Pokémon Battle Revolution

Pokémon Battle Revolution (Japanese: ポケモンバトルレボリューション Pokémon Battle Revolution) is the first Pokémon game for the Wii. It supports connectivity with the Nintendo DS, allowing Trainers to battle using their Pokémon from the Generation IV main series games while using their Nintendo DS as a controller. It was released in Japan on December 14, 2006, two weeks after the Wii launch, and in the United States on June 25, 2007.

Gameplay
Pokémon Battle Revolution features eleven different colosseums in a new area called Pokétopia. Other features include stadiums that have their own special effects, such as randomizing the order of one's Pokémon.

Players can fully customize their to use on Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Players can customize their characters with hats, shirts, glasses, and other things. Additionally, for the U.S. release, Nintendo had added the option to customize a Trainer's skin pigmentation. A key difference from this game compared to the Stadium titles is that minigames are absent from this game. A Trainer can choose 6 Pokémon and get a Rental Pass; however, if Pokémon Diamond, Pearl,, HeartGold, or SoulSilver is connected, a player can upload their trained Pokémon and get a Custom Pass.

Key differences from other Pokémon console games shown are that the Pokémon can now actually strike at the opponent physically while both Pokémon are rendered on the screen, instead of seeing one attacking and then cutting away to the second getting hit by the attack as in previous titles. Moves that do not contact, however, follow the same style as the older games to keep the pace of gameplay up. When an attack that strikes more than one Pokémon is performed, it may hit two of them on screen simultaneously, instead of showing it as the attack striking one Pokémon first then the second Pokémon next. The game also features a 100-Trainer battle when it is completed for the first time.

Like the two Stadium games, Pokémon Battle Revolution features an announcer that provides play-by-play commentary.

Blurb
BRING YOUR BATTLE TO THE BIG SCREEN! Grab a Battle Pass, customise your Trainer and battle your way to the rank of Pokétopia Master! Or, battle against up to three friends with Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl using your Nintendo DS system as a controller!

Starter Pokémon
In Pokémon Battle Revolution, the player's starter Pokémon are determined by the gender specified on their Rental Pass or Custom Pass. They are all at level 50.

Male players start out with the following Pokémon:

Female players start out with the following Pokémon:

Colosseums
The game features eleven different colosseums, each with special changes to normal play or prerequisites and either a or. The six Colosseum Leaders wear Pokémon costumes; for example, Marina of the Waterfall Colosseum wears a Kyogre costume. Also, the Crystal Colosseum can hold up to 16 players, the battles are done in a 16-person tournament mode. After beating the Pokétopia Championship, the player is given a with, , and a Light Ball (such a Pikachu is impossible for a player to make by normal means). Each level rule (Level 30 Open and Level 50 All) for a Colosseum has a specific ranking, which goes up as the player wins. As the rank increases, the Trainers become stronger and the Poké Coupon rewards become greater. Around Rank 7, the Leaders and Trainers will begin to use Legendary Pokémon.

Shop
Using the Poké Coupons earned in Battle mode, the player can shop for Gear and Mystery Gifts.

Gear
Gear consists of hats, pants, shirts, bags, badges, glasses, hair colors, eye colors, face paint, shoes, and gloves which can be used to alter the outfit and appearance of the Trainer on the player's Custom Pass.

Mystery Gift
Poké Coupons can also be used to purchase items which can be sent to the Generation IV DS games. Some items are not available until certain conditions have been met.

Special
These gifts can be sent for free an unlimited number of times, but the same save file on a DS game cannot receive more than one of each.

Pikachu (Secret Gift)
When the player beats Pokétopia Master Mysterial for the first time, a will become available for download to, , and  in the Shop. It is free and can be downloaded by multiple games, but no two Pikachu can be downloaded by a single card.

Electivire (Shocking Secret Gift)
and the Gold Pass can be unlocked with the following codes by entering a specific code at the “Self-Introduction” option in the Profile menu.

Magmortar (Heated Secret Gift)
and the Silver Pass can be unlocked with the following codes by entering a specific code at the “Self-Introduction” option in the Profile menu.

Online functionality
Battle Revolution was the first Pokémon game on any home console to have online functionality. It used its own 12-digit friend code, separate from the Wii's code. This received widespread controversy, because the use of a Wii Number was believed to eliminate the need to have a friend code for each online game, as with DS Wi-Fi games; however, this is not the case, as subsequent releases have proven.

Once logged on, one had the option of battling random Wi-Fi matches, or with friends. When battling random Wi-Fi, one could only play using the level 50 all rule set, but could select Double or Single Battles (Double being the default). After selecting the preferred Colosseum and Trainer Card, the game would begin searching for an opponent and the battle would begin when one is found. During the battle, all Pokémon nicknames were removed and all Trainer quotes were set to their defaults. After the battle, one could exchange Friend Passes, but only if both parties were in agreement.

One could also battle friends, in which case, one could create a battle and modify all aspects of the rules (although custom rules could not be created and altered in the Wi-Fi mode itself, they could be changed in other modes before logging on) and Colosseum. From the friend lobby, players could see the current status of anyone on their friend list and join a battle they were hosting.

