Pokemon Stadium
Platform: Nintendo 64
Media: Cartridge
Genre: Strategy > 3D
Release Year: 2000
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: HAL Laboratories
Players: Single player, multiplayer
Alternate Title: Pocket Monsters Stadium (J)
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Description

At long last, all of your favorite Pokemon are rady to go head-to-head on the N64! Whether you're battle a friend, a Gym Leader or a tournament contestant, you're about to witness some of the most spectacular battle scenes in Pokemon history! Select a team from a huge stable of "rental" battlers, or use the included N64 Transfer Paktm to upload your own team from Pokemon Red, Blue or Yellow! This Stadium is packed and ready to rock!

Gameplay

Pokemon Stadium does not have a storyline. Progress in the game can only be made by winning "Cups" in the Stadium and completing the Gym Leader Castle. When all Cups have been won and the Gym Leader Castle completed, Mewtwo will appear in the sky over the Stadium. Defeating Mewtwo will unlock Round 2, in which the player must re-challenge the Stadium, Gym Leader Castle, and Mewtwo in order to complete the game.

Stadium

Pokemon tournaments take place in the Stadium. There are four Cups to participate in. Players choose a team of six Pokemon, in any combination of pregenerated rental Pokemon and Pokemon imported from a Game Boy cartridge. Each round consists of eight three-on-three battles, and the Poke and Prime Cups consist of four rounds, named after Poke Balls (Poke Ball, Great Ball, Ultra Ball, Master Ball), that must be cleared to win that Cup.

* Pika Cup: Battle using Pokemon from levels 15 to 20.
* Petit Cup: Battle using Basic Pokemon from levels 25 to 30 who fall under a certain height and weight. The most restrictive Cup.
* Poke Cup: Battle using Pokemon from levels 50 to 55.
* Prime Cup: Battle using Pokemon of any level. All opponents' Pokemon are at level 100.

Gym Leader Castle

The player can challenge the eight Kanto Gym Leaders from the Game Boy games, as well as the Elite Four and the Champion (Rival). However, one must defeat three trainers before battling a Gym Leader. Each time the player defeats the Elite Four, one of eight randomly selected prize Pokemon will be awarded, which can be transferred to the player's Pokemon Red, Blue, or Yellow game using the Transfer Pak. The prize Pokemon are Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Eevee, Kabuto, and Omanyte.

Versions

First (Japan only)

The original title, called Pokemon Stadium (?, Pokemon Sutajiamu?), was released in Japan on August 1, 1998. This version featured only 42 Pokemon available for battle, instead of the full 151 Pokemon from the Game Boy versions. The remaining Pokemon were viewable in a Pokedex, but the models lacked the required animations for battle. This version was not released outside of Japan, and as such the numbering of subsequent Japanese releases is ahead of the North America releases. This game was originally intended for the Nintendo 64DD format, but as the Nintendo 64DD was a commercial failure, Pokemon Stadium transferred to cartridge format. There was also a Pocket Monsters Stadium Expansion Disk proposed as an add-on for the Nintendo 64DD but was unreleased.

The first game had met widespread criticism for its difficulty, and in Pokemon Stadium 2 the AI was toned down to make it easier for average players to beat.

Second (first outside of Japan)

The second game was called Pokemon Stadium 2 (?2, Pokemon Sutajiamu Tsu?) in Japan and was released as Pokemon Stadium in North America. This version features all 151 original Pokemon from the original Game Boy games. The North American version of this game featured support for transferring Pokemon from Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow via the N64 Transfer Pak.

The North American version could also be purchased in a bundle that included the game with Transfer Pak, a Nintendo 64 with a gray controller, a second purple controller, the Pokemon Stadium Official Strategy Guide by Prima Games, and a "Cool Porygon" trading card.

Optional features

Pokemon Stadium has many features aside from the main battling sequence, such as mini-games and a Game Boy player on the Nintendo 64.

In Free Battle mode, players may conduct practice battles. Players can select rules from any of the tournament cups, or use modified rules. Up to four players may participate, using any combination of rental Pokemon and those imported from cartridges plugged into a Transfer Pak.

At the GB Tower, the player can play Pokemon Red, Blue, or Yellow on the Nintendo 64. Winning tournament cups in the Stadium will eventually unlock Doduo Mode (double speed) and Dodrio Mode (triple speed).

Victory Palace contains statues of Pokemon who have beaten the Elite Four in Gym Leader Castle or completed the highest round of a tournament in the Stadium.

Battle Now! is a battle arena for a quick battle with one or two players.

In an Event Battle, two players with Transfer Paks plugged in can use Pokemon from their Game Boy games and battle with custom rules.

Gallery is where you can snap photos of your Pokemon to be printed at a Pokemon Snap Station.

The Pokemon Lab is only accessible if a Game Boy cartridge is plugged into the Transfer Pak. If the game is saved in a Pokemon Center, the player may access the PC and can arrange boxed Pokemon and items. The Lab also features an interactive Pokedex and a machine for trading between two cartridges connected by Transfer Pak. Players cannot, however, transfer rental Pokemon from Pokemon Stadium. Certain Pokemon, such as Mew, could only be obtained at a Nintendo Promotional Event using a Transfer Pak; a rental Mew could be obtained in an event, but, as previously stated, cannot be transferred to Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow.

Kids Club is an area where nine Pokemon themed mini-games can be played, either as stand-alone games or as part of a tournament. One to four human players may participate, with the remaining players controlled by the computer. Many of the games utilize button mashing. A higher difficulty level could be obtained by beating the CPUs five times in a row on hard