Review (2025 August)

When releasing on 3DS back in 2011, Pokémon Rumble Blast (as "Rumble" afterwards) was an eye-catching game. I bought my first 3DS because I wanted to play Rumble, simple as that. All the Pokémons have become toys in Rumble, and you have to use a special key to wind up a toy to activate the Pokémon, what a design! The actual gameplay has a simple storyline, you basically complete different levels in different regions. Just like the main series, you can collect Pokémons in Rumble, but this time with fresh toy-like designs.

• System: Regarding the system, every Pokémon comes with a numbered power and 1 or 2 moves with button A or B. Like Pokémon GO? Well a bit different, but mobile games with melee combat are not something new nowadays. Releasing Rumble on 3DS was acceptable in 2011, but undoubtedly Rumble is more like a mobile game considering its simple controls. That said, Rumble is a casual game without depths, apart from collecting and grinding.

• Pokédex: Similar to the main series, you can aim to complete the Pokédex in Rumble. Some legendaries are much harder to spawn, so the grinding does take some time. But the good news is, every legendary is sure to become a toy for collection once beaten. Completing the Pokédex in Rumble is actually pretty fun, personally even better than the main series. Unless, you are going for Arceus with all types.

• Difficulty: Regarding the difficulty, easy and smooth overall, apart from those Battle Royale levels that are designed as final challenges. EX-5 and EX-6 are unfair, you need to fight against a few overpowered legendaries at the same time, with only one Pokémon. Strong individual Pokémons, clear strategies and a bit of luck are all required to get SS.

• Balance: As a casual game, the balance is pretty much a joke. Terrakion with Sacred Sword (pretty much a cheating move) before getting accessed to Arceus, and Arceus with Judgment (simply a cheating move) to kill the game afterwards. With 5/5 Attack, 5/5 Defence and access to all 17 types, an Arceus with a high power bashes everything without a Special Trait. Guess which Pokémons I used for the last few Battle Royale levels? Arceus, Arceus and Arceus with different types. As a singleplayer game, just play what you like.

• Special Trait: Last but not the least, Special Trait. Like shiny Pokémons, Pokémons with Special Traits are rare in Rumble, where stronger ones are even rarer. While shiny Pokémons look fancier, Pokémons with Special Traits are usually more powerful, and sometimes brokenly powerful. While every Pokémon has only one shiny form, there are so many Special Traits to play the lottery, with top picks and trash picks. Personally, I hate this design. Imagine you get a Pokémon with a super strong Special Trait when you have not completed the story yet? Congratulation for winning the lottery, but that Pokémon must have a low power, so pretty much a wasted lottery win. If you want to hunt your favourite Pokémon with a specific Special Trait, you have to complete the story, upgrade the world to the highest rank and then keep playing the lottery of Special Traits. Such a nasty design to trap the players in this toy world! Well, Arceus without any Special Traits can SS everything, so not really necessary.

P.S. I do have a plan of playing Rumble on an emulator with my old saves, but there are some technical issues waiting to get solved. Once all done, let's get back to the old toy world!