Pokémon is big enough that their games really don't need to think too far outside of the box in order to move product. There are so many games where the storyline is practically non-existent, but when it is there, it can lead to some extremely memorable games that would have otherwise been forgettable.
Each one of their games has a little gimmick to it, and sometimes, that gimmick is what carries it through. Other times, the game itself really could be put on the back burner if it wasn't for the incredible story contained within. They might not be everyone's favorite titles, but at least these games have good memorable stories.
10 Colosseum Might Be Fans' Most In-Demand Remake
The original Pokémon Colosseum starts out with the protagonist stealing gear from the Orre region's evil team, Team Snagem, and bolting with both an Umbreon and an Espeon before the base explodes.
From there the player goes around discovering that Snagem has been collecting shadow Pokémon, which was caused by the evil organization Cipher. The player is then essential in locating and arresting the real leader of Cipher, as well as the rescue and purification of shadow Pokémon from all around Orre. A lot of it can feel incredibly grind-heavy, but having a protagonist that starts out stealing and getting into trouble throughout the game is interesting and a highly unexplored point of view for the series.
9 Black/White & Their Sequels Had A Continual Story
The unique part of Black, White, and their sequels is that unlike most of the other games, the sequels are continuations of the story over complete remakes with a few minor differences.
Team Galactic is attempting to take over the world like most evil organizations are. At its head was placed N, who was an orphaned child taken in by Ghetsis and groomed to think he was truly a rightful king and that their purpose was for either Truth or Ideals, depending on the version. It turns out that he was being used for his special ability to communicate with Pokémon, and that Ghetsis was an insane, power-hungry villain worthy of the books.
8 Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky Was A Tear-Jerker
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky is minorly different from its predecessor's Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, but those differences are important. Namely, it has a longer storyline and if the player has already played one of the others, some of the dungeons have their recruitments doubled. It also has a slightly more thorough plot than the others, much like how the third installment of most generations' versions are an update on their predecessors.
After a major storm, the player washes up unconscious on a beach after taking a personality quiz, much like in the other Mystery Dungeon games. Their new partner has a treasure with a strange insignia on it that becomes important later in the plotline. After finally joining the guild, there are a number of puzzles and missions to go through which reveals the truth of the stone. The player ends up needing to catch a thief that's been going around stealing Time Gears, battling a Primal Dialga, and eventually involves the player disappearing in a tear-jerking narrative where the player wants their story told so history doesn't repeat. Dialga eventually restores their existence so there can be a post-game, which includes a whole chapter in the Shaymin Village that the predecessors didn't get.
7 Mystery Dungeon Red (& Blue) Rescue Team Where A Human Got To Become A Pokémon
The original Mystery Dungeon games started out strong in Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team with the storyline everyone wanted but didn't realize would actually work out. In it, the protagonist was a human that turned into a Pokémon and spends the majority of the game trying to turn themselves back. There are a variety of puzzles and missions to go on brought on by the Guild and the friends they made along the way.
Eventually, the player gets to solve their conundrum, and with the help of Gardevoir, Rayquaza, and Gengar, are able to prevent an ultimate calamity with a Falling Star and return the protagonist to their human form. However, the player character decides they much prefer being a Pokémon and returns for some post-game shenanigans.
6 New Pokémon Snap Had A Remarkable Story Tucked Behind All Those Photographs
Unlike many remakes, New Pokémon Snap wasn't a cut-and-dry, one-to-one rehashing of the old game. While yes, old characters return and the point of snapping the best photographs of Pokémon in their natural habitat remains the same, this one has an overarching theme of helping Professor Mirror study the Illumina Phenomenon.
Most of the core series games involve the player helping the professor in some way. Be it completing a Pokédex, understanding breeding, evolution, habitation, or other aspects to tie into that game's gimmick, it rarely feels like the player is actually doing that at all. In New Pokémon Snap, the player actually feels like they are helping document natural and unusual phenomena in the Lentil region in a way that feels like it might actually be useful for once.
5 Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Somehow Managed To Improve Upon Their Predecessors
Ruby and Sapphire were some of the most well-loved games in the series and were difficult to top. Fans were expecting something great from their Alpha and Omega remakes, and the games did not disappoint.
