Released in France on 21 November 2008, Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia follows the formula of the first Pokémon Ranger: capture Pokémon with the stylus by drawing loops, so they will help you. Developed by Creatures and HAL Laboratory, it fixes several flaws of its predecessor and adds side quests and a partner of your choice. How does it hold up today?
The same formula, only better
The core of the game doesn’t change: you explore the region, capture Pokémon by drawing loops around them with the Capture Styler, and use their abilities to get past obstacles or their Poké Assists to make other captures easier. It is as easy to pick up as ever, and stylus capture remains an excellent idea, perfectly suited to the touch screen.
Shadows of Almia enriches it in several ways. The partner is no longer imposed: you choose your first companion from Pachirisu, Starly and Munchlax, then unlock others. Field moves multiply, with Pokémon that carry you across water or lava. And you begin with a stint at the Ranger School, a well-made tutorial that introduces the characters.
Quests, the real novelty
Sixty-one side quests, given by the people of Almia, finally add depth to the post-game and the world. Finding a lost Pokémon, clearing a path, bringing a Pokémon to someone: nothing very original, but each one rewards you with a Capture Styler upgrade or a new partner, which gives you a real reason to do them. This is the big difference from the first game, which was very linear.
A more ambitious story
Team Dim Sun, which controls Pokémon using devices, is no more original than the Go-Rock Squad of the first game, but the story is better paced and longer. The nods to the first game, such as Professor Hastings, the Go-Rock Squad and the Fiore region mentioned by the characters, will please longtime players.
The limits
The difficulty remains low, except for a few bosses that demand many loops. The visuals, in top-down 2D, are clean but unspectacular. Above all, the bonus Ranger Net missions, featuring Dialga, Palkia, Shaymin, Riolu or Darkrai, could only be downloaded through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which was shut down in 2014: they are now inaccessible.
Playing it today
The game is available as a Nintendo DS cartridge, playable on DS and 3DS. It was also released on the Wii U Virtual Console in June 2016, but the Wii U eShop closed in 2023.
Our verdict
Shadows of Almia is a successful sequel, richer and longer than the first Pokémon Ranger thanks to its quests and its choice of partner. A good, accessible action game that remains one of the best Nintendo DS spin-offs.
What we like
- Stylus capture, as enjoyable as ever
- The partner of your choice and its seventeen possibilities
- Sixty-one quests that enrich the game
- The Ranger School opening, well handled
What we like less
- Low difficulty
- Unspectacular visuals
- Ranger Net missions that are now inaccessible
