Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky

This article is about the game. For the special anime episode, see Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (Japanese: ポケモン不思議のダンジョン 空の探検隊 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky) is a game developed by Chunsoft. It is an enhanced version of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, similar to how Pokémon Platinum is an enhanced version of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. It is the fifth entry in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. The game was first announced in CoroCoro, which released the first details in January 2009. It was officially released in Japan on April 18, 2009 and in North America on October 12, 2009.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
ポケモン不思議のダンジョン 空の探検隊
MD Sky EN boxart.jpg
Boxart of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky drawn by Ken Sugimori
Basic info
Platform: Nintendo DS, Wii U (Virtual Console)
Category: Dungeon crawler, Roguelike
Players: 1
Connectivity: DS Wireless, Wi-Fi
Developer: The Pokémon Company/Chunsoft
Publisher: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Part of: Generation IV spin-off
Ratings
CERO: A
ESRB: E
ACB: G
OFLC: G
PEGI: 3
GRAC: N/A
GSRR: N/A
Release dates
Japan: April 18, 2009 (DS)[1]
July 20, 2016 (Wii U VC)
North America: October 12, 2009 (DS)[2]
June 23, 2016 (Wii U VC)
Australia: November 12, 2009[3]
August 18, 2016 (Wii U VC)
Europe: November 20, 2009[4]
August 18, 2016 (Wii U VC)[5]
South Korea: N/A
Hong Kong: N/A
Taiwan: April 18, 2009
Websites
Japanese: Pokémon.co.jp
Nintendo.co.jp
English: Pokémon.com (US)
Pokémon.com (UK)
Nintendo.com
Japanese boxart
MD Sky JP boxart.jpg
Explorers of Sky Japanese boxart
Bulbanews
Bulbanews has multiple articles related to this subject:

The game was released for the Wii U Virtual Console in the United States on June 23, 2016, in Japan on July 20, 2016, and in Australia and Europe on August 18, 2016. The Virtual Console release became unavailable after the Wii U Nintendo eShop was discontinued on March 27, 2023.

New features

  • Players can now play as four new hero Pokémon: Phanpy, Vulpix, Riolu, and Shinx. Munchlax and Meowth are no longer playable as the main hero, and Eevee returns from Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team. Moreover, every hero Pokémon, in addition to Meowth and Munchlax, are available as partner Pokémon.
    • Some of the hero and partner Pokémon can now start with an Egg Move.
  • Players can now play the music used in the game with the Sky Jukebox.
  • Five Special Episodes are introduced, which can be played beside the main game.
  • There is a new place called Spinda's Café where the following can be found:
    • Spinda's Juice Bar grants access to several exclusive dungeons (Lush Prairie, Serenity River, Happy Outlook, Lost Wilderness, Destiny Tower), and it also allows players to make drinks out of food items.
    • Recycle Shop allows players to exchange excess items for other items. The more items exchanged, the better the items available will be. Players may also trade items for Prize Tickets (more kinds of tickets can be unlocked by a team's rank; for example, Silver Tickets are only available to teams in the Silver rank). Prize tickets can be used in a lottery, where the player gets to choose from three colors for the drawing (red, blue, and yellow). The player can sometimes get rare items this way.
    • The player's team recruits who are currently in the party can now be found in Spinda's Café instead of the crossroads (once it opens).
    • Job requests can also be found here, and can be accepted or rejected by talking to the client to the left of the exit.
    • Dungeons that were previously only attainable through special job requests available before graduation are now found in Spinda's Juice Bar and the Recycle Shop. The ones available post graduation are still unlocked this way.
  • There is a new location called the Secret Bazaar which is found randomly in dungeons. It is run by Kirlia. The bazaar has several stalls found inside.
    • Mime Jr.'s stall restores the team's Health Points (HP), Power Points (PP), and fill the belly for 100 Poké.
    • Swalot's Grab Bag Shop gives players Grab Bags for 100 Poké. They may hold useful items inside them.
    • Lickilicky will clean the player's items in their inventory for 100 Poké.
    • Shedinja's gives players a chance to escape the dungeon sooner for 100 Poké.
  • A new location, Shaymin Village, is unlocked after completion of the main game, featuring a tribe of Shaymin, where the player also allies with Team Frontier to reclaim the trail leading to the top of the nearby Sky Peak mountain. An accompanying Shaymin demonstrates its ability to instantly purify polluted environments, its use of the Gracidea to transform into its Sky Forme, and can be later recruited into the player's party.
  • Players can find a statue of Arceus in a new dungeon called Destiny Tower. The story here involves a new item called the Space Globe.
  • Players only lose half of their money when defeated in a dungeon, instead of all of it.
  • Tradeable items can be traded for any others now, provided they are available at Croagunk's Swap Shop.
  • Using DS Download Play, the player can send their friends a demo of the game.
  • The Luxray and Luxio tribe that was the boss of Amp Plains has been replaced by the Manectric and Electrike tribe. This is possibly due to one of the hero and partner choices in this game being Shinx.
  • A new item called the Sky Gift can be obtained in an area consisting of ten dungeons called Sky Peak Mountain Path.
  • Raikou, Entei, and Suicune are now found in Southeastern Islands, Inferno Cave, and Treacherous Waters respectively and are no longer acquired with the Mystery Part and Secret Slab or in Final Maze. These dungeons are unlocked through random challenges in Spinda's Cafe, but the only way to get these challenges is to unlock the Secret Rank.
  • Occasionally bottles containing job requests will wash up along the beach. Upon finding a bottle the player has the option to take or reject the request. Rejected jobs remain on the beach until taken. However, if the player wants, they can accept the job and then delete it to remove the bottle.
  • Some of the items found in a dungeon might not be what they seem to be. These items are called Lookalike Items. For example, a blue Berry found in a dungeon might not be of the healing Oran variety, but the damaging Oren.
  • Outlaws may react to the player's appearance. While some just attack as normal, others are located in a Monster House, while others may run away, similarly to if a Foe-Fear Orb was used on them. Their reaction is hinted at by the title and description of the job.

