Released in Europe on 19 October 2001 on the Nintendo 64, Pokémon Stadium 2 brings the battles of Gold, Silver and Crystal into 3D. Where the first Stadium simply strung matches together, this one adds an Academy, My Room to decorate, Mystery Gift and twelve new mini-games. When it came out, we gave it 18 out of 20. It is still the most complete of the Stadium games.
All 251 Pokémon in 3D
The principle stays the same: Pokémon battles in 3D, using your own Pokémon transferred from Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver or Crystal via the Transfer Pak, or with 246 rental Pokémon. All 251 Pokémon of the first two generations are modeled, with animated moves. The Transfer Pak is no longer included with the game, so you have to buy it separately to take advantage of the Game Boy links.
Much more than a string of battles
White City, the heart of the game, brings together eight modes. The Stadium offers four cups: the Little Cup for baby Pokémon at level 5, the Poké Cup with its four divisions, the unrestricted Prime Cup and the new Challenge Cup, with randomly drawn teams. The Gym Leader Castle gathers the Gym Leaders of Johto and Kanto, the Elite Four, the Champion and Red. At the end of the road, the rival and his three legendaries open a tougher Round 2.
The big new feature is the Pokémon Academy: lessons, written exams and demonstration battles that explain all of Pokémon strategy, from types to held items. It is a genuine interactive manual, ideal for improving your game.
The Game Boy link
The game makes full use of Game Boy cartridges: the Game Boy Tower for playing on your television, the lab for managing your boxes and trading without a cable, My Room from Gold, Silver and Crystal to visit and decorate in 3D, and the daily Mystery Gift. The mini-games can even win you coins for the Game Boy games’ Game Corner.
The drawbacks
The commentator keeps repeating the same lines, and the graphics engine is still the one from the first game. Released six months after Gold and Silver in Europe, the game also arrived a little late. But these flaws weigh little against the richness of the whole.
Is it worth playing today?
Yes, for fans of Generation II nostalgia and strategy lovers. To enjoy everything, you need the cartridge, a Nintendo 64, a Transfer Pak and a Game Boy cartridge from the first or second generation.
Our verdict
The best of the Stadium games: rich, instructive and perfectly tied to the Generation II Game Boy games.
What we like
- All 251 Pokémon in 3D
- Plenty of modes, including the Academy
- A deep link with the Game Boy games
- Twelve fun multiplayer mini-games
What we like less
- A repetitive commentator
- A graphics engine that doesn’t evolve
- Transfer Pak sold separately
Our original review is still online.
