It was the year 2006, when the software house Spike Chunsoft developed for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red and Blue Team, two titles of the Mystery Dungeon subsaga extremely popular with the community of the time. After a sleep that lasted many years, the brand was able to see the light of the spotlight again, from a decidedly more modern perspective. Let's talk about the Nintendo Direct held in January, which among further news for the gigantic universe of pokémon also officially announced Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX.
It was not a question of simple communication, as Nintendo he wanted to immediately discover the cards on the table. The software house has in fact published a free demo of the game on its eShop, of which you can find our preview at this link, and has also set the debut date for the same at March 6, 2020, just two months away given the status of the work in progress.
A construction site held again at Spike Chunsoft, which after giving life to the original chapter - as well as to the entire saga in question - is ready to revitalize a product that has been the victim of the inexorable weight of the many past years. This is neither a remastered nor a reboot, but perhaps a more in-depth port, summarized under the name of remake. The development team has no intention of hiding behind a finger: the fact that the proposed title is almost the same as in 2006 is undoubted, however, this does not mean that it is a lazy job. In fact, we are talking about a completely reinvented graphics sector and a landing on a console with a completely different architecture, as well as a series of additions that are not revolutionary but useful to make the experience contemporary. Will it be possible for an obsolete game to interface with the current generation, or will it be a more or less successful nostalgia operation? Let's find out together in this review!
From human to Pokémon
The spark of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX lights up with a series of questions designed to outline the character of the player on the other side of the screen, who will then be associated with one of the most similar pokémon starters in this sense. As already mentioned in the preview phase, these are really accurate, and they manage to finalize - obviously if the answers provided are sincere - an excellent result. However, in the remake it is possible to ignore the advice of the game and choose the pokémon starter you prefer, just like with your partner. Furthermore, in case you have already tasted the work through the aforementioned free demo, all progress will be automatically carried over to the final version at startup. Once you enter the real game world, a magnificent aura of mystery - represented through a very appropriate OST and a dream-themed impact - immediately floods the console. Our protagonist is unfamiliar with his body, and he realizes it having transformed from human to pokémon talking to the second chosen starter, but will not be able to find the reasons for the mutation. All memories seem to have permanently vanished, and the situation arises as a real nightmare. However, there is no time to waste, because a series of unexpected coincidences immediately plunges the pokémon into a rescue mission, the first of many.
After the success of the latter, the friendship with the chosen partner begins to gradually consolidate, especially when the two decide to found a rescue team to fulfill the missions of other pokémon, which make up the society of this very special game world. As the campaign progresses, many details will become progressively clearer, and some pokémon will be able to lead us along the path of possible answers. However, the world continues to be threatened by irreparable catastrophes, somehow connected to the transformation of the protagonist. If in the initial stages all the game dialogues with the other sultan pokémon are all too simple and childish, albeit quite compelling, the narrative evolution of the game is simply astounding. The first few bars are in fact seasoned with a delightful unparalleled background carefree that bewitches the player, now intent on living the experience in one breath. Going forward, however, the themes begin to thicken at the narrative level, becoming more mature and interesting, just like the dialogues themselves. The halo of mystery that develops manages to intrigue a lot, giving life to events that otherwise would not be able to create particular curiosity. The storylines mainly concern the pokémon society and their problems in the first place, with the various mysterious events that upset the balance, but in the meantime the protagonist's story takes the time to evolve slowly, until it explodes all of a sudden . We can confirm that, despite taking his hours to show up in great shape, the narrative sector is undoubtedly appreciable even today, and the intensity of the events manages to keep up with other productions. Unfortunately, a note of demerit goes to fake choices proposed to the player, which are completely useless as the secondary pokémon conducts all the dialogues and shows itself almost more like the real protagonist, and will be ready to contradict any interactions that are not very suitable.
The iconic Mystery Dungeon
At this point comes the fateful question, the one that could bury the experience. Can the typical gameplay of the Mystery Dungeon saga find space in 2020 with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX? Absolutely yes, without self and without but. We are dealing with the usual RPG Dungeon Crawler which has always characterized the saga, which basically presents itself with the same mechanics already known. A few seconds after entering a dungeon it is natural to feel that sense of nostalgia being satisfied, and you realize how it is still extremely fun and original gameplay. The dungeons are as usual structured in various floors, which are procedurally generated once the entrance is passed. The structure of the levels, which strongly influences the gameplay, is what makes the work particular. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX is indeed a grid-based title, where it is possible to move only in the cardinal points and diagonally, just like the enemies will do. The pokémon then move in single file progressing step by step, collecting the objects scattered around the game map and facing the opponents who are placed in front of them. However, each box often reveals surprises, from insidious traps to treasures to be collected, and it is good to evaluate your turns in the best possible way to be able to win.
