Pokémon Dash
Pokémon Dash (Nintendo DS)

Developer
Ambrella
Publisher
Nintendo / The Pok
Genre
Racing
Players
4
C3 Score
4
Reader Score (4 Votes)
8
4
8
Posted on 12.03.2005
Posted by Adam Riley (jesusraz)
Tags:
Pokémon, Dash, 3, Ambrella, Nintendo / The Pok, Racing
Posted by Adam Riley (jesusraz)
Tags:
Pokémon, Dash, 3, Ambrella, Nintendo / The Pok, Racing
Find out more
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The main Pok
Considering this is a first generation title for the Nintendo DS, perhaps you would not be expecting too much in the way of extravagant visuals. However, with many other first-time efforts on the DS being so impressive, especially Nintendo's own Super Mario 64 DS, a little more could have gone into Dash. Instead all we have is a distant overhead view of small characters whizzing around courses with barely any interesting detail dotted around. There is nothing exactly bad about what is on show, but on a system more powerful than the N64 a little effort would have been appreciated. Under-performer in this department, unfortunately, especially with the confusion in judging distances when floating up in the sky... The sound aspect of Pok
Control is via the stylus, although whilst this turns out to be a very unique experience, it certainly is not a pleasurable one. The touch-screen is used as a large analogue pad, akin to in Super Mario 64 DS, but rather than fine movements throughout, the whole thing is reduced to frantic brushes in various directions all over the touch-screen. But it is not even as if the speed at which you move the stylus really makes that much difference either, as the maximum speed can actually be attained by rhythmically moving around in the desired direction. It is amazing how boring this can get in a short time...
There are various types of terrain that must be crossed, such as sand, heavy grass or slippery ice. Each one will affect your movement and speed accordingly, unless you cross a special ground-pad that gives you the power to speed-up over a specific land-type. Basically you will run around the tracks, trying to avoid obstacles and hazards, all the time attempting to stay ahead of the pack. To try and add some variety to this racer, Ambrella has thrown in a balloon twist. However, this backfires terribly. Whereas you can just about use the little on-screen map to guide yourself around with the restricted viewpoint, once you collect balloons and rub the side of the screen and shoot up to the sky. Here you have not got a clue where the hell you are going, movingly around randomly in the hope of spotting the other racers. Once time has been wasted doing this, you can rub 'Dive' at the side to float slowly down. Or you can simply tap on Pika's two balloons and make him plummet, more often than not ending with a *splat*, followed by a frustrating wait till he gets up again.
And that is it
Gameplay
3
Whilst kudos could be given for this new idea, the boring nature of moving the stylus in various directions and the frustration caused by the limited viewpoint drag this down too much.
Graphics
3
This looks more like a first generation Super Nintendo game, than a powerful Nintendo DS game. Throwing in a 3D Pikachu at the beginning of the game does not make up for this...
Sound
5
Whilst there is some good use of voices in the game, unfortunately the repetitive and chirpy nature of the 'Pika Pika's grows annoying quickly, making the music irrelavant.
Value
5
There are so many tracks hidden in here, especially if you stick in GBA Pok
4
C3 Score It is blatantly obvious that Nintendo was relying on the Pok/10
Please post your comments below.
Buy Pokémon Dash
Reader Comments
1
get reading about my trip to London to see EA, Nintendo and Eurogamer Expo!
9267
Reviews Editor
Cheers for the review. I heard this was terrible from a load of places, this just adds another to the pile.
Well done for playing through it, though...
Cubed3 Staff :: Reviews Editor
Xbox Live/Twitter :: C3Mike
Well done for playing through it, though...
Cubed3 Staff :: Reviews Editor
Xbox Live/Twitter :: C3Mike
Endless Ocean 2 Adventures of the Deep - review now live!
12189
News Editor
Painful experience, but it had to be done...eventually! :lol:
The cheese is a lie.
5926
L100 C3 Master
Ouch. One to avoid, if I didn't know that already. Hopefully Pearl and Diamond will more then make up for it, though.
Smallest sig ever?
Endless Ocean 2 Adventures of the Deep - review now live!
12189
News Editor
Oh yeah, with Game Freak you can't go wrong. It is the Daddy of the franchise and knows how to handle it best. Ambrella, on the other hand, cannot be trusted in the slightest it would appear! :roll:
Endless Ocean 2 Adventures of the Deep - review now live!
12189
News Editor
Not quite the word I'd use, blizz, but I catch your drift! 
5047
L100 C3 Master
I agree, i tried this game at EB, it was terrible.
3233
L82 Twinrova
As my first DS game I found it good as a device for getting used to the touch screen. Though the game itself is fairly limited.
I dont think it would ever hold much weight after the launch period, but for that time I though it was a worthy purchase.
I dont think it would ever hold much weight after the launch period, but for that time I though it was a worthy purchase.
See no Wiivil
Hear no Wiivil
Speak no Wiivil
Hear no Wiivil
Speak no Wiivil
Endless Ocean 2 Adventures of the Deep - review now live!
12189
News Editor
I tried this originally back in Paris at the end of January...and damn I didn't want it at all, but hey, we all have to do bad reviews at some point! 
3
L1 New Born
I actually liked it for a while. But, that was when the touchscreen had a novelty value all by itself :D
I REALLY believe Revolution will be like the computer PreCrime had in the movie Minority Report. [UPDATE- I was right!]
331
L27 Akuma
OFF TOPIC!!!
Anyone know if Ninty are making Pokemon Electric Yellow for the GBA? I wanna get Fire Red but if there making a Yellow version I may as well wait right?
Anyone know if Ninty are making Pokemon Electric Yellow for the GBA? I wanna get Fire Red but if there making a Yellow version I may as well wait right?
FINAL FANTASY VII
Most probably the best story in any RPG ever made.
FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN is out on APRIL 24th!
Most probably the best story in any RPG ever made.
FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN is out on APRIL 24th!
Endless Ocean 2 Adventures of the Deep - review now live!
12189
News Editor
Doesn't seem like it, what with Emerald coming out as the third version of Sapphire/Ruby the GBA might have had its fill of Pok
Endless Ocean 2 Adventures of the Deep - review now live!
12189
News Editor
Maybe that should have been my final comment in the review!! :lol:
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