Pokemon: where is it now and where do you want it to go?

[Bob_McMillan]

Since roughly 1/3 of my time in Europe is spent traveling, I found myself playing Emerald and Fire Red on my old DS. And I'm actually having quite a bit of fun, except maybe for the five times my DS died before saving. Europe, y u no have normal outlets like the rest of the world so I can charge?

Anyway, playing the game has brought back all the nostalgia. Picking the non useless starter Pokemon coughFirePokemoncough, raising the flying one, making a normal Pokemon your HM whore, blowing cartridges to get them to be recognized (which, despite what everyone says, totally works), and of course the awesome feeling when you evolve your starter even before the first gym. But this was a game from 10 years ago, I want to know how the franchise has evolved since then. The last Pokemon game I ever played was Pearl, and to be honest I hated the guts out of it. The better graphics were only better in statistics, I thought they looked horrible. The sound effects were not as memorable, and the Pokemon were ridiculous.

Looking at what I know of current Pokemon games, I have to say that the future of Pokemon looks bleak. Trash Pokemon? Level four evolutions? Power ups? It doesn't sound that fun to me, and from what my classmate has showed me on his 2DS, the graphics are still pretty iffy. I may be wrong though, I have hardly kept up with Pokemon news. For all I know, whatever the latest incarnation of Pokemon is the best so far and you guys are loving it.

So, how do you find the current direction of Pokemon? Do you like it, or do you think that it is close to becoming another COD or FIFA? Perhaps it already is? Also, what do you want Pokemon to become? A fully fledged open world, GTA style, with even more RPG mechanics, or maybe a new, more action focused combat system? QuickTime events for the Pokeballs (since we all just press the A and B buttons together anyway, might as make it part of the game)?

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I'd like a "proper" console game where Pokeland is as big and diverse as Skyrim and you get to wander around in real time and full 3D. Encounters aren't random anymore: you should be able to see whatever it is you're looking for (let me spot a Pokemon from afar, minding its own business, safari style) rather than have the screen go beep boop and transport you into a nondescript arena every time you battle something. I don't mind the turn-based combat, though I'm open to real-time fighting as well.

Last but not least: let me be able to actually catch them all. Don't give me the "different version" bullshit.

Make a game like that and I will be first in line to buy whatever console it comes out on.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Graphic iffy? You have seen Pokemon X/ Y or Alpha Sapphire/ Omnega Ruby right? Sure the 3d graphic isn't perfect but it was a huge step up from the spirte heavy world it once was!

Honestly, after Diamond, I gave up on the whole "catch them all" since that what I did on Diamon and no longer have the motive to do it all over again with the new Pokemon added to the list.

Also I can never really get behind the whole EV training despite how much of the benefit it provide. To me EV training just make it look like you just viewing the Pokemon as some kind of a thing and keep bulking it up especially when you specifically breeding out for its persoanility and nature alone. Yes I know Pokemon are not living things but it still seen heartless to discard the hatched one just cos it didn't suit you.

As for what I would liked to see, I kind of want them to scrap the turned based battle altogether for rather new battle mechanic used in some JRPG these days. I'm just bored of the limited 4 moves sets. In saying so I know this is impossible due to the many Pokemons other there so imagine trying to give all of them specific move sets???

 

[Aerosteam]

Jesus you're posing a lot of questions.

Graphics are iffy? What are you talkin' aboot? X/Y/OR/AS looks bloody gorgeous.

I have never gotten the view that the last gen is always seen as the best one. Everyone has a favourite Pokemon game, I quite like how it's varied so much in the fanbase.

Every generation of Pokemon has had (sometimes literally) shitty pokemon designs, please stop singling out gen 5. In my opinion gen 1 had the most bad designs.

The only similarity between Pokemon and CoD/FIFA is that one comes out every year. I want to continue the Pokemon formula the way it is. Don't try to drastically change something that fine already.

Also, what do you want Pokemon to become? A fully fledged open world, GTA style, with even more RPG mechanics, or maybe a new, more action focused combat system? QuickTime events for the Pokeballs (since we all just press the A and B buttons together anyway, might as make it part of the game)?

I think I puked a little.

 

[shrekfan246]

I was actually talking about this with a friend of mine in the car a little while ago.

