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'Pokémon Stadium 2' Is 20 And Now I Just Feel Old

Imogen Donovan

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'Pokémon Stadium 2' Is 20 And Now I Just Feel Old

Featured Image Credit: HAL Laboratory

Pokémon Stadium 2, also known as Pokémon Stadium Gold and Silver, released for the Nintendo 64 on December 14th, 2000, so it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

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Only next year is Pokémon Stadium 2 able to drive a lorry, adopt a child, apply for a license to fly commercial transport aeroplanes, helicopters, gyroplanes and airships, and enter "21+" venues like pubs, clubs and bars. Lots to look forward to, then. But, honestly, the fact that it's 20 years old has hit me like a grand piano falling from a great height. It was where we saw the Pokémon of Generation 2 fully realised in 3D for the first time, like Furret, Heracross, Togetic, Steelix, Espeon, Umbreon, and my sweet child, Cyndaquil. And, it built upon its predecessor with more modes, new mini games, and a challenging contest.

Pokemon Stadium 2 / Credit: HAL Laboratory
Pokemon Stadium 2 / Credit: HAL Laboratory

In the Stadium, the player may either rent their Pokémon or bring them over from an attached cartridge. Throughout the game, eight Trainers must be bested in battle in order to win in each cup. Little Cup features only unevolved Pokémon from Generation 2, naturally, whereas the Poké Cup uses Pokémon between the levels of 50 to 55 and adding the levels of the three Pokémon must not exceed a total of 155. This Cup and Challenge Cup have four difficulty levels each, and players were also able to take on the game's computer (called Cal) with custom rules for their Free Battle.

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It takes place in White City, where the player visits Oak's Laboratory, Earl's Pokémon Academy, Game Boy Tower, the Kid's Club, Gym Leader Castle, the prestigious Pokémon Stadium, and the mysterious VS Rival Cave. Depending on the contents of the Nintendo 64 Transfer Pak, these locations would unlock and offer goodies like new moves and Mystery Gifts. Additionally, Pokémon Stadium 2 had two special Pokémon with unique moves to be won, if the player beat the Rival at the end of Round One and at the end of Round Two. These were a Farfetch'd with Baton Pass and a Gligar that knew Earthquake, and these could be transferred to Pokémon Gold, Silver, or Crystal. Tidy.

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Pokémon Stadium 2 also had a Nintendo Power's Official Player's Guide, where the word "Eeveelution" is used, which meant that this was the first time an official Nintendo source used the word made up by the Pokémon community. Seriously, there had been a dearth of Pokémon spin-offs until now, and though Pokémon Snap, Pokémon Café Mix, and Pokémon Unite are exciting, perhaps it's time for a more strategic spin-off from Nintendo.

Topics: Pokemon, News

Imogen Donovan
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