Pokémon Dream Radar Review

What would you get if you combined the classic Nintendo 64 title Pokémon Snap with the more recent pre-installed 3DS software Face Raiders? Probably something along the lines of Pokémon Dream Radar on the 3DS. PDR, as it shall now be known as, isn’t entirely a game though, it’s more of an application. Better yet, it’s a nifty companion tool for owners of Black & White 2 developed by Creatures Inc. and Game Freak.

Although Pokémon Dream Radar is about as essential as the PokéWalker was to HeartGold and SoulSilver, this doesn’t mean it’s a complete waste of time. Much like the PokéWalker, players who regularly use the Dream Radar will be greatly rewarded, gaining more items (such as berries and shards) and of course, Pokémon. In total, there are 21 different Pokémon to be acquired, and that’s not including the five unlockable legendaries available if you load up a Gen IV cart (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HG or SS). Within the 21 are also new Formes of Thuderous, Landourus and Tornadus. And if you’re still not sold on the idea, to top it off, PDR features a bit of storytelling on the side (putting the whole Dream Radar thing in perspective) along with some minor levelling and collection features.

As the player, you take on the role of Professor Burnet’s assistant. If that name doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because Professor Burnet makes her debut as a Pokémon researcher in Dream Radar. Your job is to help her research the Pokémon Interdream Zone (the space between dreams and reality). From here you’re required to move the 3DS about (similar to the way you would have in Face Raiders) and clear the area of Dream Clouds. When the clouds disperse they leave behind Dream Orbs (in-game currency, basically), items or occasionally provide a surprise Pokémon encounter. If this occurs, you’re then given the opportunity to capture it. Like the other actions, this is achieved by taking aim and tapping the A button.

Once the basics are sorted, you’re free to shoot Dream Clouds and purchase or level-up equipment to your heart’s content… well almost. Like many other 3DS applications, Dream Radar limits activity. This means users can’t just jump straight in, capture a million Pokémon, max out their gear and then leave again in one go. This is where PDR becomes more of a companion tool than a standalone game.

At first, there is a limited amount of Dream Clouds (15 to be precise). Once you’ve collected the Pokémon, items or Dream Orbs within all of them, Professor Burnet explains new clouds take up to 70 minutes to reappear. This means progress is often limited to short sessions, meaning certain items take a while to save up for, and levelling equipment can take even longer. Like other 3DS applications though, PDR allows the use of Play Coins. These can be used to speed up the overall process. Provided you have enough on hand, PDR allows you to use Play Coins three times (five coins are required per session) a day to make Dream Clouds reappear instantly. This will get you back in action, capturing legendaries and finding more items. Overall though, PDR is rather encouraging of daily grind sessions.

Adding an extra layer of complexity to Pokémon Dream Radar is equipment levelling, search extensions and small collection features. In the main menu, players can access the Development Lab to upgrade their equipment or try out some new inventions. All the equipment starts at level 1 and requires only a small amount of orbs to upgrade at first. Players can upgrade their beam power to better their chances of catching Pokémon, enhance the Visoscope to increase the number of Dream Clouds or improve their energy pack –increasing the amount of time provided to catch Pokémon. Eventually the upgrades require more orbs, time and effort. Besides the main upgrades, there are also a few single use items. The Vortex Charge holds Pokémon in place making them easier to catch, while the Dragnet Charge slows down their movements temporarily. Then there’s the Energy Charge which replenishes the energy used while catching a Pokémon. These items cost 50 orbs, and are available from the Development Lab whenever needed. The “extensions” as they’re referred to by Professor Burnet, are devices designed to alter your Dream Radar experiences. Outside of the free basic extension (which is an all-round search function), other extensions require Dream Orbs to power them. These other extensions take time to unlock but offer bonuses such as increasing the chance of Pokémon encounters. Similar to the other features, search extensions add an extra layer of depth and longevity to Dream Radar.

When you’ve got your head around PDR’s mechanics, you’ll be able to transfer your new items and Pokémon across to your copy of Black or White 2 (or one of the other games if required).  The process couldn’t be much easier either. You select the send research data option from the main menu and then tap A to transfer it. From this point, you boot up your copy of Pokémon and select Unova Link to move your new Pokémon and items into your PC Box and backpack. Up to 6 Pokémon and 6 different items can be transferred at once (12 in total not including legendary Pokémon transfers or duplicate items).

The entire Dream Radar experience is backed up nicely with slick menu design, great visuals and new, but at the same time, slightly familiar Pokémon music and sounds. Thankfully the 3D is disabled too. Due to the nature of PDR, players are required to spin around. Anyone who played Face Raiders would know it’s not pleasant moving about and continually losing focus of the 3D. This was probably a tough call for Creatures Inc. and Game Freak to make, but ultimately a better one. It’s also a sign Nintendo is becoming more aware of how to use 3D appropriately. Speaking of Face Raiders, it’s a comparable representation of the visual experience within Dream Radar. The 3DS camera lens captures your surrounding environment while the AR technology allows you to shoot 3D clouds, orbs and the occasional legendary Pokémon. The sound adds to the package with battle cries of the legendaries and also regular Pokémon once you’ve caught them.  Besides this, the background music does what it should, and all the other devices and equipment sound as they probably should – adding just that little bit more excitement to the experience.

Those considering purchasing Pokémon Dream Radar should not be fooled. This is neither a game nor a standalone 3DS application. Dream Radar is purely a support tool for Black and White 2. The PDR is as good as useless by itself, and it’s rather alarming Nintendo, Game Freak or Creatures Inc. haven’t bothered to highlight this on the eShop or within the radar itself. An unsuspecting person could easily purchase the PDR and get nothing out of it if they don’t own a main Pokémon title on the DS. Regardless of this, Pokémon Dream Radar is still an essential purchase for any Pokémon player out there. Nobody really needs it, but for the asking price of $3.90 it’s nothing more than some loose change. Pokémon Dream Radar will enrich your overall experience with the latest entries in the series, and is sure to keep you coming back to it for quite some time.