• Navigation
View RSS Feed

Serra

Pokémon X&Y Review

Rate this Entry
I had originally planned to stick to the “one review every other month” approach that life pressured me to adopt, but then two games came along that forced me to reconsider and change those plans – Pokémon X and Y. Part of the reason I worked to get this review out quickly was because of how much fun I’ve been having playing Pokémon X this month. The other reason is to encourage others to pick it up sooner rather than later because of a very rapidly disappearing sense of “newness” that other Pokémon games have never been able to offer. Pokémon X and Y are a long overdue evolution and new experience in a franchise that started fifteen years ago.

Over two years ago, I reviewed the last entries into this franchise, Pokémon Black and White. Back then, I said one of the biggest criticisms against the Pokémon franchise has been that each game feels uninspiringly similar to its predecessors. While key features of Pokémon X and Y have not changed, there’s no denying that these two games are the biggest evolution in this franchise. For starters, after years of requests by players, Nintendo has finally created a fully three-dimensional world -- and the franchise has transitioned beautifully, offering the most visually appealing Pokémon game to date. It’s not only the world that is finally three-dimensional though; Pokémon battles have also received the same graphical overhaul. Pokémon are no longer represented by simple sprites, but full three-dimensional models that move and attack. Players can finally see Charizard flapping his wings and floating in place and watch him arch his head before releasing a Flamethrower against his enemies. Venusaur looks heavy as it stomps around and Blastoise looks powerful as it fires off a Hydro Pump. I will admit, I’m the type of player who turns off battle effects very early in Pokémon games. And while I eventually did turn them off, I definitely kept them on longer that I ever have before. For those who are wary of such changes, the best comparison I can think of is that the Pokémon franchise has undergone the same transition that Final Fantasy experienced going from Final Fantasy VI to Final Fantasy VII. Unfortunately, there’s no denying that this change has come at a cost, and there are times (especially noticeable during battles where multiple Pokémon are in motion) when the 3DS hardware simply can’t keep up. It isn’t exactly game breaking, but it is a change from the smooth experience the simple graphics of the previous Pokémon games produced.

The change to a three-dimensional world is not the only major change in Pokémon X and Y. A new type of evolution, Mega Evolutions, has been introduced that allows players to powerup one Pokémon during each battle. When equipped with specific Mega Stones, certain Pokémon are capable of undergoing major changes that add a new dimension and strategic component to the game, especially against other players. Mega Evolutions can offer simple bonuses to specific stats or go so far as to change a Pokémon’s type, creating new strengths and weaknesses. Regrettably, there are not as many Mega Pokémon as some of us had hoped for, and many have been devoted to already popular Pokémon. Another disappointment is that it seems that Mega Evolutions are meant to fill the void left by a count of only around seventy new Pokémon. While I know that some have complained that there are too many new Pokémon each generation, I’m personally a big fan of more and more variety. Of course, I can’t help wondering if the need to develop a completely new sprite with completely new animations for every old Pokémon left less time to spend on developing these new ones. This generation also introduces a new type, Fairy Pokémon, in hopes of balancing the game. While some claim the new type is incredibly overpowered, there’s no denying that it drastically changes the way players build their teams. Another welcome change is the ability to customize your character. Players can choose skin tones, hair colors and style, and even select from a wide selection of clothes. Personally, I’ve spent a lot of time (and money) trying to amass a wide wardrobe for any occasion. While it might not seem like a lot, these features really make it feel like your character, especially when you start interacting with other players – which is definitely a good thing, given how easy it is to connect with other players.

Players have repeatedly begged Nintendo to release a Pokémon MMO. Pokémon X and Y are not an MMO. However, as long as you’re within range of a Wi-Fi connection, you can connect with your friends and players around the world. With a few button presses, it is easy to initiate trades or battles without being forced to travel to a PokéCenter. One of the coolest features is the introduction of Wonder Trades. Players can blindly trade any Pokémon with a random person. At first, it was definitely plagued by a lot of people throwing out the worthless Pokémon from the starter areas, but as time has passed, more and more players are using it to dispose of their rare, but not perfectly bred Pokémon. People have reported being gifted starters, version exclusives, and even the rare legendary Pokémon. Players can also give their friends or even random passersbys bonuses called O-powers. While these are nothing game changing, they are nice bonuses that serve to foster goodwill through the community. All these online features are incorporated in the PSS or Player Search System. When not in battle, the PSS occupies the bottom screen of the 3DS and easily presents information on which friends are online, random passerbys, and anyone you have interacted with lately. It’s so easy in fact, that while working on this review, I have participated in a number of Wonder Trades and threw out random O-powers. This isn’t the Pokémon MMO so many have craved, but it certainly is a step in the right direction.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Pokémon game if certain elements didn’t remain constant. As always, players are able to pick one of three starters: Fennekin the (superior) fire-type, Froakie the water-type, or Chespin the grass-type. However, this choice comes from your group of friends, rather than the regional professor. Surprisingly, it isn’t till after the first gym that players actually encounter this region’s professor. When players do encounter him, he still offers a choice of Pokémon, but this time it is the opportunity to receive one of the original Generation I starters – another feature that long time players have repeatedly requested. At its core, the game is still about filling up a Pokédex, fighting eight gym leaders, eventually beating the Elite Four, and fighting an evil organization that really should be taken care of by someone with a badge. Unfortunately, the game’s story feels like it has taken a step back from Pokémon Black and White. Instead of the constant presence that Team Plasma had throughout the previous games, Team Flare feels more interjected and disconnected from the overall story. And while there are certain elements that sound like they could be the start of serious motivations for the villains, they’re never really given the opportunity to develop. Your rivals also fall short of Black and White’s Cheren and Bianca and never amount to a real challenge. That said, they’re still not as bad as the Generation III rivals who couldn’t be bothered to fully evolve their starters...