Other minor differences with Time and Darkness

  • Certain dialogue is slightly different; for example, when the player robs a Kecleon in Time/Darkness he says "Robbed! I've been robbed! Catch the thief!". In Sky, he says, "My precious merchandise! Catch the thief!" instead.
  • When the player recruits a Pokémon, and the team is full, it allows the player to choose who they would like to send back to the guild, instead of immediately sending the new recruit back. Likewise, the same goes if the player tries to do an escort mission and the team is full. Additionally, a Pokémon who already has been recruited will have their name in orange, rather than the usual blue.
  • The amount of time it takes to save the player's game is shorter.
  • When saving their game, the player can choose whether they want to continue playing or return to the main menu.
  • The ending theme "Memories Returned" has been extended slightly.
  • When the team leader tries to switch places with a teammate while they on a terrain the teammate cannot normally walk on, the teammate will warp right back to the player, whereas in previous games it would warp the teammate to a random spot.
  • Wonder Mail is replaced with a new format called Wonder Mail S, which is not compatible with Time/Darkness, and making Time/Darkness Wonder Mail codes incompatible with Sky.
  • Money rewards from jobs are now stated as the complete reward before it says that the team received its share of the reward.
    • When money appears in amounts of 1,000 Poké or more, it now includes a comma in the normal place.
  • When the introduction screen for each chapter is shown, there is now an image in the background based on what will happen in that chapter.
  • In the beginning when the game asks if the player has played Time/Darkness, and if the player answers yes, some dungeon Pokémon will have their recruitment rate doubled.
  • A glitch causes the game to softlock if a Pokémon has 10 characters in its name or nickname.
  • Certain moves have been slightly modified, such as their base power.
  • Storm Drain and Lightning Rod now draw moves only from the same room, rather than entire floor.
  • Pokémon learnsets were changed to account for Platinum.
  • Certain scenes and maps had their special effects and/or visuals altered, such as the Sentry Duty or the purely visual fog in Steam Cave.
  • The move summary now displays approximation of their accuracy and power (if applicable).
  • Unlike in Time and Darkness, the player's held item is no longer unequipped at the end of the day.

Plot

  This plot summary is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this plot summary to add missing sections and complete it.
Main article: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness → Plot

Being a sister game to Explorers of Time and Darkness, Explorers of Sky has a similar plot with minor differences.