For starters, the games no longer made the player automatically end up aiding one of the evil organizations. It made it clear that they were both bad, and both had the intent of terraforming the world for their own perceptions of what was needed for ultimate survival. It also showed that once the opposing team succeeded, they were clearly overwhelmed by the primal energy of the legendary Pokémon and their opposing team actually was there to take part of the fault and they both helped the player resolve the issue while they attempted to atone for their mistakes. Legendaries really took center stage compared to their earlier version, and it felt like the League was willing to get down with the player instead of seemingly ignoring the mass destruction the legends were causing. Wallace and Steven made heavy appearances each, including an event-only island adventure where the player was given the opposing Latias/os to their game.
4 Platinum Gave Even More Depth To The Already Lore-Heavy Sinnoh Region
The Sinnoh region games had some of the most in-depth lore of any of the main series. Platinum took it all one step further by granting access to the Distortion World and a new form of Giratina and really lodged itself into the core of the game with the lore and mythos introduced.
The Elite Four Champion Cynthia appeared throughout the game to aid the player, add even more to the rich lore, and then when it was all said and done, smash them into the ground with her grueling battle. It was the Sinnoh games, namely Platinum, that gave players a real understanding of the history of the Pokémon world, explaining the creation of Space, Time, and Antimatter through the three eggs laid by the ultimate Pokémon Arceus. It went hard on the mysticism capable of Pokémon and never let up.
3 Ranger Made Sure To Be Unique In Every Way
The most unique thing about the Fiore region of Pokémon Ranger is that typically, Pokémon are not kept in Pokéballs or trained in the traditional sense. It was some of the first encounters within the franchise where the hard-pressed fact that Pokémon and humans were often friends living in harmony actually felt true.
The player has to go around on various missions, many of which involve thwarting the region's crime syndicate—The Go-Rock Squad. Eventually, they travel to the Jungle Relic to test themselves in a series of challenges, of which there is a prophecy that states if all four are cleared a catastrophe will befall the region. Dealing with it and clearing the game opens up the ability to capture the mythical Pokémon Deoxys, Celebi, Mew, and Manaphy if they have done the event.
2 Ultra Sun & Moon Had A Story Engaging Enough For Non-Fans To Enjoy
Sun and Moon as well as their Ultra counterparts did not do great in sales, and many long-time fans were unhappy with the games' general direction. While it didn't feel much like a main series game, it had one of the most fascinating storylines of them. The Ultra counterparts filled in where the originals really felt like they were lacking as far as the story went, making the games feel much fuller and direr.
The game starts out with Lillie escaping the Aether Foundation with an abducted Cosmog. She eventually meets and joins up with the player on their adventures while they try to complete all of the traditional Alola trials and help Professor Kukui with his research. The Aether Foundation's insane president, Lusimine, is revealed to be not only Lillie's mother but also the mother of Team Skull's Gladion. She has been running various experiments on Pokémon with the help of Team Skull leader Guzma as she also researches the strange Ultra Beast Phenomenon. Necrozma and the Ultra Beasts become dangerous to the world, Lusamine goes insane enough to literally merge with a Nihilego, and the box legendary merges with Necrozma to prevent the destruction of all space-time. In the end, both of Lusamine's children find ways to help their mother get some help, even if Gladion isn't as forward with it as Lillie is.
1 X & Y Had Little Else Going For It
Pokémon X and Y were largely forgettable games that never received an extended trio. Instead, the presumed plot for a Zygarde game was smashed into the Alola games, with many rumors as to why there might not have been a Z game. Though these rumors and potential leaks of a Z were never officially backed by the developers. While they sold well, the gameplay itself offered little beyond the addition of the Fairy type, Mega Evolution, and character customization. It also finally gave a reprieve from entirely dragon-type box legendaries that had started plaguing the series since Emerald.
However, it was one of few games where the stakes were set high for the player to succeed. Depending on the game, Lysandre and Team Galactic were either trying to destroy all Pokémon or destroy all humans to end wars with the help of Xerneas, Yveltal, and Az's Ultimate Weapon. Lysandre was eventually convinced to stop his insanity after a losing match with the player. His lackies had other plans, however, and triggered the weapon themselves. Az and his special Floette appeared to save the day, and their reuniting was definitely a tear-jerker.
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