PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure

Did You Know?

• The game was revealed in Japan on October 10, 2009, with a release date of December 5, 2009.
• Nintendo revealed the game in America during E3 2010.
• The sequel, PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond, was revealed on September 12, 2011, and released in Japan as PokéPark 2: BW - Beyond the World.

Gameplay

Players control Pikachu and explore the PokéPark, which includes zones such as the meadow and lava areas. The main objective is clearing minigames that act as park attractions to obtain all 14 pieces of the Sky Prism. The player befriends other Pokémon through activities like Battle, Hide & Seek, Chase, Obstacle Hop, or quizzes; befriending them unlocks new areas and allows them to be controlled in attractions. In battle, Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, Dash, and eventually Iron Tail, which can be upgraded. He can jump and perform a flip to knock enemies into water. Some attractions involve racing against the clock or deflecting rocks using the Wii Remote. Players can save screenshots to an SD card or the Wii Message Board.

Plot

While playing with Charmander, Chikorita, and Piplup, Pikachu is sent to the PokéPark, where the Mythical Pokémon Mew tells him the Sky Prism protecting the park has shattered into 14 missing pieces. With his friends, Pikachu sets out to find them, befriending other Pokémon and using their abilities to clear attractions. After collecting all pieces, Pikachu must play a difficult obstacle hop with Mew, battle it, and then play a game of chase, after which the park returns to peace.

Reception

PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure landed in a middling spot with critics, earning a Metacritic score of 62 out of 100 and a GameRankings score of 64.80 percent. IGN gave it a relatively favorable 7.5 out of 10, calling it "good" while pointing out that the controls sometimes falter and the story feels aimed at a younger audience. The Guardian also found things to like, noting the game's vivid visuals and consistently upbeat soundtrack. On the other hand, GameSpot handed down a 5.5 out of 10, knocking the lack of multiplayer and uninteresting minigames. Nintendo Life was harsher still with a 4 out of 10, criticizing the low difficulty and repetitive gameplay.