Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! Switch

Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! is an RPG that is a spin-off of the popular Pokemon series. The game was developed by Japanese studio GameFreak, the creators of all main games in the Pokemon series that were released on previous Nintendo handheld consoles. Traditionally for the franchise, the project was published as two separate games – Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee!. Both games are very similar and the differences between them are limited to the creatures available in the games.

Plot

The game takes place in the Kanto region that is well known by the fans of the series. The players assume the role of a Pokemon trainer and they are tasked with capturing all species of creatures that inhabit the area.

Depending on the version of the game, the protagonist is accompanied by Pikachu or by Eevee.

Mechanics

Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! is a role-playing game in which the players are exploring the world and collecting creatures. The wild pokemons can be captured by throwing pokeballs at them by using the controller. For the first time in the history of the series, the game features a limited cooperation mode in which the second person is helping the players with capturing the target with a pokeball by using a separate gamepad. There are 151 first generation pokemons (including the Alolan forms) and a completely new species available to be captured in the game.

The players can train the creatures and make them fight with creatures of other trainers. The battles are turn-based. The game lacks a traditional multiplayer. However, players can trade their pokemons with each other. To do that, they must actually meet in real life.

Technical aspects

The game features attractive cartoon-like graphics. Due to the power of Nintendo Switch, the game looks much better than previous entries in the series that were developed for much weaker handheld consoles: Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS.

An interesting feature in Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! is an option to use a special gadget that can be bought separately, Poke Ball Plus. It imitates the balls used by the trainers in the game. The device features motion detectors, an analog stick, and buttons. Thanks to that, it can replace a traditional controller. The device can glow in various colors, generate sounds, and vibrate in such a way that the players might think that there is an actual creature captured inside it.

The developers integrated Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! with the mobile game Pokemon Go. It is possible to transfer some creatures between both games.

Last updated on 26 April 2022