"A game for you if you ever wanted to be a Pokemon"

Introduction:
Now some of you may remember what the first Mystery Dungeon games were like. They were games in which you became a Pokemon and were travelling trying to save the world while adding Pokemon to your team with a method newly introduced at the time called recruiting. This game is the same way with some extra features. You can now get eggs for missions and hatch them at a certain point.

Gameplay: 9/10
The game plays almost exactly like the first Mystery Dungeon games with a few key differences. In this game you can actually hunt down outlaws or take back items. Not many more differences other than that. The gameplay is still quirky, but better.

Story: 9/10
The story stayed almost the same as the first Mystery Dungeon games with some minor differences. There is also a second story which comes after you beat the main game. The story could be better, but overall is good. The story has little in common with the world of Pokemon we know, but provides for more entertainment. It has a nice and even flow to it with the exception of a small spot in it.

Graphics/sound: 10/10
The graphics are simple, yet visually pleasing with much more vibrant color schemes than the last games. The town sounds are a lulling musical tone that anyone could listen to and feel happy. The dungeon sounds are a little bit more on the side of watch your back style. The overall graphics and sounds are, together, seemingly perfect. These are what make the game what it is.

Play Time/Replayability: 9/10
In play time it should take you roughly 20 hours to be able to beat both stories and you can keep playing after that. The replay value is fairly high and is high enough so that most people will want to play it again and again. The play time is considerably high for a Pokemon game. It can be considered a bit too long for the casual gamer.

Final Recommendation:
I would recommend this game to many a Pokemon fan and even those who aren't. It is worth the search and worth going out of the way to buy or rent. Even the hassle some stores give is worth it just to be able to play the game. It is a thoroughly enjoyable game and has many good quirks to it. If you don't have it already, go buy it where you can find it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/05/08

Game Release: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time (US, 04/20/08)