Review of Pokemon Dream Radar for the Nintendo 3DS
Pokémon Dream Radar for the Nintendo 3DS is less of a traditional Pokémon game and more of a quirky, augmented-reality side quest that lets you hunt legendary creatures in your living room. Released in 2012 as a companion app for Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, this downloadable title turns your 3DS into a dream-catching device where lasers, clouds, and floating Pokémon collide in a surprisingly entertaining, if short-lived, experience.
The premise is delightfully weird: you use your 3DS camera and motion controls to scan your surroundings, shoot dream clouds, and capture Pokémon that appear within them. These are no ordinary Pokémon either—most are rare, some are exclusive, and a few include alternate forms of legendaries like Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus. It’s a neat idea that turns your physical space into a mini battleground, provided you don’t mind spinning in circles like a confused Pidgey while trying to line up a shot.
Gameplay involves zapping dream clouds floating around your room using the 3DS’s gyro controls. Some clouds contain items, while others hide Pokémon you can stun and capture with your “beam.” There’s a limited number of turns per session, but you can collect Dream Orbs to upgrade your gear and improve your odds. It’s simple, repetitive, and strangely satisfying, especially when you finally nab a legendary after it zips around your screen like a caffeinated Zubat.
Where Dream Radar really shines is in its connectivity. Pokémon and items you capture can be transferred directly into your copy of Black 2 or White 2, adding real value to what could otherwise feel like a novelty app. It’s especially enticing for completionists or anyone looking to add some hard-to-get critters to their Pokédex. That said, without the mainline games to link to, the standalone appeal is pretty limited.
Visually, the game does a decent job for what it is. The dream world is awash in neon purples and blues, and the particle effects give it a slightly ethereal sci-fi vibe. Pokémon models are crisp and detailed, though the environments are minimal – this is more about the hunt than the setting. The music is suitably dreamy, with soft techno beats that match the game’s floating, surreal tone.
The downside? It’s over pretty quickly. Once you’ve captured the main targets and upgraded your equipment, there’s not much reason to keep coming back. The gameplay loop, while fun in bursts, lacks the variety needed for long-term play. It’s clearly designed to complement the main series games, not replace them.
All in all, Pokémon Dream Radar is a creative little spin-off that does exactly what it sets out to do: give players a fun, techy way to snag special Pokémon and feel like a ghostbuster for a few hours. It’s short, sweet, and surprisingly fun – just don’t forget to look up from your screen now and then, or you might dream-beam your grandma by mistake.
Unlockables for Pokemon Dream Radar
Legendary Battles:
After defeating Landorus, unlock the following areas and Legendary Pokemon by inserting the corresponding games into the Nintendo 3DS:
AREA (POKEMON) – GAME
Diving Extension (Lugia) – Insert Pokemon SoulSilver.
Rainbow Extension (Ho-Oh) – Insert Pokemon HeartGold.
Renegade Extension (Giratina) – Insert Pokemon Platinum.
Space Extension (Palkia) – Insert Pokemon Pearl.
Time Extension (Dialga) – Insert Pokemon Diamond.