Let’s get out and explore, as Pokémon!
The highly anticipated remake of the original Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red and Blue Rescue Team games has officially released for the Switch. While the overall game plays much the same as the original with some updated mechanics and graphics, there have been some interesting changes included that are sure to please fans from all over. Interested to hear what’s new? Well let’s start from the top!
Shiny Pokémon
Probably one of the more highly anticipated features following the release of the demo, eagle eye fans were quick to notice when playing the demo that the Friend Bow had an updated description. While the Friend Bow is a legacy item from the original games that allowed players to have a higher chance at recruiting very rare Pokémon such as Groudon or Mewtwo, it now has an updated purpose, giving players a higher likelihood of recruiting Shiny Pokémon.
Since the game has now released, players have found that there is a total of 27 possible Pokémon that can be shiny, including Dragonite, Rapidash, and Metagross. These Pokémon appear in various dungeons, marked as “Strong Foes”. While they do not always appear as shiny, these Strong Foes are the only possible Pokémon that can be shiny in the games. It is not known where every shiny Pokémon is available at this time, but you are able to encounter them as early as Mt. Steel so be sure to try and recruit them as best you can!
Recruitment
While not an entirely new feature, the recruitment mechanic has been updated from all previous iterations of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon franchise. Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon was the first game where we saw the player able to have a team of more than four Pokémon in a dungeon, with the use of Hoopa allowing for five to six party members depending on the circumstances. PMD DX has taken this to the next level. While the player can only initially take a team of three into a dungeon, as they recruit Pokémon in a dungeon, they’ll tag along. This can allow for players to have a seemingly endlessly sized team running around, such as the seven to eight team members running around in the pictures above. While this certainly has its drawbacks, as your resources may be spread more thin, it certainly makes things more interesting when you take a team of eight random Pokémon to kick the crap out of the members of Team Meanies.
In addition, another interesting new features of recruitment is that regardless of if you have that Pokémon’s corresponding Friend Area (more on this later), they may still ask to accompany you on your trek through the dungeon. Once you clear the dungeon, if you have a place for them to stay, they will join your team, but if not, they give you a sum of money as thanks for letting them tag along on your adventure. The new Wigglytuff orbs allow players to access Wigglytuff’s store in the dungeon, but you still have to purchase the friend areas before you can use them.
Rescue Team Camps
Friend Areas have returned, albeit under a new name and appearance, called Rescue Team Camps. Just like in the original games, if you want a Pokémon to join your team, you’ll need to give them a place to stay. Once you complete the mission at Mt. Steel, Wigglytuff’s shop will open and you’ll be able to purchase these Rescue Team Camps. Each camp has a capacity and specific Pokémon it will take. For example, the Wild Plains is home to Zangoose, Poochyena, and other Pokémon. It has a max capacity of 11, one for every species it holds.
Unlike in the previous games, the Rescue Team Camps are no longer explore-able areas where the various recruits roam around. Rather, it’s a small menu with all the recruits listed on it that the player can move between. Notably, the icons for the player, partner, and recruits are actually the sprites from the original games, and the art in the background is high quality versions of the original Friend Areas, so the touch of the original game is still present. Players are able to use items like Carbos and Accuracy Drinks on themselves and their recruits in this menu. Players are also able to change nicknames in this menu and release recruits here.
Another revamped feature that can be found here is the Gummis. While the feature has been intensely streamlined, with only two types of gummis available, it’s still a pretty interesting mechanic. Players will receive Rainbow or DX gummis from Treasure Chests and as mission rewards. These can be given to recruits and the players’ characters to boost stats. However, they also have the chance to give the Pokémon a new passive ability. This ability, known as a Rare Quality, is something akin to an IQ skill except for that a Pokémon can only have one of them and that they impact the whole team while the Pokémon is an active member. An example is Squad Up, which increases recruitability. Another is Funnel Fun, which increases HP restoration when traveling along corridors. Pokémon can be recruited with a Rare Quality but for those that don’t have them, they can obtain one by consuming a gummi in the Rescue Team Camp.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new features. Treasure chests, Evolution, and many other features have been revamped, altered, or streamlined. This game is a great experience for everyone, both old players and newcommers. While it’s a similar experience to the originals, it’s also got so many new aspects to it, like previously inaccessible dungeons and new cutscenes, that it’ll make it worth your while.