One thing we'd both be interested in seeing is an updated version of the trading card game released for modern systems, or possibly an entirely new deck-building Pokemon card game. The way I saw it, you could have a game where the decks you're playing against are all mini-encounters themed around specific Gym Leaders and after you work your way through them you get to the Elite Four, with maybe some special events that trigger things like Team Rocket. It fits pretty well into the Pokemon theme as well, since your deck-building would be like catching and training Pokemon, and evolution cards could replace their lower stages, etc.

Other than that, just what I always say, which is basically what Johnny up there said.

 

[Raddra]

I want to see more mystery dungeon style games in the vein of explorers of sky with expanded overworld with new towns and stuff to visit. Loved that game and its story and I would love to see it expanded.

 

[Silvanus]

Despite some (fair) criticism, I'd say Pokemon is actually in a pretty good place. The graphics are pretty damn good, actually, and the mechanics are solid (and keep getting refined). Most of the things they've added in recent years have fit well (wonder trading, super training).

I'd like them to see them refine the online interaction, though. You can't really send messages easily-- only set a little pre-set message, and then interact with randoms haphazardly.

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

Whew, lots of stuff in this. Ok, first off, I hope you don't mind if I address a couple of things in the OP's post.

Looking at what I know of current Pokemon games, I have to say that the future of Pokemon looks bleak. Trash Pokemon? Level four evolutions? Power ups? It doesn't sound that fun to me, and from what my classmate has showed me on his 2DS, the graphics are still pretty iffy. I may be wrong though, I have hardly kept up with Pokemon news. For all I know, whatever the latest incarnation of Pokemon is the best so far and you guys are loving it.

I have to say, I disagree with some of this. Firstly, personally I think the newest games - X/Y/OmegaRuby/AlphaSapphire - look absolutely beautiful. Next, on "Trash Pokemon": while I'm not about to defend some of the poorer designs in each generation of Pokemon, it's worth remembering that even the very first generation had some rubbish designs. After all, Grimer is just a mound of goop and Exeggcute is a pile of eggs. Hardly wonderful design, and hardly better than a sack of trash like Trubbish. Third, on the evolutions point - Mega Evolutions aren't so much fourth-stage evolutions but merely temporary power-ups and while I can see an argument against them, I've found in practice they work pretty well in battles. Basically, I'd say the latest generation is indeed one of the most fun so far.

As for the current direction, well, yeah I do enjoy it. After all, each game repeats the gameplay that has kept the series going since its beginning but keeps refining and improving it with each release. So, when it comes to the main series of games, I'd quite like them to carry on working on that. It's the side games and spin-offs that I'd personally like to see them do some cool stuff with. Another Pokemon Conquest is probably top of my list, preferably set in Europe or something (maybe Napoleonic Wars or a similar setting, if only because I'd love to see Napoleon wrecking Europe with an Empoleon). Hopefully, Nintendo will move away from the free-to-play model they seem to have adopted in the recent Pokemon Shuffle and instead release some more inventive and quality spin offs. Oh, and a new Pokemon Snap, on Wii U or whatever Nintendo follow it up with. Seriously, it's been too damn long and that was a killer game.

 

[Pandalisk]

I want it to go on something other than the Nintendo handhelds because I can't afford to buy one just to solely play one game. Every since Pokemon Silver and Gold I got shut out because I'm still stuck with a Gameboy advanced

 

[Charli]

I think you need to come back when you've tried the X/Y AS/OR series for yourself, you're making alot of assumptions. People LOVE this generation.

And coming from one who was tuned out all throughout the Diamond and Pearl up through to Black and White 2 series, I must say pokemon is just as good as it ever was as a fun game casually and at a more serious level.

There's not much off with it graphically, especially if you're comparing top down view pixel art. This generation made a massive leap forward.

I thoroughly enjoyed X when I played it, as a 'genwunner', and I don't believe that any of the new pokemon are any more ridiculous than the floating magnet monster and sentient pile of toxic sludge we used back in the day.

 

[Hero of Lime]

Looking at what I know of current Pokemon games, I have to say that the future of Pokemon looks bleak. Trash Pokemon?

Have to stop you right there. If you don't like that there is a garbage bag Pokemon that is fine, but that does not mean there is a decline in the game series. Gen 5 gets so much undeserved hate, it is my favorite gen, so admittedly I get defensive about it. Here's the thing, there are 156 Pokemon in 5th gen, and yet it is considered bad due to 5 of those Pokemon being ice cream and literal garbage. Chances are you can find a bunch of good ones if you actually played the games, which the haters rarely do from my experience.

