Pokémon's BEST Written Game

[@Indutro]

*Read before watching!* This is a Plot Summary video, not an analysis - it was never intended to be one. If you're looking for insights to the plot and story elements, this video ain't it. This was made for whomever wanted to relive the main story again.

[@GELLIPOLLO]

Indeed

[@Beyond-Mysteries]

Wow thanks for doing the challenge I suggested. :)

[@Beyond-Mysteries]

@@IkarusTelevision well I did suggest doing somethings difficult and not something everyone does like recruiting every pokemon reaching level 100 getting the player and partners IQ to max and reaching the guildmaster rank within 100 hours. But I guess it didn't take.

[@Indutro]

@@IkarusTelevision It's a fairly long game with 30+ hours of gameplay to reach some story parts, some people couldn't spend that much time to experience the nostalgia or the relive the story. Those who didn't play might not really know what this game is about - I've read some comments about them clicking off this video to play the game - which is what I thought people would do once they reach a certain part of the video.

[@hellohello-ic4dh]

@@Indutro this is a very polite and composed reply, considering you also could have repeated where you *already* answered their question, "its for people who just want to relive the story" implying that you might also probably be one of those people who would enjoy a video like this since you literally made it, so pretty personally tactless thing for them to say right off the bat, and if they arent that pre-stated target audience, of course they wouldnt feel like they "knew" (were) the target audience. they arent having as much fun as they wanted to, they picked the wrong video, and they tried to make it your problem. i really admire your character, subscribed even though i am *also* not the target audience of this video- but i like your style and i love pokemon too so i'll show support and ill be back. best of luck in life and heart to anyone who reads this nobody be mean to me please lol i usually avoid commenting on much online in the past...decade ^^;

[@mattage]

Now these are spin off games done correctly. The story, the music, the emotions the game makes you feel, it's all perfect. These games simply cannot be topped.

[@user_Z-]

Some of the best music in gaming history. It’s really good at capturing emotion

[@slickl9608]

@@candyneige6609 i disagree. The story of Pokemon Legends Arceus is discombobulated. There are empty references to characters from Platinum that have no plot relevance, it might share some of the story beats from Mystery Dungeon but it shirks any responsibility of adding meaning to it. The main character doesn't have to question their very existence because they have no internal dialogue. Half of the questions of a god transporting you from the future to the past are completely unanswered and if you think about it, it's completely messed up. They are not comparable as they are completely different games as the story is simply a conduit for the new gameplay.

[@travisdickens4304]

@@candyneige6609 are you going to make this lame joke on every comment here?

[@kingpig8732]

@@candyneige6609 Did you know if you smoke 5 weeds at once you unlock better jokes

[@candyneige6609]

@@kingpig8732 Did you know that in Pokémon Legends Arceus, you're a human from the human world who got turned into a Pokémon and sent to the Pokémon world.

[@mettatonex7221]

My first time playing this game, I took the quiz and I got Treecko. I didn't know at the time that Grovyle was a fixed Pokemon character, so I thought this meant that Grovyle was this older brother character and it made the game feel much more personal. I was disappointed when that turned out to not be the case, but on every playthrough I've done since even when I role a different Pokemon, I still think of him as my older brother. On my most recent playthrough I did a few months ago, I got Treecko again. I guess I haven't changed all that much.

[@paigespears2106]

Oh wow, that sounds like a neat interpretation! Grovyle being your brother would have been interesting. I can't remember who my first pokemon quiz result was, but my second one was eevee.

[@ryanhernandez1317]

Story-lore wise, I do feel like Treecko makes the most sense. Grovyl was your partner Pokémon so your soul wanted to stay as close to them as possible so they ended up becoming a Treecko.

[@anonymouspumpkin8296]

I also got treeko on my first playthrough at the time I had only played a few games and didn't know a lot of evolutions so I didn't realize treeko evolved into grovyle until my brother told me at first I was a little angry I spent close to half the game hating grovyle for what he was doing to the world but later I remember crying because when we were turned into a Pokemon out of all the ones we could have become we were turned into the pre-evolution of our dearest partner and after grovyle sacrifices himself we can look at our reflection and see him in ourselves and feel him beside us. I think next time I play through explores I'll see if I can get treeko again for old times sake

[@conchadeconchos]

Bro sorry I understand as a kid your mind is just like “ ahh man we’re not actually brothers “ but bro that was replaced for “ time traveler partners who were turned to Pokémon due to darkrai wanting a dark world where dialga becomes corrupted. “ That to me is still one of the greatest stories like wtf how do you get that out of Pokémon but it makes sense and it was also played out very beautiful. The way the information is sprinkled along but such a assumption is too far fetched, but of course ends up being the truth right before grovyle disappears forever.

[@AgonyOST1998]

Hey I got a Treeko too first time! Treeko gang what's up!! :Edit- I had the same emotional tie with Grovyle as well, except I thought it was me in the future because something happened to myself in the past.

[@user_Z-]

It’s awesome how impactful yet lowkey this game is to everyone that’s actually played it all the way through. Everyone who has says it’s in their top games of all time. It has a cult-like underground type of fanbase despite it being apart of the single largest IP in the world. I’m just hoping and praying Sky gets a remake for Switch so I can soak hundreds of hours into it again

[@itsmetater]

i could die happily if it was remade, but only if it was done correctly. this game still makes me tear up from the music alone.

