Pokemon has never shied away from experimenting with spin-off games alongside its mainline series. Had it not been for these efforts, iconic titles like Pokemon Mystery Dungeon or Pokemon Snap would never have come to be. While some spin-offs are seeing long-awaited revivals on Switch, one series, in particular, is still missing: Pokemon Ranger.
First released in 2006 by HAL Laboratory and Creatures Inc., Pokemon Ranger was one of several spin-offs that introduced novel controls using the DS touchscreen, and provided a different perspective on the Pokemon world. Its popularity garnered two more sequels through 2010, then the series fell silent. A Switch remaster of previous Ranger games would certainly be welcomed, but after a decade’s absence and several Pokemon generations, Pokemon Ranger could find its footing again by following Pokemon Legends' lead.
How Pokemon Ranger Could Follow Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Pokemon Legends: Arceus capitalized on the extensive history of the Pokemon universe, and its success leaves potential for future games. Already speculation is rampant about what a second entry into the Pokemon Legends line might look like and what new mechanics it would bring to the table, so Game Freak should take advantage of the situation.
Pokemon Ranger has always been an odd outlier for the series. Ditching Poke Balls in favor of Capture Stylers and Discs, players took on the role of people working in Ranger Unions, part of an organization dedicated to helping humans and Pokemon in times of crisis. It was a more altruistic take on the Pokemon series, not focused on collecting gym badges and beating the Elite Four, but instead on saving the day and assisting regular people with their troubles.
While a new game in this series could pick up where things left off, it would be more interesting to take a page out of Pokemon Legends: Arceus' book by dropping the player in a time when the Ranger organization has yet to form or is still in its infancy. Akin to the Galaxy Team from Pokemon Legends: Arceus, a new Ranger game could be filled with ancester characters and familiar locations from previous Pokemon titles while telling the story of how the first Ranger Unions formed.
How a Ranger-based Pokemon Legends Game Could Look
There are many opportunities presented in bringing a feudal Pokemon Ranger game to Switch. Initial concerns arise with translating game mechanics between the Switch and DS, but Pokemon has proven to be resourceful. Pokemon Ranger thrived using the DS touchscreen to control a Capture Disc that loops around Pokemon. The Switch still has touchscreen capabilities, but this would be a concern when transitioning between handheld and docked mode. Thankfully, possibilities exist with motion controls using the Switch’s Joy-Cons. While it might need some experimentation, there’s a wealth of control options to choose from.
Beyond game mechanics, a Pokemon Ranger game would benefit from an overhaul in design that takes lessons from Pokemon Legends: Arceus. The concept of pioneering on the frontier among wild Pokemon is in keeping with the ethos of Pokemon Ranger. In addition, Pokemon Ranger also has a history of monsters behaving abnormally, which could serve as a substitute for frenzied Noble and Alpha Pokemon to keep the formula consistent. The lesser focus on battles may also lend itself to more exploration and navigation of an open world.
As Pokemon Legends: Arceus was set in Hisui, which would later become the Sinnoh region, it would stand to reason that a feudal Pokemon Ranger game could revisit Fiore, Almia, or even Oblivia. Along with this, older Pokemon forms as well as newer generations could join the series, creating a vibrant new world for the would-be Ranger to explore. Certain details might need to be reworked to fit the new narrative, such as how Capture Stylers and Disks would exist outside of the modern day, but as mentioned, Pokemon is resourceful.
The Likelihood of Pokemon Ranger Returning
While Legends: Arceus could lay the groundwork for a new take on the Pokemon Ranger series, no official news has been released or even leaked about new Rangers game as of this writing. Though Creatures, Inc. is still working on current Pokemon games, including spin-offs, HAL Laboratory has been far more occupied with continuing its Kirby franchise. It would potentially require both studios to reunite for a new Pokemon Ranger, though this might entail abandoning other projects for the sake of reviving an old series.
Pokemon Ranger’s quiet shift into gaming limbo may have been due to decreasing buzz around new releases, ultimately putting it on ice when it couldn’t quite draw a crowd. However, with other Pokemon classics being brought back with remakes like Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX, or even the successor New Pokemon Snap, there’s an audience out there interested in returning to old favorites. If there was ever a time to bring Pokemon Rangers back, it would be now in the wake of Pokemon Legends: Arceus revolutionizing the series.
