Platform: Pokémon mini
Release Date:
NA: November 16, 2001
JPN: December 14, 2001
EU: March 15, 2002
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Saves: 6 games
Pokémon mini is the smallest game system with interchangeable cartridges ever produced by Nintendo. As I love simple, pixel games, cartridges, tiny things and Nintendo, I had to get this of course!
Game System
Pokémon mini is a handheld game console, designed and manufactured by Nintendo and themed around the Pokémon franchise. It is the smallest game system with the smallest interchangeable cartridges made by Nintendo, and possibly at all. It’s about the size of a handpalm and weighs just under 71 grams.
The system is despite its size filled with features and includes an internal real-time clock, an infrared port for multiplayer, a reed switch to detect shakes, and has a rumble feature.
It has a directional pad, an A and B button and a Power button on the front. It also has a reset button in the front, and a C button on the side. On the back is a slot for 1 AAA battery.
Apparently it was no commercial success as it got cancelled soon after its release (it only had a lifespan of 18 months in Japan). 10 games were released for the system in 2001 and 2002, with only 4 of those releasing in America, and 5 in Europe. Most games can be played with 1 hand.
It can store save data of up to 6 games. When placing a 7th game, the console will ask you to play without saving, or erase data of another game. You can also hold [Down] and [B] while powering the system on, to delete save data of that game. Some games only store high scores, while others unlock stuff as you play and save your progress.
The system came in 3 colours; Wooper Blue, Chikorita Green and Smoochum Purple.
Accessibility:
The system is best held in 1 hand or supported by 2 hands, so it depends on your ability to do this. The system has a rumble feature, but this can be turned off. The screen is quite small, with no back lighting and simple black pixels, although some games can be played purely by feeling for the rumble. Sound is basic and not really needed to enjoy the games.
Development
The Pokémon Mini is a handheld developed by Nintendo R&D3 around 1999. It was engineered entirely in-house and does not contain any off the shelf parts except for a few lesser important parts.
Wooper Blue + Pokémon Party mini
I got the Wooper Blue system (blue is my favourite colour!) that comes bundled with Pokémon Party mini. I have an Australian version.
The back of the unit is blue, while the front of the unit is semi-transparant blue. The buttons are all blue, with the power and reset being grey.
Platform: Pokémon mini
Release Date:
NA: November 16, 2001
JPN: December 14, 2001
EU: March 15, 2002
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Denyusha
Genre: Mini games
Pokémon Party mini is a cartridge filled with mini games. Most games are quick and can be played with one hand.
– Pikachu’s Rocket Start: You have to run off before the other Pokémon by pressing any button (or shake!) as soon as the system rumbles. It’s a quick reflex game.
– Slowking’s Judge: You have to tell when a ball on a tennis court is in, by pressing [B], or out, by pressing [A]. The balls will keep coming faster. The game ends when you make the wrong call.
– Chansey’s Dribble: You have to kick a ball forward to cross a finish line as fast as possible with Chansey. You move Chansey by pressing [Left] and [Right]. If you miss the ball, you can shake the console to position her faster behind the ball again.
– Bellossom’s Dance: You copy the other Bellossom’s moves by using the directional pad and jump by shaking the console. The game ends when you make the wrong move.
– Hitmonchan’s Boxing: You shake the unit to punch the opponent. When it rumbles, you stop shaking to dodge.
– Sneasel’s Fake Out: A 2 Player game. You play basketball on either the offense or defense side. You use [Left] and [Right] to either dribble to the goal, or guard. I haven’t played this one personally as I do not have 2 units.
– Battlefield: Let’s you play all the single player games with up to 6 players. I haven’t tried this out personally as I do not have multiple units.
– Celebi’s Clock: It’s a clock. It also has an alarm and stop watch function.
With lots of minigames I can see why this one was bundled with the console as it gives immediately a lot of options to play. Most are quickly done though and I can see how people would also quickly get bored of these. I always enjoy ‘simple’ games with 1 mechanic or minimal button presses, and I think it’s great to play these, but probably not for too long.
This cartridge was also featured in Pokémon Channel on Gamecube, where some of the minigames can be played plus Snorlax’s Lunch Time, which was exclusive for Pokémon Channel.
Accessibility:
Some minigames require to be able to see the small screen. Some minigames feature rumble. Some minigames require you to shake the console. See descriptions above to see which would be suitable for you to play.
As I have an Australian version the serial code on mine is: MIN-MPTE-AUS.
Pokémon Pinball mini
Platform: Pokémon mini
Release Date:
NA: November 16, 2001
JPN: December 14, 2001
EU: March 15, 2002
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Jupiter
Genre: Pinball
Pokémon Pinball mini is a pinball game where a Pokémon acts as the plunger. There’s no hole in the bottom where you’d lose the ball and no flippers, just the Pokémon Plunger in the bottom to bounce the ball back up. The goal is to shoot the Pokéball in the pockets, filling them all.
The game has 3 different modes:
– Quest Mode: There are 70 stages with different objectives for the player to complete.
– Time Attack: There are 10 stages where you have to fill the pockets as fast as possible.
– Score Attack: There are 10 stages where you must exceed the score before the time runs out.
You can also catch Pokémon to use as Plungers, and it also has a Clock.
