The Nintendo 64 classic Pokémon Stadium is now available on Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers can finally get their hands on Pokémon Stadium, now included in the service. Joining other classics like GoldenEye 007 and Super Mario 64, Pokémon Stadium is part of the growing list of Nintendo 64 titles for Nintendo Switch.
Rather than being available as a one-time purchase, Pokémon Stadium is part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, a premium subscription service from Nintendo that includes a range of exciting benefits. Although its library of games pales in comparison to games like Xbox Game Pass, the addition of Pokémon Stadium will probably catch the eye of more than one.
That being said, the latest incarnation of Pokémon Stadium has several changes; some are welcome and some are not. Like GoldenEye 007 before it, Pokémon Stadium will include online functionality in a way that was simply unachievable when it first released in 2000. Players can compete online and even enjoy the title's fun mini-games together.
Unfortunately, it's not all rainbows and sunshine. The modern gaming landscape means that players will be missing out on one of Pokémon Stadium's most beloved features. In the past, players could use special hardware called a Transfer Pak to bring Pokémon from their handheld games to Pokémon Stadium. Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch version of the game does not offer an equivalent system for importing your favorite 'mons'. Given that the technology that initially facilitated this feature is over 20 years old, the omission is understandable, but that's not to say it won't leave a hint of disappointment.
like no one has ever been
In 2000, Pokémon Stadium was an experience like no other. It was beyond impressive to see your 2D sprite teams done 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 to Pokémon Stadium 2, a title that Nintendo also promised to give it the Nintendo Switch treatment.
My brother and I spent the summer hours battling our chosen monsters in the cinematic arena provided by Pokémon Stadium. As enjoyable as it is to see the explorable 3D words and visually appealing battles in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the ambition of Pokémon Stadium first introduced the possibility of a 3D Pokémon cinematic experience.
The chance to revisit this title is a real treat for fans and can serve as a much-needed boost to the enjoyable but fragmented library in the Nintendo Switch Online+ expansion pack. Although the days of Transfer Paks are long gone, the ability to play online ensures that Pokémon Stadium still has a lot to offer, even two decades after its initial release.