Pokémon Dash

Pokémon Dash[lower-alpha 2] is a racing video game developed by Ambrella for the Nintendo DS. It was a launch title in Japan and Europe. Dash was released in Japan on December 2, 2004; Europe on March 11, 2005; North America on March 13, 2005; and Australia on April 7, 2005. It was the first Pokémon game to be released for the Nintendo DS.

Pokémon Dash
North American cover art
Developer(s)Ambrella[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)Nintendo
The Pokémon Company
Director(s)Muneaki Ozawa
Miki Obata
Shin Naka
Yoshihiro Hatta
Norio Matsumura
Kunimi Kawamura
Producer(s)Kunimi Kawamura
Hitoshi Yamagami
Designer(s)Miki Obata
Norio Matsumura
Programmer(s)Takayuki Ito
Yosuke Suma
Nayuta Taga
Ein Terakawa
Hisato Matsumoto
Composer(s)Miki Obata
SeriesPokémon
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • JP: December 2, 2004
  • EU: March 11, 2005
  • NA: March 13, 2005
  • AU: April 7, 2005
  • KOR: March 22, 2007
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The player uses a stylus to control a Pikachu and race through checkpoints. After players have passed each of the number of checkpoints in order, the course is completed. Dash has multiplayer support, and can connect with 6 different devices.

Gameplay

Dash is a racing video game in which the player uses a stylus to control a Pikachu and race through checkpoints. After players have passed each of the number of checkpoints in order, the course is completed. The stylus is used by moving the stylus in the direction you want Pikachu to run. Along with racing on the ground, there are races in the sky using balloons.[1] There are many different terrains such as mazestone paths, forests, beaches, water, swamp, and lava pools. Throughout the courses are power ups which allow the player to run on different terrains without slowing down.[2] Dash also features a training cup, which is given to players starting the game for the first time. After completing the training cup, the player has the chance to play in the Grand Prix Mode. There are five main cups to compete in GP mode. Dash also offers harder GP modes that can be unlocked, which put the player against a faster level of Pokémon. Each cup has five courses within its area.

Connectivity to other devices

Dash has multiplayer support. Up to six Nintendo DS units can be connected together.[1] Dash features compatibility with the Game Boy Advance games Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, LeafGreen, or Emerald. If the player inserts any of those cartridges in Slot 2, and has completed GP mode, he or she can play courses shaped like the Pokémon in their team. The time to complete the courses depends on factors like type and level.[1]

Development

Dash was developed for the Nintendo DS by Ambrella, who also developed Hey You, Pikachu! and Pokémon Channel. It was first revealed October 7, 2004, as a launch title for Japan.[3] Dash was released in Japan on December 2, 2004; Europe on March 11, 2005; North America on March 13, 2005; and Australia April 7, 2005. Before the North American release, The Pokémon Center had pre-order deals which included key chains and DS carrying pouches.[4]

Reception
Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings48.91%[5]
Metacritic46/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM58/100[7]
Game Informer55/100[8]
GamePro[9]
GameSpot5.2/10[10]
GameSpy[11]
IGN5/10[1]
Nintendo Power56/100[12]

The game received generally negative reviews, having an aggregate score of 46/100 on Metacritic,[6] and a score of 49 on GameRankings.[5] IGN's Craig Harris rated the game 5/10 because the player could only play as Pikachu in single player, and could also be finished within hours.[1] GameSpot's Alex Navarro rated the game 5.2/10 stating Dash "is simply one of the laziest uses of the DS's touch screen technology to date".[10] GamePro's Slo Mo rated the game 3.5/5 stating "Dash might not make much of a splash, but it should be a good kid-pleaser."[9] GameSpy's Phil Theobald rated the game 2/5 stating "Gimmicky titles like this may be cute diversions, but they're no substitute for the real deal."[11] Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game 58/100, calling it "A cute and fun little racing game that has a great multiplayer component, but there's simply not enough to it."[7] Nintendo Power rated the game 56/100, stating "Controlling Pikachu with stylus strokes is actually quite fun, but as a racing game, Dash isn't fully realized."[12] Game Informer rated the game 55/100, stating "Don't think of it so much as a game, but more as an exercise in anger management."[8] While discussing the mixed quality of Pokémon spin-offs, Retronauts cited Pokémon Dash as an example.[13]

By December 23, Dash had sold 109,000 copies.[14]

Notes
  1. Co-produced and supervised by Nintendo Software Planning & Development.
  2. Japanese: ポケモンダッシュ Hepburn: Pokemon Dasshu
gollark: Just give it to all bots, it's safe*!
gollark: Apiobees you, you apiobees?
gollark: Sad!
gollark: ++magic py await ctx.message.delete()
gollark: ++magic py ctx.message.delete()

References
  1. Craig Harris (March 14, 2005). "Pokemon Dash - Nintendo DS Review at IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  2. Craig Harris (December 6, 2004). "Pokemon Dash - Nintendo DS Preview at IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  3. Anoop Gantayat (October 7, 2004). "NDS Japanese Launch Details - DS News at IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  4. Craig Harris (February 18, 2005). "Pokemon Dash Pre-Order Deal - Nintendo DS News at IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  5. "Pokemon Dash for DS - GameRankings". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 2013-02-14. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  6. "Pokemon Dash for DS Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2013-02-14. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  7. Electronic Gaming Monthly May 2005, p.138
  8. Game Informer May 2005, p.132
  9. Slo Mo (March 22, 2005). "Pokemon Dash Review from GamePro". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  10. Alex Navarro (Mar 11, 2005). "Pokemon Dash Review for DS - GameSpot". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  11. Phil Theobald (Mar 13, 2005). "GameSpy: Pok¿mon Dash - Page 1". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  12. Nintendo Power May 2005, p.90
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2013-01-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. IGN Staff (December 23, 2004). "DS Wario and Mario Lap PSP Ridge Racers - DS News at IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
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