<s>
Pokémon	B-Application
Mystery	I-Application
Dungeon	I-Application
:	I-Application
Explorers	I-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
and	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Mystery	I-Application
Dungeon	I-Application
:	I-Application
Explorers	I-Application
of	I-Application
Darkness	I-Application
are	O
a	O
matched	O
pair	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
games	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
third	O
version	O
,	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Mystery	I-Application
Dungeon	I-Application
:	I-Application
Explorers	I-Application
of	I-Application
Sky	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
same	O
hardware	O
in	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Mystery	I-Application
Dungeon	I-Application
:	I-Application
Blue	I-Application
Rescue	I-Application
Team	I-Application
and	I-Application
Red	I-Application
Rescue	I-Application
Team	I-Application
,	O
new	O
features	O
include	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
Generation	O
IV	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
improved	O
Wi-Fi	B-Application
functionality	O
,	O
and	O
more	O
touch-screen	O
options	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
491	O
of	O
the	O
493	O
Pokémon	B-Application
are	O
featured	O
,	O
as	O
Shaymin	O
and	O
Arceus	O
were	O
not	O
officially	O
released	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
terms	O
of	O
gameplay	O
and	O
premise	O
,	O
the	O
Explorers	O
installments	O
are	O
largely	O
similar	O
to	O
their	O
Rescue	O
Team	O
predecessors	O
,	O
where	O
a	O
human-turned-Pokémon	O
joins	O
an	O
Exploration	O
Society	O
and	O
explores	O
shifting	O
dungeons	O
,	O
fighting	O
hostile	O
Pokémon	B-Application
through	O
turn-based	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
games	O
received	O
praise	O
for	O
their	O
storyline	O
,	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
and	O
Wi-Fi	B-Application
functionality	O
,	O
but	O
were	O
criticized	O
for	O
repetitive	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
the	O
previous	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
takes	O
on	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
a	O
human	O
who	O
has	O
been	O
turned	O
into	O
a	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
whose	O
type	O
is	O
determined	O
by	O
a	O
personality	O
test	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
partner	O
Pokémon	B-Application
is	O
also	O
selected	O
who	O
will	O
henceforth	O
be	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
partner	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
Blue	B-Application
Rescue	I-Application
Team	I-Application
and	O
Red	B-Application
Rescue	I-Application
Team	I-Application
,	O
the	O
gender	O
does	O
not	O
restrict	O
the	O
available	O
selection	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
for	O
either	O
the	O
player	O
or	O
the	O
partner	O
,	O
though	O
both	O
player	O
and	O
partner	O
may	O
not	O
be	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
type	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
test	O
sets	O
the	O
player	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
many	O
natures	O
in	O
the	O
mainstream	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
two	O
Pokémon	B-Application
will	O
be	O
set	O
to	O
that	O
nature	O
,	O
one	O
for	O
male	O
,	O
one	O
for	O
female	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
may	O
be	O
Bulbasaur	O
,	O
Charmander	O
,	O
Squirtle	O
,	O
Pikachu	B-Application
,	O
Meowth	O
,	O
Chikorita	O
,	O
Cyndaquil	O
,	O
Totodile	O
,	O
Treecko	O
,	O
Torchic	O
,	O
Mudkip	O
,	O
Skitty	O
,	O
Turtwig	O
,	O
Chimchar	O
,	O
Piplup	O
and	O
Munchlax	O
;	O
a	O
total	O
of	O
16	O
Pokémon	B-Application
to	O
choose	O
from	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Once	O
chosen	O
,	O
the	O
partner	O
may	O
be	O
any	O
of	O
the	O
above	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
with	O
the	O
exception	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
of	O
the	O
same	O
type	O
of	O
the	O
player	O
,	O
Meowth	O
,	O
Skitty	O
and	O
Munchlax	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eevee	O
