“Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team,” developed by Chunsoft, introduces the roguelike dungeon-crawling elements of the Mystery Dungeon series to the Pokémon world. Released in 2006 for the Game Boy Advance, the game involves exploring randomly generated floors, battling enemy Pokémon, and searching for the stairs to advance to the next level. While the gameplay can become repetitive, the wide variety of Pokémon from Generations I-III, diverse moves, and an engaging storyline keep the experience entertaining.
The game was also released as “Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team” on the Nintendo DS, with some differences. The GBA version has five exclusive Pokémon and lacks touchscreen functionality, requiring more manual menu navigation. Although the DS version offers dual-screen advantages, such as a separate map display, the GBA version benefits from a larger single screen. Despite the differences, both versions offer a similar gameplay experience, with the DS features being helpful but not essential.
The story begins with the player waking up as a Pokémon, determined by a quiz taken at the start of the game. Along with a partner Pokémon, the player forms a rescue team to help other Pokémon in distress. The plot unfolds as the player navigates various environments, such as forests, caves, and mountains, each featuring familiar Pokémon and unique challenges. The bright, cartoony visuals and catchy, though sometimes repetitive, music contribute to the game’s atmosphere.
Rescue missions are central to the gameplay, with tasks available on a bulletin board or delivered to the player’s home. Missions generally involve reaching a certain floor in a dungeon to rescue a Pokémon or escort a client. While the objectives don’t vary much, the challenge comes from managing different floors and the need to protect weaker clients. After completing a mission, players have the option to teleport out or continue exploring, adding some strategic choices to the repetitive dungeon crawling.
The combat system allows players to use various moves, link attacks, and utilize items to heal, counteract status effects, or attack enemies. As the game progresses, players learn new moves and gain access to more powerful items. Recruiting new Pokémon to the rescue team adds a layer of strategy, as players must manage friend areas where these Pokémon can stay when not in use. Early in the game, resources are scarce, making it difficult, but as players level up and gather items, the gameplay becomes more manageable.
The original GBA version included link cable functionality for trading items and rescuing friends, but this was replaced with a password system in the Wii U eShop release. The SOS mail system allows players to rescue others by entering a 54-character password, though the process can be cumbersome.
Despite the inconvenience, the password system is a valuable alternative, especially for rescuing players from the Blue DS version. Other passwords, like Wonder Mail codes, enable players to share missions and encounter exclusive Pokémon from the other game version.
As players advance, the difficulty increases, particularly in later sections where avoiding combat can be a more viable strategy than engaging with every enemy. The game’s addictive nature encourages players to continue, driven by both the story and the challenge of completing missions. The narrative deepens with the introduction of natural disasters and rival rescue teams, adding intrigue to the player’s quest to understand why they have turned into a Pokémon.
“Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team” is a solid entry in the Mystery Dungeon series, though it has some drawbacks. The repetitive gameplay and occasionally frustrating mechanics, like the password system, can detract from the experience. However, the variety of locations, Pokémon, and the engaging story help to maintain interest. While it lacks some features of the DS version, it remains an enjoyable dungeon crawler for Pokémon fans.
