Pokémon Ranger series
The Pokémon Ranger series (Japanese: ポケモンレンジャー Pokémon Ranger) is a series of action adventure spin-off games developed by Creatures for the Nintendo DS. The series comprises a total of three different games, and has been expanded into several manga and several anime specials.
History
The first game in the series, Pokémon Ranger, was released in 2006. As the last game released during Generation III, it primarily features Pokémon available in that generation, but like the other Ranger games, it can communicate with the Generation IV core series games to transfer over the Manaphy Egg. The movie Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea was released a few months later to promote the game. The manga Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission, set in the canon of Pokémon Adventures, was also based on the game. In addition, a Pokémon Ranger was featured in the sixty-second chapter of the Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire manga.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia is the second game in the Pokémon Ranger series, and was released in 2008. The game primarily features Pokémon from Generation IV. A two-part anime special consisting of Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Part 1 and Part 2 featuring the game's male protagonist aired near the game's release as part of the main anime series. Darkrai Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger Vatonage - the Comic is a manga adaptation based upon the game.
Released in 2010, Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs is the third and final game in the series. A two-part anime special was aired to promote the game. An episode featuring the game's male protagonist titled Pokémon Ranger: Heatran Rescue! aired as part of the main series.
Gameplay
In all three games, the player, a Pokémon Ranger under the command of the Ranger Union, uses a Capture Styler to befriend Pokémon and use them to help capture other Pokémon or clear obstacles. The player goes on Ranger Missions, tasks assigned to them from a Ranger Base or the Ranger Union itself, encountering people who abuse Pokémon along the way. Eventually, the player confronts the villainous team and foils their plans.
List of games
| Gen. | Image | Title | Japanese title | Platform | Release date | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | North America | Europe | Australia | Taiwan | |||||
| III | 
|
Pokémon Ranger | ポケモンレンジャー Pokémon Ranger |
Nintendo DS | March 23, 2006 | October 30, 2006 | April 13, 2007 | December 7, 2006 | March 23, 2006 |
| Wii U Virtual Console | April 13, 2016 | July 21, 2016 | February 25, 2016 | February 26, 2016 | — | ||||
| IV | 
|
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia | ポケモンレンジャー バトナージ Pokémon Ranger Vatonage |
Nintendo DS | March 20, 2008 | November 10, 2008 | November 21, 2008 | November 13, 2008 | March 20, 2008 |
| Wii U Virtual Console | July 27, 2016 | August 4, 2016 | June 9, 2016 | June 9, 2016 | — | ||||
| IV | 
|
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs | ポケモンレンジャー 光の軌跡 Pokémon Ranger: Traces of Light |
Nintendo DS | March 6, 2010 | October 4, 2010 | November 5, 2010 | November 25, 2010 | March 6, 2010 |
| Wii U Virtual Console | August 3, 2016 | August 18, 2016 | June 9, 2016 | June 9, 2016 | — | ||||
List of animated adaptations
Movie
| Movie | English cover | English title | English release | American distributor | Japanese title | Japanese release | Japanese distributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 
|
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea | March 23, 2007 | VIZ Media / Warner Bros. | ポケモンレンジャーと 蒼海の王子 マナフィ Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy The Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea |
July 15, 2006 | Toho |
| Summary: When the egg of a legendary Pokémon, Manaphy, with ties to an ancient water-based civilization, falls into the hands of a pirate, a Pokémon Ranger entrusts the egg to Ash and his friends—specifically May. May must keep the egg safe until it hatches, and afterward, make sure Manaphy does not fall into the hands of the Phantom, lest Samiya be lost to the seafloor and Manaphy lose its home. | |||||||
Episodes
| Code | Screenshot | English title | Japanese title | US broadcast | Japan broadcast | Time between |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AG155 | 
|
The Green Guardian | ポケモンレンジャー登場！セレビィ救出作戦！ Pokémon Ranger Appears! Celebi Rescue Mission! |
October 7, 2006 | December 8, 2005 | 303 days |
| AG171 | 
|
Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys' Crisis! (Part 1) | ポケモンレンジャー！デオキシス・クライシス！！(前編) Pokémon Ranger! Deoxys Crisis!! (Part 1) |
October 28, 2006 | April 13, 2006 | 198 days |
| AG172 | 
|
Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys' Crisis! (Part 2) | ポケモンレンジャー！デオキシス・クライシス！！(後編) Pokémon Ranger! Deoxys Crisis!! (Part 2) |
October 28, 2006 | April 13, 2006 | 198 days |
| DP071 | 
|
Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 1) | ポケモンレンジャー！波導のリオル！！ （前編） Pokémon Ranger! The Wave-Guiding Riolu!! (Part 1) |
November 1, 2008 | March 20, 2008 | 226 days |
| DP072 | 
|
Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 2) | ポケモンレンジャー！波導のリオル！！ （後編） Pokémon Ranger! The Wave-Guiding Riolu!! (Part 2) |
November 8, 2008 | March 20, 2008 | 233 days |
| * | 
|
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (Part 1) | ポケモンレンジャー 光の軌跡＜前編＞ Pokémon Ranger: Traces of Light (Part 1) |
November 10, 2010 | February 28, 2010 | 255 days |
| * | 
|
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (Part 2) | ポケモンレンジャー 光の軌跡＜後編＞ Pokémon Ranger: Traces of Light (Part 2) |
November 10, 2010 | March 7, 2010 | 248 days |
| DP169 | 
|
Pokémon Ranger: Heatran Rescue! | ポケモンレンジャー！ヒードラン救出作戦！！ Pokémon Ranger! Heatran Rescue Mission!! |
October 16, 2010 | March 18, 2010 | 212 days |
List of manga adaptations
| Image | English title | Japanese title | Volumes | Chapters | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea | ポケモンレンジャーと蒼海の王子 マナフィ Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy |
1 | 4 | An adaptation of the ninth Pokémon movie, Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. |
|
ポケモンレンジャーと蒼海の王子 マナフィ Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy (short manga) |
A short adaptation of the ninth Pokémon movie, Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. | |||
|
ポケモンバトル:ピカチュウのわくわく大ぼうけん Pokémon Battle: Pikachu's Big Exciting Adventure |
0 | An adaptation of the Pokémon anime. One chapter is an adaptation of The Green Guardian. | ||
|
Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire | ポケットモンスターR・S(ルビーサファイア) Pocket Monster R S (Ruby and Sapphire) |
6 | 63 2 special chapters |
A shōnen gag manga featuring the adventures of an inept Trainer and his rude Clefairy on their journeys throughout the Pokémon world.
One of its chapters, Let's Go After The Pokémon Ranger!, features a Pokémon Ranger with a Capture Styler. |
|
Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission | W ミッションストーリ ポケモンレンジャー the Comic W Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger - the Comic |
0 | 5 | An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger available online to members of the Pokémon Daisuki Club. |
|
ダークライ ミッションストーリ ポケモンレンジャー バトナージ Darkrai Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger Vatonage - the Comic |
0 | 4 | An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia available online to members of the Pokémon Daisuki Club. | |
|
出動！！ポケモンレンジャー Mobilize!! Pokémon Ranger |
0 | 13 | An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger's storyline. | |
|
ポケモンレンジャー－Ｔｈｅ １ｓｔ ミッション－ Pokémon Ranger -The 1st Mission- |
0 | 1 | An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger's storyline. | |
|
ポケモンレンジャー“キャプチャ”マスターへの道 Pokémon Ranger: The Road to a "Capture" Master |
0 | An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger's storyline. | ||
|
ポケモンレンジャー バトナージ～トップレンジャーへの道～ Pokémon Ranger Vatonage: The Road to Top Ranger |
0 | An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia's storyline. | ||
|
ポケモンレンジャーバトナジ:まんがでミッションクリア Pokémon Ranger Vatonage: Mission Clear |
0 | An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia's storyline. | ||
|
ポケモンレンジャー オブリビアの勇者 Pokémon Ranger: Hero of Oblivia |
0 | An adaptation of Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs's storyline. |
Discontinuation
No further games in the series have been released after the release of Pokémon Black and White and the start of Generation V. However, location data and Wonder Card data for the Ranger games exist in the code of the Generation V games, which may mean that a Ranger game could still have been released in Generation V. This placeholder data does not exist in the Generation VI games.
Trivia
- None of the Pokémon Ranger games have been released in South Korea.
- However, Pokémon Ranger games from other regions can still communicate with Korean Generation IV core series games.
- In the core series games, the met location that displays as Pokémon Ranger in other regions is displayed in Korean games as 다른 지방 dareun jibang.
In other languages
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This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames. |