[@gameinsane4718]

I haven’t played it in forever but I remember I played through to the end. What I remember, and have re-watched others play since, is amazing

[@compatriot852]

I honestly don't want a remake. It deserves a sequel like black and white got

[@user_Z-]

@@compatriot852 that would be cool but we’re so far past 2d sprites that if they gave it a sequel this late it would be in 3D and it wouldn’t feel the same. I’d just rather have a remake the same way red blue dx came out unless they wanna go back to sprites which they most likely wouldn’t do

[@aetheralmeowstic2392]

Unfortunately, if Sky gets remade for Switch, it'll probably suffer the same issues Rescue Team DX did. I played the demo, and the only things I liked were the storybook art style, the remastered music, the loyalty gifts at Felicity Bank, the shortcut between your base and Pelipper Post Office, and the fact that there was no longer a loading zone between Pokémon Square and Wiscash's Pond. They didn't remain faithfil enougt to the source material for my tastes, and I can't stand it. In short, they changed _way too much._

[@mjwillin]

When my parents bought me this game I didn’t know what to expect. Little did I know in my hands was gonna be one of the best video game experiences of my life.

[@Divine_Retribution]

I was actually a little bit disappointed at first when I got Explorers of Time instead of Pokemon Diamond when I was a kid. Oh boy, was the snot-nosed kid in me wrong on that count.

[@milesmcdonald7883]

SAME!! I traded the DS version of Up for it!

[@alexedwards5152]

@@Divine_Retributionmy Mystery Dungeon story went almost exactly like yours… except I got Explorers of Darkness!

[@Ray-f6j9s]

​@@Divine_Retribution this is the exact same thing for me lol

[@12Salamence]

This is an absolute masterpiece of a game. I recently replayed it for the 10th time with my girlfriend, who was 23 years old, and she bawled her eyes out in the end. She isn’t even into Pokémon. Great storytelling.

[@aaronthesaxman660]

Only game that's ever made me cry. When your friend just loses it on the sand in front of Bodoof. Ugh. It undoes me

[@ramdhan.1]

Aww 🥰 great bonding time

[@user_Z-]

A lot of people dislike the “dungeon crawling gameplay” but I love it. Sometimes you have to come up with a strategy in the moment to make it out alive and it’s much more intense than a 1 on 1 battle in the main series. Like when you get to a monster house and are swarmed by 12 different Pokémon you have to come up with the most precisely effective strategy with everything you have at your disposal (orbs, status moves, etc.) in order to come out alive and that’s where I feel the game is at its best. The amazing music and story are always talked about but I feel like that’s the most underrated aspect of these games

[@paigespears2106]

Oh definitely! Sometimes, dungeon crawling would get really intense! I remember choosing Shinx as my partner pokemon because I knew it could learn discharge, which is incredibly useful if you get ambushed by monster houses.

[@seancarroll5803]

And when you evolve you can just use heat wave with charizard. It felt like the biggest fuck you to the game ever haha

[@yourface2464]

IQ skills and signature items, man it adds so much depth, the gameplay is extremely deep and hard to master

[@kingpig8732]

i wanna play that, but i don't really know of any DS emulators

[@yourface2464]

@@kingpig8732 desmume is the only one you need

[@ArendAlphaEagle]

Explorers of Sky also added Special Episodes, which are like bonus mini-campaigns that puts other side characters into the role of the protagonist, and also adds so much more depth and context to the story of the Explorers game Special Episodes 1 and 3 focuses on two of the guild members, Bidoof and Sunflora, respectively; Bidoof's gives a bit of a backstory on why he joined the guild and explains that his wish to Jirachi is the reason that the player character and partner character met in the first place; Sunflora's is about her and Loudred having to catch an outlaw, the two having to understand each other as Sunflora treks alone. Special Episode 2 gives Wigglytuff a backstory when he was just an Igglybuff, about him befriending and exploring dungeons with an outlaw. Special Episode 4 is about Lopunny of Team Charm, a skilled exploration team from the post-game (and yet you unlock this episode before the main story is even over). This episode has a special, flashy title card and gives the ladies of Team Charm their own theme music, explores how they met Wigglytuff and adds context to the location of the fifth Time Gear (in the main game, we only got to know of four Time Gear locations). Special Episode 5 might be the most important, as it focuses on Grovyle after he and Dusknoir went back to the future at the end of the main story, and even gets a much grimmer title card than usual. Here, Grovyle and Celebi try to defeat Primal Dialga in the future once and for all, and Dusknoir, while initially betraying Grovyle once again, realizes that he is in the wrong in the end and joins him and Celebi to set things right. These bonus stories are great as well, interconnecting with the main storylines while also keeping the same charm as the main story. It's funny, sad, sweet, and even dark at times. REALLY dark, especially so in Episode 5.

[@paigespears2106]

Aaah, the special episodes! I adored those. I was incredibly excited when I saw that EOS added these. (I played EOT first). My favorites were definitely the 2nd and 5th episodes. I freaking bawled my EYES out when playing the 5th episode, and it never failed to make me cry again whenever I replayed that episode.

