Briefly: Nintendo’s Pokémon Let’s Go announcement from a few weeks back may have left us all foaming at the mouth with excitement, but it also left a lot of unanswered questions that had gamers everywhere concerned about just how similar to Pokémon GO things could end up.
During Nintendo’s exciting (dat Smash tho) presentation this morning, Ninty answered a number of pressing questions, while also leaving us with a ton more.
Naturally, it’s Tuesday afternoon, so if you haven’t had an opportunity to watch Nintendo’s lengthy coverage of the game, here are a few notes that should clear a few things up.
First up, Pokémon have both levels and CP – all of your Pokémon gain experience when you catch a Pokemon, with multipliers based on your throws. That danged circle also no longer stops shrinking after your throw, which has annoyed the hell out of us on more than a few occasions. This time around, different throwing techniques can be used, such as a diagonal or lob throw. This should be useful, as Pokémon will move around much more often and in different ways later in the game. At the same time, it looks like your actual throw and momentum will have little to do with how the ball moves when thrown. You’ll also see new aura’s around wild Pokémon, which let you know the size of the creature you’re trying to catch – a red aura means that Pokémon is larger, and blue is smaller.
Pokéballs can be a struggle in Pokémon GO, but Nintendo noted here that you’ll be rewarded with Poké-balls for winning trainer battles (and speaking of battles, thankfully linked battles between really people have been confirmed). Speaking of linked battles, you’ll also be able to trade and even participate in doubles battle (hopefully any of this functionality is added to Pokémon GO in the future). You’ll be able to use link codes made up of Pokémon pictures to link locally, kind of like a password.
Nintendo noted that “The Pokemon Box in your bag,” but we’re not yet sure if this means that you can change party members whenever you want. Nintendo has also added some new ways to find items – your partner Pokémon wags its tail when you’re near a hidden item, kind of like an adorable, living metal detector.
As for controls, you’ll only be able to use button controls in handheld mode, but you’ll still uses system gyro to aim before pushing the button, and if you’re using the Pokéball Plus, the front of the ball will act as a control stick. A sure-to-sell-out-in-seconds Pokéball Plus bundle is also launching with the game for $99. That Pokéball Plus even comes with Mew on it in case you haven’t been able to catch it yourself (we’ll only judge a little bit).
The game also features some neat sounding co-op, in that a second player can join at any time by shaking second Joycon. Synchronized catches net extra EXP, and that second player can even join battles with you.
Story wise, your new rival is Trace, but he’s kind and gets scared easily. There are new events and side quests are scattered through towns, and gyms may be completely different (like the bleachers added to Pewter Gym). The Go Park replaces Safari Zone, and you can bring over all Kanto Pokemon and their Alolan variants. Dozens of Pokémon shown in the Park at once. They have higher CP, so they’re stronger, but harder to catch. Pokémon GO will also receive candy when your ‘Mons are transfered, but Pokémon can also be transferred to the professor for special candy like Quick Candy that helps them improve.
Overall, Nintendo cleared a lot of things up during that presentation. We’re still wondering how a lot of mechanics work or feel after the vast amount of changes made, but even with all of these non-traditional changes, the game looks fun as hell and we simply can’t wait to get lost in Kanto all over again.
Are you ready to pre-order this one yet? What are you still waiting to see from the game? Sound out below!