Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness is probably the best Pokemon game ever created, due to the truly awesome things it did to the battle system, the plot, and the lore.

While open world exploration akin to the rest of the series would have pretty much made the game perfect, the new focus worked really, really well. The plot was far more engaging because it felt like it was the actual goal of the game. Since there were basically no Gyms, you didn't get this feeling that the main villains were just minor annoyances behind the true foes, the Elite Four. I mean, I love the Elite Four and the Gyms. The boss rushes and twists they throw in there are great. But the main villains need to be the main villains, not a mere obstacle in the way of my rise to glory.

The whole idea of Shadow Pokemon is a really great addition as well. Both in gameplay, and in the lore of the Pokemon universe. While they were in Pokemon Coliseum as well, they really polished the hell out of the concept with both the alternative moves, the mechanic changes, and the glory that was the XD-001. It is just such a wonderful concept, and I really, really wish they put it in the rest of the series.

Then too, the game did great things for the difficulty, and the teambuilding. The "gotta catch 'em all" bit of the game was retooled, and every battle was a double battle. While I love the sheer awesomeness and variety of Pokemon, and the huge depth to min-maxing it gives you, having a limited number makes you really mix and match your party, to think over what you have and what you can use. And making every battle a double battle meant that the battles were more interesting, and that you couldn't just steamroller every fight with a single, superpowered Pokemon.

I really wish the rest of the series would learn from XD. A true sequel to that game would be great.




Oh, and Metroid Prime is my other favorite, and the reasons for that should be obvious. The game is awesome.