[@aetheralmeowstic2392]

Yeah, Bidoof _NEARLY CAUSED A TIME-STOPPING APOCALYPSE!!!!!_

[@SpartanChief17C]

@@paigespears2106 I honestly have to say, after having played this game again and again for a decade, and having listened to the soundtrack for countless hours on end over the years, I think I prefer Special Episode 5 over the main story in terms of emotion. It hits harder and it’s soundtrack is godly

[@derpkipper]

It also REALLY humanizes Dusknoir too, because then we truly realize how much he fears death and how that motivates him to do what he does: out of self-preservation. Imo as I'm getting older I realize how sympathetic of a character he is. When we're in the shoes of the main protagonist who would put their life on the line to save the planet, it's nice to think we would do the same in that same situation. Dusknoirs story makes you look inward at an uncomfortable reality that any normal person in his position might be led to act similarly to how he did in the story. I just realized how funny it is that he fears death as a ghost type, but what I mean is a death worse than what you would typically consider with death. You pass on and your loved ones remember you, and maybe some off chance that there will be something after death. But in this case they and their legacies were to literally be wiped from existence itself and that is terrifying when you think about it I loved the nod to Arceus in the final scene of the Grovyle story

[@ramdhan.1]

It's been like 5 year's and i didn't knew the bonus episode connected with the main storyline guess i didn't pay attention or i just forgot about guess another reason to play it again

[@sasdamis]

I'm gonna be honest with you... None of the mainline pokemon games have ever made me feel the emotions that this game makes me feel

[@TheLostArchangel666]

Mainline gen 4's music is pretty top notch, but even that doesn't manage to compete yeah

[@Danny_Deleto]

This is one of the games that made me addicted to good stories. I was absolutely blown away when Dusknoir betrayed us.

[@amethystfen]

No video game has ever made me feel this way, period. 💚

[@ramdhan.1]

Except black and white

[@Unk0wn_stalk3r]

I cried in my first run lol

[@stich3796]

Since The thumbnail i know what this video was abt. And let me tell y'all something. Mystery dungeon explorers of sky is One of The Best games in The franchise. I remember playing it for a month an crying in The dinner table when i finished it. It has One of The Best stories of pokémon in general and is an extremely fun game to play

[@k-master973]

Yeah, I saw the thumbnail and immediately knew which game he meant. It’s crazy how a stylized photo of two Krabbies sitting on a cliff is so recognizable and contains so much meaning.

[@Homodemon]

I was accompanying my Granny to a routine check up at the doctor's when I was playing the last stretch of the game. Needless to say I bursted into tears in front of my grandma and also a bunch of other old ladies in the waiting room and didn't know how to explain WHY I suddenly started to sob.

[@trentgoodwin66]

Thank you. The impact this game had on my childhood is something that I had forgotten until now. Swept up in the reality of being an adult, your video allowed me to return back to those times, back to this game. I cried back then and I sit here now, over a decade later, crying once again. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for shining a light on this incredible part of the franchise.

[@dr.dylansgame5583]

Literally in the same boat man small world granted i grew up with explorers of darkness but similar feel since there basically the same game

[@GreenBird1515]

I got exploeres of time and played it 4 times in my life. Cried every time. I dont know how this game does it, but I couldnt imagine losing a friend all the sudden. Video made me cry again too. glad Im not the only one. I honestly feel crazy crying over a pokemon game lol

[@vhallediting6551]

I'm with you here bro 🫡

[@PinkCherrySugar]

‘Might’ make me cry? This game makes me cry literally every time, that’s how good and engaging it is! I really wish we could get another entry that hit all the marks that EoS did, there’s nothing else like it.

[@ZacharyAlexanderGoh]

I cried when I realised I would never see Grovyle again back when I was 9. Explorers of darkness was my first Pokémon game, now I’m 22 and still in love with Pokémon. Maybe it’s because of Mystery dungeon, but I love the whole Azumarill line. Dialga is still the coolest legendary to me. I’ll always love this game.

[@SpartanChief17C]

At least he’s still alive (per-Explorers of Sky Special Episode 5). At the VERY end of that special episode, all the Pokémon of the future are watching their first ever sunrise, and Grovyle leans into the wind. He asks it to carry his message to you and your partner that he, and all the other Pokémon of the future are still alive. Right after he finishes, the screen goes black. The intro to the credit music starts, and a message appears: “[Player]! [Partner]! Can you hear me? We’re alive!” And the the credits roll and god damn it I’m tearing up now

[@DieAlteistwiederda]

I loved the Treecko line before but those games really made this love last until today. Same for the story of the two first games of that series, absolutely amazing.

[@nunya6537]

YES DUDE SAME

[@tobytragen4363]

It was my first Pokémon game too

[@TheAbsol7448]

​@@SpartanChief17CMan, I wish I didn't read this.

[@AzurityArts]

You _might_ cry? Well, speaking from experience, You *WILL* cry.

[@arachineatzeer7478]

Tears will happen even in videos of people's videos or new people playing it. When you hear Don't Ever Forget it'll hit you like a bullet train

[@tyknight2488]

This game actually saved my life and I appreciate every bit of content people put out for this game

[@user_Z-]

One of the best games of all time. I’ve probably watched every review/retrospective of it on KZbin

[@hpx374]

it has a really amazing anti-suicide message

[@slickl9608]

@@hpx374 i never thought of it that way, but it's true.

[@multi-milliondollarmike5127]

@@candyneige6609 The fact that people still do kill themselves means he's not.

