I still remember getting Pokémon Blue and a Game Boy Color on Christmas Day. I was sat in the middle of the room, staring at that tiny screen for hours, even forgetting to open any other presents..
It’s that reason why Pokémon has endured so well all these years, young and old alike can easily get absorbed by the world of Pokémon, with its colorful cast of characters and addictive monster training. But the key question is, how does X & Y, the sixth generation of Pokémon games, hold up to the rest of them?
The answer is… Really well, actually.
If you’ve been a Pokémon fan for a long time, then just the idea of Pokémon Stadium style 3D battles will get you salivating, but if you’re a newcomer, what is there to expect? Well, for you newbies, the game is certainly more streamlined. Early access to the EXP Share item (more akin with Red & Blue’s EXP All than other generation’s EXP Share) make Pokémon training much easier for those inexperienced with Pokémon, but the item can be turned off for players who would rather be without a helping hand.
The world is much of what you expect from Pokémon, a variety of towns in forested, snowy and coastal areas, all of which are in full 3D graphics, but not stereoscopic 3D. Despite it being the “gimmick” of the 3DS, stereoscopic 3D is absent from most of the game, like the overworld and battles between more than two Pokémon, but the game is still fully enjoyable without it. Traversing between towns requires traveling through Ro
utes, which are littered with mini puzzles, trainers and wild Pokémon. Nothing new here, in fact, there’s an added piece of old.
X & Y adds the least new Pokémon than any generation has, but this may be one of Pokémon X & Y’s best points, as instead of filling each route with unrecognizable and unlovable Pokémon, instead, we get a lovely quantity of Pokémon from all older generations. Yes, Pikachu is here, and so are a huge selection of other Pokémon you may have grown up with.
What is new, however, is the wealth of social functions thanks to the Player Search System. With the PSS, you have at your fingertips the ability to battle anyone, anywhere, trade with anyone, anywhere, at any time. Got a Pokémon you’ll never need? Why not Wonder Trade it for a random ‘mon? I snagged a Pupitar with the rare Pokérus virus attached, which is a decent trade for a Kecleon! Or how about a random Pokémon battle with a real person? Or, if random isn’t your thing, then trades and battles are, of course, available between your 3DS friends.
That’s ignoring new features like Pokémon Amie, a new function which lets you “play” and “feed” your Pokémon, Nintendogs style. And then, another new system makes EV training a much easier experience than ever before, which rips open the possibilities for competitive gameplay.
This all ignores the great music, which may not be as good as older Pokemon titles, but will no doubt secure a few fans, and some great graphical moments, none of which look better than during a heated Pokémon battle.
This Pokemon game adds the least amount of new Pokemon, but adds the greatest amount of new features. I could wax lyrical about Mega Evolution, and I could scorn the poor storyline until the cows come home, but the point is, Nintendo has crafted a world in which you can have a stellar Pokémon experience, one of the best experiences for over a decade.
