is a
turn-based strategy video game
A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
in the ''
Pokémon
is a Japanese media franchise consisting of List of Pokémon video games, video games, Pokémon (TV series), animated series and List of Pokémon films, films, Pokémon Trading Card Game, a trading card game, and other related media. The fran ...
'' series developed by
Genius Sonority and published by
The Pokémon Company and
Nintendo
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto. It develops, publishes, and releases both video games and video game consoles.
The history of Nintendo began when craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi ...
. It was released for the
Wii on December 14, 2006, in Japan; on June 25, 2007, in North America; on November 22, 2007, in Australia, and on December 7, 2007, in Europe. Along with being the first Wii incarnation of the ''Pokémon'' video game franchise, it is also the first Wii game to use the
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in North America and Japan and the second Wii game to wirelessly interact with the
Nintendo DS
The is a foldable handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens worki ...
handheld.
''Pokémon Battle Revolution'' features eleven different colosseums in a Pokémon-themed park called Pokétopia.
Other features include stadiums that have their own special effects, such as randomizing the order of one's Pokémon. Some other effects are choosing the order of an opponent's Pokémon and setting level limitations.
Gameplay
The game features 11 different colosseums, each with special changes to normal play or prerequisites and a Colosseum Leader. The Crystal Colosseum holds battles in a 16-person single-elimination tournament mode. The Gateway Colosseum is only open to a rental pass holder, and Neon Colosseum uses a wheel to choose the player's and opponent's battling Pokémon. As the player progresses, the Pokémon available to rent become more powerful. The player also earns Poké-Coupons, the currency of this game. Coupons can be spent to customize the player character's in-game appearance with items such as apparel, face paint, and hair color. Unlike ''
Pokémon Colosseum'' and ''
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness'', the game does not include a story mode.
Pokémon attacks are also much more diverse, with each Pokémon acquiring its own animation for most moves in the game. Some animations feature both the attacking and defending Pokémon on screen at the same time. In previous console titles, the game only showed one Pokémon attacking and then cut away to the second getting hit by the attack.
Along with connectivity to the Nintendo DS games, a player can win Pokémon from this game and transfer them back to their DS games through Mystery Gift. This feature allows players to obtain Pokémon that are either hard or impossible to get without using a
cheat device. To unlock the Pokémon, players must achieve certain goals or enter a special code. A Pikachu with the special moves Volt Tackle and Surf can be obtained by beating each Colosseum once, whereas an
Electivire and a
Magmortar can be obtained via special codes. In addition to the Pokémon download, players can purchase items like certain Technical Machines and evolution items.
Online functionality
''Pokémon Battle Revolution'' is the first ''Pokémon'' home console title to go online in the United States as well as the first online game for the Wii console. It features two online modes; Battle with a Friend, which allows a player to battle a friend using a friend code,
and Battle with Someone, which lets the player face off against a random opponent.
After each random battle, players are given the chance to exchange trainer passes. The exchange must be mutual; it will not work if one of the two trainers refuses.
Nintendo DS controls cannot be used in online multiplayer. When playing random online battles, the player's trainer's custom greetings and Pokémon nicknames are all changed to its native nation's defaults; for example, a Japanese will show its Japanese name instead of its English one. All Pokémon (excluding Generation 5 and on) are allowed in random battles.
Development

The game was first announced by Nintendo president
Satoru Iwata
Satoru Iwata (; December6, 1959July11, 2015) was a Japanese businessman, video game programmer and producer. Beginning in 2002, he was the fourth president of Nintendo, as well as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Nintendo of America from ...
at a Nintendo marketing event in Japan on June 7, 2006.
At the event, Iwata described Wii-to-DS connectivity using the game as an example, stating that gamers with either
''Pokémon Diamond'' and/or ''Pearl'' can play battles using their ''Diamond''/''Pearl'' Pokémon in ''Pokémon Battle Revolution'', using their DS as a controller.
The DS linkup feature was accessible at 2006 Nintendo World Tour for the first time. As well as allowing Pokémon from a ''Pokémon Diamond'' or ''Pearl'' cartridge to be used in-game, it replaces the on-screen battle menu used in conjunction with the
Wii Remote. The
GameCube controller is not compatible with this game. The battle menu is displayed on the DS touchscreen instead, and it is navigated with the stylus. Four players can play in a 1-on-1 tournament much like the Battle Frontier Battle Dome in ''
Pokémon Emerald''.
Reception
According to the
review aggregate website
Metacritic
Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
, ''Pokémon Battle Revolution'' received "mixed or average reviews".
It received a score of 5.0 out of 10 from ''
IGN
''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
'',
which cites that the game omits several features demonstrated in previous games like ''
Pokémon Stadium'' and ''
Pokémon Colosseum'', such as a
role-playing mode. The multiplayer and online functionality of the game is also criticized for lacking functions such as tournament play. ''
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' gave the game a 5.5 out of 10 score, criticizing the repetitive gameplay and the barebones online support, as well as the fact that if one did not have ''Pokémon Diamond'' or ''Pearl'' for the DS, there is not nearly as much to do.
''
Game Informer'' rated it a 5.75 out of 10 saying the same things as ''GameSpot'', and adding their own comment about a tutorial that teaches the player how to point the Wii Remote. ''
Nintendo Power'' rated it a 6.5 out of 10, praising the game's multiplayer while criticizing its lack of single player features. ''
Famitsu
, formerly , is a line of Japanese Video game journalism, video game magazines published by Kadokawa Game Linkage (previously known as Gzbrain), a subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, Kadokawa. ''Famitsu'' is published in both weekly and monthly f ...
'' gave a positive review to the game, with a score of 35 out of 40. Another positive review is from Game Oracle who gave 75% who praised the online mode, graphics, and soundtrack. They criticised it for not being as good as ''XD: Gale of Darkness'' mainly due to the low amount of single-player content and the necessity of ''Pokémon Diamond'' and ''Pearl'' to open the entire game experience.
The game currently has a 53.19% average of 34 aggregated reviews on both
GameRankings,
and Metacritic.
It sold 850,000 copies in North America and Western Europe and 352,123 copies in Japan,
bringing its total sales to 1.202 million.
References
External links
* (North America)
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pokemon Battle Revolution
2006 video games
Genius Sonority games
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection games
Battle Revolution
Wii-only games
Wii Wi-Fi games
Video games developed in Japan
Video games with gender-selectable protagonists
Video games scored by Tsukasa Tawada
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Games with Wii-DS connectivity
Creatures (company) games