We are talking about shifts, because the work does not come with a real-time combat system: whether you attack or move, the pokémon you control can only perform one action at a time. What makes the game system fun and dynamic is the continuous progress of the fights, which are not divided into sections but manage to show themselves as fast and immediate. After every move you make, every other pokémon in the fight will automatically do the same - with a 'artificial intelligence that almost always shows itself as well thought out - and within a few seconds it will be possible to repeat everything. A continuous succession of attacks, unexpected critical hits and dodges, along with bursts of random moves that make every action a continuous surprise, even if sometimes not exactly positive. The pokémon present are also very many, and populate each of the dungeons present in an organic and surprising way. The environments are therefore extremely varied and each different from the other, even if the rather basic procedural generation does not allow a particular differentiation of the game maps.
Daily routine
The various runs in the dungeon are motivated by gods rescue missions that our team accepts every day on the bulletin board. These are procedurally generated and serve to help the pokémon that populate the company, but also provide essential rewards related to the evolution of the team. As soon as you wake up it will therefore be possible to start a new adventure to power up and find useful resources, or simply follow the natural course of the plot and let yourself be carried away by it - obviously also linked to dungeons and necessary for the unlocking of further areas.
The resources can be used at the game village, obviously fully managed by the pokémon, which has essential structures to progress. The Kangaskhan Depot allows you to accumulate an infinite amount of items (withdrawable when you prefer) and keep them so that they are not lost following a game over in the dungeon. A similar argument also applies to the Bank of Persian, which likewise takes care of all savings for free, while also offering daily items as an incentive to deposit. The two close the circle Kecleon shopkeepers where to buy and sell items, the Makuhita Dojo useful for enhancing the pokémon through the tickets obtained as a reward in the dungeons, and the fundamental Combiteca Gulpin. Thanks to this building you will be able to access the service of the pokémon that combines the moves, which will be used both in one turn if combined, and will leave room for a lot of interesting combos.
In constant evolution
In addition to fun gameplay and an intriguing narration, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX also brings a progression system of exquisite workmanship. The pokémon continue to level up and their stats gradually improve thanks to the defeated enemies and the completed workouts. In addition, the moves become more and more powerful with use, an interesting feature added on the Nintendo Switch that particularly rewards the compulsive grinding of missions. One of the fundamental mechanics then resides in a building in the city that is unlocked later, the one managed by Wigglytuff. Through its services it is possible to establish stations in the various play areas, which are used to host pokémon. After some enemies are defeated in the dungeon or specific missions are completed, some pokémon decide to join our rescue team. In the event that you do not have an area suitable for the monster in question, he will leave leaving a tip for the adventure lived, and it is therefore good to have as many establishments as possible. These are really many areas - contextualized to the huge number of pokémon present - often quite expensive, as well as the place where all the hard-earned savings will end up in most cases. An interesting novelty of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX compared to other titles in the saga is the third pokémon in the team, which will have to be hosted in one of these special areas. In addition, except for some missions of the main plot, the protagonists can be replaced by any of the pokémon that is part of the large family created. However, those who take part in the expeditions still receive experience, and are therefore subsequently usable as of an acceptable level.
Along with increasing levels team rank also tends to rise, providing numerous bonuses, such as camps for larger allies and multiple collectible missions, which can then be completed en masse during a single expedition to a dungeon. The excellent progression is in any case necessary given the difficulty curve, which from extremely easy in the early stages becomes really challenging, and therefore requires more precautions and upgrades to proceed in the adventure. However, we must consider that penalties for the player are always a little too light, and the permissive possibilities offered. The shops in the cities do nothing but offer services that are far too convenient and without repercussions, where every choice on which you want to turn around does not actually involve any penalty.
I land on the hybrid console
Now remains to be considered the technical sector of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX, a remake that certainly has many expectations to be met also on this front, given the possibilities offered by Nintendo Switch. Although none of the peculiarities related to the hybrid console have been exploited, playing in portability is simply sensational, more than ever with a title like this (also given the reduced battery consumption). In addition, the management of automatic saves has been manic and allows you not to lose even a second of the progress made, at any time when you exit the game everything will be saved perfectly, whether you are in a dungeon or not. The inserted guides manage to be more complete than ever, and illuminate any possible unclear aspect of the experience, as they can be consulted at any time. Also interesting is the automatic exploration of dungeons, useful for inexperienced users. It is also possible through Nintendo Switch Online help players who have failed in their adventure, to allow him to keep his inventory and not have to start over. Asynchronous multiplayer is essential to be part of the community, and to ensure that it is not necessary to wait hours before receiving help from any altruistic player, who in any case subsequently receives interesting rewards.
Stylistically Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX is really well done, mainly because of its well-marked and undoubtedly pleasant artistic sector. The resolution is not particularly successful in docked mode, although more than satisfactory in terms of portability. The game has no bugs or glitches and is technically flawless, as has always been Nintendo tradition. The OST is quite nice, as well as formed by infinite torments difficult to forget, even if at times repetitive and redundant when it remains for a long time on the same plane.
