May 302018
Yesterday, there was an explosion of Pokémon news.
First, Pokémon Quest is available now for the Switch (and coming to mobile devices in June).
Pokémon Quest is a free-to-start action RPG set on Tumblecube Island, where you direct the attacks of cube-like Pokémon. It features Pokémon from the first generation of games and seems pretty much set up like a mobile game.
Next, Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! have been confirmed after many rumors. They’ll be out for the Switch on November 16.
These are effectively remakes of Pokémon Yellow, except Eevee is an option this time. (And like Pikachu, you won’t be able to evolve this special Eevee.)
Gameplay-wise, they seem like hybrids between traditional Pokémon games and Pokémon Go. The biggest change is that you won’t battle wild Pokémon, only other trainers.
Catching Pokémon now uses Joy-Con motion controls. A friend can also help out with the second Joy-Con.
You’ll be able to transfer Kanto Pokémon from Pokémon Go to the Let’s Go games, and thanks to the information provided by Gematsu about the Q&A, we know there will be one all-new Pokémon available through connecting with Pokémon Go.
Despite these changes, the trailer shows a lot of familiar Pokémon gameplay, too. It has typical exploration and turn-based combat for battles with trainers.
Finally, a new device called the Poké Ball Plus will work as a Joy-Con but also let you take your Pokémon with you. You’ll also be able to use it with Pokémon Go. It sounds a bit like the Pokéwalker (except not a pedometer).
Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are intended to help Pokémon Go players transition to the main series. Does that mean these aren’t the next mainline Pokémon games teased last year at E3?
That’s right. A new core Pokémon title is coming in the second half of 2019.
The Q&A session clarified that the 2019 title will not be linked to the Let’s Go games or Pokémon Go. They also mentioned that the Let’s Go games are focused on the home console experience while the 2019 game will focus on elements from the handheld games.
While it’s odd to say LGP and LGE are more focused on home console gaming when they connect to a mobile game and have a device so you can take your Pokémon out of the house, I think this just means the next Pokémon game will be a traditional entry in the series while these are more experimental.
I haven’t finished Pokémon Sun/Moon/Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon yet or even played the two I own in a long time. However, I’m interested in learning about the next core Pokémon game and potentially interested in the Let’s Go games.
What about you? Pokémon Quest? Let’s Go? The mysterious next game? How do you feel about the recent Pokémon announcements.
I have zero interest in the likes of Pokémon Quest (I noticed you don’t have a picture of it in this article, and I suspect that’s intentional).
I have loathing for Pokémon: Let’s Go because I don’t think it is executionally setting up the GO players for a proper education in what a real mainline RPG looks like. I fully understand what GAME FREAK is trying to do. Just not a great execution, I think. And a bit contradictory.
Can’t wait for late 2019!
Yeah, I wasn’t interested enough in Pokémon Quest to feature it heavily.
Why do you think Let’s Go won’t show players what a mainline RPG is like? It seems to me that aside from the weird catching mechanic, it pretty much has everything a mainline game would.
Do you think the 2019 game will be an improvement over the last couple of generations?