Spin-Off The Pokémon Ranger Series

[DarkMeow]

I don't see much discussion about the Pokémon Ranger series, hence this thread I am creating.

The first Pokémon Ranger was my first ever Pokémon game. I went to Wal-Mart and they had little DS stations set up, and Ranger was on one of them. I played it and immediately fell in love with it. Came back the next week with my grandfather and got it as a gift.

I played it a TON. It was actually very difficult for young me, as I had very poor coordination back then. There's a Charizard boss towards the middle of the game that gave me enough trouble to make me quit playing it for a week.

What experiences have y'all had with the Ranger series? Are they good games, worthy of playing? Any criticism that can be tossed its way?

 

[Stratelier]

I've played through all three of them myself -- used copies (but I was able to unlock the Manaphy egg in the copy of the first game) but whatever. Gameplay was repetitive, sure enough, but they did try to find ways to keep it interesting.

For example, in the first game you must make # consecutive laps around the target Pokemon, all in one go. This is what created its chief difficulty -- waiting for an opening and then trying to dodge whatever attacks the Pokemon might send out at you.

The second game onwards changed it to an HP-like system, which made things a little easier overall.

I also remember loving how the third game featured the entire trio of Johto beasts and you could summon them on the field for their riding actions. It also had that alternate optional story mode (set back in the past) which was more multiplayer-oriented ... I estimate I got maybe about halfway through, but by then the dungeons and bosses are extremely difficult to solo.

 

[Bolt Strike]

I enjoyed Ranger for its time, but it did get a little repetitive and even if the Switch did have a touch screen I don't think it'd be worth bringing back. There just doesn't seem to be anything special about the gameplay. Besides just being "draw circles to win" it's just regular old RPG gameplay, everything else that Ranger does can just be done by the main series.

 

[Almonds]

I played the second and third game. I loved both Almia and Oblivia, and oh boy were the games difficult. There were notorious levels - some which were involved with capturing pokemon; others because of the terrain. I can't remember which game, but there was this snowy mountain that caused an avalanche every few steps and my character was sent to the foot of the mountain numerous times because I couldn't get behind a boulder or something in time. My favorite character is Ukulele Pichu because there's something hilarious about an overpowered Pichu strumming a tiny guitar and using attacks that look like Thunder.

 

[Bolt Strike]

I played the second and third game. I loved both Almia and Oblivia, and oh boy were the games difficult. There were notorious levels - some which were involved with capturing pokemon; others because of the terrain.

If you think the second two games were hard, you should see the first. The battle system is a lot harder because instead of an HP bar, you have to make a consecutive number of loops. If you lift up your stylus even once, you have to start ALL over. And there were some pretty tough boss battles that made that a nightmare, I still shudder at the thought of fighting Salamence and Steelix. Whereas the only boss I really struggled with in the other two games combined was Drapion, the others I mainly breezed through.

I can't remember which game, but there was this snowy mountain that caused an avalanche every few steps and my character was sent to the foot of the mountain numerous times because I couldn't get behind a boulder or something in time.

That was Mt. Sorbet from Guardian Signs.

 

[Bolt Strike]

I don't remember the other bosses, but on the other hand, once you figured out that Dark-type assist doubles the length of your capture line, Steelix became almost too easy, if you ask me. You could get Sneasel for it in the cave.

I still had trouble with Steelix even with the Dark type capture assist. Might be because I don't have a very steady hand, but I had trouble avoiding Steelix regardless.

Salamence was just tough because it required so many loops (21 IIRC) and I couldn't get that much in before it started attacking. I had to get my cousin to help me with that one. Might've been easier if there were Ice types around but sadly there were none.

Regardless, these two are made much tougher by the first game's requirement that you complete consecutive loops as opposed to later game's HP bar system. With the latter system, you can always just stop and wait out Salamence's attacks with no real penalty and you could play conservative with Steelix to avoid touching it. Having to capture them all in one go really ramps up the difficulty for some of the more aggressive Pokemon.

 

[Pilup99]

The first game was really rough sometimes. Especially nearer to the end. Steelix was a beast, I remember being stuck there for a good while. In the post game I remember there being a ridiculously tough Rayquaza challenge.
I love the Ranger games, but I've only completed the original and Guardian Signs. I'll have to get around to Almia sooner or later.

 

[DarkMeow]

I got the first game for Christmas in 2006 along with my first DS Lite. It was a really good game for its time and it's still worth playing nowadays tbh, but I feel like the gameplay from Shadows of Almia and Guardian Signs is better. I like the hp bar system in the second and third games, where you whittle the Pokémon down with loops until it gets caught, and the game balances it well around it too because the bar keeps draining while you're not drawing loops. So important boss Pokémon can still be difficult to capture.

I agree Shadows of Almia and Guardian Signs had better gameplay. In general, they were better. The regions there were larger and had more substance, while the original game only had like, four towns right? I remember the first game took longer to save too, or maybe I'm just remembering wrong. The first Pokémon Ranger had a certain feel to it though that I really liked. I can't quite put my finger on it. The region felt.... remote somehow? And perhaps a bit mysterious, I dunno. I just get a certain feel from Fiore that I don't get from the other regions. I didn't like Guardian Signs very much though when I first played it. I'll have to get it again to see why. I just remember that it didn't catch my attention as well as the other two games.