,	O
Machop	O
,	O
Cubone	O
and	O
Psyduck	O
were	O
removed	O
as	O
starter	O
Pokémon	B-Application
,	O
though	O
Eevee	O
was	O
again	O
made	O
available	O
in	O
Explorers	O
of	O
the	O
Sky	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Riolu	O
was	O
debated	O
for	O
a	O
player	O
Pokémon	B-Application
in	O
Explorers	O
of	O
Time	O
and	O
Darkness	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
idea	O
was	O
eventually	O
dropped	O
,	O
and	O
Riolu	O
was	O
selected	O
for	O
the	O
Explorers	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sky	I-Application
list	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
basic	O
gameplay	O
is	O
unchanged	O
from	O
Blue	B-Application
Rescue	I-Application
Team	I-Application
and	O
Red	B-Application
Rescue	I-Application
Team	I-Application
-	O
players	O
may	O
use	O
shops	O
in	O
Treasure	O
Town	O
to	O
save	O
money	O
,	O
buy	O
items	O
,	O
store	O
items	O
,	O
and	O
train	O
in	O
special	O
"	O
maze	O
"	O
levels	O
(	O
although	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
running	O
almost	O
all	O
of	O
these	O
shops	O
have	O
changed	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
enter	O
dungeons	O
to	O
complete	O
missions	O
and	O
encounter	O
hostile	O
Pokémon	B-Application
during	O
the	O
exploration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Among	O
new	O
items	O
introduced	O
are	O
treasure	O
boxes	O
,	O
which	O
require	O
money	O
to	O
be	O
opened	O
and	O
may	O
contain	O
rare	O
items	O
that	O
may	O
only	O
affect	O
certain	O
Pokémon	B-Application
and	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
trade	O
for	O
rarer	O
and	O
more	O
valuable	O
items	O
using	O
a	O
new	O
shop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
all	O
Pokémon	B-Application
games	O
,	O
some	O
Pokémon	B-Application
are	O
exclusive	O
to	O
one	O
version	O
,	O
although	O
they	O
may	O
be	O
unlocked	O
on	O
the	O
other	O
through	O
the	O
exchange	O
of	O
Wonder	O
Mail	O
codes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Pokémon	B-Application
exclusive	O
to	O
Explorers	O
of	O
Time	O
are	O
Celebi	O
,	O
Combee	O
,	O
Lucario	O
,	O
Pachirisu	O
,	O
and	O
Riolu	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
exclusive	O
to	O
Explorers	O
of	O
Darkness	O
are	O
Burmy	O
,	O
Buneary	O
,	O
Lopunny	O
,	O
Mewtwo	O
,	O
and	O
Rotom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
is	O
washed	O
ashore	O
by	O
a	O
storm	O
and	O
is	O
discovered	O
by	O
the	O
partner	O
,	O
a	O
timid	O
Pokémon	B-Application
who	O
dreams	O
of	O
forming	O
an	O
exploration	O
team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dusknoir	O
reveals	O
that	O
he	O
and	O
Grovyle	O
are	O
from	O
the	O
future	O
and	O
that	O
if	O
the	O
Time	O
Gears	O
are	O
stolen	O
,	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
world	O
will	O
become	O
paralyzed	O
and	O
turn	O
into	O
a	O
dark	O
,	O
dismal	O
region	O
filled	O
with	O
scared	O
and	O
corrupted	O
Pokémon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
March	O
20	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
Famitsu	O
teased	O
a	O
sequel	O
in	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Device
Mystery	I-Device
Dungeon	I-Device
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
then	O
untitled	O
game	O
would	O
make	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
's	O
dual	O
screens	O
and	O
Wi-Fi	B-Application
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Moreover	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
Chunsoft	O
made	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
a	O
Mystery	O
Dungeon	O
game	O
involving	O
licensed	O
characters	O
other	O
than	O
Dragon	B-Application
Quest	I-Application
’s	O
Torneko	O
or	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
’s	O
Chocobo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
months	O
after	O
the	O
announcement	O
,	O
Chunsoft	O
confirmed	O
the	O
sequel	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
with	O
an	O
official	O
title	O
and	O
the	O
games	O
being	O
two	O
versions	O
like	O
the	O
Rescue	O
Team	O
games	O
;	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Mystery	I-Application
