Pokémon Dash

Dash is a top-down perspective racing video game in which the player uses a stylus to control a Pikachu and race through checkpoints. After players have passed all the checkpoints in order, the course is completed. The stylus is used by moving the stylus in the direction the player wants Pikachu to run. Along with racing on the ground, there are races in the sky using balloons.

There are many different terrains such as mazestone paths, forests, beaches, water, swamp, and lava pools. Throughout the courses are power ups which allow the player to run on different terrains without slowing down. Dash also features a training cup, which is given to players starting the game for the first time. After completing the training cup, the player has the chance to play in the Grand Prix Mode.

Dash was developed for the Nintendo DS by Ambrella, who also developed Hey You, Pikachu! and Pokémon Channel. It was first revealed October 7, 2004, as a launch title for Japan. Dash was released in Japan on December 2, 2004; Europe on March 11, 2005; North America on March 14, 2005; and Australia on April 7, 2005. Before the North American release, The Pokémon Center had pre-order deals which included keychains and DS carrying pouches.

The game received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, however, Famitsu gave it a score of one eight, one seven, and two eights for a total of 31 out of 40.

IGN's Craig Harris thought the player could only play as Pikachu in single player, and the game could also be finished within hours. GameSpot's Alex Navarro said that the game "is simply one of the laziest uses of the DS's touch screen technology to date". GamePro's Slo Mo said, "Dash might not make much of a splash, but it should be a good kid-pleaser." GameSpy's Phil Theobald said, "Gimmicky titles like this may be cute diversions, but they're no substitute for the real deal."