Taken out behind the woodshed. Made to look and feel like a rookie. And there are literally dozens of different rules to be adhered to when entering your little Poke-buddies into combat. Organizing the half dozen Pokemon you'll take into battle is the most important decision you will make throughout this game. That was one of the first things I learned at the Pokemon school after I tried for an all Flying group of Pokemon, which were quickly torn apart.
Balance is the key.
The main features are the Gym and Stadium Battle areas. Each gym has a theme, so this gives you a better chance to tailor your Pokemon squad to deal with a given gym's trainers. The Stadium is the big attraction by far. Not only can you enter into the various Tournaments, you can also pit your Pokemon against up to three of your friends'. The game makes the best of the 64's capabilities, although if you're playing with the expansion pack installed, things run just a little bit smoother.