Nintendo has teamed up with Tecmo Koei for yet another successful venture, this time bringing the world of strategic battling and Pocket Monsters together for what is without doubt the deepest and most impressive Pokémon spin-off so far.

If you don't mind the slower tempo and if you really dedicate yourself to the game you will be rewarded with a fantastic experience. Pokémon Conquest is one of the most pleasant surprises of the year so far.

In conclusion, Pokemon Conquest is an incredible game that is both easy to get into and incredibly deep at the same time. This game might not be for everyone, but those who are open minded enough to give this a shot (Pokemon fans and just RPG strategy fans alike) will find that this game is strange, charming, and just completely awesome.

A breath of fresh air into the somewhat stale Pokemon series. Creating a strategy game that is both accessible for newcomers and deep for veterans is quite a feat, and this game has done just that.

Pokémon Conquest comes out at just the right time, as it looks like the perfect summer vacation game. It's portable and breezy, yet has enough depth to keep gamers interested over the long run.

For those with an interest in either strategy games or RPGs, but not sold on the other, Conquest is the perfect introduction to both.

Pokémon Conquest represents a complete re-imagining of the Pokémon universe - a thoughtful, masterful take on what a Pokémon RPG can be.

This may not be the Pokemon adventure you expect, but it's definitely one worth playing. [June 2012, p.82]

Pokémon Conquest's replay value is through the roof. After the first campaign is completed many more stories that allow the player to control different warlords open up. These different stories have their own objectives that the player has to complete in order to win. After 33 of these stories are completed, a campaign similar to the first one becomes available. In addition to these, more stories can be downloaded from the Nintendo WFC. All of this, combined with online multiplayer, will leave one with hundreds of hours of Pokémon themed turn based strategy excitement to enjoy.

Pokémon Conquest is a successful experiment. The game successfully approaches the age-old concept of Pokémon in a new and unique way. Even though the game may seem simple at first, it soon turns out to be a game for aspiring tactical minds.

Pokémon Conquest is the best Pokémon spin-off I've played since the heady days of Pokémon Snap and Pinball, and it's deeper than either of those games by a wide margin.

Pokemon Conquest ends up being a fun title thanks to its simple but effective take on the strategy RPG genre.

Pokémon Conquest is a pleasant surprise. It's a tuned down strategic RPG, still filled with tons of content and gameplay. Koei managed to capture the Pokémon feeling and propose it in a new, refreshing way which deserves attention by fans of the genre and the franchise.

Despite some finicky micro-management, the settings make this a strong Pokemon spin-off. [Oct 2012, p.87]

Pokémon Conquest is a better game than the idea of fusing Pokemon with Nobunaga's Ambition originally sounded like. Although the difficulty level is set low enough for kids to manage, even grown ups can enjoy Conquest's take on tactical battles and Pokemon training. [Sept 2012]

A lengthy, well-balanced tactical RPG best suited to Pokefans new to the strategy arena. [Oct 2012, p.66]

Conquest doesn't excel at anything it does, but it doesn't really take any missteps either. For what it's worth, the fact that someone is trying something new and outside-the-box with Pokemon is commendable in itself, and I hope that this game is enough of a success that it makes it viable for The Pokemon Company to keep trying new things with the franchise in the future.

Perhaps the greatest achievement of Pokémon Conquest, however, is that it made us want to go back and play one of Koei's earlier, duller and more convoluted Nobunaga games. And any game that can make us feel that way is worthy of high praise indeed.

Conquest isn't just that rare Pokémon off-shoot that isn't a limping abomination - it's a reminder that the best consoles don't slip into the night very quietly. They stick around, defiantly showing up the machines that have replaced them.

More Pokemon spin-off delight as Pokemon Conquest proves an entirely enjoyable ordeal.

A quirky but smart strategy game that's a great entry point for RPG beginners.

All in all, Pokémon Conquest is solid across the board, but it is lacking in a few key areas that are likely to turn away non-Pokémon fans and hardcore strategy players. However, if you don't go in expecting the next Final Fantasy Tactics or Tactics Ogre, then there's plenty to enjoy.

At the end of the day, despite some presentation and interface issues, Pokémon Conquest does a splendid job of combining two seemingly uncombinable franchises.

At the end of the day Tactical RPG fans and Pokémon fans alike should give this title a try as it can be quite fun.

Pokemon Conquest is a game that no one asked for, but many will enjoy - fans of either series will be drawn in by the familiar and be taught to love what's new.

PC retains the addictive qualities of battling and team-building we love in tactics titles while fully embracing everything strange about niche Japanese titles like this one. By coming at it from a different angle, Conquest finds its own special spot in the world of SRPGs.

Another solid Pokémon spin-off, but die-hard fans will quickly miss much of the gameplay from the main series.

As far as Pokemon spin-off games go, this is definitely one of the best offerings on the market, and is worth picking up by any fan of the series.

Pokémon Conquest is a solid addition to any Nintendo DS library. Fans of the RPG series should enjoy this twist of tactics battling and will appreciate the level of complexity available with castle management, team building, and Pokémon training. It's nice to see a spin-off mash-up turn out to be a quality game.

Pokémon Conquest is one of those games that looks awful on paper, but is brilliant in its delivery.

A lightweight strategy game featuring pokémons. It follows a classic rock, paper, scissor-design and is a little bit too easy.

Pokémon Conquest is an enjoyable but quite straightforward strategic title, a successful spin-off for the infinite Nintendo franchise. Sadly, the game lacks an Italian localization, which may create some issues for the younger players.

The best Pokémon spin-off for years and an engrossing mix of family-friendly warmongering and engaging turn-based strategy.

Pokémon Conquest takes the Pokémon you know and recognize (and love?) and places them into the world of tactical turn-based strategy with little kicking and screaming. Unfortunately, its simplicity will turn away tactical purists, and its complexity and management demands will turn off fans of the traditional Pokémon RPG.

Pokemon Conquest's fun setting and rewarding strategic elements are hampered by slow, overly simplistic combat.

Rarely do we come across a game that has as much unutilized potential as Pokémon Conquest. There's a strategic piece of art in which the micromanaging of different conquered kingdoms and collected Pokémon warriors would have delivered depth. Instead of that, we get a simple and short strategy game of which there's nothing wrong with its fundamentals, but all extra options and functions are unnecessary.