This is the first Comparison I’ve done, so let me tell you some things. I’ll give the usual score of 1 to 10 for each game, so you can see which one is better. If both are the same score, I’ll explain which one is slightly better in my explanation of the scores, or if they’re equal.

Anyway, both Pokemon Stadiums share the same structure. You send Pokemon into the game via a Transfer Pack, and they battle it out in 3D on the N64. You can also use rental Pokemon if you have no Pokemon game to upload, but they’re considerably weaker than Pokemon you’ve raised yourself. You can also compete in tournaments, like the Poke Cup and the Prime Cup. There is also a Gym Leader Castle where you battle the Gym Leaders from the Poke’mon Games. After you’ve beaten everything, Round 2 opens up, and the tournaments will be much harder.

Graphics:
Both: 7/10

It’s good to see Pokemon in 3D action on your N64 rather than in 2D action on your Game Boy, so that earns these games a lot of points. However, I find that the Pokemon themselves don’t look much, if any, better than Mario does in Super Mario 64, so I can’t give a perfect score.

Sound/Music:
Both: 8/10

The battle music is pretty dang good. I also like the announcer, who can be funny with his commentary at times. Like, if you sit there during a battle and do nothing, he’ll say, “The Trainer hasn’t issued an order!” and “What’s the matter, Trainer?”

I took off a bit for the Pokemon cries, which are really modified versions of those from the Gameboy game and don’t sound anything like the spoken names of the Pokemon from the TV Show. I’d like it better if the Pokemon said their own names, like on the TV Show.

Difficulty:
Pokemon Stadium: 8/10
Poke’mon Stadium 2: 10/10

Here’s the problem. In order to beat both games, you have to beat all of the tournaments- Round 1 and 2. Since the tournaments have different entry rules, you’ll sometimes be forced to rent, and let me tell you right now that although I was able to beat Round 1 of both Pokemon Stadiums with Rental Pokemon only, I could not win Round 2 using only Rentals (and I’m a very good gamer, too!). Therefore, the extreme difficulty is probably where these two games falter most. PKS1 is easier than PKS2 though because there are fewer moves that you have to prepare your team for. PKS2 is practically unbeatable without a game cartridge and some Sharked Pokemon on your side.

Gameplay:
Pokemon Stadium: 6/10
Poke’mon Stadium 2: 7/10

Here’s how the tournaments are run. There are four to choose from: In PKS1, the Poke Cup (Level 50-55), Prime Cup (Any Level), Pika Cup (Level 15-20), and Petit Cup (Level 25-30, <6’8” and <44 lbs); in PKS2, there's Poke Cup (Level 50-55), Little Cup (Level 5), Prime Cup (Any Level), and Challenge Cup (Random Pokemon of varying levels). In both games the Poke Cup is split into four “Ball” levels, each of which is one tournament: Poke Ball, Great Ball, Ultra Ball, Master Ball. The Prime Cup is also split into Balls in PKS1, and in PKS2 the Challenge Cup is split into Balls instead of the Prime Cup. In every Cup you have to beat 8 opponents, each more difficult than the last. If you win a battle without any of your Pokemon fainting, you get a Continue, which allows you to continue once if you lose. However, if you lose while you have no continues, you lose the entire tournament! Does that sound tough? It is!

Oh, and there’s also the Gym Leader Castle. In PKST2 there’s one for Johto and one for Kanto. You have series of battles of up to four battles long, each leading up to a Gym Leader at the end. Then you take on the Elite Four, and finally the Champion. A fun feature if you ask me.

And then there’s always the mini-games…From games where you rack up the most expensive sushi bill to games where you try to knock each other out of the ring while spinning upside-down, both Pokemon Stadiums excel in the category of competition.

The reason PKS2 gets the extra point is because PKS1 has the Petit Cup. Whoever thought that Cup up deserves a kick in the teeth. I think the idea of only letting in Pokemon that are small enough is crazy. If it were me, I’d only allow in Pokemon that were BIG enough! My least favorite PKS2 tournament, the Challenge Cup, is slightly less annoying, thus giving PKS2 the extra point here.

Control:
Both: 9/10

Both of these games have good controls. Once you get the classic “Push A to Attack, Push Right C to use Hyper Beam” stuff, it will feel like you and your friends could fight a battle while sleeping…if only they could see the screen.

Replay Value:
Both: 8/10

There are enough reasons to replay these two games to warrant doing so. Challenge your friends in battles and in mini-games. Try to beat the Gym Leaders using different Pokemon. Play your Gameboy game in the GB Tower on the big screen (with the Doduo or Dodrio Gameboy, if you unlocked it!). Or you could try to beat the entire game with only rental Pokemon (GOOD LUCK!).

Size:
Pokemon Stadium: 5/10
Pokemon Stadium 2: 6/10

Well, both games have pretty much the same size as far as tournaments and extras, but the larger Gym Leader Castle in PKS2 gives it an extra point in this area.

Fun Factor!:
Pokemon Stadium: 8/10
Pokemon Stadium 2: 9/10

Despite the difficulty issue (you don’t really HAVE to beat the tournaments if you don’t want to, these games are really multiplayer) the Pokemon Stadium games are fun. PKS2 is a little more fun than PKS1 because of the new Pokemon, but both games do well in this category.

Recommendation:
Both: 9/10

I have to strongly recommend both games because they’re great.

If you’re deciding over which to buy first, I recommend PKS1 first, because it’s less complicated. That will allow you to get used to how things work, etc. Then you can move on to PKS2, and from there onto Pokemon Colosseum.

But if you’re a Pokemon fan and you don’t buy either of these games, I’ll seriously point and laugh. And keep in mind I’m laughing AT, not with.

Overall:
Pokemon Stadium: 8/10
Pokemon Stadium 2: 9/10

PKS2’s better, because it’s bigger and has more characters to use in battle. However, PKS1 is good too, and was definitely a big hit at the time it came out. I’m sure Pokemon Colosseum will be even better than both of these games, but I haven’t got a chance to play it yet!

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