Pokémon Stadium

Pokémon Stadium
File:Pokémon Icon.gif
Universe	Pokémon
Appears in	SSBM SSBB
Availability	Starter (SSBM) Unlockable (SSBB)
Crate type	Futuristic (SSBB only)
Tournament legality Melee Singles: Neutral Doubles: Neutral Brawl Singles: Neutral/Counter-pick Doubles: Neutral/Counter-pick

Pokémon Stadium (ポケモンスタジアム, Pokemon Sutajiamu) is a very interesting level that has a basic stage and four other stages that it transforms into. Announced at E3 2001, The basic stage is three comprised of three platforms; one large platform, and two smaller ones. The large platform is on the bottom is flat with two very small elevations for the sides of the stages. The two small platforms of the basic stage float at the medium between 1/4 and 2/4 for the first platform and 3/4 and 4/4 for the second. The basic stage is physically symmetrical. After a while, which could be from a few seconds to a few minutes, the basic stage will transform into one of the other four stages, as indicated by the jumbo television screen that is showing a program of the match you are currently having. After the change into a different stage, the level always goes back into it's original basic stage. The same stage could appear twice in a row, but only after the basic stage interval.

The second stage is a forest/jungle area. It is somewhat flat on the main platform. There is a small elevated plateau on the right, it ends about 1/3 of the level through, followed by a flat grass area that goes the rest of the level through. There is also a river a little left of the halfway mark that has a minor depression. There are three aerial platforms of this second stage. One medium sized one halfway of the staged and risen and another one higher than it and to the left. The second platform starts halfway of the first platform. The third and final platform is to the right that is flat and very small.

The third stage is a water level. It is flat on the right side with an elevated left side that depresses back down before the stage ends at the left side. On the smooth right side of the level, there are two aerial platforms. A lower one just left of the halfway mark, and a higher one to the right of it. The thing that makes this stage very memorable is the windmill on the left side. The arms of the windmill spin slowly and you can stand on them, but they will dump you off if you stand on the current lowest arm.

The fourth stage is a fire area. The bottom platform is not very flat at all. The middle is a small valley. Where the valley ends on the right, it is flat through the rest of the level. There is one floating platform that follows the elevated plateau for the rest of the level. That floating platform is flat. To the left of the valley in the middle is an unusual shaped obstacle. As soon as the valley ends on the left, there is a strait up elevation that you can not pass through (however some attacks can, that is a good strategy to keep in mind). Most characters need to double jump this hurdle, which you can stand on the top of it. After the platform that is the top of the hurdle, it goes straight down again, but only half way. At a 45 degree angle up and left, there is a medium sized platform that sticks out to the end of the level. It is possible to stand under that 45 degree angle and the platform to the left.

The fifth and final stage is a rock/mountain stage. This stage has a very rugged bottom platform, with 5 aerial platforms in the center. Two on the left are very small and attached to the mountain they are parallel and are flat. The other three on the right are all on top of each other, each with their own different angle. The bottom aerial platform is at a steep angle that touches the ground so that you can walk on it. On the left side, there is a huge mountain that shoots almost strait up with a good sized platform on the top you can stand on. When the platform ends, the mountain shoots strait down, leaving only room for one person before the stage ends.

In All-Star mode, this stage is played on when you face Pikachu and any of its teammates.

Unlock Criteria

In Brawl, play on Pokémon Stadium 2 10 times.

Origin

While the stage is not specifically based on any one thing from the Pokémon video game series, it may be a general representation of a Gym. Another possible origin is from the animé. In the first season, Ash is included in a tournament held at the Indigo Plateau. While there is a general stage, similar to the standard form of the stage, the field can transform into various stages, including Rock and Water, although they are much different than the rock and water forms represented in the stage.

Tournament Status

Pokemon Stadium is one of the few stages that people in tournaments have almost never questioned. Many people considered Pokemon Stadium to be the fairest level in Melee because of the changing ground and the platforms but it isn't too big that a person can camp with projectiles.

In Brawl, the stage is more debatable in its neutrality. The lips at the edge are deceptive, occasionally flustering recoveries from slightly underneath the stage or even regular recoveries away from the stage. There are also a number of walls that appear throughout the alternation, which gives advantages to those characters with wall infinites. It is still otherwise an acceptable counter-pick, should it not be listed as neutral.

Trophy description

"Trainers come from far and wide to congregate at Pokémon Stadiums, the ultimate venues to show off their Pokémon teams. There are many different arenas with varying terrain designs, some of which afford advantages to certain Pokémon. This particular stadium is reserved for huge events and boasts a big screen and spectacular fireworks."

Trivia

• Elemental stage transformations were not present in any of the Pokémon games, rather, they originated in the anime.
• In Brawl, Pokémon Stadium is the only Melee Stage with three songs for My Music -- Pokémon Stadium (Melee), Battle Theme (Melee) and Poké Floats (Melee).
• In Brawl, if one is playing as Zero Suit Samus, the monitor on the background will still show the name "Samus" instead of "Zero Suit Samus". Interestingly, that also happens in Pokémon Stadium 2.
• There is a glitch on the forest level in Brawl: walk onto it on the very left where the tree stump is while it is forming, and you will fall through.
• The giant TV screen in the background shows the fight in a lower picture definition in Brawl than in Melee.
• The physics for the water stage's windmill have changed in Brawl, so now players can't walk, jump, or drop through the blades unless you hold the down button on the Wii Remote or smash down on the control stick.
• When the stage is about to transform, an icon denoting the element flashes on the screen in the background to alert the players. These icons are said to be derived from the logos on certain cards of the official Pokemon trading card game. In the North American beta of Melee, the icons looked exactly like the ones on the cards. However, for the final version of Melee (and Brawl), the designs were changed to look more realistic (because there is no Rock-type Pokémon Card), although they still appear similar to the originals.
• In Brawl, the jumbo television uses a new, clearer font for its display.