[@multi-milliondollarmike5127]

@@candyneige6609 Okay, wow. So you started off by referencing a scripture on 'god' being merciful, but then reference another one on him tormenting people in hell if they succumb to depression or self loathing by 'self-deletion'. That would be awful if it were true, but thankfully the Bible isn't. It's been debunked for decades now, but people still believe it anyway.

[@brendanl9715]

I never grew up on the normal Pokémon games, but my parents bought me this game along with blue rescue team. To say they shaped my love of Pokémon as a child would be a heavy understatement. The games hold a very special place in my heart, and it makes me very happy to see others share that same love of these games

[@mistahjenkins4826]

"You might cry"? Fuck that noise. If you don't cry, you've either played the game too many times, or you don't have a heart. This shit made me bawl my eyes out.

[@glucas71]

i instantly knew what game it was as soon as i read the title. hands down the best storyline in a pokémon game

[@gooseloose682]

the thing that always gets me is the 100% genuine pureness your partner has is just too much to handle. Having a true friend that sticks with you through everything is truelly something else

[@errortryagainlater4240]

I got so ridiculously attached to my partners when I played Pokemon Sky as a kid 💀 I always got Skitty and would pick Vulpix to be my teammate. The end of the main story, Grovyle's episode and a certain post-game plot involving a certain legendary made me cry. Seeing your best friend break down in tears is written so well it's legit devastating.

[@misteriosobow3708]

Honestly my favorite video game ever, I have so much memories with this game, also the surprising anti-suicide messaging on the post game was something I guess.

[@Boogie44]

Wow really? Forgive my ignorance, but what was anti suicide message in the game? I love this game so much, I hope my son does too.

[@misteriosobow3708]

@@Boogie44 Don't worry! It can be read as a anti-suicide message in the post game, where at least the antagonist tries to convince the protagonist to well off themselves, while he whole arc of the story is trying to overcome that, also a whole people seem to be motivated by the 5th special episode, learning why the heroes value the beauty of life so much.

[@Boogie44]

@@misteriosobow3708 dang, that actually makes sense that’s so nice. Thank you very kindly! 🧸🎀

[@boocrimson7720]

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I really do think this game has the best story of any Pokemon game to date so far, and that honestly says a lot. I think this is one of the only games that managed to make me get emotional enough to actually cry as a kid\ pre-teen. Not just Pokemon games that managed it, but any game.

[@FrogEnjoyer17]

That’s not a high bar, is it? The only game with a story worth even paying attention to is Black/White

[@Flareontoast]

Gosh, I cried remembering this ending while watching. This game is so fantastic. Also the soundtrack!!! So good?? And the visuals, for a pixel/2d animated game? Soooo good. The landscapes are so beautiful, and the little character icons are so precious and expressive.

[@fruitpunchsamuraidavid]

Saw the thumbnail and immediately knew it! Also accurate 100%

[@pheoRixp1]

i'm so happy pmd content 50 minutes long!! is still being made, loved all the dungeon theme's, event background noises, the text noises, the top split screan being slightly higher then the bottem it really brought it together. Fun story. The first half of the game is such a complete story by itself. that my 12 year-old mind, blinded by the emotional tears, thinking that was the end reset the game so i could play it all over again 4 TIME'S. it was only when my brother was tempted to play it again did i find out the post-game existed. me wanting to know how he was doing looked at the screan and had my mind blown when "REDACTED" invited himself into your home and "REDACTED" you and you're partner into the post-game.

[@nellewoodruff6337]

Same. [HYPERLINK BLOCKED] scared the crap out of me

[@itsmetater]

@@nellewoodruff6337 jesus christ same, almost shit the bed

[@UltraAryan10]

Lol this happened to me in my first ever game: FireRed. It had no story but my childish mind made up a lot of plot and I cried when I beat the game only to click Continue to find the post-game and be happy again.

[@Chatterbox1237]

@@UltraAryan10really?can you tell me?

[@UltraAryan10]

@@Chatterbox1237 I don't remember all of the individual stories I made up on every route but the whole adventure was like a rise from stupid trainer to amazing trainer kind of thing.

[@cheese0_4]

Never played Sky, but I did play Time. This game is the number one reason Munchlax is my favorite Pokemon.

[@thyavenger9517]

Fun Fact: You aren’t a starter in Sky, so you very much lucked out on this regard!

[@DrFunkPpT]

@@thyavenger9517 Yeah I also played Time. My starter was Meowth which also wasn’t in Sky.

[@Overspark1999]

​@@thyavenger9517lol

[@DrFunkPpT]

My first character was Meowth. At first I thought, “Oh this dumb cat…” but then it all changed when I learnt Pay Day and fat stacks came pouring out of every enemy I faced. I wasn’t actually aware that I also had technician which made the move stronger. Good times.

[@M4-Z3-R0]

I loved the music of this game so much. My all time favorite ost.

[@Ace_Angelo]

Pmd explorers of time is the only video game in my life that has ever made me tear up. What drew me initially was being able to play as turtwig, but I did not expect the emotional rolllercoaster as you mentioned. Moments and twists such as player being grovyles partner, the guild coming together to help the team find the hidden land, and grovyle sacrificing himself left a massive impression on me as a kid. They just don’t make good stories like these anymore. I’m hoping they remake the explorers games just like the rescue team ones for switch

[@volvodgio]

The pokemon Mystery Dungeon series is so f-ing good. I love them so much. Let's take a look at the Video now.

