- Accessory: Pokeball Plus.
- Hours of Gameplay: 12.
- Price: £44.99 / £129.85 (with Pokeball Plus).
- Console: Nintendo Switch.
- Editor: Game Freak.
- Developer: Nintendo.
As a self-proclaimed Pokemon Master, owner of every existing version of Pokemon, I had to get my hand on the latest Nintendo Pocket Monster game.
First thought of the game is how adorable Pikachu is. The possibility to interact with him, to be able to dress him up and having him stay on your shoulder (even when not part of the team) melted my cold heart. You also have the possibility to have one of your teammates following you around making the game more appealing to the young generation and nostalgic for us the fans of the first Pikachu version. [Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition]
The game itself is pretty simple, no more wandering in the high grass hoping to run into a new Pokemon and not a Raticate for the umpteenth time, no, Pokemon are now visible wandering on roads, high grasses, caves, … This aspect gives a bit more reality to the game. If it was real life Pokemon would not be invisible to human eyes so why be in the game? No more hazard, but an appreciation of knowing what you are getting into.
Quite a lot of mixed feelings on the new way to catch Pocket Monsters; You don’t have to fight them and no need low HP to easily catch them. No, now on the style of Pokemon Go you will only need to throw a Pokeball to them. You can confuse them, or calm them by using various berries. It’s pretty much more luck than a strategy that used to be a big thing about Pokemon. All your team will earn XP once the Pokemon caught. (One of the two ways to level up your Pokemon now)
Pokemon fight fans do not worry! Youngsters, bug catchers, and other fishermen – along with Gym Leader – are still part of the game. Pretty easy, in the beginning, they seem to become a bit more tough the more you get into the story.
Talking about the story, it’s back to basics with the plot of the first versions of Pokemon [Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version]. The game starts in Palette Town where you are supposed to choose your first Pokemon. Team Rocket is still there with a very appreciate Easter Egg of Jessie, James, and Meowth, probably their first apparition in a Pokemon game. They don’t miss a chance to give you a bit of Double Trouble.
Graphically, the game is really nice and appealing. Very colorful, Pokemon all around. A well-done 3D remaster version. Making it again more appealing to the new generation that is discovering Pokemon for the first time.
Reluctant to buy the Pokeball plus at first, thinking it will be a waste of money, but as a fan, I thought ‘it will look on my bookshelf’ in case it turned out to be useless.
I would say it’s not a ‘must-have’ but I’m glad I bought it. I switched between joycon and Pokeball and I found the joycon becoming quite uncomfortable after a while holding a ball feels more natural. The Pokeball Plus gives you access to the legendary Mew and allows you to take a Pokemon for a ‘walk’ for it to find objects in the real world.
To conclude, Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu is a very cute version of its younger siblings. Might be an easy game, but becomes quickly addictive. It fit well with the new Pokemon generation and with the old one.
