A year after Colosseum, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness returns to Orre with a new hero and a clear ambition: to make the formula more accessible and richer. Mission accomplished? This review, written with hindsight now that the game has been available on Switch 2 since 2026, complements our review from the time.
A More Generous Sequel
XD fixes several of the criticisms leveled at Colosseum. There are now 83 Shadow Pokémon to catch, up from 48, including the three legendary birds. Wild Pokémon appear in the Poké Spots, levels progress more gently, you can save anywhere, and Miror B. offers a second chance for every Shadow Pokémon you missed. The whole package is more comfortable, longer and better paced.
The Purification Chamber, a Really Good Idea
The Purification Chamber turns a chore into a little puzzle: arranging circles of types to speed up purification, then pulling off the ultimate challenge of XD001. It is the most successful addition of this sequel, along with Reverse Mode, which is easier to read than Hyper Mode.
A Too-Familiar World
The downside is well known: a good part of Colosseum’s locations are reused, often identically, and the new ones (Gateon Port, Dr. Kaminko’s Mansion, the Libra, the Cipher Key Lair, Citadark Isle) are not enough to dispel the feeling of déjà vu. The press at the time harshly pointed this out, as well as the narrowness of the Poké Spots.
A Lighter Story
After the darkness of Colosseum, XD adopts a more cheerful tone: a young and determined hero, a zany Dr. Kaminko, a Robo Groudon, a Miror B. turned comic. The plot around Greevil and his sons, and the mysterious threat of XD001, stay gripping to the end.
Still-Demanding Battles
The Double Battles, the Admins with built teams and the finale on Citadark Isle offer a real challenge, especially when you have to catch Greevil’s legendary birds without knocking them out. The post-credits content (Orre Colosseum, Battle CDs, Battle Bingo, purification of XD001) extends the adventure for a long time.
Our verdict
A richer and more accessible sequel to Colosseum, at the cost of a too-familiar world.
What we like
- 83 Shadow Pokémon, including the legendary birds
- The Purification Chamber and the XD001 challenge
- Wild Pokémon and free saving
- Miror B. and the second chances
- A rich post-game
What we like less
- Many locations reused from Colosseum
- Poké Spots that are too limited
- A tone less distinctive than Colosseum's
- A presentation that has aged
