Ranger sequel gets U.S. release date: 'Shadows of Almia' to be released Nov. 10

[BulbaBot]

Ranger sequel gets U.S. release date: 'Shadows of Almia' to be released Nov. 10

Pokémon Ranger Batonnage, the sequel to the first Pokémon Ranger game for Nintendo DS, will be released in North America on Nov. 10 under the name Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia.

Read more on Bulbanews

 

[Amewsment]

I hope Europe gets a release date soon!

 

[Maxim Posthumus]

This title STINKS!

It sounds like a fuckin' fangame.

All n00bish fangames are named like that:
Pokemon - The Adventure in {Region}
Pokemon - The Story of {Region}

Such names indicate lack of originality and lack of idea for good name.

When I heard the title, I automatically thought of all those n00bish and unfinished RPG Maker games.

This title = FAIL!

w00t! 1000th post! Let's party!

 

[Amewsment]

Did I miss something it is called "Shadows Of Almia"! Contrary to your post it has not been named "The Adventure in Almia" or "The Story of Almia", so what's with the sudden outburst? Anyways congratulations on your 1000th post!

 

[Maxim Posthumus]

Did I miss something it is called "Shadows Of Almia"! Contrary to your post it has not been named "The Adventure in Almia" or "The Story of Almia", so what's with the sudden outburst? Anyways congratulations on your 1000th post!

I didn't say it must be exactly like that. I just gave those two examples to show other titles of that kind. "Shadows of {Region} is just one of the titles of that kind, which sucks. Shadows, Adventures, Stories, Mysteries, it's no difference. All of them sound equally stupid and fangame-ish. "Shadows of Almia" is really no better than "Adventures of Almia". Both sound like a fanfick.

Putting the region name in the title of game = No idea for a really good title which doesn't sound like a fanfick or RMXP project.

 

[FabuVinny]

Do you even know the plot of the game yet? The Ranger games are all about the environment of the respectice region so it might make sense once you play it.

As for Europe, we probably won't get a date for a while. Unless NoE are feeling generous, it'll probably come out early next year.

 

[Gligar13]

i want this game. I have been waanting it since info started appearing on the web (even though i have preordered another game that comes out on the same day.)

 

[llxwarbirdxll]

Great. I actually like these spin-off games a lot more than the mains.

 

[The Outrage]

I agree with the terrible name, but whatever. I'm just happy its finally coming.

 

[Maxim Posthumus]

Do you even know the plot of the game yet? The Ranger games are all about the environment of the respectice region so it might make sense once you play it.

As for Europe, we probably won't get a date for a while. Unless NoE are feeling generous, it'll probably come out early next year.

What? Are you trying to make me look stupid? You really think you can? IIRC, it's not the first time you do it, and you failed!


I know the title makes sense but it stinks!

At the same logic, DP could be named "Shadows of Sinnoh".

Just visit some Pokemon fangame community (e.g. the Fangame or Hacking sections at PokeCommunity) and you'll notice LOTS of project called Mystery/Adventure/Shadows/Secrets/Legend of {Region name}

Such titles indicate lack of idea for a good title, they may make sense but they are STUPID!

Batonnage might make little sense but it's still far better than some "Shadows of Almia" (so unorginal and fanfickish!).

 

[The Outrage]

At the same logic, DP could be named "Shadows of Sinnoh".

That would be Platinum.

Pokemon Platinum Version: Shadows of Sinnoh

That too is actually very fitting considering that we venture into the "world opposite of ours"

But in all honesty, its not as if merely calling it Pokemon [insert colour/gemstone here] is really anymore original so I don't see why one should go overboard about these names.

EDIT:

Pokemon Pearl: Space Dagon of Sinnoh
Pokemon Diamond: Sinnoh's Dragon of TIme

 

[Gligar13]

This title STINKS!

It sounds like a fuckin' fangame.

All n00bish fangames are named like that:
Pokemon - The Adventure in {Region}
Pokemon - The Story of {Region}

Such names indicate lack of originality and lack of idea for good name.

When I heard the title, I automatically thought of all those n00bish and unfinished RPG Maker games.

This title = FAIL!

w00t! 1000th post! Let's party!

Not Really, it isnt as bad as Hey You Pikachu! And it does suit the game well.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

What? Are you trying to make me look stupid? You really think you can? IIRC, it's not the first time you do it, and you failed!


I know the title makes sense but it stinks!

At the same logic, DP could be named "Shadows of Sinnoh".

Just visit some Pokemon fangame community (e.g. the Fangame or Hacking sections at PokeCommunity) and you'll notice LOTS of project called Mystery/Adventure/Shadows/Secrets/Legend of {Region name}

Such titles indicate lack of idea for a good title, they may make sense but they are STUPID!

Batonnage might make little sense but it's still far better than some "Shadows of Almia" (so unorginal and fanfickish!).

Because just adding a color, gem, or metal to the word Pokemon is better? And so what if it stinks? Why make such a big deal out of it?

And since when is a logical name a BAD thing? Would you rather it be Pokemon Ranger: Rise of the Valkyrie?

 

[PDL]

I don't see why you guys should lose your shit over an english title. It only makes you seem immature.

Anyway, all I'm concerned about is if you are able to get the special Pokémon from this Ranger game (Manaphy egg, Riolu with Aura Sphere and Darkrai). If you are able to get all these guys in a similar manner with getting Manaphy in the first Ranger game, then I'm sold.

 

[nYoo]

The title isn't so bad, but the logo is ugly. :\

As for the special and extra missions, I'm optimistic that they are retained. The original Japanese Pokémon Ranger required to go to an event and have the Manaphy and the other additional missions be downloaded with local wireless communication and it probably didn't even have the missions in the game. Or if it did, they still had to be unlocked at the event.
The US version then had all the additional missions included and apparently wrote them into the savegame and unlocked them after the staff credits and then you were able to play them without any event.

