Pokemon Let's Go....Away

[CriticalGaming]

Finally after like 20 years of Pokemon, I finally get to play a full uber graphic modern Pokemon game. I can't tell you how much I love Pokemon, I play every version, I've caught all 796ish Pokemon in Ultra Sun as my final attempt to 100% a pokedex for reasons I wont explain here.

To see Pokemon Yellow get remade for a full powered console version was exciting to me. Until I learned that it is a shitty console version of Pokemon Go. Why would they do this? I mean, I know Pokemon Go was popular as fuck, but it was popular because of the real Pokemon games, so why not just make Let's Go a real pokemon game.

Honestly Let's Go is a strange hybrid of a real Pokemon game, and the Let's Go mobile game. Traditional Pokemon battles happen for every trainer and gym leader fight. The Pokemon Go aspect comes in for wild Pokemon encounters. Whenever you encounter a Pokemon in the wild, you do not battle it in order to weaken it before you catch it like in a traditional Pokemon game.

It makes me wonder, why? Why bother with the shitty Go mechanic? They clearly have a full pokemon battle system in place in the game, as seen with all the trainer battles. Why the departure with the wild encounters just to put in your shitty forced motion controls?

Pokemon Let's Go, in theory, does a lot of things I've always wanted in a game. Seeing Brock and Misty and their gyms full realized, random wild encounters are gone as you can now see every Pokemon on the map and choose whether to battle them or not which makes getting through Zubat infested caves a dream, seeing every Pokemon in full 3D able to walk beside you like Soulsilver and HeartGold is a feature we've asked for with every new Pokemon game.

Despite all of that, I just cant get over the annoyance of the Pokemon Go systems. Trainer battles do not give enough experience to really train your team up, so you have to catch countless copies of wild Pokemon in order to train your team up. Which doesn't seem bad, except that you do not have a Pokemon box, every Pokemon you catch just fills up an ever increasing roster menu of all the Pokemon you've caught. You can send them to Professor Oak much like in the mobile game in exchange for candy, but you cannot bulk select everything you don't want. You have to select each Pokemon you want to send Oak one at a fucking time, which after a grinding session could end up being upwards of 50+ Pokemon. It's terrible. Many of the things they done to mesh these two game systems together has just left Pokemon Let's Go an annoying mess.

It's a shame, I really hope the next generation of Pokemon makes an appearance on Switch in a full fledged Pokemon game.

 

[Something Amyss]

It's a shame, I really hope the next generation of Pokemon makes an appearance on Switch in a full fledged Pokemon game.

Supposedly, that's coming next year. I think they said next year.

In any case, I'm enjoying what I've played. I'm fine with the catching mechanics, I just wish they didn't wedge i motion controls for every control scheme.

 

[Marik2]

I think Nintendo has said that if Lets Go is a hit(which it sold well) then expect to see more Pokemon games like it. They want to appeal to children, so they have dumb down mechanics and mobile game design.

 

[meiam]

They're trying to bridge the gap between people who played go and people who play "real" pokemon game, but I agree I don't see the point. The pokemon system is a very good example of easy to pick up hard to master, I don't think anyone would have had a problem if they went full pokemon game rather than hybrid. And the Go ground was always going to be hard to capture since they have to buy a switch to play the game. Ultimately they probably reasoned (accurately I think) that they wouldn't lose anyone who wanted a real pokemon game by including the go mechanic, so why not try to capture some of the Go crowd?

 

[CriticalGaming]

I think Nintendo has said that if Lets Go is a hit(which it sold well) then expect to see more Pokemon games like it. They want to appeal to children, so they have dumb down mechanics and mobile game design.

But the original Pokemon games were meant for kids. Pokemon is already very kid friendly. Why dumb it down even further?

 

[DeliveryGodNoah_v1legacy]

I know they're trying to capture the same crowd that never played Pokemon before but did play Pokemon Go, but to me that seems pointless.

Pokemon Go was picked up by people that either already liked Pokemon, or by those that had no idea and just played it because everyone else was. Making a new Pokemon game based off of Go on the Switch both assumes that the people that only ever played Go,

1. Have any interest beyond Pokemon Go
2. Own a Switch

And I don't believe for a second that anyone that was introduced to Pokemon from the free mobile app is going to run out to buy a whole console just to play a simulated version of the same thing.

And the people that were already fans of Pokemon just want another true RPG experience.

And the excuse that they're making the game easier to appeal to children doesn't even make any sense. It was already a game for children. Of course adults play it too, but that's because they picked up the game when they were also children. Pokemon was already a bare-bones RPG, I don't see how making it even simpler is supposed to magically appeal to kids anymore than it already was.

 

[Marik2]

I think Nintendo has said that if Lets Go is a hit(which it sold well) then expect to see more Pokemon games like it. They want to appeal to children, so they have dumb down mechanics and mobile game design.

But the original Pokemon games were meant for kids. Pokemon is already very kid friendly. Why dumb it down even further?

