Japan’s 1998 Pocket Monsters Stadium allowed 40 of the original 151 Pokémon to be used in battles.
Pocket Monsters Stadium was a Nintendo 64 strategy game released only in Japan. It brought Pokémon battles into a 3D arena and was based on the battle system from Pokémon Red and Green.
The game was originally intended for Nintendo’s 64DD peripheral, but it was ultimately released on a standard Nintendo 64 cartridge. Its limited roster was a major difference from the later international game known as Pokémon Stadium, which supported all 151 species from Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow.
The Japanese title is also easy to confuse with the western Pokémon Stadium. In Japan, the later and larger game was released as Pokémon Stadium 2, while international markets received it simply as Pokémon Stadium. Both games used the Transfer Pak to connect Nintendo 64 gameplay with compatible Game Boy Pokémon cartridges.