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Pokémon Dash

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Pokémon Dash
North American cover art
DeveloperAmbrella[a]
Publishers
DirectorsMuneaki Ozawa
Miki Obata
Shin Naka
Yoshihiro Hatta
Norio Matsumura
Kunimi Kawamura
ProducersKunimi Kawamura
Hitoshi Yamagami
DesignersMiki Obata
Norio Matsumura
ProgrammersTakayuki Ito
Yosuke Suma
Nayuta Taga
Ein Terakawa
Hisato Matsumoto
ComposerMiki Obata
SeriesPokémon
PlatformNintendo DS
Release
GenreRacing
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

Pokémon Dash[b] is a racing video game developed by Ambrella and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS.[5][6] It was a launch title for the system in Japan and Europe.[1][2][7] The game was released in Japan on December 2, 2004; Europe on March 11, 2005; North America on March 14, 2005; and Australia on April 7, 2005.[1][2][3][4] It was the first Pokémon game released for the Nintendo DS.[7][8]

The player controls Pikachu by repeatedly moving the stylus across the touchscreen and races against other Pokémon through a series of checkpoints. The game contains 25 principal courses, wireless multiplayer for as many as six players, and compatibility with the Game Boy Advance Pokémon games that allows additional courses to be generated from the player's Pokémon.[2][9][8]

Gameplay

[edit]

Pokémon Dash is a top-down racing game in which the player controls Pikachu by moving the stylus in the direction in which Pikachu should run. Faster and more frequent strokes increase Pikachu's speed.[5][2][10] Races take place against five computer-controlled Pokémon and require the player to pass a sequence of numbered checkpoints in the prescribed order before reaching the finish.[8][11] The top screen displays the Dash Radar, which indicates the next checkpoint's position relative to Pikachu, while the lower screen displays the race itself.[2][8]

Courses include forests, beaches, maze-like paths, snowfields, sand, swamps, water, and lava. Each terrain affects movement differently: sand and swamps slow Pikachu, ice reduces traction, and some hazards cannot be crossed without first collecting an appropriate terrain item.[2][10][12] Lapras carries Pikachu across stretches of water.[12] Balloon icons launch Pikachu into the air, allowing the player to travel between separated areas of a course. While airborne, the player may pop the balloons to descend more rapidly, although landing too quickly on hard ground temporarily stuns Pikachu.[9][8][11]

The game begins with a Training Cup intended to introduce the controls. Completing it opens the regular Grand Prix mode, which consists of five cups containing five courses each.[2][10][11] Finishing the regular Grand Prix unlocks a more difficult version of its 25 courses, in which the computer-controlled opponents move more quickly.[6][8] The courses can also be played in Time Attack, and the game includes a multiplayer battle mode in addition to conventional races.[8][6]

Only Pikachu is directly controlled by the player, including in multiplayer matches; the other Pokémon serve as opponents or visual representations of rival players.[9][6] The other racers have no distinct abilities or statistics, a design choice that several reviewers criticized for making limited use of the wider Pokémon series.[6][12]

Connectivity to other devices

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Pokémon Dash supports local wireless multiplayer for up to six Nintendo DS systems. Each participant requires a separate copy of the game, and multiplayer does not support DS Download Play.[2][8][6] The multiplayer modes use the courses that the participating players have already unlocked.[8]

The game is compatible with the Game Boy Advance titles Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, FireRed and LeafGreen, and Pokémon Emerald.[9][8] After the player completes the regular Grand Prix, inserting one of these cartridges into the Nintendo DS's Game Boy Advance slot allows the game to read the player's party or Pokédex data and generate a Special Cup containing courses shaped like those Pokémon.[2][11][13] The feature depends on the Game Boy Advance cartridge slot and is therefore unavailable on later Nintendo DSi hardware.[14]

Development and release

[edit]

Pokémon Dash was developed by Ambrella, which had previously developed Hey You, Pikachu! and Pokémon Channel.[7][6] Nintendo later described Ambrella as a studio that was frequently assigned projects designed around new hardware; company president Satoru Iwata and Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara cited Pokémon Dash as an example because it was released alongside the Nintendo DS in Japan.[7]

The game was publicly revealed on October 7, 2004, as part of the Japanese Nintendo DS launch lineup.[15] Contemporary previews presented it as a demonstration of the handheld's touchscreen and dual-screen design. The racing action appeared on the lower screen, while directional information and the next checkpoint appeared on the upper screen.[10][16]

Nintendo released the Japanese version on December 2, 2004, the same day as the Nintendo DS hardware.[1][7] The European version similarly arrived with the console on March 11, 2005.[2] North American release followed on March 14, and the Australian version was released on April 7.[3][4]

Before the North American release, Pokémon Center preorders included either a Pikachu keychain or a Nintendo DS carrying pouch.[3] The official promotional material emphasized the stylus controls, five cups, 25 courses, six-player wireless racing, and ability to create Pokémon-shaped courses with Game Boy Advance cartridges.[2][5]

Reception

[edit]

The game received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic, which reported a score of 46 out of 100.[17] In Japan, however, Famitsu gave it individual scores of eight, seven, eight, and eight, for a total of 31 out of 40.[19]

Reviewers commonly praised the novelty of controlling Pikachu with the stylus, but criticized the repetitive motion required, the short single-player campaign, limited use of the Pokémon license, uneven difficulty, and requirement that every multiplayer participant own a copy of the game.[9][8][6][21] The Dash Radar and course layouts were also criticized for forcing players to memorize checkpoint routes rather than respond to clearly presented navigation information.[8][11]

