The release of the Nintendo Switch in 2017 caused much excitement over the prospect of a Pokémon game being released for a home console after decades of handheld-exclusive main series games. However, the Switch is not the first home console to receive a Pokémon RPG, as the GameCube got’s Pokémon Colosseum in 2004.
Colosseum marked a lot of firsts for the series. Not only was it the first home console Pokémon RPG, it was also the first to not be developed by Game Freak or to not follow the franchise’s traditional formula. Colosseum was developed by Genius Sonority, who most recently worked on the mobile game Pokémon Café Mix. Unlike other games in the series, Colosseum starts with the player as an established trainer, Wes, who has an Espeon and an Umbreon.
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More interestingly, Wes is a member of the villainous Team Snagem who betrays his cohorts and steals the snag machine, a device used to steal Pokémon from trainers. Colosseum‘s interesting hook is a breath of fresh air for the series. Wild Pokémon do not exist in the game’s Orre region, meaning players can only expand their team by stealing them from other trainers.
Still, the protagonist is no villain. The only Pokémon that he can snag are Shadow Pokémon — monsters that have had their hearts artificially closed by the game’s main antagonists, Team Cipher. Using a shadow Pokémon before it is purified is vastly different, since Shadow Pokémon have limited moves and the potential to enter a frenzy. Colosseum‘s story follows the player’s attempt to steal all the Shadow Pokémon, purify their hearts and defeat the villainous Cipher.
The game features a darker tone than most Pokémon games or the anime. Orre is a lawless land covered in desert, and the Shadow Pokémon available in the game are limited to 48. This encourages player to use Pokémon that they may otherwise ignore in favor of more powerful ones. For instance, when it’s not possible to grab a top-tier Water-type, players may finally give Mantine or Qwilfish a chance. Furthermore, most available monsters hail from the Johto region and were not otherwise accessible during Generation III.
Unlike modern Pokémon games, which have been criticized for their lifeless 3D models, Pokémon in Colosseum are vibrant and full of character. Ludicolo dances on the spot, Salamence feels weighty and powerful, and Espeon moves and attacks elegantly. Each one visually displays their personality, and to this day, Pokémon have never looked better in 3D.
Another area where Colosseum excels is in its content. The game features a meaty story mode, compatibility with the main series Gen III games and hefty post-game offerings. Mt. Battle is a 100 trainer gauntlet that can be fought within the story mode save or using your main series game’s team. This grueling challenge rewards victorious players with a Ho-Oh for their achievement. There are also several in-game colosseums of varying difficulty available for trainers to challenge.
Pokémon Colosseum offers an experience that Game Freak has not matched since the switch to 3D. Many fans found Pokémon Sword and Shield to be lacking in content, with the fact that not every Pokémon can be used in-game (even after the DLC) being an especially disappointing decision. In contrast, Colosseum succeeded in ways modern Pokémon fails, and the GameCube title feels like a passion project rather than a regularly scheduled yearly release.
The game received a sequel in 2005, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. Set several years after Colosseum‘s story, Gale of Darkness expands the original game’s formula with more Shadow Pokémon, a brand new Mt. Battle and extra content such as the new battle bingo mode. However, outside of this game, Pokémon Colosseum seems to have been largely forgotten by The Pokémon Company and Game Freak.
Colosseum would be a perfect fit for a Nintendo Switch rerelease, but this unfortunately seems unlikely. Not only are there several Pokémon main series games in development for the Switch right now, but it also wouldn’t be in Game Freak’s best interest to do so. This 17 year old game, which the company didn’t develop, only highlights some of the controversies that have plagued Sword and Shield since before they launched.
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