“Gotta catch ’em all”
“Gotta catch ’em all:” a phrase that has defined generations of would-be Pokemon trainers. Those who started with the original 150 would have no idea just how massive an undertaking these words would come to represent. Since the release of the first duo of Pokemon games for the Gameboy Color in 1998 (1996 in Japan), there have been countless additions to the Pokemon universe. A living testament to the value of quality game design, fans who began their journey to becoming Pokemon masters as children often remain loyal to the series long after they’ve outgrown the school playground. With such a loyal fan base, it made perfect sense for Nintendo to capitalize on a new kind of nostalgia-driven mobile experience with Pokemon Go.
Fast-forward to 2018, and Nintendo is taking the lessons learned from Go and applying them to a game that should appeal to new, younger fans as well as the veteran crowd: Pokemon Let’s Go. Not to be confused with the latest entry in the “mainline” Pokemon RPG games (which should be releasing in 2019), this latest duo (Pokemon Let’s Go: Pikachu and Pokemon Let’s Go: Eevee respectively), promises to be a perfect entry-point for young prospective fans as well as a new twist on a familiar experience for existing fans.
Let’s Go is based on Pokemon Yellow Version, an updated release of Red/Blue Version for the Gameboy Color which featured Pikachu following the player around on foot. This means that the game takes place in the Kanto region, home to the original 150 Pokemon. Much like in Yellow Version players will be able to keep Pikachu (or Eevee, depending on which version of Let’s Go you purchase) by their side for the duration of their adventures. Players will also be able to keep one additional Pokemon of their choice with them, and larger Pokemon can be ridden for faster exploration. Additionally, Nintendo has confirmed that the PC-box which stores Pokemon not currently in the player’s party will be accessible from anywhere in the game, as it’s located in the player’s item bag now.
No Evolution for Mains
The Pikachu or Eevee given to the player at the start of the game cannot be evolved, although wild versions of those Pokemon can be caught and subsequently evolved. However, because this game features only the original 150 Pokemon, Eevee can only be evolved into Jolteon, Flareon or Vaporeon. Instead of focusing on evolving their partner Pokemon, players will have the opportunity to bond with their chosen companion by petting them (in a mechanic very similar to Nintendogs) and dressing them in unlockable outfits.
Controls
The controls for Let’s Go are another exciting change. Players can control the game using only one Joy-Con, and the catching of Pokemon is now a motion-controlled experience involving holding a button and executing a “throw” with the Switch’s gyroscopic features. The one downside to this is that Nintendo has confirmed that one must use the motion controls even if the switch is in handheld mode. Those who have tried executing moves in handheld mode with Mario’s hat while playing Super Mario Odyssey will immediately understand the struggle of waving around a Nintendo Switch, screen and all.
Players might not spend much time in handheld mode, however; particularly with the addition of single-console cooperative play. Two players can hold one Joy-Con each and explore the Kanto region together on a non-split screen. The game’s recent trailer shows that the co-op mechanics extend to catching and battling Pokemon as well. For catching, it seems to be a system where both players throw a Pokeball and achieve a combined score for their accuracy. The co-op battle system should look familiar to fans of the Pokemon Stadium games, allowing two player-controlled Pokemon to fight side-by-side.
Pokemon Go
Perhaps the most notable new feature in the Let’s Go games is the ability to connect with Pokemon Go. Apparently, the ability to connect the two games will become available around halfway through the main storyline in Let’s Go. Once players have unlocked the new feature they can transfer Pokemon caught in Go to be used in Let’s Go. So far Nintendo has revealed that only Kanto region Pokemon will be eligible for transfer between games, transferring several Pokemon at once will feature some kind of mini-games, and a special never-before-seen Pokemon is unlocked when the two games are connected.
Accessories
Fans of Pokemon Go might remember the Pokemon Go Plus accessory released in September of 2016. While it was a popular item, fans rightfully questioned whether the hype exceeded the actual usefulness of the Go Plus. Nintendo seems to think there’s still an opportunity for satisfying the demand for a useful Pokemon accessory, and their solution is the Pokeball Plus. Among other things, the new accessory can be used as a controller for the new Let’s Go games. Rumored to retail for around $50, the Pokeball Plus is a big step up from the Go Plus. Shaped like an actual Pokeball, the device has a built-in speaker, vibration and can even be used to replace the Go Plus. Players will be able to transfer Pokemon from Let’s Go into the Pokeball and bring them wherever they go.
According to Shinya Takahashi of The Pokemon Company, when players use this feature, “fun things might happen.” 2018 is shaping up to be another fantastic year for Nintendo. Pokemon is one of the company’s heavy hitters, so a new game for the Switch was inevitable. Since E3 2017 the knowledge of a new Pokemon game in 2019 has kept fans waiting with bated breath, so the announcement of the Let’s Go games is the proverbial icing on the cake. Fans of Pokemon and quality RPGs alike will have something to celebrate when Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee release on November 16th of this year.
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