one is anything like this, I’m ok with getting the cheaper one. If what I’ve said sounds appealing, then it has been reprinted recently, or otherwise maybe get it for your kids. But it’s not the ultra 3D Pokemon experience that us adult fans sometimes say we want.