[@floranuko2854]

One of my best childhood memories. Such an amazing story. I'd always name my partner after one of my irl friends ^^ I even felt the emotion as a non-english kid, who couldn't read english. I was STILL able to understand what was going on, which makes the game even better imo. Of course replaying it now, I can speak english, read the dialogue and it's amazing

[@user-tv3ct7ep6w]

I still remember crying at the end of the game as a child. I guess that the countless deaths I experienced at the hands of Dialga before the ending played a major part. Still, the greatest story I have ever experienced in a video game.

[@mewzkil]

My favorite game of all time...my number one game 🥺 I picked it up in 2009 on a whim not knowing what it was and I ended up adoring it. Thank you for covering this game- more people need to experience it despite it's joke of an ign rating

[@breen9605]

This game is phenomenal. I play it every summer and cry every. single. time.

[@NextLevelZ_]

this is still my favorite series of games ever. the mix between genuinely good storytelling, being a rogue-like dungeon crawler, and pokemon just really sells me on this. (super mystery dungeon is still the only game that made me cry for a bit of time, though it was my first mystery dungeon game. seriously, i would be in tears just playing post-story it got me in the feels.)

[@paigespears2106]

This game is one of my favorite ds games of all time, no joke. Heck, even now, I still find myself humming songs from the soundtrack even though it has been years since I've played this game.

[@thestickopia4619]

You know the sign of a good damn story is when it makes someone like me who’s usually just an emotional husk actually cry, not just tear up, cry, and it was when I saw my partner (eevee) just break down on the beach that got me the most

[@whisperingwooper1763]

I just recently replayed explorers of sky to see if it held up to my childhood and it definitely did! The story still almost made me cry at the end such a beautiful story.

[@Overspark1999]

Same man

[@sumish8397]

Never in my life did I think I would sob over a pokemon game yet here we are!! Absolutely stunning video of a shockingly heartfelt game, i definitely need to check these out now

[@candyneige6609]

Pokémon Legends Arceus is a Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game that is even better than Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky.

[@PLA603]

@@candyneige6609 imo opinion no pokemon legends Arceus is good but I think mystery dungeon explorers of sky better and how is legends Arceus a mystery dungeon game both of the games have really different gameplay styles

[@candyneige6609]

@@PLA603 Pokémon Legends Arceus is a Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game, because in Pokémon Legends Arceus, you're a human turned Pokémon, just like in any other Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game.

[@PLA603]

@@candyneige6609 what,that doesn't happen in pokemon legends Arceus you just get sent back into time you don't become a pokemon

[@candyneige6609]

@@PLA603 That's in that one part in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver where you got sent back in time by Celebi to defeat Team Rocket in the past and then you got sent back to the present by Celebi once you defeat Team Rocket, in Pokémon Legends Arceus, you did got turned into a Pokémon, and because you're now a Pokémon, you can now get attacked by other Pokémon in this game.

[@paperwatt]

I didn't play this until recently, but I loved almost every minute of it! The funny thing is, the scene that hit me with the most emotion (at least related to crying) was when the partner and Grovyle were talking at Sharpedo Bluff. "How did you manage... To get so strong?" But the partner isn't strong, or at least, they weren't before. It shows how much they've grown since we first met them. And they continue to grow into the post game with a certain other villain. And man the guild members are so funny. The nonsense they get up to in their conversations! They deserve each other. XD

[@eternal_hangnail]

I've played this game a few times and the ending, even just watching it in this vid, makes me cry without fail. It feels honest saying that this game is more important to me than any mainline release.

[@piplup2884]

The fact that they managed to create this beautiful of a soundtrack on the DS's limited hardware is insane

[@thesquishedelf1301]

41:02 Now that’s attention to detail. I never noticed that. The tremor happens with the player and partner on opposite sides of that crack. And when the player tries to cross it, the end begins. Such a simple but subtly effective piece of visual storytelling.

[@Espeon804]

The thumbnail alone took me down a trip of memeory lane.

[@cerouluxray6394]

This was the first game that ever had a story compelling enough to make me cry. Every time, it gets me.

[@bend7726]

I have only one world to describe this game and that is MASTERPIECE.

[@Zptarry]

Truly a MASTERPIECE to remember.

[@Maskyrade]

43:27 could hold my tears the memories the sadness/ THAT FLUFFING MUSIC

[@MalevolentMinun]

I haven't played this game since 2010 and I still remember that scene like it was yesterday. I was a Totodile, my partner was a Shinx and seeing them so genuinely distraught was heartbreaking. Even now, as I'm about to hit 30, I still choked up the moment the music kicked in watching this. I need to get this game again someday, thanks for such a fantastic video. It's a trip down memory lane that I cherish.