The smartphone generation has a much shorter attention span than before. A lot of games are trying to give people instant gratification without challenging people, so that they can keep playing the product.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

They're not trying to appeal to us and are experimenting with something different to bridge the gap as others have said.

You can say, "What's the point" all you want, the point is money and expanding your audience. This is their try at expanding the Pokemon audience, this isn't taking away from the mainline Pokemon games so why are you complaining?

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Turning Kanto into a Skyrim-esque experience shouldn't be this hard but we're getting there.

 

[CriticalGaming]

They're not trying to appeal to us and are experimenting with something different to bridge the gap as others have said.

You can say, "What's the point" all you want, the point is money and expanding your audience. This is their try at expanding the Pokemon audience, this isn't taking away from the mainline Pokemon games so why are you complaining?

You probably also tell people "You already got Diablo 3, why you complaining about Diablo Immortal?"

In direct response to your question, I'm not complaining. I'm providing my opinion that the game isn't good. The forced motion controls and the departure from traditional pokemon leveling/catching/combat is an overall bad design choice and makes the game worse than it could be because of it. In my opinion.

It's already been stated by other people in this very thread that this is not about expanding any audience. Because it is a nostalgic remake of a 20 year old title that features elements of a mobile game. What audience are they trying to expand? Surely new pokemon players don't have any special attachment to Pikachu or Eevee because they didn't grow up watching the OG Pokemon TV show, nor playing the OG Gameboy color Yellow version. So saying that they're trying to expand their audience is silly talk because their were certainly better ways to go about that.

 

[Something Amyss]

I think Nintendo has said that if Lets Go is a hit(which it sold well) then expect to see more Pokemon games like it. They want to appeal to children, so they have dumb down mechanics and mobile game design.

Is dumbing down Pokemon really an issue, though? I was around 18 when the games hit the states, but they were pretty popular with kids. Surely this is more a crossover mechanic to lure people from the mobile "game" instead, right?

They're not trying to appeal to us and are experimenting with something different to bridge the gap as others have said.

You can say, "What's the point" all you want, the point is money and expanding your audience. This is their try at expanding the Pokemon audience, this isn't taking away from the mainline Pokemon games so why are you complaining?

Not to mention, there have been a ton of Pokegames in the past which were different from core games. Those dungeon games, rumble, snap, etc. Granted, some are closer to the formula than others, but it hasn't stopped them from making the core titles.

Which is fine with me. Long as I can get my pokefix, they can do what they want with the series. Pokemon clicker game? Sure. Pokemon FPS? Okay. Grand Theft Oshuwatt? Sure, whatever. Just give me my slightly new iteration of the classic series as well.

And hell, I might even enjoy a few of the side games along the way. I mean, not Call of Dugtrio, but still.

 

[Bat Vader]

A feature I really enjoy in Let's Go is the ability to see Poke'mon on the map instead of just running into them in random encounters. I'd like to see them take that feature and put it into mainline Poke'mon games. Having the ability to bypass Poke'mon you don't want to deal with makes getting from point A to point B so much less tedious and annoying.

 

[CriticalGaming]

Not to mention, there have been a ton of Pokegames in the past which were different from core games. Those dungeon games, rumble, snap, etc. Granted, some are closer to the formula than others, but it hasn't stopped them from making the core titles.

Which is fine with me. Long as I can get my pokefix, they can do what they want with the series. Pokemon clicker game? Sure. Pokemon FPS? Okay. Grand Theft Oshuwatt? Sure, whatever. Just give me my slightly new iteration of the classic series as well.

And hell, I might even enjoy a few of the side games along the way. I mean, not Call of Dugtrio, but still.

I don't think the disappointment with this game comes from the fear that it took away from a core Pokemon title directly. I think it is more than this IS a core Pokemon title with the inclusion of Pokemon Go mechanics. It's a straight on Pokemon Yellow (a core title) remake, with unwanted and unnecessary mechanics shoved into the game.

And I don't think this was done to capitalize on Pokemon Go, that hype train was over 2 years ago, instead I actually think they just wanted a reason to force people to use motion controls. The Switch has this super cool motion tech that nobody fucking wants to use, so they made a game that they know EVERYONE will wanna play and force them to use the motion controls like some kind of mass brainwashing.

YOU CANT MAKE ME LIKE MOTION CONTROLS POKEMON!!!!!

 

[Specter Von Baren]

They're not trying to appeal to us and are experimenting with something different to bridge the gap as others have said.

You can say, "What's the point" all you want, the point is money and expanding your audience. This is their try at expanding the Pokemon audience, this isn't taking away from the mainline Pokemon games so why are you complaining?

You probably also tell people "You already got Diablo 3, why you complaining about Diablo Immortal?"

In direct response to your question, I'm not complaining. I'm providing my opinion that the game isn't good. The forced motion controls and the departure from traditional pokemon leveling/catching/combat is an overall bad design choice and makes the game worse than it could be because of it. In my opinion.

Why are these things bad design though? Is it something that appeals to no one? How do the people this game was aimed at feel about it?

