Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 2: Explorers of Sky
9.5/10
Yes, I give it a near perfect score. Why is that? This tertiary game takes the original story and tweaks it a little, with the additions of the awesome Spinda Cafe's expedition to the Shaymin Village and up the nearby mountain, and also with the Special Episodes; with "The Future of Darkness" and "Igglybuff the Prodigy" have just as much meaning and kick to them as the main storyline.
All of the characters in this game, from minor role characters to characters you see all the time, have great development and firm qualities that make them who they are; much like us as humans. Not a one is a Mary Sue, as they all have drawbacks to their personalities.
Likewise, the story is deep and meaningful, and has the right amount of plot twisting and resolve to it. The end of the main story is enough to make anyone with a deep connection to their emotions feel the slightest bit choked up, but it leaves you just as satisfied.
The mechanics of the game are straightforward and streamlined, with no important technique left out of the information or introduction. You learn how to best use things as you play, but there is no absolutely designated "success" style (as with all Pokemon games).
The only gripes I have are the fact you cannot do anything with evolutions. When you get them, everything is pretty much done. The story is complete, and you don't get to do anything with your evolution. The explanation makes sense, though. But there are absolutely no extant (as in outside of combat and movement) animations for the evolutions, either. Likewise, I dislike how few Pokemon you have to choose from for your starter/partner. I think the personality test should only break down your choices from the entire national dex, giving you at least ten different possibilities. I mean, they can write Pokedex entries for all the Pokemon; why not give little personality snippets for each of your possible options under each nature? I mean, there are only so many first evolutions to choose from. Even if some are bigger than others, and some are kinda out there, but hey, everyone's different, and why limit them to so little?