Special Episodes

Main article: Special Episode

During the course of the game, players can engage in various scenarios that expand upon the story of some of the different characters.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Episode Title Information
How to Unlock
  Bidoof's Wish The first episode features the past of the Bidoof in Wigglytuff's Guild just after he entered the guild. He goes to the Star Cave to have his wish granted by a Jirachi.
Arrest Drowzee in Chapter 3
  Igglybuff the Prodigy The second episode features Wigglytuff as an Igglybuff. It explores his past and explains how he became an explorer.
Return to the Guild in Chapter 9
  Today's "Oh My Gosh" The third episode features the fellow guild member, Sunflora. She was given a mission to seek out a Haunter but was apparently unprepared for what she was about to face.
Come up with the plan to capture Grovyle in Chapter 13
  Here Comes Team Charm! The fourth episode features Team Charm and their past. Team AWD can also be found here.
Return from the future in Chapter 15
  In the Future of Darkness The fifth episode is set in the dark future after Grovyle pushes Dusknoir back into the future. Grovyle and Dusknoir work together when Primal Dialga tries to get rid of them or so it seems...
Graduate from Wigglytuff's Guild

Blurb

Now you can go beyond darkness...outside the limits of time...to the skies!
Be a Pokémon and experience the world in a whole new way! Learn more secrets of Time and Darkness...Journey with your friends on remarkable adventures and save the world!

Characters

Playable characters

In the beginning of the game, the player takes a personality quiz. The answers to these questions determine a nature, which along with the player's gender is used to decide the hero Pokémon that the player plays as. Certain Pokémon are only available to players of a certain gender.

Pokémon Nature Egg Move
Male Female
  Bulbasaur Lonely Docile
  Charmander Docile Brave
  Squirtle Quirky Bold
  Pikachu Brave Hasty
  Vulpix Relaxed Faint Attack
  Meowth* Hypnosis
  Eevee Jolly Flail
  Chikorita Calm Quiet
  Cyndaquil Timid Calm
  Totodile Jolly Sassy
  Phanpy Relaxed AncientPower
  Treecko Quiet Hardy
  Torchic Hardy Rash
  Mudkip Rash Lonely
  Skitty Naive Zen Headbutt
  Turtwig Bold Timid
  Chimchar Naive Impish
  Piplup Impish Quirky
  Shinx Hasty Quick Attack
  Munchlax* Zen Headbutt
  Riolu Sassy Bite

After the player's hero Pokémon is determined, they then choose their partner Pokémon. Their choices of partner Pokémon are any of the Pokémon shown above, but they must be a different type to the player character. Meowth and Munchlax are only available as partner Pokémon.

Non-player characters

Main article: List of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky characters

Guild

 
Wigglytuff and Chatot
  • Wigglytuff - Leader of the Wigglytuff Guild.
  • Chatot - Chatot is Wigglytuff's assistant, whom assigns jobs to the guild as a whole on a daily basis, as well as taking charge when Wigglytuff dozes off.
  • Loudred - This Pokémon guards the guild entrance gate and wakes up the player in the morning.
  • Diglett - Diglett assists Loudred; he identifies visitors by examining their footprints.
  • Dugtrio - Diglett's father; Calm and trustworthy, Dugtrio keeps the bulletin board current with the latest jobs.
  • Chimecho - Chimecho runs the Chimecho Assembly and summons guild members when it's time to eat.
  • Croagunk - Croagunk runs the guild's swap shop.
  • Sunflora - Sunflora is the senior member of the apprentices and is always happy and seems to cheer people up easily. She is optimistic and keeps a journal by her bedside.
  • Corphish - Corphish is very high-spirited and is usually quick to trust the player in high-stress situations. He has a tendency to start nearly all of his sentences with the phrase "Hey, hey!".
  • Bidoof - Bidoof is the previous newest guild member, prior to the player's arrival. He, too, keeps a journal at his bedside. Bidoof also has a habit of saying "yup yup" and "by golly," similar to Corphish's manner of speaking.

Treasure Town

  • Kangaskhan - As in previous Mystery Dungeon series, she will store items in Kangaskhan Storage for the player, though this time around there is a storage limit.
  • Xatu - Xatu will tell you what's in your Treasure Box - for a price.
  • Kecleon - As in previous Mystery Dungeon series, they run two shops, one for consumables, one for Wonder Orbs and TMs.
  • Duskull - Operates the Duskull Bank, where the player can store their extra cash, replacing the Felicity Bank run by Persian.
  • Electivire - Electivire will link moves and allow the player to relearn forgotten moves, taking the place of Gulpin.
  • Chansey - Chansey runs the Day Care, and she is happy to take care of your Egg until it hatches!
  • Marowak - Marowak runs the dojo where you can train and improve your battle skills, taking the place of Makuhita.
  • Magnezone - When you capture Pokémon fugitives, deliver them to Magnezone, the town sheriff.