[@jeremiahsavage4446]

For what, on its face, looks like a simple turn based Pokemon game, this story is actually so layered. From start to finish some of the best storytelling I have ever experienced in any form, invoking emotions that you wouldn't expect to feel while playing a Pokemon, or any Nintendo game for that matter. Easily the most underrated video game in modern history and I do not say that lightly, I'll never forget this game, long live Explorers of Sky. ✊

[@rangertalksdogsgames7996]

Thumbnail: Might cry Me: There is no might, you will

[@melofelo4484]

Everyone loves dusknoir and grovyle in this game, right? But have you ever wondered why they picked those 2 Pokémon specifically? Well, consider this. Grovyle and Dusknoir share the same accent colors, yellow and red. However, Dusknoir’s primary color matches the color scheme of the future, while Grovyle’s vibrant green matches the past/present. Further, Dusknoir is a fully evolved Pokémon, and is fully jaded to the world. Meanwhile, Grovyle is a middle stage evolution, signifying maturity but still maintaining hope at a better future. Finally, the one most people probably noticed, Dusknoir is a ghost type, representing death, while Grovyle is a grass type, representing life. God I love this game.

[@FenrirWolf203]

Not only the best written game, but the game with the greatest soundtrack to support the story. I mean, with just hearing a song again, I can remember what was happening when it was going on, and that is something that is really difficult to do. This game's story keeps with you no matter how many years go on, I played it 10 years ago, and I still remember it like it was yesterday when I played it.

[@shinymagiicarp]

Everytime I play the game idk why but I ALWAYS tear up when we’re riding on Lapras into the hidden land. What an epic and emotional moment. My favorite game of all time!

[@Overspark1999]

It just feels like the climax and end of an adventure

[@shadowmarauder6033]

Now this isn’t just a spin-off game done correctly. This is a pokémon game done correctly, having both an outstanding story, good mechanics & great extra features and storylines.

[@Zptarry]

I couldn’t agree more.

[@Adam-ev5ft]

This was the first game ever to make me cry and it has done so on every single playthrough. I love the mystery dungeon games so much they were an integral part of my childhood and I am happy for that

[@Bludgeoned2DEATH2]

I don’t care how many times I’ve seen or played this game the ending ALWAYS makes me cry. Seeing your partner Pokémon cry is too much 😭

[@MyEyezAreLow]

Thank you. It’s always refreshing to relive the time I played this game non stop. Indeed this game is an emotional rollacoaster . I loved every bit of it. So thanks again.

[@SpaghettiBrainX]

literally my favourite game of all time. so glad to see it getting love

[@hpx374]

i genuinely love this game so much. i am unable to cry, but this game has brought me closer than any other thing ever. the amount of songs that can give me goosebumps is unfathomable. this game is what got me into music theory, the leitmotifs presented by this game make it such a gripping and immersive experience. all the characters are so endearing, and the story is told better than any marvel movie. the underlying anti-suicide message in the postgame is such a beautiful touch.

[@PokemonCakery]

2d illustrations and music go so so well with the story. love it!

[@nooobiechild]

Explorers of Sky is EASILY the best pokemon mystery dungeon game of all time. The game with the best storyline in the entire pokemon franchise by a country mile. The prologue was short and sweet, and it eased new players into the game; the flow of the story was well-paced, the characters (in this case, pokemon) each had their own personalities and were all very well written, the twist was not forced (even though most older players could see it coming, but younger me definitely got swerved), and the ending was both emotional and satisfying. On top of that, you get the amazing post-game content that doesn't feel like it's tacked onto the game like your typical battle frontier. You can genuinely argue that finishing the game actually starts you on the real journey of your own exploration team. This is a game you could play over and over and not get bored of. You can't say that for most single player games these days, especially for pokemon titles.

[@zNaitsab3s]

WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME THAT SPIKE CHUNKSOFT DID POKEMON MYSTERY DUNGEON!!??! LIKE BRO THE SAME PEOPLE MADE DANGANRONPA AND POKEMON DUNGEON. I WOULD NOT BELIVE

[@bastionsmashgaming]

Every time I play and replay this game, I cry very hard at some of the sections in the future and the Temporal Tower climax. There's so much to talk about as well, including the special character story content that gives more depth to a lot of the supporting cast, and the 5th and most important episode of that group. This game is just so emotionally touching, and there are few games that can compare..aside from other PMD games- EDIT: the postgame story will make you cry until you are dehydrated too. Overall please just play Explorers of Sky

[@Nekogitsune]

I swear even just watching the commentary made me cry, it's just show how beautiful and memorable this game was made and created. The gameplay for me personally is great, impressive story and sides, great character development and good emotional ending. This game has a really good spot within my memory and I still remember every single bit of it.

[@Erritiguei1]

This is the first (and only) game to actually make me cry. I choked up during the "goodbye" scene when the player character disappears, but when the credits theme started playing, that's when I broke. When your partner collapses on the beach, mourning the loss of you, their best friend, and then the credits start rolling, it really hits you because it cements the feeling of "yes, that actually happened. The character you spent hours playing as and learning to love is gone. This is the end of the game." And while I still really like the rest of the story, and have a lot of fun in the post game, if it ended right there at the credits, I would've been more than happy. Fuck, I'm starting to tear up now writing this. Fucking superb job, Chunsoft.

[@enque2970]

I like the spanish tranlation of the temporal scream bcs there it's called "La percepción de Kronos" (The perception of kronos)

[@matthijscalje4143]

This is a pretty new video, so I'll leave my own sappy story here. I played this game about a year ago. Around the same time, I met a guy online. He was so sweet, so much fun to hang around with. While I was went to Scouts camp, he would check up on me every day. During that time I also continued playing PMD. After that, we continued hanging out more. He was one of the only things left in my life after 2021 stripped so much away from me. I lost most of my friends due to them moving on to different things in life. Another online friend (who i met around the same time) got into a depression I haven't seen him since September. During that time i was also playing PMD. I also lost one of my best childhood friends to an aneurysm on New Years Eve at the beginning of 2021. Then, on December 29th (So just before NYE again) my friend said he had a headache, couldn't concentrate well, and said he needed a break. I haven't heard from him for almost 4 months now. Gone. Everywhere. All of his accounts have gone completely silent. None of his friends have heard of him either. I fear the worst. I miss him so much. I still think about him every day. He hasn't really affected my PMD experience, but this game still reminds me of him, as a lot of things do.

