We are in a nebula, a space-time dimension foreign to us, multicolored and filled only by a distant sound, an echo of the tolling of bells that attract our attention and drop us in a decidedly suggestive atmosphere. No, don't worry, you didn't get the wrong review and we didn't drink our brains: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX begins in a slightly different way than usual, but the real surprise comes a few minutes from the beginning (for those who have not yet tried the Red and Blue version of 2005 of which this game is a remake). We cross our fingers, we hope that you are still in the dark and we do not anticipate anything, except that the proof of this new title for Nintendo Switch it was really beyond all expectations and here we are positively amazed in breathing a breath of fresh air in a franchise that has been proposing and serving up the usual plot for decades. Not this time. Let's find out what happened in this new journey!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX review - a new identity
A series of catastrophes is afflicting the Pokémon world, despite the colorful atmosphere, as usual, does not seem to highlight it. The world needs someone to save these poor defenseless animals and who is better suited than… us? But let's proceed in order and find out how to become a member of Rescue Team that will rescue Pokémon in danger! As we anticipated, the curtain opens with the accompaniment of almost spiritual music and invited to reflect on ourselves, starting with several questions to understand our personality, at the end of which a Pokémon is answered and assigned. Do not worry, nothing is imposed, apart from the choice of language at the beginning of the game, that is one of the few settings that we will not be able to change anymore. We were saying, therefore, you do not like the Pokémon attributed to you by the AI? You can change it by selecting your monster from a quite large roster (not the classic choice between three basic Pokémon) and above all including characters of different generations, from the first to the most recent ones. Among these we will not have to choose only the friend who will accompany us throughout the game, but also the so-called Pokémon screen, the one who follows us during the adventure and who will guide us along the way.
A Pokémon that teaches us lessons? And since when? Well, easy: since when we are Pokémon ourselves. That's right, the era of the choice between coach or trainer is over (but the one for which we must relegate our choice to the male or female gender, touché), starting from home to delve into the maze of the new life between gyms and the League. Pokémon. Now we see the world with different eyes and from a completely different perspective, that of our companions who for over twenty years we have closed in Poké Balls and put in our backpack. We have transformed into Pokémon, a sensation rarely experienced before and that leaves us speechless (while remaining silent during the dialogues with our other "similar" ones, as we are not yet able to express ourselves in their language).
At the time of the dungeons
Without further ado, let's go ahead and start playing, gradually discovering the mysterious dungeons which are also mentioned in the title, being the heart of this game. They are in fact dungeons that vary in conformation every time we enter them, as well as presenting within them enemies against which to fight and advance in level. We will have to delve into it whenever we have to deal with requests sent to us by Pokémon in danger, strictly arrived in our mailbox; yes, we will have a house to base ourselves on every time to rest and recover, a lovely abode in a wood, from which to leave for new adventures and missions, or to head to the nearby town and consult requests for help at the Pelipper post office. In fact, a sort of could not be missing city center, Where every business is run by Pokémon more indicated, such as Persian guarding the bank or Kangaskhan, and where we also find a Dojo where to train and prepare ourselves as best as possible to challenge opponents in dungeons.
Only missions and fights? Not always: although Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is mostly playable in single player, however, we will be able to help our friends (or receive help from them) thanks to connection to the Nintendo Switch Online service, by connecting from the post office with our companions via the SOS Portal. Every good deed, be it a help or a mission accomplished, is clearly rewarded with items and sums of money to empower us and improve the skills of our winning couple! We admit it, however: in the long run the missions, although they become clearly more complex and we may also want to get carried away by the desire to dedicate ourselves only to the leveling of travel companions, risk becoming quite repetitive and setting the software aside after a while time. A risk made more likely by some technical flaws ...
Discount
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue TEAM DX - Nintendo ...
- The game is based on the classics of the Pokémon mystery dungeon series, Pokémon mystery dungeon: Red Team and Pokémon ...
- State-of-the-art graphics and an enchanting picture book art style
New graphics, old habits
In fact, not everything that glitters is gold: if so far we have highlighted the merits and beauties of this game, we must point out some aspects that we liked a little less, for example the usual lack of touch mode, active only in some cases, such as to type the name of a Pokémon. For most of the gameplay the feature is not covered, alas. We also observe how much it is rich menu, both for game settings, and for the amount of guides, tips and help provided right from the start. The game manual, available at any time, is a real collection of useful information that is added as we progress through the story, to become a logbook, useful for every occurrence.
In this regard, however, we have noticed how Nintendo has struggled to shake off the need to "give lessons" to their players, leading them by the hand and following them almost slavishly during the gameplay. We came across an overabundance of notions and explanations which, while on the one hand contribute to making the game accessible by clearing any doubts about each function, on the other hand they make it quite difficult to manage, having to memorize everything and making us feel the blow of the game. verbosity of explanations and contents.
Other useful options are automatic exploration, so as not to waste time and go directly in search of objects scattered in the dungeon, while we explore moving with some difficulty linked to a partial woodiness of the controls: our Pokémon always move together on a map which involves movements on blocks, not allowing us to move smoothly, but almost jerky and often colliding with each other or stopping in battle, without allowing us to react and letting it be only our companion to fight. If we noticed some mechanical and not very fluid shots even in the moments of dialogue, we appreciated the continuity of action in the flow of gameplay when we run into some enemy. Therefore, the classic battle start curtain we were traditionally accustomed to is missing, as well as being able to view the enemy in advance, compared to the time when the law of randomness of encounters was still in force and, if we kept the map active on the screen, we see the red dot of the enemy, so we can choose whether to avoid him or face him by hurling our best moves.
Last, but absolutely important, is the graph; completely renovated and really appreciated of its kind, everything appears as designed with manual strokes in pencil and tempera on canvas, giving the feeling of playing with illustrations from a book and not with "simple" virtual creations. This style reminds us in part of what we have already experienced in Ōkami, another video game of clear Japanese derivation in style and content, to which the creators of this Pokémon title were definitely inspired to give life to a more suggestive and different product compared to the glossy and super colorful trend. A point, this, certainly in favor of a game that has not struggled to obtain our overall approval, except for some small and physiological flaws.
In conclusion…
At the dawn of 2020, Nintendo gave a fresh twist that allowed us to experience a new adventure, both in terms of game design and in terms of chosen graphics. Clearly, the Pokémon series has established a certain balance over time, making this universe a safe place, within reach of children and players who know they are embarking on a pleasant adventure and without any "risk" of running into adrenaline, turbulent or emotionally difficult moments to sustain. Well so, one consistency that is maintained once again, as well as“clean” and crystalline identity of a story that presents a variation on the theme, but without losing credibility or consistency with its cornerstones: genuine fun and colorful energy.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
Pro 
- New and striking graphics
- A gameplay with a new and much appreciated point of view
- Quiet adventure with good longevity
Cons 
- Some problems with fluidity in the movements
- Excessive prolixity of explanations and contents
- Game engine with not always excellent performances
