Pokémon Dash

Lore & Background

Pokémon Dash was developed by Ambrella, the studio behind Hey You, Pikachu! and Pokémon Channel. It was first revealed on October 7, 2004, as a launch title for Japan. The game was released in Japan on December 2, 2004, followed by Europe on March 11, 2005, North America on March 14, 2005, and Australia on April 7, 2005. Before the North American release, The Pokémon Center offered pre-order deals that included keychains and DS carrying pouches.

In the game, the player uses a stylus to direct a Pikachu through checkpoints in a top-down perspective. Courses include terrains such as mazestone paths, forests, beaches, water, swamp, and lava pools. Power-ups allow the player to traverse different terrains without slowing down. The game also features races in the sky using balloons. A training cup is given to players starting for the first time, and after completing it, the player can enter Grand Prix Mode, which contains five main cups, each with five courses. Harder GP modes can be unlocked, featuring faster Pokémon opponents.

Pokémon Dash supports multiplayer for up to six Nintendo DS units, each with a copy of the game, where all players control an identical Pikachu. It also features compatibility with Game Boy Advance Pokémon games—Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, LeafGreen, or Emerald. If the player inserts one of those cartridges in Slot 2 and has completed GP mode, they can play courses shaped like the Pokémon in their team, with completion time depending on factors such as type and level.

Reader's Guide

Pokémon Dash holds a notable place as the first Pokémon game released for the Nintendo DS, arriving as a launch title in Japan and Europe. Its reception, however, was mixed to negative. The review aggregation website Metacritic reported generally unfavorable reviews. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40. Critics pointed to several shortcomings: IGN's Craig Harris noted that the player could only control Pikachu in single player and that the game could be finished within hours. GameSpot's Alex Navarro described it as one of the laziest uses of the DS's touch screen technology to date. GamePro's Slo Mo suggested it might be a good kid-pleaser despite not making a big splash. GameSpy's Phil Theobald called it a gimmicky title that was no substitute for the real deal. Electronic Gaming Monthly found it cute and fun with a great multiplayer component but lacking in content. Nintendo Power stated that controlling Pikachu with stylus strokes was fun, but the racing game was not fully realized. Game Informer characterized it as more an exercise in anger management than a game. Retronauts cited Pokémon Dash as an example of the mixed quality of Pokémon spin-offs. Despite the criticism, the game sold 109,000 units by December 23.