[@TheUKNutter]

It was always so disappointing when you find out that the PMD games after this one were so lacklustre. They went for the “creating stories for kids” method which altogether didn’t work.

[@ibisskb]

As somebody who did a playthrough for both Rescue Team and EoS, I must repeat one of my comments I did on the Rescue Team playthrough, right in the end: "The issue with Rescue Team is that the ending is just too short, the partner doesn't ever grasp the consequences, along how the ending barely makes any mention to the adventure." PMD2 masters it by making it happen. No matter how much you know the story, you'll feel pity for your partner.

[@Yusufthe1st]

i played explorersof time and maxed it out, it was AMAZING, the wonder codes did me nice, then I started playing gates of infinity or was it super mystery dungeon, well it was one of them, ik one of them is slightly better than the other, the nostalgia hits different, this is where the idea of prima dialga came from, so many people wanted primal dialga and palkia to be playable, he looked INSANE

[@candyneige6609]

But have you ever played another Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game which is arguably the best ever, Pokémon Legends Arceus ?

[@Yusufthe1st]

@@candyneige6609 yes

[@candyneige6609]

@@Yusufthe1st And at the start of the game, who do you chose to play as, Rowlet, Cyndaquil or Oshawott ?

[@Yusufthe1st]

@@candyneige6609 I chose oshawott, lowkey wanted to choose rowlet but I preferred the original decidueye over the hisuian form ngl, what about you?

[@candyneige6609]

@@Yusufthe1st I chose to play as Cyndaquil, and because you're a Pokémon in Pokémon Legends Arceus, you can get attacked by other Pokémon in this game.

[@yunobeat]

I can only see the thumbnail and im already screaming... YES YOU ARE A BILLION PERCENT CORRECT

[@jirredvang901]

I knew exactly what game this was going to be from the thumbnail. I played explorer of darkness when I was in the 3rd grade and it was the first game to make me cry as a kid. I eventually got sky, but I had it with some old clothes and my mom threw it away by accident. Now sky sells for so much

[@williamonthetongas4174]

Not only the story was amazing, the gameplay was at parts brutally hard

[@KlassikTP]

This game made me cry way harder than the main games

[@Overspark1999]

Does thst mean you cried in the Main games. No shame here, i just don't remember any part of the Main games that could do that. Maybe the ending with the big man in gen6 but not even that in my case

[@TheAbsol7448]

​@@Overspark1999Some of the Gen 5 got me, but it's still _nothing_ compared to other games I've played. The ending of Sky absolutely _ruined_ me.

[@adrianwoo7675]

tbh ending of gen 9 is sad too, can't blame you

[@ValianceGames]

Grovyle, Wigglyftuff, Chatot, and Dusknoir, have to be some of the most complex characters I have seen. Everytime that song plays when Lapras rides into the Hidden Land and Grovyle commits his last act of heroism, my heart erupts with emotion. What an incredible game. I wish everytime that I could experience this game again for the first time. Thank you for sharing this journey with us. I have to go cry in the corner now.

[@eeeeggnog._.]

Still praying for a switch remake announcement every time there's a new pokemon presents

[@dalton2845]

Once again I must thank the youtube algorithm for recommending me one random video about a PMD rom hack. I fell in love with the pixel artstyle immediately, I decided that I had to try the original game. Honestly, at first I didn't have high expectations at all but oh boy I could not be more wrong. The story telling is fantastic, the way it raises hundreds of questions in my head at once as I'm playing through the game... I love that. The cutscenes are beautiful. I love the characters at the guild and the occasional humor. Man I remember the heavy feeling I got after finding out that I'm going to disappear, my partner is going to be absolutely crushed by it... and sure he was. This game made me feel guilty for dying, can you believe it? I shed a tear watching the partner break down at the beach, and not a lot of fictional works can get a tear out of me. This story, at least the main one (before the credits) is an underrated masterpiece. I never thought of the day I'd do this, but I'm putting this on the same league as Steel Ball Run. IGN must be high to give this game such a low rating. If you're like me, hungry for more of this EoS world then I recommend trying out Explorers of the Spirits rom hack. Personally, it's nearly as good as the original. I strongly suggest using the same duo as in Sky if you do try (give them the same names too), for mind-blowing reasons you will understand later on...

[@weirdquirkyanddifferent]

LETSSS GOOOO YOU FINALLY GOT A SPONSORSHIP YOU DESERVE IT. Keep the grind up your videos are amazing.

[@mr.potato4695]

Explorers of sky was my second mystery dungeon game and yes, it is a core memory 9/10 game

[@TealTreeKangaroo]

Quite possibly my favorite game of all time. The nostalgia and love I have for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky is astronomical. I love the entire series but sky definitely has the most solid place in my heart. One scene that makes me cry, other than the obvious ones, is the post game scene, where THIS is the essential message: “It’s just not possible for you to be unwanted in this world.” This is a message that sticks with me, and has for years and years. What a fantastic game.

