Regional Differences

This is a sub-page of Pokémon Stadium (International).

Like the localized Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, Pokémon Stadium underwent many changes during localization.

Title Screens#

Japanese	International

Besides the logo changes and copyright dates, the press start text is different in each release, with the international release moving it slightly upwards and making it slightly bigger.

Graphical Changes#

• The background text for the Prime Cup was changed from "ULTRA CUP ULTIMATE BATTLE FOR ANY MONSTERS." to "PRIME CUP ULTIMATE BATTLE FOR ALL POKéMON."
• In the Stadium Cups, the names of the Badges were changed to their localized counterparts. These edits are rather sloppy, leaving artifacts (just look at the Crimson/Volcano Badge!).

Japanese	International

• In the Japanese version, trainer names are aligned to the left in the battle preparations screen, while "COM" is aligned to the right in the trainer box during battle. In the localized versions, trainer names are always centered.
• The in-battle text boxes were lengthened.
• When a trainer makes their move, "OK!" appears in the trainer box in the Japanese version. This was changed to "READY" in the localized versions.
• Nidoqueen's opening and idle stances were changed. The edited pose is slightly longer. This change carried over to all versions of Pokémon Stadium 2. While this was obviously done due to the original animation depicting Nidoqueen fiddling with its "breasts" as if adjusting a top, it's debatable if the changed pose (which involves it shaking its pelvis and chest in a rather sensual way) is any less suggestive.

To do: Document the full animation.

Japanese	International

• In North American version 1.1 and the European version, Jynx's skin color was changed from black to purple. This change carried over to all versions of Pokémon Stadium 2.

Original Design	Later Design

Sound Changes#

• In the Japanese version, people's voices are heard shouting "Six-four!" when the Nintendo logo appears on-screen. In the localized versions, Pikachu's anime cry is heard instead.

• In the Kids Club, the Pokémon use their localized anime cries.
• In the mini-game Clefairy Says, the Clefairy sing instead of repeating sound effects.
• The opening cinematic plays a slightly different theme in the European and Australian versions, compensating for the slower frame rate on PAL televisions.

Trainer Names#

In the Japanese version, opposing trainers use their full names outside of battle and truncated names up to five characters long in battle. For instance, the male Cool Trainer is referred to as エリートトレーナー (Elite Trainer) outside of battle and エリート♂ (Elite ♂) in battle. The localized versions use trainer names up to seven characters long at all times; for instance, the aforementioned Cool Trainer is referred to as Cool♂.

Gallery Mode#

The North American version added a Gallery mode similar to Pokémon Snap. Players may take photos of Pokémon using any of the game's arenas as a background. The photos could be printed out at Pokémon Snap Sticker Stations for a limited period of time.

The main menu was changed as a result.

Japanese	North American	European

Stadium Cups#

Japanese	North American

The biggest difference between the Japanese and the localized versions are the number of Stadium Cups; while the localized version has four Stadium Cups, the Japanese version has six Stadium Cups.

Both versions have the Petit, Pika, and Prime Cups. The Japanese version has three additional Cups: the Nintendo Cups '97, '98, and '99. These Cups are based on real life Pokémon League tournament circuits that took place in Japan from 1997 to 1999. In the localized version, the Nintendo Cups were replaced with the Poké Cup, which also appeared in Pokémon Yellow's Colosseum 2.

Cup Rulesets#

Nintendo Cup '97#

• The Nintendo Cup 97 uses the same rules as the Poké Cup.
• All Pokémon except for Mewtwo and Mew are allowed.
• All Pokémon must be between levels 50 to 55, and the combined total of the three Pokémon selected for battle can't exceed 155.
• There is one division.
• The background features Tauros and Starmie, two popular Pokémon among the 1997 Pokémon League's 15 finalists.
• The tournament takes place in the outdoor arena that is used for Free Battle, which is similar to the outdoor arena used in the previous game.

Nintendo Cup '98#

• Only 33 Pokémon are allowed: Beedrill, Fearow, Pikachu, Nidoqueen, Nidoking, Dugtrio, Primeape, Arcanine, Alakazam, Machamp, Golem, Magneton, Cloyster, Gengar, Onix, Hypno, Electrode, Exeggutor, Chansey, Kangaskhan, Starmie, Scyther, Jynx, Pinsir, Tauros, Gyarados, Lapras, Ditto, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Aerodactyl, and Snorlax.
  • All of these Pokémon are present in Pokémon Stadium (Japan), and many of them were used by the 1997 Pokémon League finalists.
• All Pokémon must be between levels 1 and 30.
• There is one division.
• The background features Jolteon and Electrode, two popular Pokémon in the 1998 Pokémon League.
• In Round 2, the player faces a Youngster, then faces the 1998 Pokémon League's seven finalists in a random order. This is similar to the previous game, where the player faced eight random finalists from the 1997 Pokémon League in the Level 50-55 Division tournament.

