A Pokémon classic has unexpectedly arrived on Switch 2 – but fans are frustrated by two major issues

The lineup of classic Pokémon games playable on Nintendo’s current hardware is slowly taking shape. Following the recent arrival of Switch 2 versions of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Nintendo has now surprised fans with a 2005 classic: Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. It was the second Pokémon title released for the Nintendo GameCube after Pokémon Colosseum and is still regarded by many fans as a cult favorite today. Nintendo Japan also published an announcement trailer on YouTube to mark the release.

However, the re-release does not come without drawbacks. Unlike many other retro titles on Nintendo’s subscription services, the standard Nintendo Switch Online membership, currently priced at $3.99 per month, is not enough in this case. The GameCube emulator is locked behind an Expansion Pack, which costs $49.99 per year. Anyone unwilling to pay for an ongoing subscription can at least turn to FireRed and LeafGreen, which are currently available in the Nintendo eShop for $19.99 each. Wario World, Luigi’s Mansion, and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance have also been added to the Switch 2’s GameCube library.

In terms of content, Pokémon XD takes a somewhat different approach from the mainline series. Instead of collecting badges and going from gym to gym, players travel through the Orre region and take on the criminal organization Cipher. The group has artificially closed the hearts of many Pokémon, turning them into aggressive and emotionless fighters. Your task is to track down these so-called Shadow Pokémon, capture them, and gradually purify them. Battles still remain the heart of the experience, though, and in Pokémon XD these are usually fought as double battles, with two Pokémon on each side. Even today, the GameCube classic is often seen as interesting but somewhat repetitive from a gameplay perspective. As a result, it only holds a Metascore of 64 on Metacritic. For many fans, however, that is hardly a reason not to revisit Orre. The real frustration surrounding the Switch 2 release stems from two other decisions tied to the game’s return.

Fans are frustrated by the lack of Pokémon Home support – and puzzled by the release order

One major point of criticism is that Pokémon from the Game Boy Advance titles cannot be transferred into Pokémon XD. Nintendo itself points out this limitation. Many fans had been hoping for exactly that feature, so the disappointment has been noticeable. For some players, the lack of Pokémon Home support is an even bigger issue. Since caught Pokémon cannot be transferred into the current storage and transfer ecosystem, the release loses a good deal of its appeal for collectors and shiny hunters. The release order is also causing debate. Many fans find it strange that Pokémon XD is already available while Pokémon Colosseum is still missing. For a lot of players, it would have made far more sense to bring back the direct predecessor first.