All the practical information on Pokémon Stadium: platform, release dates, staff, accessory, compatibility and re-releases.
| Original title | ポケモンスタジアム２ (Pokémon Stadium 2, Japan) |
|---|---|
| Platform | Nintendo 64 |
| Genre | Pokémon battle simulation, mini-games |
| Developer | Nintendo |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Players | 1 to 4 |
| Japan release | April 30, 1999 |
| North America release | Late February – early March 2000 |
| Australia release | March 23, 2000 |
| Europe and France release | April 7, 2000 |
| Re-release | Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, April 12, 2023 |
| Accessory included | Transfer Pak |
| Compatible games | Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow (same language version) |
| Generation | First (151 Pokémon) |
| Announcer (French version) | Jean-Claude Donda |
| Predecessor | Pocket Monsters Stadium (Japan, 1998) |
| Sequel | Pokémon Stadium 2 (2001 in Europe) |
What’s in the box
The European box contains the Nintendo 64 cartridge, the instruction booklet in French and the Transfer Pak, the accessory that plugs into the controller’s expansion slot and holds a Game Boy cartridge. It is essential for using your Pokémon from Red, Blue or Yellow, playing those games on your TV and receiving the Pokémon you can win. The same accessory is then used for Pokémon Stadium 2 and a handful of other Nintendo 64 games.
The team
The game was developed by Nintendo, in cooperation with HAL Laboratory for the reproduction of the battle system: Satoru Iwata, then president of HAL, said he personally studied the battle logic of Pokémon Red and Green in order to port it to Nintendo 64. The main credited staff:
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Takae Shimizu |
| Programming director | Yasunari Nishida |
| Art director | Tatsuya Hishida |
| 3D graphics director | Shinya Takahashi |
| Mini-game director | Makoto Wada |
| Battle programming | Kenji Yamamoto |
| Artificial intelligence | Satoru Osako |
In the original version, the announcer is voiced in English by Ted Lewis; the Pikachu from Pokémon Yellow says its name with the voice of Ikue Ōtani, the voice of the anime’s Pikachu.
Compatibility
- Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow, in the same language as the game. The French version of Stadium recognizes French cartridges.
- Up to four Transfer Paks at once, one per controller. Two are enough to trade Pokémon between two cartridges.
- Gold, Silver and Crystal are not compatible: you need Pokémon Stadium 2.
- No link with Pokémon Snap, but the Gallery in the American version used the same sticker-printing kiosks.
The versions
The game we call Pokémon Stadium is the second Japanese Stadium. The first, Pocket Monsters Stadium (1998), never left Japan. The Western version differs from the Japanese one in several ways (Poké Cup in place of the Nintendo Cups, Surf for Pikachu, the Gallery in the United States): everything is detailed in the differences between versions.
Sales and reception
- More than 3.9 million copies sold according to known figures, including more than 3.1 million in the United States, where it was the best-selling console game of 2000.
- In Japan, it topped the sales charts on release, with more than 1.3 million copies announced by Nintendo at the end of 1999.
- An average of about 79% in the press, compiled by GameRankings. The 3D models and the link with the Game Boy games were praised, while the lack of appeal without a cartridge and the simplistic mini-games were criticized.
Full details on the reception and release can be found in the game’s history, and our opinion in the review.
Playing it today
- On Nintendo 64, with the original cartridge. To enjoy every feature, you need a Transfer Pak and a Game Boy cartridge whose save battery still works.
- On Nintendo Switch, with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription and the Expansion Pack, since April 12, 2023. All the Transfer Pak features are missing. See our dedicated page.
