^ Could you go into a bit more detail about the actual gameplay you're thinking about? Like are you playing as the trainer, the Pokemon, or both?
I'm imagining the player running about as the trainer in the main hub (a la Super Mario 64), then releasing up to three Pokemon into a levels, the leader of which would be controlled by the player in the level. The level would include a lot of platforming (double jumping, wall jumping, ground pounding, like in the Mario games) and enemies that are unlocked for your party whenever you defeat a certain amount. Attacking has elements from Kingdom Hearts and Dark Cloud (I haven't really played Dark Cloud much), you attack in a three hit combo, which can be increased, along with gaining different moves, via level up, and each move/ability is equipped back in the main hub by the trainer (KH). However, there is a speed meter, and you can only attack as long as there is something in that meter. When that meter runs out, you have to wait for it to recharge (DC).
Well, that's how I'm starting to see it now, unless you had different gameplay ideas. Also, what is Pokemon Revolution? Is that an actual game? Or were you talking about Pokemon Battle Revolution (which I highly doubt, since PBR totally does not play like a Mario game)? Or maybe that was the name you were thinking about calling this spin-off?
Anyway, expounding more on this idea:
yougotmail42 · #29Ooh here's another interesting idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgY7j9jqy5Y
Except make the trainers the racers, and the trainers use their Pokemon as items.
So yeah, basically the same type of gameplay as your typical kart racer (Mario Kart, Crash Team Racing, Sega All-Star Racing). Each trainer/racer brings their own party of up to six Pokemon. This means that each racer has up to six different attack/defense/boost moves to use in a race. Each Pokemon can only use one of it's two different moves in a race, and a Pokemon can only use a move after collecting an item box or passing a checkpoint.
For example, Red decides to race with Pikachu and Poliwrath. He currently has Pikachu out on the back of his kart when he collects an item box (don't know what else to call it right now). He can now use a Pokemon. Now say his Pikachu knows Thunder (offensive: attacks an opponent in range) for this race, but right now he wants to go faster (speed boost), and he had previously chosen Hydro Pump (boost: the Pokemon shoots water backwards to increase speed, like a turbo boost) for his Poliwrath. He can then shift his Pokemon from Pikachu to Poliwrath and use that item box. If he doesn't want to use any of his Pokemon at the moment, he can save this use, but he can also gain more uses (up to 3) by collecting more item boxes. Also, the type of Pokemon you have out also affects your racing. If Red used his Pikachu to attack another racer who has out an Onix, the racer would not be affected much (would only spin out a few times and speed would slow a bit, but overall would not be affected too much). However, if he used a Pikachu to attack a racer who has out a Psyduck, then the racer would be drastically affected (would lose control of the car and flip over a few times, slow down quite a bit). So when racing, trainers/racers would be constantly switching which Pokemon they have out to decisively attack or defend from other trainers, along with avoiding the natural obstacles of the track. Yup, gameplay would be frantic fun.
Anyways, for Grand Prix mode. The different cups are divided by region: Kanto Cup, Johto Cup, Hoenn Cup, Sinnoh Cup, Isshu Cup. There are ten sets of four races, each set of races representing a Gym (first eight are gyms). In each Gym set, a trainer would have to make at least fourth place in the first three races to qualify to race in the last race (or use the point system like in Mario Kart). In the final race, the top four trainers/racers race each other along with the Gym leader, and to win the badge, the player would have to finish first. The tracks would be themed based on the Gym's theme (in a rock-themed gym, tracks would take place in a cave-like area with rocks constantly falling from the ceiling). Once you defeat the first 8 Gyms/sets of races, all of which can be done in any order, you unlock that Cup's/region's Elite Four, in which you race each one one-on-one in each of the four tracks. After defeating them, you unlock the final race of that Cup, against the Cup's Champion.
As for the characters you race as, you start out with 10 characters: the main playable characters of the main RPG games. As you race, you can unlock other trainers like gym leaders, rival characters, anime characters, and manga characters. There could also be a character creation mode like in PBR. Only the ten original characters and the created characters (and possibly unlocked rival trainers) have completely customizable parties. The unlockable trainers (like gym leaders, Elite Four members, random trainers) only have one or two different sets of six Pokemon to choose from, meaning they have limited party selection.
Pokemon are also unlocked with other trainers. In the beginning of the game, the only Pokemon you have are the starters of each region and a select few more (like Pikachu) for a little more variety. As you defeat and unlock other trainer characters, you unlock their Pokemon to use. Also, Pokemon evolve the more you use them in races. At the end of the game, almost all of the Pokemon should be acquired, except for legendaries. Legendaries can be caught after completing certain tasks, then race battling the Pokemon into submission. For example, to get a chance to unlock Mewtwo, you must defeat the Kanto cup’s Elite Four in a certain amount of time. After completing this task, Mewtwo appears, and you chase after him around the track (he won’t be in a kart, and he gets a slight head start). You must then defeat him in the race to unlock him.
... Wow. Coming up with these game ideas is actually pretty fun.