Summary
After the recent Pokemon Presents announced thatPokemonStadium 2is coming to the Switch, the spotlight its mini-games were given could finally promptPokemonto expand its franchise into the same territory asMario Party. The resurgence of retroPokemongames like thePokemon Trading Card Gamefor the Game Boy Color which was also revealed during the same Pokemon Presents showcase is bringing attention to some of the series' oldest classics. But while fans are hoping for their favorites likePokemon XD: Gale of Darknessto return,Pokemon Stadium 2’s reintroduction could see old ideas inspire futurePokemonspin-offs.
Though games likePokemon Stadiumand its sequelare considered side games to the mainline series, this shouldn’t stopPokemonfrom adapting its mini-games into its own spin-off. Moreover, whilePokemon’s history with spin-offs has been hit-and-miss – from the popularMystery Dungeonseries to the short-livedPokemon Trozei!games – it has seen continued success from mobile apps likePokemon GO,MastersEX, andSleep, as well as the recent historical epic ofPokemon Legends: Arceus. So with Game Freak’s current momentum and its growing diversity ofPokemongames, it could be time for aPokemon Partyspin-off.
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Pokemon’s History of Spin-Offs Holds Potential
While there has been a significant number of spin-off games added to the series over the years,Pokemonhas appeared inconsistent with how it makes the most of the few that become success stories. For example, despite being a fan-favorite game,Pokemon Snaponly recently received a sequeltwo decades after its release, living on due to its long-lived reputation amongPokemonplayers.New Pokemon Snap’s success alongside other new spin-offs likePokemon Unitedoes prove that Game Freak has finally hit a point where players are interested in different experiences, and Nintendo has the technology to deliver this.
It is worth acknowledging that in its earliest days,Pokemonwas limited by the consoles Game Freak developed for, and so its initial attempts at expanding thePokemonseries into new formats were limited too. This is likely why games such asPokemon StadiumorColosseumwere similar to the mainline series. However, other Nintendo franchises had no trouble experimenting with new genres, with the likes ofSuper Mariogetting into kart racing, RPGs, and party games. WithPokemon Stadium’s mini-games parallelingMario Party, Game Freak has been sitting on a potential spin-off for just as long asPokemon Snap’s sequel.
Pokemon Stadium 2 Could Inspire Pokemon Party
Despite theMario Partyformula changing over the years, certain parts of its design have remained fundamentally the same, chief among these being its mini-games. Though they vary between different gameplay styles, these mini-games are much likePokemon Stadium2’s own where there are four players participating. As a result,Pokemon Stadium 2can transferthis ready-made framework over to a hypotheticalPokemon Partygame would need. With further inspiration fromMario PartyandPokemoncould expand this range of mini-games to include player team-ups, more recent Pokemon and their design gimmicks, and more.
For instance,Pokemon Stadium 2’s mini-game “Pichu’s Power Plant” could be updated to include each generation’s Pikachu clone, whileMario Party Superstars' “GOOOOOOOAL!!” that pits one player against the other three could seePokemon SwordandShield’s new Obstagoon as a goalkeeper and Cinderace as strikers to tie in the recent games. Beyond the mini-game mechanics, however, aPokemon Partygame would need to parallel the likes ofMario Party’s Stars, maps, items, and so on. Even then,Pokemonhas nine generations it can work withat this point, and its various regions, cities, and items offer plenty of material.
Pokemon Stadium 2is now available on Nintendo 64 and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
MORE:Why Pokemon Stadium 2’s New Release is Likely a Red Herring