Dungeon	I-Application
:	I-Application
Explorers	I-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
and	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Mystery	I-Application
Dungeon	I-Application
:	I-Application
Explorers	I-Application
of	I-Application
Darkness	I-Application
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
confirmed	O
the	O
aforementioned	O
new	O
features	O
explained	O
in	O
March	O
,	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
featuring	O
Generation	O
IV	O
Pokémon	B-Application
and	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
choose	O
two	O
of	O
16	O
characters	O
;	O
one	O
as	O
the	O
protagonist	O
and	O
one	O
as	O
the	O
partner	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
previous	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
in	O
August	O
2007	O
,	O
the	O
duo	O
received	O
an	O
official	O
release	O
date	O
in	O
Japan	O
set	O
for	O
September	O
13	O
,	O
2007	O
along	O
with	O
a	O
playable	O
demo	O
during	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Festa	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
gave	O
the	O
games	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
6.5	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
criticising	O
the	O
dialogue	O
and	O
inconsistent	O
visuals	O
,	O
but	O
praising	O
the	O
story	O
,	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
Wi-Fi	B-Application
features	O
and	O
easier	O
difficulty	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamesRadar+	O
on	O
the	O
other	O
hand	O
gave	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
2.5	O
out	O
of	O
5	O
(	O
below	O
average	O
)	O
,	O
saying	O
that	O
"	O
Explorers	O
of	O
Darkness/Time	O
is	O
a	O
rental	O
at	O
best	O
"	O
and	O
that	O
"	O
Pokémon	B-Application
fans	O
are	O
better	O
served	O
by	O
playing	O
more	O
Diamond/Pearl	B-Application
while	O
waiting	O
for	O
the	O
next	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Ranger	I-Application
game	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
Mystery	O
Dungeon	O
:	O
Explorers	O
of	O
Time	O
and	O
Explorers	O
of	O
Darkness	O
have	O
received	O
a	O
rating	O
of	O
7.5	O
from	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combined	O
worldwide	O
sales	O
for	O
Explorers	O
of	O
Time	O
and	O
Explorers	O
of	O
Darkness	O
passed	O
4.5	O
million	O
copies	O
on	O
March	O
31	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
and	O
by	O
March	O
31	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
adding	O
the	O
sales	O
of	O
Explorers	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sky	I-Application
totals	O
the	O
three	O
games	O
to	O
over	O
5.90	O
million	O
copies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
,	O
combined	O
worldwide	O
sales	O
for	O
the	O
three	O
Explorers	O
games	O
passed	O
over	O
6.37	O
million	O
copies	O
according	O
to	O
Computer	O
Entertainment	O
Supplier	O
's	O
Association	O
;	O
4.88	O
million	O
for	O
Explorers	O
of	O
Time	O
and	O
Explorers	O
of	O
Darkness	O
and	O
1.49	O
million	O
for	O
Explorers	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sky	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
are	O
currently	O
the	O
best-selling	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Device
Mystery	I-Device
Dungeon	I-Device
series	O
,	O
surpassing	O
their	O
predecessors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
are	O
also	O
the	O
best-selling	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
Mystery	O
Dungeon	O
series	O
in	O
general	O
;	O
surpassing	O
Squaresoft	O
's	O
Chocobo	O
's	O
Mysterious	O
Dungeon	O
and	O
Enix	O
's	O
Torneko	B-Device
:	I-Device
The	I-Device
Last	I-Device
Hope	I-Device
,	O
both	O
accumulating	O
1.34	O
million	O
and	O
759,000	O
copies	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
special	O
episode	O
of	O
the	O
Pokémon	B-Application
anime	O
,	O
was	O
developed	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
plot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
first	O
broadcast	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
September	O
9	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
Pokémon	B-Application
Sunday	O
.	O
</s>