The first game was really rough sometimes. Especially nearer to the end. Steelix was a beast, I remember being stuck there for a good while. In the post game I remember there being a ridiculously tough Rayquaza challenge.
I love the Ranger games, but I've only completed the original and Guardian Signs. I'll have to get around to Almia sooner or later.

That darn Steelix... I still hate it to this day. Back when I first played I didn't understand the concept of capture assists so I just faced it head on. I also had very poor hand coordination which made bosses very difficult. I was stuck on the Charizard boss for at least a week. I swear half of my ability to draw a circle came from the Ranger games. Also, I highly recommend playing Shadows of Almia. It has a bit of a slow start, but it's my favorite Ranger game to this day.

I enjoyed Ranger for its time, but it did get a little repetitive and even if the Switch did have a touch screen I don't think it'd be worth bringing back. There just doesn't seem to be anything special about the gameplay. Besides just being "draw circles to win" it's just regular old RPG gameplay, everything else that Ranger does can just be done by the main series.

Personally, I didn't find it repetitive at all. Different Pokémon provide different challenges. Even young me didn't find the difficulty off-putting. There's also a certain feel to the Ranger games that can't be replicated by the main series. The main series of games has followed a formula of sorts for a long time, and the Ranger series gives people an opportunity to do something other than become the champion of the Elite Four. That makes it worth bringing back in my opinion.

 

[SpikOriundo]

I had played the second and third one into completion through emulating, as my first DS console I was able to possess was... 2016...
Loved them, specially Guardian Signs. I even want to buy it to replay it, tho not quite my priority. The second one was fine.
I also had played the first one until the Machamp part, in the beginning. I could not finish that part, was simply too hard with a mouse.
Last year tho, I bought the first Pokémon Ranger. It's the best chance you can have to get the Manaphy egg, and I want to shiny hunt it. Even if it didn't have an egg (which it didn't), I'd be able to get it through ~not so legitimate means~, but I'd be able to day that I have played the whole game into completion, I'd still be worth of it.
AND GOSH DARN AM I WORTHY OF IT.
JESOZ CRUSTLE THAT GAME IS BAD, FFS
The mentioned Charizard is a bullshit-level of ridiculousness. Steelix doesn't make sense. The final boss became a half an hour grind, of getting enough energy through one loop-to-daze repetition to paralyze it and try to do... What was it, 20, 30 loops in like, 7 seconds? Did they even play-test that game?
Luckily tho, they fixed it for the other games, where you don't have to do an insane amount of loops non-stop.

Seriously tho, they must of not have tested the game to see if it was fun, ffs.

 

[Esserise]

As someone with minimal exposure to the Ranger series, are the three games worth playing through if I’m indifferent about the gameplay but interested in the regions/worldbuilding?

 

[Almonds]

They should have made a Pokemon Ranger game for the Wii/Wii U for the sake of keeping the series alive. It would have been hilarious if they kept the capture system where you have to keep circling around the pokemon. Imagine doing that with the Wii remote...

By the way, I've only heard speculations about how Guardian Signs influenced ORAS regarding the Soaring feature on Latias and Latios. It might be implied somewhere, but it would be really awesome if it were true.

As someone with minimal exposure to the Ranger series, are the three games worth playing through if I’m indifferent about the gameplay but interested in the regions/worldbuilding?

Personally, the second game (Shadows of Almia) is definitely worth the experience. Guardian Signs is also a good game, but in terms of story I prefer Shadows of Almia more.

 

[Bolt Strike]

As someone with minimal exposure to the Ranger series, are the three games worth playing through if I’m indifferent about the gameplay but interested in the regions/worldbuilding?

Not really. The Ranger games are all typical Pokemon fare in that department. If you're expecting something like BW or SM you won't get something like that, they're closer to RSEORAS and DPPt.

 

[Silktree]

As someone with minimal exposure to the Ranger series, are the three games worth playing through if I’m indifferent about the gameplay but interested in the regions/worldbuilding?

Play Detective Pikachu instead, which is from the same developer. I guess you won't like the simple gameplay (which at least isn't time-consuming), but the way Pokemon are incorporated into city life is excellent. The ending could have been better, but alas.

There is a demo, but bear in mind that the first chapter is the least interesting.

 

[Esserise]

@Kyriaki @Bolt the Cat @Unown Seer

Roger that, and thanks for the advice. Filing Almia under “maybe worth a go” but as a one-and-done thing.

As far as Detective Pikachu goes, I’ll probably try the demo, yeah. I can handle a boring first chapter.

 

[Silktree]

As far as Detective Pikachu goes, I’ll probably try the demo, yeah. I can handle a boring first chapter.

Your progress will be carried over to the main game if you choose to get it.

 

[DarkMeow]

As someone with minimal exposure to the Ranger series, are the three games worth playing through if I’m indifferent about the gameplay but interested in the regions/worldbuilding?

Considering that you could probably pick up Shadows of Almia for pretty cheap (older game and all that, probably find a used copy somewhere) then yeah, it's worth it. I personally consider it the best one out of the series.