Nintendo Change 2 will launch June 5 with a formidable mixture of splashy launch titles, from the first-party must-have Mario Kart World to third-party ports of video games the Change couldn’t run, like Cyberpunk 2077. With the launch of a brand new technology additionally comes the potential for outdated titles and sequence getting a renewed highlight, whether or not through sequels or full-on remakes, like how the primary Change noticed the The Legend of Zelda: Hyperlink’s Awakening remake and new variations of Pokémon Yellow. As its recreation library grows, right here’s to hoping it features a revival of one in all Nintendo’s weirdest franchises: Pokémon Thriller Dungeon, during which you performed a human remodeled right into a Pokémon.
Spinning off from Spike Chunsoft’s Thriller Dungeon sequence, the Pokémon Thriller Dungeon video games process you with venturing by randomly generated dungeons and battling different Pokémon in turn-based fight harking back to the mainline video games. You additionally tackle jobs like rescuing Pokémon or delivering gadgets. At instances, these facet quests would allow you to cross paths with Legendaries like Rayquaza, fleshing out their characters as extra than simply thrilling Field Artwork Pokémon to seize.
The primary video games within the sequence, Pokémon Thriller Dungeon: Crimson Rescue Staff and Blue Rescue Staff, are practically 20 years outdated, having debuted on Recreation Boy Advance and Nintendo DS in 2005. They’re a stark departure from the “Gotta catch ’em all!” nature of the mainline Pokémon video games. As a substitute of throwing Pokéballs on the little dudes, you change into slightly dude. Your solutions to a character quiz (that will’ve been proper at residence as a submit in your mid-2000s DeviantArt web page) decide which Pokémon you change into.
The sequence noticed a couple of releases throughout DS and Nintendo 3DS from 2005 to 2015, when the final new entry launched. It was adopted by a remake of the unique video games, known as Pokémon Thriller Dungeon: Rescue Staff DX, for Nintendo Change in 2020. It’s a return to the sequence’ authentic gameplay and character quiz, although the DX version enables you to select which Pokémon you needed to embody if you happen to don’t like your end result. Notably, Rescue Staff DX featured a brand new stunning, painterly artwork model.
Rescue Staff DX obtained a blended response at launch, however did rapidly promote over 1,000,000 copies. Nonetheless, Nintendo marches to the beat of its personal drum (working example — it’s reviving Kirby Air Experience 22 years later for a Nintendo Change 2 sequel, Kirby Air Riders, due out later this yr).
Within the years for the reason that final authentic Pokémon Thriller Dungeon title, The Pokémon Firm has launched three new generations of mainline titles in addition to the brand new Legends sequence. There are so goddamn many extra Pokémon {that a} new Thriller Dungeon might embrace and let the participant change into — you recognize you wish to play because the small dumb apple Fuecoco or drumming monkey Grookey. With Nintendo being Nintendo, the Pokémon Thriller Dungeon sequence is perhaps on ice for a while — or possibly it’ll get introduced for the Change 2 at July’s Pokémon Presents. I’m hoping for the latter.