Pokémon Stadium releases on Nintendo Switch without its best feature
Circus maximus
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Nintendo 64 classicPokémon Stadiumis now available on Nintendo Switch.
Subscribers toNintendo Switch Online + Expansion Packcan finally get their hands onPokémon Stadium, which is now included in the service. Joining other classics likeGoldenEye 007andSuperMario64,Pokémon Stadiumis part of theNintendo Switch’s growing roster of Nintendo 64 titles.
Rather than being available as a one-time purchase,Pokémon Stadiumis part of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, apremium subscription service from Nintendothat includes a range of exciting perks. Though its library of games pales in comparison to the likes ofXbox Game Pass, the addition ofPokémon Stadiumwill likely turn more than a few heads.
That said,Pokémon Stadium’s latest incarnation has several changes; some welcome and others not so much. LikeGoldenEye 007before it,Pokémon Stadiumwill include online functionality in a way that was simply unfeasible back when it was first released in 2000. Players can battle one another online and even enjoy the title’sdaft mini-gamestogether if they choose.
Unfortunately, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. The modern gaming landscape means players will miss out on one ofPokémon Stadium’s most beloved features. Back in the day, players could use a special piece of hardware called the Transfer Pak to bring Pokémon from their handheld games intoPokémon Stadium. Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch version of the game offers no equivalent system for importing your favorite ‘mons. Given the technology that initially facilitated this feature is over 20 years old, the omission is understandable, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t leave a pang of disappointment.
Like no one ever was
Back in 2000,Pokémon Stadiumwas an unprecedented experience. It was beyond mind-blowing to see your teams of 2D sprites realized on your TV in all their 3D glory. The Transfer Pak was a big part of that. To this day, I fondly remember seeing my Typhlosion on the big screen thanks toPokémon Stadium 2– a title which Nintendo has also promised to give the Nintendo Switch treatment.
My brother and I would while away summer hours, battling our chosen monsters in the cinematic arena offered byPokémon Stadium. As enjoyable as it is to see the explorable 3D words and visually appealing battles inPokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon Stadium’s ambition first introduced the possibility of a 3D, cinematic Pokémon experience.
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The chance to revisit this title is a real treat for fans and may serve as a much-needed boost to the enjoyable yet fragmented Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack library. Though the days of Transfer Paks may be long gone, the capacity for online gameplay ensures thatPokémon Stadiumstill has a lot to offer, even two decades after its initial launch.
An editor and freelance journalist, Cat Bussell has been writing about video games for more than four years and, frankly, she’s developed a taste for it. As seen on TechRadar, Technopedia, The Gamer, Wargamer, and SUPERJUMP, Cat’s reviews, features, and guides are lovingly curated for your reading pleasure.
A Cambridge graduate, recovering bartender, and Cloud Strife enjoyer, Cat’s foremost mission is to bring you the best coverage she can, whether that’s through helpful guides, even-handed reviews, or thought-provoking features. She’s interviewed indie darlings, triple-A greats, and legendary voice actors, all to help you get closer to the action. When she’s not writing, Cat can be found sticking her neck into a fresh RPG or running yet another Dungeons & Dragons game.
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