Pokémon Stadium 2

Pokémon Stadium 2 is a strategy game for the Nintendo 64, made and released by Nintendo. It’s the third title in the Pokémon Stadium lineup, coming after Pocket Monsters Stadium and the first Pokémon Stadium. Every Pokémon from the first two generations—251 in total—can be used here, and players can fight against each other or take on computer-controlled teams. Just like the game before it, this one works with the Transfer Pak, so you can bring in Pokémon you raised in the Game Boy titles Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal.

The game was made because the previous entry sold well and was popular. It was shown off at the 2000 Nintendo Space World trade show, and some writers saw it as part of the push to keep the franchise in the spotlight. Japan got it in 2000, and the rest of the world followed in 2001.

Critics mostly liked it, praising the visuals and how much there was to do, though many noted it felt a lot like its predecessor. Some complained it was aimed more at dedicated fans than casual players, and that to really get the full experience you needed the Transfer Pak. After this game, no more Stadium titles came out, though later games with similar mechanics did appear. In 2023, it was put back on sale through the Nintendo Classics service.

The gameplay is turn-based, just like earlier games in the series. You build teams of up to six Pokémon and use them in battles against the computer or other people. Each creature has special moves that can deal damage or cause problems like poison, which chips away at a Pokémon’s health every turn. Elemental types also matter—a Grass-type, for example, takes extra damage from a Fire-type move. You can swap your active Pokémon for another on your team, but that uses up your turn.

There’s no story here. You make progress by winning trophies in the Stadium, a tournament mode with four Cups, and by clearing the Gym Leader Castle, where you earn badges by beating Gym Leaders from the Game Boy games. The final boss there is the character Red. Once you’ve got all the Stadium trophies and finished the castle, your rival challenges you. Beat them, and Round 2 unlocks—a harder version of the Stadium, Gym Leader Castle, and rival fight. There’s also a “Battle Now!” mode for quick random fights, and Free Battle for practice or versus matches.