SNIP

Have you tried out God of Wobbuffet yet? I heard it got some good reviews. Don't touch Magikarp Effect though, the ending is horrible.

 

[Saint of M]

As much as I would like to go with the old battle system because that is more apealing in pokemon, most people are going to be more familiar with the Go aspect. Granted, there should have been something of an option for the two crowds.

 

[Yoshi178]

It's a shame, I really hope the next generation of Pokemon makes an appearance on Switch in a full fledged Pokemon game.

it's almost like Nintendo already told us they were also making a traditional Pokemon for Switch like a half a year ago when they first announced Let's GO.
Oh wait. They did.

Stop complaining about games that obviously aren't targeted towards you.

 

[CriticalGaming]

It's a shame, I really hope the next generation of Pokemon makes an appearance on Switch in a full fledged Pokemon game.

it's almost like Nintendo already told us they were also making a traditional Pokemon for Switch like a half a year ago when they first announced Let's GO.
Oh wait. They did.

Stop complaining about games that obviously aren't targeted towards you.

How the fuck is a Pokemon Yellow remake not targeted towards a 20 year long Pokemon fan? Don't make stupid points.

The incorporation of these Pokemon Go mechanics are nothing more than trying to force people to use motion controls as well as keep that stupid phone app alive. That's it, and the game is not nearly as good as it could have been because of it. End of story.

 

[Lufia Erim]

I'm 30. I have no kids. Still own my copy of pokemon Red.

I like it. I do however think the internet ruined pokemon.

 

[cathou]

Not to mention, there have been a ton of Pokegames in the past which were different from core games. Those dungeon games, rumble, snap, etc. Granted, some are closer to the formula than others, but it hasn't stopped them from making the core titles.

Which is fine with me. Long as I can get my pokefix, they can do what they want with the series. Pokemon clicker game? Sure. Pokemon FPS? Okay. Grand Theft Oshuwatt? Sure, whatever. Just give me my slightly new iteration of the classic series as well.

And hell, I might even enjoy a few of the side games along the way. I mean, not Call of Dugtrio, but still.

I don't think the disappointment with this game comes from the fear that it took away from a core Pokemon title directly. I think it is more than this IS a core Pokemon title with the inclusion of Pokemon Go mechanics. It's a straight on Pokemon Yellow (a core title) remake, with unwanted and unnecessary mechanics shoved into the game.

And I don't think this was done to capitalize on Pokemon Go, that hype train was over 2 years ago, instead I actually think they just wanted a reason to force people to use motion controls. The Switch has this super cool motion tech that nobody fucking wants to use, so they made a game that they know EVERYONE will wanna play and force them to use the motion controls like some kind of mass brainwashing.

YOU CANT MAKE ME LIKE MOTION CONTROLS POKEMON!!!!!

Motion controls are not that important on the switch. it's not like on the Wii where it was the major selling point. I really dont see nintendfo trying to push semi motion control just for the giggles. They want to draw a portion of the pokemon go player to switch, especially those who dont already have a switch, and players that are not familiar with the core game.

because, yes, there's plenty pokemon go users that are not familiar with the core games. Despict the craze going away, there's still about over 20 million active users playing it. the last pokemon core game all edition added sold 26 million copies. So unless you tell me that every single player of pokemon go also have the last pokemon game, there is base to expend on. there's a lot of people who knew pokemon from movies and tv, but never played the games, or that did played the first game, but stopped playing pokemon since then.

Getting pokemon go players into a core pokemon game is a bit of a trick, because the two games are very different. you need something to soften the step. pokemon let's go do that role. But they knew that that game wouldn't be that attractive to their core player base, so they announced with let's go, that a new fully pledge game would come soon.

it's a bit like what 2K did with Xcom. the bureau was a different type of game, and wouldn't attract core gamers, so they also showed enemy unknown, so that everyone would see the bureau as the spin off it was.

pokemon let's go, is just a spin off. you cannot expect to like every pokemon games they do. see it as pokemon snap...

 

[Yoshi178]

It's a shame, I really hope the next generation of Pokemon makes an appearance on Switch in a full fledged Pokemon game.

it's almost like Nintendo already told us they were also making a traditional Pokemon for Switch like a half a year ago when they first announced Let's GO.
Oh wait. They did.

Stop complaining about games that obviously aren't targeted towards you.

How the fuck is a Pokemon Yellow remake not targeted towards a 20 year long Pokemon fan? Don't make stupid points.

i never said Pokemon Let's GO wasn't targeted towards a Gen 1 Pokemon fan. it is. you obviously just aren't the same type of Gen 1 fan that the game is being targeted towards.

Let's GO is being targeted towards both young kids who've never experienced the original Pokemon Yellow, and it's also being targeted towards old Pokemon fans that have stopped playing the Pokemon games and left the series. "casual" Pokemon fans in other words (oh the horror!) lol.

it's obviously not targeted towards competitive Pokemon players and people who want traditional Pokemon campaigns.