Pokémon Stadium
1999 video game / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pokémon Stadium, known in Japan as Pokémon Stadium 2,[lower-alpha 1] is a strategy video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan on April 30, 1999; in North America on March 6, 2000; in Australia on March 23, 2000; and in Europe on April 7, 2000. It was the first Stadium title released in Western regions, succeeding the Japan-only 1998 Nintendo 64 release Pocket Monsters' Stadium. The gameplay revolves around a 3D turn-based battling system using the 151 Pokémon from the Game Boy games Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow.
Pokémon Stadium | |
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Developer(s) | Nintendo EAD |
Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
Director(s) | Takao Shimizu |
Producer(s) | |
Programmer(s) | Yasunari Nishida |
Artist(s) | Tatsuya Hishida |
Composer(s) |
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Series | Pokémon |
Platform(s) | Nintendo 64 |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Turn-based strategy |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Originally intended for the 64DD, it was later developed into a standard console game after the add-on failed. Using the Transfer Pak accessory that was bundled with the game, players are able to view, organize, store, trade, and battle using Pokémon uploaded from Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. The game includes four stadium cups, each of which is a series of three-on-three Pokémon battles against an ordered lineup of opponents. Gym Leader Castle mode involves battles against the eight Kanto gym leaders and the Elite Four. Pokémon Stadium also features mini-games, versus-style battles, a hall of fame and a built-in emulation function for Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow.
Pokémon Stadium became one of the best-selling Nintendo 64 titles, selling one million copies before the end of 2000. Critics praised the game's visuals but faulted its audio. A sequel, Pokémon Stadium 2, released in 2000 as a counterpart for the next-generation Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver, and Pokémon Crystal games. The game was released on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on April 12, 2023.