Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX Review

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is the latest spin-off entry in the franchise, and given that Pokemon tops the highest grossing media franchises list, the level of quality in this remake should not be surprising. This 2020 remake takes the best of 2005's Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team, sprinkles in some modern innovation, and delivers an experience that veterans and newcomers alike will indubitably enjoy.

The premise of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is rather simple, cutesy, and exactly what it should be: as a human-turned-Pokemon in a world fraught with natural disasters, players form a rescue team in order to save and help other Pokemon. After a quick personality quiz, players will be assigned a Pokemon but can ignore this and choose from playing as the Gens 1-3 starters, Pikachu, Eevee, Machop, Cubone, Psyduck, Meowth, or Skitty. The partner Pokemon is also derived from this list, excluding all Pokemon that would share the same type as the starter. This journey will carry players across the Pokemon world in a dungeon crawling experience that, while not perfect, makes sense in this spin-off title.

Well before the dungeon-crawling gameplay, though, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX immediately impresses with its gorgeous watercolor graphics. The improvement over the original 2005 graphics cannot be understated, yet it even manages to make these graphics feel natural, as if this is how the games have always felt. Veterans will remember meeting Whiscash, Butterfree, Alakazam, and all the various Pokemon introduced in the game world, but they simply cannot compare in terms of graphics. Even those with strange animations like Ekans are beautiful in their own way.

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Rescue Team DX's graphics are bettered by the fact that its music is upbeat and addicting; whether it's the background music while in a dungeon or that which players hear when walking around and through the main town, this is truly a highpoint for Pokemon-related music. It hits every high note and can unknowlingly induce head-bobbing, especially when in dungeons. That highlights how relaxing and fun dungeons can be in the game, but that's not always the case.

The dungeon crawling gameplay is a bit of a strange place. On the one hand, it seems redundant to hold it against the game, as it is basically a scaled up version of the original, and it is a solid improvement introducing Mega Evolution, an auto-mode to speed up gameplay, new rare qualities to consider for party composition, and more. On the other hand, it can feel unnecessarily grindy at times, isn't the most intuitive, and involves far more trial and error that many may think.

The dungeons are randomized, but this doesn't really add much replayability, as all objectives revolve around finding X or clearing the dungeon before a final boss battle. All the while, players must manage their hunger, the PP of their moves, their allies' needs, and their own health. Micromanaging this is truly no different from many dungeon-crawlers, and it's easy enough to prepare for if players keep an eye on their storage. In short, its combat and dungeon crawling are not the highlights of the game, but at the same time, it's a moot point for criticism when this is exactly how Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX's gameplay shipped itself.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon DX evolution — Pokemon-mystery-dungeon-dx-evolution

Players may not find themselves keen to return for a full playthrough after beating it once, which will take roughly between 10 and 15 hours. However, those who are enjoying the deep dive into the Pokemon world can easily expand on this, as there is plenty of endgame content worth checking out. For example, players will be able to complete dungeons and quests in order to add legendary Pokemon like Deoxys, Jirachi, the legendary dogs, the legendary birds, Groudon, Kyogre, and so many more to their rescue team after beating the main campaign.

The story is easily recommendable: it's by no mean the deepest, and that's perhaps the best part about it. It is basically a walkthrough of some of the most adorable and equally awe-inspiring with some of the most fan-favorite Pokemon popping up throughout, so while relatively short, it's a big thing in a small package. It hits its beat, lets players enjoy these moments, and leaves fans satisfied in every sit-down with Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX.

In truth, it's a game that feels endless despite its relatively short core content. The gameplay may not be revolutionary, but it's the perfect game to kick back to and have a nice afternoon on the Switch with. Its story delivers on all the cutesy moments and heavy Pokemon themes fans have come to expect, while doing so in a perfectly crafted environment. Endgame content and expanding the rescue team keep Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX interesting well after it seems like the curtain has closed, and that's the crux of the game. It's hard to put down and hits every mark Pokemon fans and newcomers need from this spin-off series.