Online functionality for Pokémon Battle Revolution was shut down on May 20, 2014 with the discontinuation of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service.

Rules
The rules for battle could be modified in various ways: The following options were either yes/allow or no/disallow selections.
 * Level: The levels of the Pokémon allowed could be set to Anything Goes (No restriction), Level 50 All (levels were set to 50) or a custom range and level total (the maximum combined level allowed of the 6 Pokémon)
 * Entry Pokémon: How many Pokémon were used. Could be set from 1-6, or have no restriction, in which case players could enter as many or as few Pokémon as they wanted.
 * Time limit for one battle: No limit, or a range of 1-99 Minutes. Time continued counting down even during attack animations. When time ran out, the Trainer with the most Pokémon remaining was the winner.
 * Time limit for move selection: No limit, or a range of 20-99 Seconds. If a player ran out of time for move selection, the computer selected their moves for them.
 * Allow same Pokémon on a team?
 * Allow Pokémon with identical hold items?
 * Allow two or more Pokémon to be put to on the same team?
 * Allow two or more Pokémon to be on the same team?
 * If all Pokémon faint due to or, user loses? (If turned off, such a situation resulted in a draw rather than a victory for either side)
 * Should and  fail if used by a team's final Pokémon?
 * Fixed-damage moves like and  always fail?

Legendary Pokémon banning controversy
Due to the lack of clauses in online random multiplayer, Trainers with Legendary Pokémon ran rampant on the system, attracting controversy as to why Pokémon Battle Revolution was not using official Pokémon video game tournament rules—which ban Legendary Pokémon. However, on July 3, 2007, Legendary Pokémon (referred to as "exotic" Pokémon by the game) became banned from the system. Although it was originally speculated to be a glitch, a similar incident occurred on the same date regarding. The banning of these Pokémon has received a large amount of controversy from the community. A Nintendo representative later stated that the ban was a technical difficulty. The similar GTS problem was not addressed.

The ban was lifted sometime later, as Legendary Pokémon were then able to be used until the discontinuation of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Something similar happened to the American Alamos Darkrai given out at Toys "R" Us events. While the Japanese, the obtained from Newmoon Island by hacking, and the Darkrai from Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia worked fine, Alamos Darkrai was not allowed in online random multiplayer. This was fixed later on, and Alamos Darkrai were freely usable until the discontinuation of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Development and history
The game was first announced by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata at a Nintendo marketing event in Japan on June 7, 2006. At the event, Iwata described Wii-to-DS connectivity using the game as an example, stating that gamers with either Pokémon Diamond or Pearl can play battles using their Diamond or Pearl Pokémon to Pokémon Battle Revolution using their DS as a controller.

The first shown video of Pokémon Battle Revolution showcased a battle between Red and Leaf on what would become the Neon Colosseum. Interestingly, in said movie, a Groudon uses Hyper Beam on a Deoxys, not only defeating it, but leaving a large gash in the floor of the Colosseum, and a hole in the wall. It is unknown if these environment damages would have remained over the course of the battle, but no such thing is possible in the final game. The camera also appeared to be more dynamic than it is in the final game: when selecting its moves, the camera first focuses on the first Pokémon, then quickly pans over to the second Pokémon to select its moves, then pans over to the Trainer who is shown making an attack command, and the attacks begin. The camera simply cuts between these shots in the final game. The last difference is the HP meter that is shown on screen when damage is done. In the video, the numerical value of the HP is shown on the HP meter, however that does not happen in any game mode in the final version.

The DS linkup feature was demoed at 2006 Nintendo World Tour for the first time. As well as allowing Pokémon from a Pokémon Diamond or Pearl cartridge to be used in-game, it replaces the on-screen battle menu normally used in conjunction with the Wii Remote. The battle menu is displayed on the DS touchscreen instead, and is navigated with the stylus. Up to eight players can play in a 1-on-1 tournament, much like the 's Battle Dome in.

Compatibility
Battle Revolution is compatible with all handheld Generation IV games. However,, , and 's form changes introduced in Platinum will revert to their original form upon being copied over to the game, and the Spiky-eared Pichu will display as a normal Pichu. In addition, Rotom's stats will lower to those of Rotom's normal form, and it will temporarily forget its special move.

Reception
Pokémon Battle Revolution received mostly negative to lukewarm reviews, which eventually lead to the end of the game's production. has given this game a 5.0 out of 10 for many reasons. First, the website claimed, the game lacks many features demonstrated in previous games such as and Pokémon Colosseum, notably the  mode. The multiplayer and online battles were also criticized for lacking features such as tournament play. gave the game a 5.5 out of 10, their reasons being the repetitive gameplay and the barebones online play. It also added that if the player didn't have Pokémon Diamond or Pearl for the DS, there wasn't as much to do. gave this game a 6.5 out of 10.

Currently the game has an average of 53% on both and.

As of October 27th 2008, the game has sold 1.32 million copies worldwide.

Trivia

 * Rhyhorn is the only starter Pokémon in this game to be unevolved, and the only one that can evolve twice.
 * Pidgeot is the only starter Pokémon in this game to be fully evolved.
 * An unused music track exists in the game's data.
 * This was the first Pokémon game released for the Wii.