Pokémon Ranger is a Pokémon game which is unlike any other. Instead of going from town to town challenging Gym Leaders and collecting badges and Pokémon along the way, Pokémon Ranger requires the player to draw rings around Pokémon on the touch-screen of the Nintendo DS to capture them.

In Pokémon Ranger, you are? a Pokémon Ranger, in the region of Fiore. You are called upon by the general public to save Pokémon. The game progresses in Missions, each with a different objective. On your numerous missions, you might encounter the Go-Rock Squad who are a Pokémon Ranger?s worst enemy, their aim to be to create a Power Stylus which can control any Pokémon.

A Power Stylus is the tool which you use to capture the Pokémon. It has an energy bar, and if the energy bar is depleted, it?s game over for you. You stylus can take damage from Pokémon attacks. The more skilled a Pokémon Ranger becomes, the more privledges they can acquire. For example a skilled Pokémon Ranger will have more Power Stylus Energy and Line length than a beginner Pokémon Ranger. If, a certain Pokémon takes a liking to you, you can keep it with you as a companion.

If you capture a Pokémon successfully, the may follow you around, and if called upon assist you in capturing another Pokémon. However, you cannot take a Pokémon out of its original habitat, unless you are very high in rank. Pokémon that you have captured can also assist you in the field, by destroy obstacles in your path. But, be warned, a Pokémon?s help can only be used once, without capturing the Pokémon again, the exception being your Partner Pokémon.

When you complete the game, you are presented with extra missions on the Ranger Net. There are 4 in total, three are unlocked by completing previous missions, but, the other is a very special mission indeed. The fourth mission, titled ?Recover the precious Egg!? in which you must follow a Go-Rock member to retrieve a very rare egg that Professor Hastings found himself! But, what?s inside the Egg? This Mission can be unlocked via the following methods:

Inside the Egg you will find Manaphy. Manaphy is a 4th Generation Pokémon that is only obtainable via completing the special mission in Pokémon Ranger. The Manaphy Egg, once retrieved can be sent wirelessly to Pokémon Diamond/Pearl and can be hatched there.

» How ever hard you think it is to capture a Pokémon, don?t give up. And, whatever you do, don't throw your DS at the wall in frustration.