Pokemon Overload for DS Revealed

Nintendo, through the Pokemon Company, has announced a major program of titles for DS, all of which are expected to roll out over the next few months in Japan.

The first carries the name Pokemon Puzzle and is a rework of the DS launch classic Zoo Keeper. Instead of having to answer to a surly zoo boss, players will this time collect Pokemon under the direction of Professor Oak. Sounds great to us, though we can’t help but shed a small tear for the fact that Zoo Keeper can’t stand on its own feet in a mainstream market.

Next up is a new Fushigi Dungeon title, developed by Chunsoft. The originals were based in the Pokemon Red and Blue universe and is a Pokemon-skinned re-work of Chun’s Fushigi Dungeon DS title.

Also announced was Pokemon Ranger, a new game based on the latest Japanese Pokemon movie which, as is tradition, focused on Mew. No details were released, though we can confirm that a late-night bar and transsexual simulator will not be included. And finally we have Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl, two new traditional Pokemon titles.

We’ll have details on all these ‘Buy, Buy, Buy!’ games as soon as we can. Stay tuned. Or don’t if you’re not that bothered by Pokemon anymore…

Which reminds us; it looks as though Pikachu and friends are in for something of a resurgence in the west. SPOnG has seen a massive interest in the Pokemon franchise in the UK, Canada, with games and cards seeing heavy use in pub beer gardens, airports and campsites. Social gaming for the demographic has never been as rich as that offered by Pokemon, so perhaps the winning formula will again reach the dizzy heights of the late 90’s…