Pokémon Rumble Throwdown: World vs. Blast – Which Toy Rumble Reigns Supreme?
The question of whether Pokémon Rumble World or Pokémon Rumble Blast is “better” is a hotly debated topic among fans of the Pokémon Rumble series. While personal preference plays a significant role, the truth is Pokémon Rumble Blast emerges as the superior game for most players. Its more engaging story, traditional progression, and overall polished gameplay experience make it a more rewarding and less frustrating choice than Rumble World’s free-to-play model and repetitive mechanics. Rumble Blast offers a more complete and satisfying Pokémon experience without the constant pressure of microtransactions or artificial limitations. That being said, let’s delve deeper into this topic!
Diving Deep: A Comparative Analysis
To truly understand why Rumble Blast often takes the crown, let’s break down the key differences and advantages of each game.
Story and Progression
- Rumble Blast: Features a charming and more involved storyline where players need to rescue toy Pokémon from an evil force. The progression is linear and satisfying, with clear goals and a sense of accomplishment as you advance.
- Rumble World: Offers a weaker narrative, focusing on a king’s desire to collect all Pokémon. The progression relies heavily on Poké Diamonds and balloon upgrades, creating a somewhat artificial and less engaging sense of advancement.
Gameplay Mechanics
- Rumble Blast: Utilizes a traditional stage-based system where you explore areas, battle waves of Pokémon, and face boss encounters. There’s a rewarding sense of exploration and strategic team building as you progress.
- Rumble World: Revolves around using Poké Diamonds to purchase balloons that take you to different areas. The gameplay loop can become repetitive, with the need to constantly replenish balloons adding an unnecessary layer of restriction.
Pokémon Variety and Availability
- Rumble Blast: Includes over 600 Pokémon from Generations I to V. While this is a substantial roster, it lacks the Mega Evolutions and Pokémon from Generation VI (X and Y).
- Rumble World: Boasts a larger roster of 719 Pokémon, encompassing all species available up to that point, including Mega Evolutions, Primal Reversions, and all their various forms. However, obtaining specific Pokémon can be heavily reliant on chance and microtransactions.
Endgame Content
- Rumble Blast: After completing the main story, players can unlock additional areas, battle powerful Legendary Pokémon, and strive for a 100% completion rate.
- Rumble World: The endgame focuses on increasing your adventurer rank and collecting all available Pokémon. While this provides long-term goals, the repetitive nature of the core gameplay can make it feel more like a grind.
Monetization
- Rumble Blast: Is a traditional retail game with a one-time purchase price. All content is accessible without additional spending.
- Rumble World: Is a free-to-play title that relies on Poké Diamonds, which can be earned in-game or purchased with real money. The reliance on these diamonds to progress can create a “pay-to-win” scenario. It’s important to know that as of March 27, 2023, microtransactions are no longer available due to the eShop shutdown, but the fundamental design of the game still reflects its free-to-play origins.
Why Rumble Blast Wins Out
Despite Rumble World’s larger roster of Pokémon and access to Mega Evolutions, Rumble Blast delivers a more satisfying overall experience due to its compelling story, traditional progression, and lack of reliance on microtransactions. The focused gameplay and clear goals make it a more enjoyable and rewarding title for Pokémon fans.
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FAQs: Your Burning Rumble Questions Answered
1. Is Super Pokémon Rumble the same as Pokémon Rumble Blast?
Yes, Super Pokémon Rumble is the European/Australian title for the game known as Pokémon Rumble Blast in North America. The game content is identical.
2. What is the strongest Pokémon in Rumble Blast?
Mewtwo and Arceus are generally considered among the strongest, with Shadow Force Giratina also being exceptionally powerful.
3. Is there a limit on how many Pokémon I can bring to a level in Rumble Blast?
You can have multiple Pokémon in your collection, but you only control one at a time during battles. There is no limit to how many you can collect aside from running out of space in the collection.
4. What is the most powerful Pokémon in Pokémon Rumble World?
Arceus is consistently ranked as one of the strongest, but many Legendary Pokémon and powerful normal Pokémon like Zen Dalmatian, Dragonite, Salamence, Slaking, and Garchomp can also become incredibly strong with sufficient leveling and abilities.
5. What is the main difference between Rumble World and Rumble Blast?
Rumble Blast stops at Gen 5 (Black/White) while Rumble World adds the X/Y Pokémon and Mega Evolutions. Rumble Blast also has a more engaging story, an overworld, and doesn’t have the wait-limit to do an area again or the roulette.
6. Are there Shinies in Rumble World?
While there aren’t traditionally coded Shiny Pokémon in Rumble World in the sense of a different color palette, some Pokémon come in different colors or have a “sparkle” effect, making them appear rare. For example, Shellos comes in pink and blue forms.
7. How many Pokémon are in Rumble Blast?
Pokémon Rumble Blast features over 600 Pokémon from Generations I to V.
8. How many Pokémon are in Rumble World?
Pokémon Rumble World boasts a larger roster, containing 719 distinct Pokémon species.
9. How do you get Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon Rumble World?
Legendary Pokémon appear in locations that have 3 stars. To unlock 3-star locations, you need to collect a large number of other Pokémon first. You usually need to unlock the Ruby Volcano before Legendaries start appearing.
10. Is Pokémon Rumble Blast worth playing?
If you enjoy action beat-’em-up games with a Pokémon twist and prefer a more linear and complete experience without microtransactions, Pokémon Rumble Blast is definitely worth playing. However, it can get repetitive, so it’s best suited for fans of the Rumble series or those looking for a casual Pokémon experience.
11. Is Pokémon Rumble World still playable?
Yes, Pokémon Rumble World is still playable. However, as of March 27, 2023, it is no longer possible to download the game or make microtransactions due to the eShop shutdown.
12. Can you evolve Pokémon in Rumble World?
No, Pokémon do not evolve in Rumble World in the traditional sense. You can acquire Pokémon at different stages of their evolution, but you cannot evolve them yourself.
13. How do you wobble Pokémon in Pokemon Rumble World?
A wobble is generally achieved after a “critical hit”. This can happen on any toy pokemon (small, big or boss). With every performed attack there is a small chance of making a pokemon wobble.
14. What generation is Pokémon Rumble Blast?
Pokémon Rumble Blast includes Pokémon from Generations I to V.
15. Can you evolve in Pokémon Rumble Blast?
While you don’t evolve Pokémon through leveling, you can obtain evolved forms by defeating them in stages or using special techniques.
The Verdict
Ultimately, while both Pokémon Rumble World and Pokémon Rumble Blast offer unique experiences, Rumble Blast emerges as the stronger title due to its more engaging story, rewarding progression, and lack of microtransactions. If you’re looking for a fun and accessible Pokémon action game on the 3DS, Rumble Blast is the clear winner.