Direct sequel to Pokemon Colosseum, English release, Genius Sonority polishing the formula. More Pokemon, more modes, more story. Story still grown-up, battles still double. Probably the best Pokemon spin-off of the era.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player7+
Description
Michael battles Cipher in this Japanese Nintendo GameCube Pokemon XD version. Published by Nintendo, released in Japan in August 2005. Original Japanese 3D Pokemon RPG with Michael saving XD Pokemon, double battles and Dark Lugia story.
Pokemon XD - Yami no Kaze Dark Lugia review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Rescuing Shadow Pokémon from Cipher's grip kicks off a 3D adventure even more fleshed-out than its predecessor, rich in double battles and patient purifications. Between the main quest, methodical catching and end-game challenges, the content holds you for a long time. That scope, rare for a home-console entry, reinforces its reputation as a generous, durable Pokémon.
Technical info
💾0,89 GB📅04/08/2005
Published by Nintendo
Pokemon XD - Yami no Kaze Dark Lugia (GameCube) price, value & rarity
The original Japanese version of Pokémon XD, released a few months before the Western editions under the title Yami no Kaze Dark Lugia. The first iteration of the last Pokémon RPG on GameCube, it carries the Japanese voicing and some regional adjustments. Its collecting interest comes from that inaugural-release status, sought by Japanese fans and completists attentive to version differences in this much-loved spin-off.
A questionable morality
Reclaiming the enemy's Pokémon to purify them starts from a fine idea, but the method stays plain theft, a machine slung over the shoulder to wrench the creatures off other people's belts. So you build your collection by fleecing your opponents, firmly convinced you're acting for their good. A virtuous crusade waged through unabashed larceny, which the plot presents without so much as a raised eyebrow.
Is Pokemon XD - Yami no Kaze Dark Lugia still worth playing in 2026?
A direct sequel to Colosseum, Pokemon XD pushes the console-RPG formula with its capture of Shadow Pokemon and a story centered on Michael against Cipher. The 3D double battles remain enjoyable and the hunt for purified creatures gives a singular goal, far from the handheld entries. A somewhat slow pace and content shy of the genre's heavyweights limit its reach. For a Pokemon fan after an overlooked console variant, it's a solid curiosity well worth the detour and still pleasant to revisit today.
