By CHRIS CAMARGO, Contributing Writer
November 27, 2018
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee are new main series installments in the Pokemon franchise and the first ones to debut on a home console. This game has received very mixed reactions due to massive changes done to the game play and rehash of Generation 1 for the third time. However, after playing the game, are Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee worth picking up? Let’s find out.
The story has you, the player, exploring the Kanto region, encountering gym leaders, your rival, and other trainers to battle in order to defeat Team Rocket and from there become the Pokemon League Champion. This story has been done already, so it’s nothing new.
Now we head into the game play. As previously mentioned, this has been revamped. Instead of encountering unknown wild Pokemon at random, now you can see what you’re going to encounter due to Pokemon appearing in the over world. This allows you to catch the Pokemon of your choice instead of constantly wondering around a patch of grass multiple times to find the one you want. Besides this, another major change has been the catching the system. Prior to Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu, other main series games such as Sun and Moon and Ruby and Sapphire had you battle the Pokemon and catch it. In Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu the catching mechanic is very similar to Pokemon Go. You use the joy-cons, via motion controls, to throw Poke balls and use items to make them easier to catch. This catching system makes the game feel repetitive and boring. It doesn’t help that these motion controls are mandatory. You do get experience points when you capture Pokemon, but this leads in to the next issue.
The game becomes too easy due to the amount of Exp. points given to you, making your team higher leveled than others. This defeats the purpose of a challenge. Another issue is the presentation. Graphically, the game looks amazing. But the models of the characters are a step down from Sun and Moon.
In addition, using only the original 151 Pokemon and newcomer Meltan and Melmetal seems like a set backwards. There are 800+ in total but only Gen 1 and two new ones are capable. Besides these flaws, the soundtrack, while not original, does have amazing remixes.
Isaiah Wilcox, a senior at NBTHS, commented “The mechanics seem nice. It plays like Pokemon Go, but seems as if it’s like Gen 1, but on the Nintendo Switch. The graphics seem alright for the Switch’s capability, and the difference between the two versions shouldn’t influence your matter on the game too much. Also for a $60 game, I’d give it a 7.8 out of 10”.
Overall, Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee are average games, but the changes made are hit and miss. I suggest getting Super Smash Bros. Ultimate when comes out instead of Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu.