Pokémon Dash is the first Pokémon racing game, and is also the first Pokémon game for the Nintendo DS. In Japan, Europe and Australia, it was a launch title for the DS. It was developed by the same group behind Hey You, Pikachu!.
Gameplay
Using a stylus, the player can control a Pokémon and races to each checkpoint. After the racer has passed each of the number of checkpoints in order, they finish the course. When the person boots up the game for the first time, he is automatically directed to a training cup. After completing the training cup, the player has the chance to play in the Grand Prix Mode (GP mode). There are five main cups to compete in GP mode, as well as harder GP modes that can be unlocked that put the player against a faster level of Pokémon, similar to the Mario Kart Series. Each cup has five courses within its area. Pokémon Dash has many Pokémon, stages, and courses of different terrains to choose from. The player can link up to a maximum of six Nintendo DS.
GP Mode Cups
- Green Cup
- Green Fields
- Running Through
- Beach Path
- Footprint of Mankey
- Pikachu Island
- White Cup
- White Snow Land
- Trial Swamp
- Lake of Mystery
- Cracked Plains
- Luvdisc Island
- Blue Cup
- Zigzag Road
- Steering Stream
- Mud Plateau
- Star Lake
- Jirachi Mountain
- Yellow Cup
- Smeargle's Mark
- Lava Island
- Glacier Island
- Sand Island
- Pallet Island
- Red Cup
- Twiddle Meadow
- Heat Land
- Vortex Lagoon
- Freezing Spiral
- Pokémon Park Island
Playable Pokémon
In Pokémon Dash, you may play only as Pikachu in Single Player Mode. However, in 2 player you can still be Pikachu, but also race as other Pokémon.
- Pikachu
- Meowth
- Munchlax
- Bulbasaur
- Charmander
- Aipom
- Treecko
- Torchic
- Mudkip
- Jigglypuff
- Wynaut
- Pichu
- Teddiursa
- Marill
- Mightyena
- Blaziken
Backward compatibility
If the player has Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, LeafGreen or Emerald in the Game Boy slot, and completed GP mode, it is possible to upload your team to Pokémon Dash to race in courses shaped like the Pokémon that have been uploaded. The courses will randomly generate the checkpoint for each Pokémon. When playing each level, your Pokémon's name, and level will be stated, with the time you have to complete all 6 courses being equal (in seconds) to the combined levels of the uploaded team (with bonus time for using multiple Pokémon of the same type).
References
- Instruction manual for Pokémon Dash
- The review for Pokémon Dash on IGN
- Pokémon Dash offical Website
- Gamespy Pokémon Dash page