やまざきまもる Yamazaki Mamoru (Hokkaido Representative)	やまうちともゆき Yamauchi Tomoyuki (Kyushu Representative)	ほりともゆき Hori Tomoyuki (Kanto A Representative)	やなぎさわしょうへい Yanagizawa Shouhei (Kanto B Representative; 4th Place)
よしかわしんじ Yoshikawa Shinji (Kansai A Representative; 3rd Place)	ほりたつや Hori Tatsuya (Chubu Representative; Runner-Up)	はなもとのりしげ Hanamoto Norishige (Kansai B Representative; Winner)

Nintendo Cup '99#

• Only 126 Pokémon are allowed. The 25 Pokémon used by the 1997 Pokémon League finalists (along with Mewtwo and Mew) are banned: Venusaur, Dugtrio, Alakazam, Golem, Magneton, Gengar, Hypno, Electrode, Exeggutor, Chansey, Kangaskhan, Starmie, Jynx, Tauros, Gyarados, Lapras, Ditto, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Snorlax, Articuno, Zapdos, Dragonite, Mewtwo, and Mew.
• All Pokémon must be between levels 1 and 50.
• There are four divisions.
• The background features Hitmonlee, Seaking, and Porygon.

Poké Cup#

• All Pokémon except for Mewtwo and Mew are allowed.
• All Pokémon must be between levels 50 to 55, and the combined total of the three Pokémon selected for battle can't exceed 155.
• There are four divisions.
• The background features Tauros and Starmie.
• The opponents are the same as the Nintendo Cup '99 (Juggler, Biker, Medium, Rocker, Old Man, Beauty, Tamer, and Psychic).
• The battles take place in an indoor stadium.

The opposing teams for the Poké Cup were created from scratch. The teams are generally more diverse than the Nintendo Cup '97 teams, which primarily used Pokémon that were popular in competitive play.

Game Boy Tower Upgrade#

In the Japanese version, players unlock an upgrade for the Game Boy Tower after clearing the Nintendo Cup '99 Ultra Ball division. In the localized versions, the upgrade is unlocked after clearing the Poké Cup Ultra Ball division instead.

Surf Pikachu#

In the localized versions, players can teach their Pikachu Surf if the Round 2 Prime Cup is cleared under the following conditions:

• The player must use Pikachu and five other Pokémon from a Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow cart.
• The player must select Pikachu for the final battle. However, Pikachu doesn't have to participate in the battle.
• Continues may be used, but the game can't be suspended.

Japanese players could teach Pikachu Surf in the previous game or receive a Surf Pikachu from event distributions.

Backgrounds#

Nintendo Cup '98	Nintendo Cup '99

In the North American version, the backgrounds for the Nintendo Cups '98 and '99 can be seen in the Gallery after clearing Round 2. Since Gallery mode was removed in the European version, the banners are never seen in that version. The background for the Nintendo Cup '98 appears in a calendar in My Room in all versions of Pokémon Stadium 2.

Rental Pokémon#

Many of the rental Pokémon's movesets were tweaked in the localized versions. Many trapping moves (e.g., Wrap), sacrificial moves (e.g., Explosion), and weak moves (e.g., Ember) were replaced. The rental Pokémon have the same stats in all versions.

Moveset Changes#

Petit Cup#

Pika Cup#

Poké Cup#

The rentals are compared to the Nintendo Cup '97 rentals, as both tournaments use the same ruleset.

Gym Leader Castle#

Rental Teams#

Players can register 12 rental teams per format in the Japanese version, but only 10 teams per format in the localized versions.

Japan	International

Localization Errors and Oversights#

Despite the extensive localization efforts, some mistakes and oversights still slipped through the cracks.

Poké Cup Description#

In the localized versions, the Poké Cup is referred to as the official Pokémon tournament. This is a holdover from the Japanese version, as the Nintendo Cups were based on official tournament circuits.

Pika Cup Trainer Oversights#

Several trainers in the Round 2 Pika Cup use three Pokémon that can't be obtained at eligible levels in the localized Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow: a level 15 Muk, a level 15 Golem, and a level 15 Kangaskhan. All three Pokémon can be obtained at eligible levels through in-game trades in the Japan-only Pokémon Blue.

A level 15 Muk and Kangaskhan can be obtained in the localized versions by trading with Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal. However, it is impossible to obtain an eligible Golem in the localized versions, as the localized and Japanese versions of the Generation I games are incapable of trading with each other.

Illegal Movesets#

Some of the rental Pokémon in the Pika Cup in the localized version have illegal movesets.

• Poliwrath knows Double Slap which is only possible if it could be found in the wild coming as one of its default moves. Since it cannot be found in the wild in Gen 1 or 2 naturally, the only way to get a level 15-20 Poliwrath is to evolve a level 15-20 Poliwhirl, which does not learn Double Slap until level 26.
• Cloyster knows Aurora Beam and Clamp which is only possible if it could be found in the wild coming as two of its default moves. Since it cannot be found in the wild in Gen 1 or 2 naturally, the only way to get a level 15-20 Cloyster is to evolve a level 15-20 Shellder, which learns Clamp at level 23 and Aurora Beam at level 30.
• Gyarados knows Hydro Pump, Bite, and Leer, which are its default moves in Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue if it could be found in the wild coming as 3 of its default moves. Since it cannot be found in the wild in Red, Green, or Blue naturally, the only way to catch a Gyarados is in Pokémon Yellow at Level 15 in Fuchsia City, where Gyarados only knows Tackle naturally. Alternatively, to evolve a Magikarp at level 20.