First DS-Wii connectivity information

IGN’s recent playtest of the first Pokemon Wii title, Pokemon Battle Revolution, has revealed that the game can be played entirely with the DS.

Following in the footsteps of its Stadium and Colosseum predecessors, Battle Revolution is based mainly on the combat and tournaments of the Pokemon world. While Colosseum featured a story mode, the first ever 3D Pokemon RPG, no such feature has been confirmed for the series’ Wii debut.

While the game can be controlled by the Wiimote, used as a pointing devices to select menu choices and attacks. However, you can also control the game entirely with the DS.

Obviously, the connection will allow you to download your monsters from Diamond and Pearl to Wii, rendering them in glorious 3D, but the connection also makes an aesthetic difference.

Interfacing with the Wii wirelessly, the DS downloads the menus onto its touch screen, allowing you to select options and attacks with the stylus.

Doing so removes all of the menus and interfaces from the screen, leaving only the epic 3D ‘mon battle and the health bars. The overall effect is similar to a tournament broadcast, with ongoing commentary and exciting camera work.

While not revolutionary, it’s good to see DS/Wii connectivity available this early on. The link between GameCube and Game Boy Advance was not explored until both machines had been around for a few years, despite being announced at the revelation of GameCube. The ability to communicate wirlessly with the Wii also means that the DS still has plenty of suprises for us.