There are a lot of Pokémon spin-offs, but the pair of games that take place in the Orre Region are easily the best. They had some distinctive elements that set them apart from the mainline games, and provided some of the series' best challenges. Although only two games have been set in the region, they have left a great impact on players.
Pokémon Colosseum and its sequel, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness are a pair of Pokémon games for the Nintendo Gamecube set in the Orre region. A fairly barren land, Orre had no wild Pokémon until XD, where they could be found in a couple of specific locations. Both games revolve around attempting to catch and purify Shadow Pokémon that have been corrupted by an evil corporation known as Cipher. Pokémon Colosseum and XD are hidden gems for the franchise, being two of its most memorable entries. It is a major difference from the main series games that focus on competition and becoming the champion, and it stands out in a good way.
Not only are the Orre games very distinct, but they are some of the best Pokémon games that one can find. They manage to have solid stories as well as good gameplay to back up their new graphics as the first 3D Pokémon adventures. Both games are looked back on very fondly, and they still hold up very well to this day.
The Orre Games' Storyline Stands Out From Pokémon's Usual Storytelling
Orre is a very unique region. It does not have gyms or a Pokémon League, and there is no Elite Four or Champion either. Instead, the games focus on Shadow Pokémon, Pokémon that have been conditioned to become thoughtless, heartless fighting machines that will even attack humans. Among Pokémon's many villainous teams, Cipher stands out for the shocking cruelty of their Shadow Pokémon plan. Rather than seeking glory or filling a Pokédex, the Orre protagonists set out to purify Shadow Pokémon and take down the organization creating them.
The Orre games are much more focused on an ongoing storyline than the main series of games. That story is also a fair bit darker than the usual fare of Pokémon games. Cipher's creation of Shadow Pokémon is rightfully treated as completely despicable, and the effects that their plans have on the region are shown clearly. Colosseum also features the first instance of one human attacking another in a Pokémon game. However, the game manages to treat these darker elements well, using them to advance the story and make moments with impact rather than being dark for darkness' sake.
Colosseum and XD stick close to their stories, and are successful in telling them. Pokémon is no stranger to big stories, but the Orre games went one step beyond. It should say something that despite being fairly niche, both games were highly praised and still maintain a strong fan following. A well-crafted story can elevate a game into something truly special, and the Orre games proved that with some of Pokémon's best offerings.
The Orre Games Make The Player Use Pokémon They May Normally Overlook
One impressive thing about the Orre games, especially Colosseum, is that they take what would normally be a disadvantage and make it into something positive. Both games feature a fairly limited amount of Pokémon to use, with Colosseum in particular featuring a comparatively slim roster. However, this turns out to not be as bad as it seems.
While Colosseum had a limited selection of Pokémon for the player to use, it gave players an opportunity to use Pokémon they might not consider normally. Most of the available choices are not among the strongest competitive Pokémon, so the player has to improvise. However, this gives the player ample opportunity to experiment with Pokémon they may never have used otherwise, such as Noctowl or Qwilfish. In addition, while the player could trade between Colosseum and the Gen 3 games, trading wasn't available until after the main story, meaning that Colosseum's offerings were all they got to face down the final boss.
XD added some wild Pokémon to the mix, as well as a generally wider selection of Pokémon to snag. While it still challenges the player, Colosseum's tighter restrictions made for a more thrilling experience. Having limited Pokémon selection may not sound fun, but Colosseum and XD pulled it off.
Colosseum And XD Are Incredibly Challenging Pokémon Games
As of late, Pokémon games have been criticized for becoming easier with each passing generation. For Pokémon fans who are looking for a stiff challenge, the Orre games have plenty to offer. Not only are they harder than the recent entries in the series, but they may be some of the hardest Pokémon games in the franchise.
As previously mentioned, XD and especially Colosseum have a limited selection of Pokémon for the player during the main story, and that is one of the contributing factors to the game's difficulty. However, the boss fights are also some of the most challenging that Pokémon has to offer. Part of this comes from them using powerful tactics for the era. For example, one of the bosses, Dakim, had a full team that used the infamous Protect/Earthquake combination apart from his Shadow Entei. Even with six Pokémon at the ready, that is a hard strategy for unprepared players to handle. In addition, the final boss Evice is one of the strongest final opponents in any Pokémon title, with a full team of powerhouse Pokémon that will leave the player fighting hard until they reach the end credits.
Colosseum and XD did not make it easy on players. Between the restricted Pokémon selection, the limitations of Shadow Pokémon themselves, and a variety of tough opponents, players had to earn it if they wanted to beat the game. Despite the high difficulty of the Orre games overall, they never reach the point of feeling unfair. Even with more restrictions than most Pokémon games, the player always has the tools that they need to win. They just need to know how to use them.
The Orre games' uniqueness combined with this heightened difficulty makes them an excellent choice for Pokémon fans looking for a new challenge. The Colosseum subseries has been dormant for a long time, but with Ash Ketchum coming to Pokémon Masters, there may be hope for Orre to make another appearance too. Pokémon games don't all have to look the same, and Orre is proof of that concept.