Ruby/Sapphire + Stadium games + new elements = Awesome first ever 3D Pokemon RPG game
The game's Story Mode is similar to the regular RPG Pokémon game's adventures, yet sets itself apart from them in a big way. The game takes place in a new area called the Orre Region which is mostly filled with a desert terrain. Unlike in the Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn Regions, there are no Pokémon Professors to give you starters, Wild Pokémon to catch, long routes to walk down, fishing rods, HMs, Pokémon Contests, Gym Leaders, badges to collect, a Victory Road, Elite 4 members, or a Champion. In fact the main character is actually a member of the local "Team" in the region, known as Team Snagem, who has succeeded in wreaking havoc all over the Orre Region. Fortunately, the main character decides that being in Team Snagem isn't the best job in the world, so he decides to destroy the large snag machine (a machine that steals people's Pokémon), take the portable one, blows up the hideout, leading the authorizes there, and drive off in his supped up motorcycle with his Espeon and Umbreon.
After you give him a name and watch the intro movie, the main character stops by the first area in the game, Outskirt Stand. You'll notice 2 guys walk out and drive away on their truck. After arriving in an area, you can move around in any direction using the Control Stick or + Button. Once you go in and come out, you'll be challenged to a Pokémon Battle, which brings up another interesting twist: In this region, all the battles are done in Double Battles. If you wanted to work on your double battle techniques and teams, this is the place to do it. Also, the overall Pokémon levels start at about Lv.25 instead of Lv.2. After the battle ends, the trainer will tell you about Phenac City. Everytime you hear info about a new area, it will appear on the Region Map. Once you reach Phenac City, you'll find that the guys you saw before were actually kidnapping someone. After defeating them, you'll a female Partner, who you can also name and has a special ability that will be useful on your journey.
New mechanics this game introduces are "Shadow Pokémon" and "Snagging". "Shadow Pokémon" who have had their hearts closed through scientific means and have become emotionless battle weapons. Sounds horrible, right? Luckily, with the portable Snag Machine he stole and the partner, who is the only person who can identify them, he can "Snag" Shadow Pokémon from trainers and add them to his team. Here's how it works: First, both the main character and his opponent call out their Pokémon. If a Shadow Pokémon is present, a quick cutscene will occur where your Partner's eyes change. Either way, you'll know if there's Shadow Pokémon or not if their Display Icon is purple instead of the usual gray. Although Shadow Pokémon aren't randomly choosing attacks, can use Shadow Rush plus 3 other attacks and you have to deal with the other Pokémon at the same time, "Snagging" is basically catching them as if they were Wild Pokémon. Just take their health down, use status effects, throw a Pokémon ball at it, and then see if you successfully "Snagged" it. Once caught/snagged, it will either join your Pokémon Party if you have space or go to the PC if you don't. In the event that the Shadow Pokémon gets knocked out or you run out of Pokéballs, don't sweat it. You'll be able to catch it again later.
Once you have a Shadow Pokémon, you'll want to return to it to normal since it can't learn TMs, level up, evolve, be used in Battle Mode, or be traded. In order to purify Shadow Pokémon, or return them to normal, you have to lower all 5 bars on their Shadow Status. As this happens, it'll be able to use its regular moves and reveal its nature, which determines the best method for purifying Pokémon. Once a Shadow Pokémon is ready, you have to take them to a specific location to do a Purification Ceremony. Once this happens, all the experience it collected as a Shadow Pokémon is added, it regains its last move, you can give it a nickname, and it receives a ribbon.
Instead of the Pokégear from Johto and the Pokénav from Hoenn, you have the P*DA (Pokémon Digital Assistant). It has 3 features:
1. Shadow Monitor- shows all the Shadow Pokémon you've snagged or attempted to snag, who you snagged it from, and where they are now
2. E-mails- any emails you receive from other characters you've met, most will be helpful to you
3. Strategy Memo- lists the type of every Pokémon you've met in Alphabetical Order
Once you beat the game, the story still continues and you can bring in your Pokémon to the GBA games if you have a GC-GBA link cable, especially since most of the Shadow Pokémon are rare and easier to obtain than in GBA games.
If you have a DS game now, you can send them over from Colossuem to the GBA to Pal Park or breed them first.
While Story Mode is a new epic adventure, Battle Mode is your Pokémon Stadium nostalgia.
In Colossuem Battle, you can take on Single or Double Battle challenges where you defeat 8 Trainers in a row at different Colossuems that can be found in Story Mode. You can use your Pokémon Party from Story Mode or if you have a GC-GBA Link bring in your teams from R/S/FR/LG/E.
Once you decide your challenge, you'll be shown your opponent's Pokémon. Next, you have to pick your Pokémon you want to use. Then finally the battle happens. If you manage to beat a trainer without any of your Pokémon fainting, you get a Continue, which allows you have a rematch in case you lose against a later opponent.
Each time you complete a challenge, you'll receive Pokémon Coupons, which can be used to buy items for Story Mode or for your GBA games.
If you just want to get into a quick battle, then Battle Now is just for you. Just pick the type of battle, difficulty, and select OK.
There are some downsides though. In Story Mode you can only save at PCs. So you may find yourself saving, battling, and going back to the Save Point, battling, and repeat. Also, purifying the Shadow Pokémon can take awhile, especially after snagging them all. In Battle Mode there are no Rental Pokémon and due to the Levels requirements, it'll take time before you're ready for the Level 100 Challenges, especially if you don't have a GC-Link Cable.
Overall, Pokémon Colossuem is an enjoyable game for fans. It takes the elements of the main games and Stadium, and combines with new elements to get an awesome end result. If you own a Wii now instead of a GameCube and have a GC memory card, you can rent it and see what I mean.