Let's Play Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness

[Skyblade]

So wait, you can steal other people's Pokemon?!

Isn't that how Team Rocket started or something?

Yes, but this is much, much more savvy than what Team Rocket did. They just nabbed Pokémon. This thing grabs them and rewrites the data that ties them to their Pokéballs.

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I activate my Sniper mode as I enter my match with Spy Naps, my first encounter with this game's foes.


And we immediately learn why they all agree to don those costumes. Because it provides them with the most awesome battle music ever.



Seriously, these guys are a joy to fight just because of that music. It is such a shame I have to put it on in my browser to snag a listen while playing.

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That is a Shadow Pokémon. My Sniper mode thingy there let's me see it. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between it and a regular Pokémon.

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I just explained that, Professor. Keep up, man.

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As usual, when catching your first Pokémon, you don't have to weaken it.

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It's kind of hard to see in the screenshot, but easy in the game. When you throw a Snag Ball, the energy that zaps the Pokémon actually forms grabbing fingers, snatching the Pokémon away from its home.

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Wait, they're running away to report I have a Snag Machine? But I just won the Pokémon battle. That means you're supposed to surrender and do what I say! Get back here!


EDIT:

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So first I ask an adult for help, and now we're contacting the proper authorities to deal with the kidnappers. Are we sure this is a Pokémon game?

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Everyone else is all mopey, but Mom's like "Get real, people. We don't need the Professor to finish our project. We can do it ourselves." Yeah, your mom's kind of an awesome character.

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Ok, so time for some more technical, less fun stuff. This is what a Shadow Pokémon is like when you've captured it. Notice the Heart Gauge and "Door to its heart" bits? Each Shadow Pokémon has those, and they replace the Pokémon's EXP gauge. That's right, Shadow Pokémon can't earn EXP. Why would anyone want them then? Well, because they are quite powerful, but we'll address that in the next picture.

As you fight alongside a Shadow Pokémon, you teach them to trust again, and open up their hearts. The gauge will deplete, and eventually you'll be able to purify them, transforming them back into their regular selves. And, when you do so, all the EXP they would have gotten from their fights is applied to them in one lump sum.

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And this is why Shadow Pokémon are so powerful. The moves list. Each Shadow Pokémon knows Shadow moves. These moves are essentially an extra type. Shadow moves are 2x Super Effective against all non-Shadow Pokémon, and Not Very Effective against other Shadow Pokémon. In Pokémon Colloseum, there was only one Shadow move, Shadow Rush, but now there are a ton, of differing strength and some with status effects. But they all work pretty much the same.

This has a huge impact on gameplay. Shadow Pokémon are actually pretty dang beastly, and, worst of all, you want to Snag as many of them as possible. So you'll be taking damage with your regular Pokémon while fighting them. You can use your own Shadow Pokémon as tanks, but they don't earn EXP, so they'll be underpowered as you go further along. It's a really cool addition to the systems. Do you keep your Shadow Pokémon and dominate with them against other trainers? Or do you purify them to let them grow?

Oh, one more thing. This game also has an extra bonus to hardcore Pokémaniacs. Most Shadow Pokémon that you can obtain, as you begin to purify them, will know at least one move that they otherwise can't acquire. Thus, if you purify them, you can trade them to the other Pokémon games to get access to some nifty combos of abilities not normally possible.

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I knew it! I knew I was going to have to pick that thing up. Lousy fetch quests.

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My new objective. Scooter away!



So, yeah, if you haven't figured it out yet, the Aura Reader keeps me from Snagging non-Shadow Pokémon, and snags are the main way of getting new Pokémon. Thus, since there are limited Shadow Pokémon, you have a fairly limited team to choose from (only about 50 Pokémon total, by the end of the game), so you have to balance who to use and choose carefully. Oh, and no duplicates or breeding.

Catching and purifying all the Shadow Pokémon, while foiling the villain's plot, is pretty much this game's story. And it is AWESOME.


Thanks for all the feedback so far. I thrive on feedback! Keep it coming! I'm having a blast with this, and I hope you all are too. I mean, that's kind of the point, I can play it for myself any time I want.





Final note: You can't nickname a Pokémon until you purify it. So right now, there's a Teddiursa on the books (who I keep around in my party because he'll pick up items from battles even if I don't use him once I get some others). Suggestions?