Now Pokémon Ranger 2 has all the extra and special missions already included in the game even in the Japanese version and they only need to be unlocked via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. It seems like they went the way of the US version of the first Ranger game right away this time. And so I don't see why they would scratch those again when the game is localized for America.

 

[Lil Brother]

Great. I actually like these spin-off games a lot more than the mains.

Glad I'm not the only one. The story-based spin-off games of the last few years have been excellent.

I like the new subtitle. I could never remember how to spell "Batonnage" and it always reminded me of the term "bondage", which made images of Poképorno appear in my head.

 

[Sapphyire77x]

Glad I'm not the only one. The story-based spin-off games of the last few years have been excellent.

I like the new subtitle. I could never remember how to spell "Batonnage" and it always reminded me of the term "bondage", which made images of Poképorno appear in my head.

XD. Shadows of Almia it is then....

 

[Silktree]

As for the special and extra missions, I'm optimistic that they are retained. The original Japanese Pokémon Ranger required to go to an event and have the Manaphy and the other additional missions be downloaded with local wireless communication and it probably didn't even have the missions in the game.

The data of the Ranger Net feature was included in Japanese Ranger from the get-go. The purpose for which the 2006 movie promotion used a seemingly complicated method to activate Ranger Net - utilizing the GBA slot instead of wireless connection - was to prevent players from downloading the data without pre-ordering a movie ticket. After all, the promotion was held in retail stores (most notably the Pokémon Center stores) to which anyone was privy to have unlimited access.

The same was done last year for the Deoxys distribution, and is being currently done for the Regigigas one. Here is a description by someone called Shaymin Hopeful, whose friend particpated in the recent promotion:

You have to buy a movie ticket, which has a little attachment with a picture of Regigigas on it. When you find a person who has the Regigigas cartridge, you show him the ticket, and he tears off the part with Regigigas. The cartridge is attached to a string around the employee`s neck. The person puts it into the GBA slot and you download the Mystery Gift.

It goes without saying that this method is not used anywhere else; in any other scenario the distribution is aimed at luring players to the store or event, where they are likely to purchase merchandise. There is no other interest at hand, making wireless communication more convenient than not. Even the recent movie promotions have been extended to include the cinema theaters, which have the luxury of using wireless communication, since the access there is not free.

The following may not be relevant per se, but I will still point it out: The movie promotions in 2003, 2004 and 2005 also required participants to go to retail stores. Since Ruby and Sapphire were not wireless-compatible, no problem was created in 2003. 2004 was a different story in light of the advent of FireRed and LeafGreen's Wireless Adapter; players were supposed to show their tickets to store employees so that they would in turn unlock Mystery Gift and the Wonder Card, but the clever players must have bypassed the system when they realized they could tap into the wireless network and go through the process entirely by themselves. This most likely prompted the Pokémon Company to return to the previous system the year later (although it could also be argued that it was done in favor of non-Emerald players who could not receive Mew, or rather the Old Sea Map, via Mystery Gift). Finally, in 2006, the fact that the promotion revolved around a DS game allowed the company to take advantage of the cumbersome GBA slot method, forcing players to participate in the promotion. In hindsight, 2004 is looking good right about now.

Now Pokémon Ranger 2 has all the extra and special missions already included in the game even in the Japanese version and they only need to be unlocked via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. It seems like they went the way of the US version of the first Ranger game right away this time. And so I don't see why they would scratch those again when the game is localized for America.

The only difference between Ranger Batonnage and its predecessor, is that the former has Wi-Fi capabilities, whereas the latter was instrumental in the 2006 Pokémon events. The first Ranger game was released at a time when the Pokémon Company phased out the GBA and Generation III in preparation for Diamond and Pearl. This is the only explanation why a spin-off game was temporarily elevated to the center of the franchise, albeit only in Japan. On the other hand, Ranger Batonnage was released into a relatively fresh generation, and so with the exception of its release day, it was not factored into the Japanese events at all (anyone who thought Shaymin would be distributed via Ranger Batonnage was proven wrong).

I am suggesting that as far as the Pokémon Company is concerned, Wi-Fi downloads are a last resort that was necessary for the Mystery Dungeon 2 and Ranger Batonnage events, yet has remained off-limits for Diamond and Pearl.

For the American version, PUSA can opt to leave things as-is or make the special and extra missions normally available. It would not make much of a difference either way. Do take into account that there hasn't yet been a Wi-Fi event for Mystery Dungeon 2 (the one for Celebi and Mewtwo in their opposite versions), and unless that changes by November, it may mean that PUSA is not inclined towards holding Wi-Fi events. Despite this, if they decided to integrate the special and extra into normal gameplay, there would be no Wi-Fi elements left in the game to boast as "innovative" compared to the original game.

 

[THEAXLEUPHORIUM]

Great. I actually like these spin-off games a lot more than the mains.

really?
you cant even trade to the main games (with the exception of manaphy egg)
trozei,did you enjoy it?
mystery dungeon,did you enjoy it
pinball,you cant seriously say you enjoyed that

 

[Turtle Tamer Kammy]

really?
you cant even trade to the main games (with the exception of manaphy egg)
trozei,did you enjoy it?
mystery dungeon,did you enjoy it
pinball,you cant seriously say you enjoyed that

A lot of people do. To each their own. I can say I loved loved loved LOVED Trozei and Mystery Dungeon, although sadly I never did get to play Pinball... I need to find a used copy ;_;