OT: So as you can tell, I find your complaints and reasoning that Pokemon somehow sucks to be silly. You said it yourself, the last game you played was Diamond and Pearl, that is two gens old. Not to be rude, but I don't think you can comment on Pokemon's current quality, when you haven't played a new game since 2007.

I absolutely love where Pokemon has gone in recent generations, granted I have many complaints about X and Y, but that only happens when I compare its awful characters and storyline to that of Black and White which I feel were excellent. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire were excellent remakes, so I would recommend them the most to get the best modern Pokemon experience.

Every generation of Pokemon has had (sometimes literally) shitty pokemon designs, please stop singling out gen 5. In my opinion gen 1 had the most bad designs.

Thank you, Aerosteam!

 

[Raggedstar]

One of my main criticisms of main-series Pokemon games is how the HM system is. Most of them are terrible in-battle (with the exception of Surf, Waterfall, Fly, and Defog) and have to be delegated to a slave. Sometimes you need more than one HM slave if your main team doesn't have an HM in their moveset. I wish they would revamp it to be a bit more flexible. My Scyther can't cut this bush because it's moveset doesn't say so? I can't ride on my Lapras because reasons?

A "free for all" battle mode (4 people against each other) would be alright, but it's usefullness might be limited in-game. I see free for alls on Youtube using the current multi-battle system, but it's not perfect (for example, some moves won't affect people on your side, and the battle will be instantly over when one side loses all their Pokemon).

Other than that, the main series games are doing alright.

HOWEVER, I do want them to try to get a good console series going to cleanse the palette. Maybe something like a larger scale Mystery Dungeon-esque game? Open world?. I would say the battle system could get out of turn-based combat, but that would kind of be Pokken Fighters at this point.

 

[Aerosteam]

Every generation of Pokemon has had (sometimes literally) shitty pokemon designs, please stop singling out gen 5. In my opinion gen 1 had the most bad designs.

Thank you, Aerosteam!

No prob. [HEADING=3]GEN 5 DEFENCE FORCE, [sup]A[/sup][sup][sup]W[/sup][/sup][sup][sup][sup]A[/sup][/sup][/sup][sup][sup][sup][sup]Y![/sup][/sup][/sup][/sup][/HEADING]

 

[Bellvedere]

Bleak? No way. I've been loving all the improvements over the generations. It's only getting better. I think they've got the winning formula down and the pattern of small adjustments keeping everything I love about the Pokemon main series is the way to go.

That being said, I wouldn't mind more spin-off titles that shake things up too. Massive open world Pokemon console games with all the regions? Hell yes. New Pokemon Snap game? I'm in. Explore roles in the Pokemon world other than trainer? Absolutely.

 

[Elfgore]

I love it and like the way it is heading. The only things I'd want to see changed is a way to evolve Pokemon that evolve via trade or items in game. I, like quite a few others, enjoy new Pokemon designs as much as the old. I think gen 4 got a little weak, but gen 5 and 6 are cool as ever.

 

[Plucky]

I get the feeling they're probably going to do something edgy like either implement an unusual triple battle mechanic; like some Pokemon species may have Gigantism due to breeding. it was a similar idea i had on Gamefaqs.

Giant Pokemon would be from breeding, they'd generally have abilities entirely separate from their normal abilities. so a pokemon might have 4 potential abilities (1 hidden, 1 Gigantism-forced), in a double battle the Giant Pokemon would sit on 2 spots, pushing out a single Pokemon forcibly, they can equip Armaments but not things like herbs or berries they would have fantastical effects though like working as a permanent Type Gem, empowered Rocky Helmet, ect. only Final Evolutions could have access to Gigantism; however the "status" can be handed down.

And +Class baby Pokemon, basically from the result of breeding over a few generations. so that once you breed 4 egg moves and 4 recessive egg moves, every egg from that pairing may result in a Plus-Class baby Pokemon, which unfortunately causes no moves to be inhereted. causing them to have a fixed moveset and painfully obvious IVs to be known. it would spur younger players into competitive battling whilst more professional players could use hold items to remove the fixed IVs/Natures for their own purposes like getting moves that a family could learn but lacks compatible pokemon to chain it along.

