Pokédex 3D holds the honour of being the first ever original title in the Nintendo 3DS eShop. It’s also one of the first free titles in the eShop — something which I’m sure will become rarer and rarer as more titles are added. But is it worth downloading, and what could it mean for Pokémon’s future?

The software is fairly simple, with Pokémon displayed on the Top Screen and a fairly ugly user interface appearing on the Touch Screen. Everyone starts out with the same 16 Pokémon — a selection which includes all the Unova region starters and their evolutions — and can receive more by swapping data with other players. If you don’t know anyone else with a 3DS, which is understandable at the moment, three Pokémon are unlocked every day via SpotPass. It’s a nice touch that keeps you coming back to the software, but it’s been implemented poorly and only one new Pokémon appears at a time. This means you’ll constantly be returning to the HOME Menu, closing the software, and launching it again. Even worse, only fifth-generation Pokémon are obtainable at the moment. I’m hoping for an update that includes all 649 monsters.

Once a Pokémon’s data has been registered you can view it in full 3D from any angle you like, read Pokédex entries from Pokémon Black and White, and view other useful information like movesets and base stats. There’s also a choice of three backgrounds, one of which is a dusky forest that throws shadows onto your Pokémon’s body. The models look surprisingly good, and the inclusion of real-time lighting effects is the icing on the cake.

When you shoot backgrounds seperately, taking Pokémon pictures is easy and fun.

Where Pokédex 3D really shines is its AR viewer feature. Each Pokémon has a unique AR marker (you can view them all on Serebii.net) which causes it to appear in real-life situations. The software is capable of scanning multiple AR markers at once — even hand drawn ones — and with a little creativity you’ll soon be snapping photographs of your favourite characters. Once 50 pictures have been taken, you also gain the ability to shoot backgrounds and Pokémon separately, allowing for even more possibilities.

The feature isn’t perfect, though. Photos taken inside Pokédex 3D are conspicuously 2D, and Nintendo adds a little copyright notice in the corner. I also thought the software’s AR scanning was a little temperamental, with Pokémon popping in and out of existence unless shot from a top-down perspective. Regardless, it’s a fun feature and gives players a new way to be creative with their Nintendo 3DS consoles.

I can’t help feeling Pokédex 3D is less of a standalone title, and more of a preview of things to come. The software does a good job of demonstrating how StreetPass, SpotPass, and augmented reality could be used in the next main-series titles. One could even argue Nintendo’s testing the reaction to 3D Pokémon artwork — I suspect the pixelated sprites from past games will be gone for good in Generation VI.

It also holds more than a passing resemblance to Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap, which saw players taking pictures of Kanto-region Pokés in a bid to impress Professor Oak. Fans have been clamouring for a Snap sequel for years, so I’m wondering if Nintendo’s getting us warmed up for one. Don’t believe me? Consider the fact you can throw apples at Pokémon to make them show off their attacks — a feature which has been lifted directly from Pokémon Snap.

The Verdict

3 ¾ – Good

Pokédex 3D is close to being great — it’s got some pretty nifty features, and does a lot to showcase the Nintendo 3DS’s connectivity features. Unfortunately, its ugly user interface and limited selection of Pokémon let it down.