You use the [C] button for the Plunger, so this game once set up can be easily played with 1 hand.
This game is a lot of fun with loads to unlock. All in all it has 90 levels and the game is easy to pick up. I found it quite addictive.
Accessibility:
You need to be able to see the screen in order to ‘aim’ the balls and knowing when to use the plunger. The game mostly uses the [C] button so is playable with 1 hand.
As I have an Australian version the serial code on mine is: MIN-MPBE-AUS.
Pokémon Puzzle Collection
Platform: Pokémon mini
Release Date:
NA: November 16, 2001
JPN: December 14, 2001
EU: March 15, 2002
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Jupiter
Genre: Puzzle
Pokémon Puzzle Collection is a collection of different puzzle games. Finishing a puzzle will catch that Pokémon on the Minidex. Filling up the Minidex unlocks a 4th puzzle game. The puzzles are:
– Motion Puzzle: An animated Pokémon image is scrambled and needs fixing up by swapping two pieces at a time.
– Shadow Puzzle: A tangram puzzle where you have to fit the pieces in a Pokémon shape.
– Rescue Mission: In this puzzle game you move blocks to create a path for the Pokémon to the hole, similar to that traffic game where you get a car out of a traffic jam.
– Power on: A pipe puzzle where you have to connect lines by sliding pieces. This one unlocks by catching Pokémon in the other puzzle games.
I really enjoy puzzle games so getting 4 on 1 cartridge is great. And they are really hard too! I’m alright at Motion Puzzle as unscrambling images I find fairly easy, and therefor have finished this one. However, I suck at tangrams so I think it’ll be a while before I finish Shadow Puzzle. Rescue Mission is quite fun as I like those type of puzzles. Power on was surprisingly hard too as it’s a pipe and slide puzzle in one. I can really see myself playing this on public transport or during lunch breaks and small waiting times.
Accessibility:
You need to be able to see the screen and most buttons are being used. However there are no quick reflexes or timers involved so you can take your time with these.
As I have an Australian version the serial code on mine is: MIN-MPZE-AUS.
Pokémon Zany Cards
Platform: Pokémon mini
Release Date:
NA: November 16, 2001
JPN: December 14, 2001
EU: March 15, 2002
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Denyusha
Genre: Strategy
Pokémon Zany Cards is a collection of 4 different card games. The games are:
– Wild Match: Similar to poker, you play cards in certain combinations to gain coins. Once all players have run out of cards, the coins are added up and the player with the most coins wins.
– Special Seven: Similar to Uno, you try to clear your hand by playing cards that match the number or suit on the table. There are also various event cards that change the gameplay, for example, Meowth makes the next player draw 2 cards.
– Card Dual: You place cards on the table and the player who places the highest value wins the cards on the table. The game continues until a player is out of cards. This game is 2 player only. I haven’t been able to play this one personally as I do not have another system.
– Four Kings: Similar to Solitaire, you try to get 4 piles with Kings on top. You can only place cards on the pile with the same number as in the bottom right corner of the pile. This game is single player only.
I like card games but this was a bit hard to get into. Without the manual I probably would have been stumped. I’m still not entirely sure how to play Wild Match, but then again, I also can’t play Poker. Special Seven is quite fun though and Four Kings was confusing at first but nice to zone out on too.
Accessibility:
You need to be able to see the screen and most buttons are being used. However there are no quick reflexes or timers involved so you can take your time with these.
As I have an Australian version the serial code on mine is: MIN-MACE-AUS.
Power Up
When this came out, I found it quite expensive for what it was. I was 13 at the time, with only some pocket money. It looked cute and I like Pokémon, but it appeared to be simple mini games and I rather spend my little money on something I really wanted. So this passed me by (although I looked at it often in the glass cabinet in the local Intertoys back then).
And of course I later regretted it! It’s basically a tiny game boy, and now as an adult I can appreciate the tiny simplicity and technicality of this. I also played the games on Pokémon Channel, and found them quite addictive.
But nowadays these seem to be very expensive! Due to it’s low lifespan I’m guessing not many units were made / sold, and so they can be considered rare. Also, it got hacked shortly after release and there is a homebrew community who also takes up stock. The system seemed out of my reach…
So when I found a bundle for a great price, I had to get it of course. All the way from Australia! But I’m really glad I own one now (in my favourite colour too!) with all the initially released games and all complete in box. I’m hoping to gain a full set of course (it’s only 10 games total!) and maybe the other colour variations too, but as that could end up expensive I’ll just passively hang back and look out for a good deal.
As for the system and games, I love how it’s the smallest cartridge based system! I love cartridges and small stuff, so it’s a double win for me. I love easy to get into games, great mechanics and not a lot of button presses, and am fascinated by early video games. And the puzzle games are great fun I’ll end up playing a lot!
If anyone is selling any I don’t have yet complete, I love to buy!
Recommendation
If you like mini games or small simple pixel games, you’ll like this. If you like Pokémon, you’ll also like this. If you like puzzle games, I can highly recommend you try out the Pokémon Puzzle Collection, which was my personal favourite of these.
If you like deep complex video games, you probably quickly get bored with these. And of course, they are very pricey which could also turn you off of these.
Do you have a Pokémon mini? What games have you played on it? Are you thinking of playing this? Is there any information you’re missing? Let me know in the comments below!