[@Arxielle]

Explorers of Sky is genuinely THE best pokemon game ever. I cried, I laughed, I felt angry, I felt distress... I love this game with all of my heart. It formed up a very core part of me growing up especially. Today, as a 23 yr old, I am once again, replaying the game for a third time, and loving every single second of it. I was eevee, and my partner riolu, and it's always been that way for me.

[@Bliffenstimmers]

This is a wonderful video! I’ve never seen this game before, and I’m close to tears while watching the ending. Thank you so much for showing this emotional game, I hope one day I will be able to play this game and go through that journey :). I can’t even imagine how emotional I would be if I went through and played the game and had that grand journey and then was hit with my partner’s grief. That would hurt so much.

[@toolatetothestory]

It still hurts years later x3 And you could play the game even today :3 Emulators are pretty easy to find, and some work both on PC or phone ^^ I can't reccomend this game enough :3

[@staying_silent]

God, I remember playing this game when I was like 8. I honestly sucked at games back then and could never beat Groudon, so eventually I gave up. I dug the game out again a few years later and restarted it, and actually got all the way to Dialga before getting stuck again. And I'll admit, I was getting frustrated and just really wanted to see the end of the story, so I GameShark'd it. Not proud of it, but honestly glad I did it, because seeing the ending for the first time made me cry. I revisited the game for the last time a couple years ago, and played the whole thing without cheats this time. Even knowing what was coming, I was still a mess. Pretty sure I actually cried _more_ this time, especially since I shed a few tears for Grovyle as well. Honestly, even now, years later, I can confidently say that this is one of, if not my favourite Pokémon game. What I wouldn't give for Nintendo to remake it like they did with Red/Blue Rescue Team.

[@SpartanChief17C]

You should revisit it again at some point. Get yourself a copy of Sky, and play through Special Episode 5. It shows what happens to Grovyle after his sacrifice

[@kaz7690]

I remember playing this game when i was 5 and I barely had a grasp of english at that time (mainly because I lived in a foreign household) and this game still made me cry when Grovyle sacrificed himself. Granted I did play the Explorers of Time version so I didn't know he actually lived (as shown in Explorers of Sky) but the fact that it invoked such a strong emotion in me despite me barely understanding what was happening is a testament to it's emotional impact

[@KenNywithrice]

Glad that it's been over a decade and there are still so many fans passionate about this game.

[@bing_k]

“You might cry” I already did my friend

[@Ethorai_Astralis]

You *might* cry? No. You will cry

[@GreenBird1515]

Ive played through this game 4 or 5 times. I specifically remember my first playthrough with torchic and pikachu. It took me so long to beat the game, including the second story. I spend days saving up 4 boxes of reviver seeds to go to battle against darkari. Stupid Cresselia kept dying and I lost. I gave up all hope until one year, I said what the heck and tried it again. When I beat it, my jaw dropped. I completely forgot about the story line by then and that fact that I had a cutscene was weird to me. Ive cried every time my pokemon disappeared. I don't know what it is or why a pokemon game would bring up such feelings, but Im glad I am not the only one and this video truely shows that. Thanks

[@ribbledude]

I remember playing the 1st Pokemon MD and becoming my favorite pokemon, Mudkip! It made the whole experience really magical. And I got so choked up watching the trials and tribulations of Mudkip and his partner, Cyndaquil

[@WhiteHank]

literally just started replaying this game a couple days ago, and i made a big mistake of naming me and my partner after two characters in a story i'm writing lmao, so i took it a little personally when my guy got separated from his buddy

[@Muppet17]

I remember trying for hours and hours on my DS trying to beat Groudon as a bulbasaur - took me days of attempts and on the day my sister was born I beat him in the car on the way home, core memory for sure.

[@tyujg7495.]

The mainline games should be written like this

[@superlynx98]

God, seeing that cut scene again has me in tears. They really knocked it out of the park

[@Patrick-rh6rd]

I'm so glad this video exists and I just found it. This game made me cry as a kid and still makes me tear up sometimes to this day.

[@SigelPW]

Oh lord, I always cry watching this and Red rescue team ending 😭😭

[@theatrum95]

This game DID make me cry. I was 12 or 13 at the time. Now I'm almost 27 and I still vividly remember everything about that summer morning when I was nearing the end of this game. I stayed up 'till 5 AM because I couldn't stop playing. The sun was just starting to rise when the credits rolled and I was bawling my eyes out uncontrollably. Now that I think about it, it might've been the first time ever that a game made me cry. And definitely an experience that made me truly realize just how powerful of a storytelling medium videogames can be.

[@slipNslideproduction]

First video game that ever made me cry HARD; thanks for covering this underrated gem :)

[@sweetwolfsteve5583]

The first time you play this you will cry the ending is heartbreaking

[@bennu547]

The whole thing is Bidoof’s fault for wishing for a friend. I think it’s confirmed in Darkrai’s part that Bidoof’s wish was the cause of the main character turning into a Pokèmon in the first place. And all for a wish for basically new recruits at the guild that will eventually happen on it’s own anyways😹

[@renemaier5197]

Such an amazing video. Good choice just letting the final cutscene play out fully without commentary. The impact was grandious!