Or maybe they'll attempt to make the internet much more interactive; Dream World was quirky...but outside of Japan, not many people actually used it and the whole points progression was kind of superficial since everyone next to you sniped other people's berries to water which meant it was painful just going on every day to catch a single pokemon from a pool of a few same minigames. Pokemiles might be equally weird. guess they might plan to do something with the Underground in the inevitable DPPla remake?

 

[FPLOON]

If I had a nickel-nah! I'm not going to start off with something like that... Instead, I'm going to say that that's just how all the Gens roll... You get a mixed bag of the cool, the not-so-cool, the cute, the "other" kind of cute, and everything else in-between... The designs might be the first thing you see, but once you go into battle with one as a partner is a whole other ballpark (kinda) when you think about it...

I still don't get why there are those that get so worked up over Pokemon designs between Gens, but at least that just proves that Pokemon's not really going anywhere if evryone's still talking about it one way or another... Am I right?

*dead silence*

I'll get back to playing Y, then...

But honestly, the Pokemon games are great... from the handheld perspective... On the console perspective, all I got to say to that is:

Spoiler: Step Yo Game Up!

Also, don't knock the XY/ORAS until you tried it, yo... Just saying...

 

[Fractral]

I'm currently in the middle of my third replay of pokemon Y, so I'd say it did something right. *Cough* Trainer Customization *cough*

If I'm honest I've enjoyed every pokemon game I've played, at least on the first playthrough. I'd say that HG/SS were the weakest of the ones I've played (but that's just because I put a lot of stock in the story) while B/W were my favorite. I'd mostly like to see just more of what we've been getting, with the same continual refinements we've been having since the series came out. Oh, and the next game had really better have Trainer Customization. That's a large part of why I keep replaying Y.

And why not make some more crossovers? How about an SMT x Pokemon, or Pokemon X Fire Emblem? That shit would sell millions!

 

[Sould1n]

I've enjoyed Pokémon since Red and Blue, and I've been continuing to enjoy the series to this very day. I'm fairly happy with the direction Pokémon has been going in, for the most part at least. It's retained it's lovable turn based gameplay, refining it with each iteration, and it consistently introduces new Pokémon I've come to love and great features such as Pokémon contests, secret bases, trainer customisation, Super Training, and more.

In terms as to where I would like to see the series go, well I'd personally like to see the instalments retain more of their amazing elements from game to game. For instance, Pokémon contests which were introduced in Gen 3, were no longer featured in the series after Gen 4 (until Ruby and Sapphire's recent remake). So one thing I'd like to see is keeping the Pokémon contests, and like in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, giving them decent importance through it's own storyline. I'd also like to see Secret Bases, X and Y's Trainer Customisation, Black and White's Pokémon Theatre, Heart Gold and Soul Silver's Partner Following, all these features kept and improved throughout the series.

Now my favourite entries in the Pokémon series, and what happens to be my 9th favourite game of all time, are Pokémon Black and White. Two of the key reasons for this I feel where it's far better story and slightly higher difficulty. I'd like to see the quality of story on the level of Black and White with future main Pokémon games. On the difficulty note, I'd like for there to be a difficulty option like there was in Black and White 2, but selectable from the start of the game. The main quest in Pokémon games after Black and White have just felt way too easy to me.

I'd also like to see a greater reliance on berries, to make the farming of them more rewarding, as well as to see the two versions differ more from one another like in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (thanks to it's differing enemy teams).

I was actually talking about this with a friend of mine in the car a little while ago.

One thing we'd both be interested in seeing is an updated version of the trading card game released for modern systems, or possibly an entirely new deck-building Pokemon card game. The way I saw it, you could have a game where the decks you're playing against are all mini-encounters themed around specific Gym Leaders and after you work your way through them you get to the Elite Four, with maybe some special events that trigger things like Team Rocket. It fits pretty well into the Pokemon theme as well, since your deck-building would be like catching and training Pokemon, and evolution cards could replace their lower stages, etc.

Other than that, just what I always say, which is basically what Johnny up there said.

I second this opinion. I loved the Pokémon Trading Card Game on the Game Boy Colour, and have been hoping for Nintendo to announce a new one for either 3DS or Wii U for a while now. It's been a rather consistent E3 wish for me.