As I mentioned at the start of this review, Pokémon X and Y offer an element of newness that the previous entries into the franchise have not been able to offer to players outside of Japan (or those who imported). Every prior Pokémon game was released internationally months after its original release in Japan. By the time they made it overseas, every Pokémon had been revealed and analyzed, every item had been located, and every secret unearthed. I’ll be the first to admit, when I played through Pokémon White, I had looked up the list of new Pokémon and had parts of my team constructed even before turning on the game. Pokémon X and Y broke from this tradition with a simultaneous worldwide release. Everyone had to experience that game at (roughly) the same time. New Pokémon were discovered randomly, movesets were discovered naturally, and overall, there was a feeling of unknown throughout the game and community. Personally, I caught one of just about every Pokémon I saw since I wasn’t sure which had mega evolutions, which would have necessary breeding moves, and which could be potentially useful. While there is now a lot of information easily available, there are still a lot of things being discovered. People are still experimenting with different breeding combinations and movesets, and once the Pokémon Bank opens up next month, I expect even more discoveries to start rolling in.

In convincing a friend to pick up one of these games, one of the best words I could find to describe this generation is “streamlined.” Nintendo went to great lengths to simplify and refine the series to make it more accessible without diluting the experience. One of the most praised features is the new Exp Share item. In previous games, experience was split between Pokémon that participated in battle and any Pokémon holding an Exp Share. In Pokémon X and Y, it is now a key item, received very early in the game, which allows experience to be spread to all Pokémon in your party, eliminating the need to level binge. Two other welcome changes are the introduction of Super Training and major changes to breeding. In the past, Pokémon games fizzled out because the post-game required players to invest copious amounts of time to develop marginally superior Pokémon that could crush players who had not made the same investments. Super Training is a vastly refined alternative to the EV training that plagued the early games. Previously, to develop a Pokémon’s potential required repeatedly fighting the same Pokémon over and over until you had gone cross-eyed. Super Training allows players to achieve the same results in a much shorter time by playing a series of minigames. While these can get monotonous, it is a far cry from the EV training of previous generations. Much of the painful chance to breeding has also been reduced. While it still can be tedious, it isn’t nearly as time consuming and smash-your-face-into-a-door nauseating as it was in the past. Undoubtedly, some will criticize these changes and claim they make Pokémon X and Y easier than their predecessors. This is true. However, when you consider that the aspects that have been simplified are some of the most menial and boring parts of the game, is that necessarily a bad thing? Honestly, as someone who has found himself spending hours trying to breed marginally superior Pokémon to then EV train, I gladly welcome these changes.

A lot of people and reviews have said that Pokémon X&Y are the best Pokémon games ever. If you look at the full package and compare it to the other games, without a doubt this is true. While the games do have their flaws, and there are areas where some of the older games are better, overall Pokémon X and Y deliver a Pokémon experience that the earlier entries fail to meet. Nintendo has embraced these new graphics and online features in such a way that this generation finally feels like a major evolution over its predecessors. For those of you who haven’t played a Pokémon game since Red and Blue, I hope you will consider picking up either Pokémon X or Y. A number of people have stated that this is their first return to the Pokémon universe since those games, and are pleasantly surprised and challenged by the changes that have occurred in the franchise over the past fifteen years. Beyond the fact that these are solidly fun games, we have a strong community here on Blue Gartr, and I invite you to join us, post your friend code, and catch ‘em all~

I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was ♫


All images are owned by Nintendo.

Comments

  1. AvidLoki -
    AvidLoki's Avatar
    I can relate to someone coming back since the earlier generation (Silver and Gold) and thought this was a great review that hits close to home.

    Great job!