The original Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team was a really important game to me as a kid, and so this remake manages to kick up some emotions right out the gate. I undoubtedly have some substantial bias in reviewing this game as a result, but I will say at least that as a remake, Rescue Team DX does about everything you could possibly want. It smooths out the base gameplay and tinkers with a couple mechanics using knowledge gained from future entries, while still retaining the original's heart. While I'll always have a certain attachment to the spritework of the original, the new artstyle is perfectly charming, and the remastered soundtrack strikes a nice balance between orchestral sounds and chiptune.
Rescue Team DX is much easier than other PMDs, but in a good way—the BS factor of the originals is greatly reduced. Enemies still hit hard, but there's generally more you can do about it, thanks to the plethora of added items and ability to easily swap between leaders (though the Become Invincible (All Protect) Orb might allow for a little too much cheese...). Your teammates are much smarter in general (avoiding traps is no longer an unlockable skill!), and a nice challenge is struck where full team wipes are rare, but still feel very much feel like a possibility if you get careless while exploring tougher dungeons. There's greater clarity in the game's mechanics and a slew of quality of life additions to make for a much less frustrating experience. The rare quality mechanic adds a little customizability to spice up gameplay, a couple later bosses try to have actual unique mechanics (to an extent), and you can even rescue yourself if you get defeated in a dungeon! Rescue Team DX undoubtedly serves as the most polished Mystery Dungeon game gameplay-wise, making it a great point for newcomers to get into the series, as well as an enjoyable experience for veterans. (Though it is worth noting that the base gameplay of PMD is still essentially minotaur simulator, wandering around labyrinths endlessly until you stumble upon the way forward... it's not something that appeals to everyone.)
As for the narrative, while Rescue Team may be blown out of the water by its sequel, it's still able to craft a compelling story with a couple memorable characters. It's comparatively simple, but effective nonetheless—I bawled my eyes out on my bedroom floor upon first beating the game at nine years old. Looking back on it, it's certainly flawed, but I think some amount of credit is due for trying to do at least something when Pokémon is usually a pretty narratively tame franchise. The fugitive arc serves as the most memorable part of the game, hitting you right in the emotional nerve of having people you know and trust suddenly trying to kill you. The real core of it is this unspoken conflict where, after a brief moment of doubt, your partner is adamant of your innocence, but you're not entirely sure... what happens if the truth isn't what you want to hear? It manages to instill an uncertainty and uneasiness in the player themselves, though the arc ultimately doesn't explore those feelings in too much depth. Unfortunately, as soon as said arc hits its climax, a resolution comes swiftly, and all of the narrative's momentum is lost. Instead of tension continuing to build, it's all dropped, as you're asked to just hang around for a bit while other characters deal with the problem. As the game approaches its end, it realizes that a new climax is desperately needed, and so it hastily throws a meteor into the mix, not having the time for a proper introduction to it—it's all lacking rising action that the first climax built naturally. The final ending of the game hits hard because of how it plays on the player's emotions and the friendship built up with their partner throughout the entire game (and especially the fugitive arc!), but the overarching narrative of the game as a whole feels jumpy and unfocused as it reaches the end. It's notably the first time Pokémon tried to tell a narrative of this structure, though—future games would have a better understanding of how to approach storytelling thanks to what was learned from this first attempt. And hey, for what it is, it was able to craft an experience that stuck with me after all these years, hitting me hard enough to prompt me to play more PMD and fall in love with the series.
Rescue Team DX gives the original Mystery Dungeon a much needed touch-up, bringing it up to modern standards and ultimately crafting a much more enjoyable experience with the most polished gameplay of any entry in the series. While the storytelling and characterization of Rescue Team may not quite reach the standards set by later entries (*cough cough* Explorers *cough*), what's here is still plenty charming. For any Mystery Dungeon fan, Rescue Team DX is more than worth your while, and for any newcomer, it serves as the perfect opportunity to dip your toes into the series and see how you feel.