GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

+
Innovative monster hunting
+
Excellent use of touchpad and mic
+
Spectrobes look pretty cool

Cons

-
Clunky fighting
-
Lack of charm
-
Shouting at your DS in public

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Spectrobe /spek tr%26otilde;b/ n. 1 fossilized creature awakened by the power of yelling, featuring three evolutionary stages and ready for a lifetime of battling servitude. 2 a bit like Pok%26eacute;mon. 3 but it%26rsquo;s not. 4 honest.

It%26rsquo;s impossible to describe monster-collecting titles without Pikachu and chums appearing and dancing a jig on your mental cogs - and it%26rsquo;s a smug jig at that, the jig of a self-satisfied franchise that knows it rules the gaming roost and refuses to evolve as a result of it. Well, along comes Spectrobes - ready to smack the jigging fool in the face with its own rhythm stick.