
Pokedex 3D is a free download from the 3DS e-shop.
Pokemon has been a worldwide phenomenon side the original Red and Green versions launched in Japan over 15 years ago. It has spawned a never ending anime, trading card games, toys, posters and any kind of merchandise you could imagine. The franchises sports over 600 creatures through 5 generations of games, that are called “pocket monsters” or Pokemon for short. The games are unique RPGs- focusing on collecting and training different Pokemon to battle teams of other Pokemon, usually involving a lot of strategy and many hours of dedication into breeding your Pokemon into battling machines.
From inception until the current day, all of the main series games have been sprite based. In the newest games- Pokemon Black and White for the Nintendo DS- Game Freak has started utilizing 3D models for buildings and towns- however the character models of trainers and Pokemon are still animated sprites. With the release of Pokedex 3D, a free application available for the Nintendo 3DS e-shop fans now can view all of the newest Pokemon rendered in 3D models and viewable with 3D graphics.
However, just like in the games you do not get a full Pokedex from the start. From the beginning your Pokedex will only contain 16 Pokemon. There are a few different ways to acquire the others. Pokemon can be added to your Pokedex by getting a StreetPass, scanning a Pokemon’s QR code, downloaded through SpotPass, or traded wirelessly with a friend.
Each Pokemon is fully animated, and by pressing the A button- they will perform a special animation. The Pokedex can also be a useful tool for Pokemon breeders and Pokemon buffs. The Pokedex will show each creature’s stats in a bar that goes from 1 to 10, as well as listing the height, weight, egg group, abilities, evolutions, and all possible moves (along with the moves, information- such as type, power, accuracy, and PP). If you select a move- it will take you a page that shows you all of the Pokemon capable of learning that move.
Pokedex 3D also provides search options, allowing your search for Pokemon by name, type, egg group, ability, and moves. By pressing the gear option in the upper right hand corner of the bottom screen you can bring up the options menu- including a favorites menu for quick access to the Pokemon you love. There is an option to use the Pokemon in a similar fashion to the AR cards provided with the system. Also in the options, is the ability to customize the background of the Pokemon viewer, color scheme options for the menus, various languages, developer credits, and the update feature-which you should always run after receiving new Pokemon, as it adds a pause button that you may press to freeze the Pokemon during their special animation.
Pokedex 3D is a great tool for Pokemon fans, not only because of its useful information all in one location, but because it is a very charming application that lets you see your favorite new Pokemon come to life in three-dimensions like ever before. All in all this is a handy, and fun application for the Nintendo 3DS, and since it is available for free on the e-shop, any fan even only slightly interested in the series should take the time to at least experiment with a fun application.
UPDATE:
With the release of Pokedex 3D Pro the original Pokedex 3D is unneeded. It includes all Pokemon pre-XY, unlocked from the start, with a greater depth, and more information than the original release.Unlike Pokedex 3D, the pro version is not free, so bear that in mind. However, Pokedex 3D remains available for download on the eShop as a curiosity for you to download.