The third and final installment of the series, Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs came out in France on November 5, 2010 on Nintendo DS. It takes the Rangers to the Oblivia archipelago, on the trail of the Pokémon Pinchers and the legendary Pokémon. More spectacular than its predecessors, it adds flight, Ranger Signs and a multiplayer mode. How good is this farewell to the series?
An adventure all about legendary Pokémon
From the prologue, the tone is set: a dogfight in the sky, a Latios in danger, a plunge into the ocean. The story then chains legendary encounters at a brisk pace: Raikou, Entei, Suicune, the three birds of Kanto, Ho-Oh, Mewtwo. The Pokémon Pinchers, then the mysterious Tea Party, make for better villains than in the previous games, and the story, with its ruins, golden armor and flying fortress, has a real sense of adventure.
Ranger Signs, a good idea
The big new feature is Ranger Signs. By drawing a symbol on the touch screen, you call a Pokémon: a legendary one you ride to cross gaps or enter the water, or Latios and Latias to fly over Oblivia. Flight in particular refreshes exploration: you capture Pokémon in mid-air and move freely between the islands. It is the most thrilling installment of the series.
A single partner
After the choice offered by Shadows of Almia, the return to a single partner, Ukulele Pichu, may disappoint. But the little Pichu with its ukulele has plenty of charm, and the Capture Styler’s progression, which now lets you spread points across several stats, makes up for it by offering more freedom.
Multiplayer
For the first time, you can play with others, up to four Rangers. It is a good addition for sharing the adventure, even if most of the game is still designed for solo play.
The drawbacks
The formula shows its limits in the third installment: stylus capturing stays the same, and missions follow a predictable pattern. The difficulty is moderate, except against a few legendary Pokémon. Finally, as with the other installments, the Ranger Net bonus missions can no longer be downloaded since the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection shut down in 2014.
Playing it today
The game is available as a Nintendo DS cartridge, playable on DS and 3DS. It also came out on the Wii U Virtual Console in June 2016, whose eShop closed in 2023. No sequel has appeared since.
Our verdict
Guardian Signs is the most ambitious of the three Pokémon Ranger games, with its legendary Pokémon, Ranger Signs and flight over Oblivia. A fine conclusion to the series, despite a formula that is starting to run out of steam.
What we like
- An adventure packed with legendary Pokémon
- Ranger Signs and flight in the skies of Oblivia
- Strong villains and a gripping plot
- A Capture Styler you upgrade your own way
- Multiplayer for up to four
What we like less
- A capture formula that no longer reinvents itself
- A single partner after the choice in Shadows of Almia
- Ranger Net missions that are now inaccessible
