DP4 Lv.Xs, Pokemon Ranch, SSBB

EDIT:Famitsu.com has released the first images of Pokemon Ranch (scroll down the page to see them). It appears that a person’s Miis interact with Pokemon once they are transferred over, and that the Pokemon are Mii-like as well.

I’ll post this week’s first Strategist card review article tomorrow.

New DP4 Lv.Xs – We have received new and exclusive information on [Moon Hunting / Night Dashing], the fourth Diamond and Pearl set that will be released in Japan later this month! In addition to Cresselia Lv.X, Leafeon Lv.X, and Glaceon Lv.X, we now know that Garchomp Lv.X, Honchkrow Lv.X, and Gardevoir Lv.X will be featured in the set, bringing the total amount of Lv.Xs to six. Garchomp Lv.X will most likely be a reprint of the promo that was included in the Mystery of the Lakes / Shining Darkness visual book a few months ago (look at the set page for the translation and image of Garchomp), but the other five Lv.Xs will be completely new! We will have scans and translations of DP4 within the next few weeks, so stay tuned to PokeBeach!

Honchkrow is on America’s Secret Wonders booster packs, so we can assume that at least some of the Lv.Xs mentioned above will be the Lv.Xs of America’s Secret Wonders set. Secret Wonders consists of primarily Shining Darkness (DP3) cards, but since the Lv.Xs from Shining Darkness (Dialga, Palkia, Darkrai) are related to the 10th Pokemon movie (Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai), we will probably get them in the February set release instead, which coincides with the 10th movie’s release in America. Thus, the Lv.Xs of Moon Hunting / Night Dashing (DP4) will probably be traded with the Lv.Xs of Shining Darkness for the American release, helping to promote the 10th movie.

Pokemon Ranch – A recent Nintendo of Japan media meeting revealed a future Pokemon title for Wiiware – Pokemon Ranch. Apparently, the game is like Pokemon Box, allowing players to transfer Pokemon from Diamond and Pearl to the Wii for both storage and interaction in a farm-like environment (the “interactive” features are currently unknown, although they could involve raising Pokemon, leveling them up, breeding them, etc. – anything is possible). Wiiware is Wii software available exclusively through the Wii Shop channel, so anyone with a Wii and an internet connection will be able to download Pokemon Ranch once it is uploaded to their region’s servers (of course, the game may cost a small fee).

New Pokemon in SSBB – A video released today on the official Super Smash Bros. Website has revealed that Kyogre, Torchic, and Snorlax will be available as Poke Ball Pokemon in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Kyogre apparently fires Hydro Pumps (or does something with water), Torchic burns whoever is near it, and Snorlax jumps up into the air and falls through the stage, damaging any characters under it (just like in Super Smash Bros: Melee for Gamecube). Click the screen captures below to view larger images (including new images of Pokemon already known to be in the game).

Pokemon known to be available in Poke Balls so far are Goldeen, Chikorita, Deoxys, Groudon, Munchlax, Piplup, Kyogre, Torchic, and Snorlax. Pikachu and Pokemon Trainer’s Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard are the only playable Pokemon characters in the game thus far, although Jigglypuff is a possible contender in the future (hopefully Lucario, too!).