IGN's Craig Harris gave the game 5 out of 10. He criticized the restriction to Pikachu, the limited number of modes, and the ability to finish the single-player content within several hours, although he regarded the Game Boy Advance connectivity as an unusual bonus.[9] GameSpot's Alex Navarro gave it 5.2 out of 10 and called it "one of the laziest uses of the DS's touch screen technology to date". He criticized the repetitive controls, radar, graphics, sound, and abrupt increase in difficulty between normal and hard modes.[8]

GameSpy's Phil Theobald awarded the game two stars out of five. He considered the Pokémon-shaped courses generated from the Game Boy Advance games a notable feature, but wrote that the repetitive stylus movement, lack of content, and requirement for multiple game cards weakened the game.[21] GameRevolution gave it a D−, praising some variety produced by the different surfaces, Lapras transportation, and balloon sections, but criticizing the absence of combat, character differences, role-playing progression, and substantial modes.[12]

Electronic Gaming Monthly called it a "cute and fun little racing game that has a great multiplayer component, but there's simply not enough to it".[18] Nintendo Power said, "Controlling Pikachu with stylus strokes is actually quite fun, but as a racing game, Dash isn't fully realized."[22] Game Informer described the experience as more of an exercise in anger management than a game.[20] GamePro's Slo Mo was more lenient, writing that "Dash might not make much of a splash, but it should be a good kid-pleaser."[25][d]

Nintendo World Report published sharply differing reviews. Chris Bethea gave the Japanese version 3 out of 10, criticizing its navigation, repetitive cups, and Special Cup courses.[11] David Trammell gave the North American release 7 out of 10. He found the central racing mechanic enjoyable after an adjustment period and praised parts of the soundtrack and balloon diving, but criticized the physical fatigue caused by the controls, limited replay value, graphics, and absence of single-card multiplayer.[6]

X-Play and the Detroit Free Press also gave negative reviews, awarding the game two stars out of five and one star out of four, respectively.[23][24] While discussing the inconsistent quality of Pokémon spin-offs, Retronauts later cited Pokémon Dash as an example.[26]

Sales

[edit]

By December 23, 2004, approximately three weeks after its Japanese release, Pokémon Dash had sold 109,000 copies in Japan.[27]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Co-produced and supervised by Nintendo Software Planning & Development.
  2. ↑ Japanese: ポケモンダッシュ, Hepburn: Pokemon Dasshu
  3. ↑ The three Electronic Gaming Monthly critics gave the game scores of 5/10, 6.5/10, and 6/10.
  4. ↑ GamePro gave the game 4/5 for graphics and control, and 3.5/5 for sound and fun factor.

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 "Quarterly Financial Results Briefing for the Nine-Month Period Ended December 2004" (PDF). Nintendo. January 26, 2005. p. 6. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Pokémon Dash". Nintendo of Europe. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Harris, Craig (February 18, 2005). "Pokemon Dash Pre-Order Deal". IGN. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 van Leuveren, Luke (March 27, 2005). "Updated Australian Release List – 27/03/05". PALGN. PAL Gaming Network. Archived from the original on April 3, 2005. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 "Pokémon Dash". The Official Pokémon Website. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Trammell, David (March 16, 2005). "Pokemon Dash". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Thirty Billion Varieties of Pokémon". Iwata Asks: Super Pokémon Rumble. Nintendo. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Navarro, Alex (March 11, 2005). "Pokémon Dash Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Harris, Craig (March 14, 2005). "Pokemon Dash". IGN. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Harris, Craig (December 6, 2004). "Pokemon Dash Preview". IGN. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bethea, Chris (March 7, 2005). "Pokemon Dash [JP Import]". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Weakachu". GameRevolution. March 28, 2005. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  13. ↑ Calvert, Justin (December 3, 2004). "Pokémon Dash Import Hands-On". GameSpot. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Are all DS games compatible with the Nintendo DSi?". Nintendo Support. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
  15. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (October 7, 2004). "NDS Japanese Launch Details". IGN. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Pokemon Dash Hands-on". GameSpot. October 7, 2004. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
  17. 1 2 "Pokemon Dash". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
  18. 1 2 Linn, Demian; Tsao, Jennifer; Ricciardi, John (May 2005). "Pokémon Dash" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 191. p. 138. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  19. 1 2 "November 25, 2004". The Magic Box. November 25, 2004. Archived from the original on December 7, 2004. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  20. 1 2 Miller, Matt (May 2005). "Pokémon Dash". Game Informer. No. 145. p. 132. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  21. 1 2 3 Theobald, Phil (March 13, 2005). "Pokémon Dash". GameSpy. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  22. 1 2 "Pokémon Dash". Nintendo Power. No. 191. Nintendo of America. May 2005. p. 90.
  23. 1 2 D'Aprile, Jason (April 20, 2005). "Pokemon Dash Review". X-Play. G4 Media. Archived from the original on December 6, 2005. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  24. 1 2 Campbell, Craig (April 3, 2005). "Pokémon Dash". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on April 4, 2005. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  25. ↑ Slo Mo (May 2005). "Pokemon Dash". GamePro. No. 200. Archived from the original on March 22, 2005. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Retronauts Live 3: History and Mystery of Pokémon". 1Up.com (Podcast). 1Up Network. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  27. ↑ IGN staff (December 23, 2004). "DS Wario and Mario Lap PSP Ridge Racers". IGN. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
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