Pokémon has been making the headlines very often these past couple months. The announcement of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y for the 3DS have brought fans to their knees crying for more information. Hopefully new images and video will surface soon, but in the meantime, North American Pokémaniacs will have to settle for a different game. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity is the first from the series to grace the 3DS and there’s more content in this one than even a Master Ball can contain.
As in previous Mystery Dungeon games, you play as a group of Pokémon who explore dungeons and complete quests for other Pokémon. In Gates to Infinity, there are over 20 areas to explore, each filled with treasures, traps, danger and surprises. Each location has different types of terrain and Pokémon to battle, who may want to join your team after being defeated — it’s always good to make new friends — and ones like Trubbish or Venipede could certainly help you out if Poisonous gas became a problem.
Speaking of friends — you can play with up to four other people and explore caves together. You’ll be able to choose any Pokémon from your team to use, not just your starter. In the single-player story mode even more mysteries can be revealed with use of the 3DS’ built-in camera. This augmented reality feature will show you Magnagates which are entrances leading to new dungeons. Just scan anything you can find, it can be a basketball or your socks. You never know where a Magnagate is hidden, you gotta scan’em all!
Not every creature has been included in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity. Since it will be released after Pokémon Black and White, it will feature many Pokémon of that generation. Some such as Sawk and Throh, however, have been left out while older Pokémon like Quagsire and Dunsparce take their place. Even though some are missing, there are plenty of Pokémon to fill the gaps (over 600) that may show up in the DLC, Poké Forest Mystery Dungeon or be available free at launch. Released in Japan a few months ago, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity comes to the U.S. on March 24, 2013 in retail stores and on the Nintendo eShop,.
