Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia: Difference between revisions

|boxart=Ranger SoA EN boxart.jpg

|developer=[[HAL Laboratory]]<br>[[Creatures, Inc.]]

|gen_series=[[Generation IV]] [[version|side series]]

Special missions can be downloaded from the Nintendo Wi-Fi service by using the [[Ranger Net]].

* The game can utilize the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for unlocking both special and extra missions, but only for a limited period of time. They won't work for different regions, only the specific game version when the event is held.  

The game starts at the [[Ranger School]], with the player enrolling as a student after expertly capturing a {{p|Pikachu}}. The player quickly makes friends with two of classmates, [[Rhythmi]] who dreams of being an Operator, and [[Keith]], a rival, who dreams of becoming a Top Ranger. After the player and Keith nearly discover what [[Kincaid|Mr. Kincaid]], a teacher, is doing in the basement, Mr. Kincaid seals it off from all students. Both the player and Keith show strong potential as Rangers, and graduate with full honors after defeating two {{p|Tangrowth}} at their graduation ceremony. The player stays in Almia, while Keith and Rhythmi go to [[Fiore]] as part of their training. The player's family moves into a nearby town known as [[Chicole Village]], and the player goes to live with them.

The next day, the player becomes an Area Ranger in the local village of [[Vientown]]. After recovering a Partner Pokémon at the beach, the player begins his/her first major mission by patrolling a nearby cave. The Pokémon inside the cave are unusually aggressive and resistant to capture by the Ranger's styler. At the back of the cave, the player finds a strange machine (later called a [[Gigaremo]]) that appears to be controlling the Pokémon. The rangers promptly destroy the device, freeing the Pokémon, and begin researching its abilities. Subsequently, the rangers discover that the Gigaremos are being set up by Team Dim Sun, suggesting wider criminal activities. The player travels to the Ranger Union, the headquarters of all Ranger operations in Almia, to warn the Rangers about the Gigaremo. On the way, the player sees [[Altru Inc.]], a powerful oil company that is building a massive tower in the center of the Almia region.

Soon afterward, the player is informed of a fire in the [[Vien Forest]], north of Vientown. After going into the forest, the player will have to capture a {{p|Blastoise}} and use its {{m|Rain Dance}} move to douse the fire. Afterwards, the player is congratulated on how well he/she has done, and can progress onto the city on the other end of the Vien Forest-[[Pueltown]].

A few days later, the player is sent on a mission to retrieve his/her missing team leader, [[Barlow]]. Barlow was last seen in [[Boyleland]] investigating a volcanic cave. The player will have to go to Pueltown and take a boat to Boyleland. Deep inside the cave, the player finds members of Team Dim Sun deploying new Miniremo devices to control all of the Pokémon on the island. The player dodges the guards and learns that Barlow has been captured and is being placed on a ship along with the Pokémon. The player sneaks on board, locates Barlow, and the two launch an assault on the ship's bridge. Although Barlow's Styler is destroyed in the ensuing attack, the player forces Team Dim Sun, including its leader, Mr. Kincaid, to abandon the ship, saving all of Boyleland's Pokémon. The ship crashes into the yard of the Ranger School, never to sail again.

Recognizing the threat posed by Team Dim Sun, the Ranger Union promptly promotes the player to the rank of [[Top Ranger]]. At the Union, the player discovers that Keith has also been promoted to Top Ranger, and that Rhythmi has achieved her dream of becoming a Top Operator, where she serves as the player's guide. During the player's first mission as a Top Ranger, he helps another Top Ranger, named [[Sven]], to investigate a Dim Sun mining operation in the Chroma Ruins, east of the Ranger Union. They discover that Dim Sun is searching for dark crystals for powering the Gigaremo devices.  

Shadows of Almia received mixed reviews in the press. It was described as being "more accessible and enjoyable than its predecessor" by Official Nintendo Maganzine UK<ref>[http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=6507 Official Nintendo Magazine]</ref> and as "a no-nonsense fun game" by N-Europe Magazine.<ref>[http://www.n-europe.com/review.php?rid=428 N-Europe Magazine]</ref> However, it was criticized for its similarities to the original Pokémon Ranger, with IGN commenting that "for the Pokémon fans that already got their fix two years ago, this isn't necessary"<ref>[http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/929/929109p1.html IGN]</ref> and GamePro stating that "there's nothing compelling or new enough."<ref>[http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/208296/pokemon-ranger-shadows-of-almia/ GamePro]</ref> The game received an average score of 67% on [http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ds/pokemonrangershadowsofalmia Metacritic], 2% lower than the first Pokémon Ranger.