Exploration Teams

Bosses

While most of the Bosses in this game are the standard legendaries, there are some average Pokémon added to the mix. Unlike previous Mystery Dungeon games, the player may encounter multiple opponents that appear in certain dungeons. These are the list of boss battles are the following Dungeon based on the storyline order.

Bosses Level Dungeon
Main Story
 
 
Koffing and Zubat 6
3
Beach Cave (Pit)
  Drowzee 12 Mt. Bristle (Peak)
  Groudon (Fake) 30 Steam Cave (16F)
 
 
Manectric and Electrike ×8
Amp Plains tribes
33
18
Amp Plains (20F)
  Mesprit 18 Quicksand Cave (B21F)
  Grovyle 44 Crystal Crossing (B14F)
  Spiritomb 37 Sealed Ruin (Deep)
 
 
Kabutops
Omastar ×2
42
35
Brine Cave (Lower)
 
 
Dusknoir
Sableye ×6
45
38
Hidden Land (Old Ruins)
  Primal Dialga 48 Temporal Tower (Pinnacle)
Post-Story
  Uxie 42 Steam Cave (16F)
  Mesprit 42 Quicksand Cave (B21F)
  Azelf 42 Crystal Crossing (B14F)
  Dialga 48 Temporal Tower (Pinnacle)
  Wigglytuff
Wigglytuff's Guild
50 Mystifying Forest (14F)
  Froslass 41 Crevice Cave (Pit)
  Gyarados 46 Deep Miracle Sea (4F)
 
 
 
Regigigas
Hitmonlee ×4
Bronzong ×4
49
35
35
Aegis Cave Pit
(Regigigas's Chamber)
  Palkia 48 Spacial Rift (Bottom)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Darkrai
Aggron
Arbok
Magcargo
Magmortar
Mismagius
Rhyperior
53
36
36
36
36
35
36
Dark Crater (Bottom)

Connectivity

This game is capable of trading items with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness. Rescues may also be carried out between the three. If a rescue mail is sent from Sky to Time or Darkness, the mail will appear to have come from either Time or Darkness.

Reception

Gaming magazine Famitsu gave Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky a score of 35 out of 40.[6] IGN rated the game a "Bad" 4.9/10.[7] It holds a rating of 55.84% on GameRankings, based on 19 reviews.[8]

Sales

As of March 31, 2010, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky has sold 1.40 million copies worldwide.[9]

Japanese sales

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky sold 141,771 units on its first week on the Japanese market, with a sell-through of 39.28%. By January 2, 2011, the end of its 90th week, it had sold 411,649 copies.

Week Week ending Ranking Units sold Total units sold
1 April 19, 2009 1st 141,771 141,771
2 April 26, 2009 2nd 54,413 196,184
3 May 3, 2009 5th 42,950 239,134
4 May 10, 2009 1st 44,012 283,146
5 May 17, 2009 4th 15,569 298,715
6 May 24, 2009 7th 12,082 310,797
7 May 31, 2009 14th - -
8 June 7, 2009 11th - -
9 June 14, 2009 11th - -
10 June 21, 2009 11th - -
11 June 28, 2009 24th - -
12 July 5, 2009 22nd - -
13 July 12, 2009 20th - -
14 July 19, 2009 20th - -
15 July 26, 2009 29th - -
16 August 2, 2009 44th - -
17 August 9, 2009 44th - -
18 August 16, 2009 40th - -
38 January 3, 2010 39th - 400,755
90 January 2, 2011 - - 411,649

Staff

Main article: Staff of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky

Gallery

Virtual Console icons

Trivia

In other languages

Language Title
  French Pokémon Donjon Mystère: Explorateurs du Ciel
  German Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Erkundungsteam Himmel
  Italian Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Esploratori del Cielo
  Spanish Pokémon Mundo misterioso: Exploradores del cielo

References



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