It’s hard not to get all aboard the hype train when a commercial featuring Pikachu standing on top of the Eiffel Tower announced the advent of a new era in Pokémon gaming. This time, the monster collecting franchise comes to life exclusively on the 3DS family as Pokémon X and Y – the sixth installment in the main series. Introducing a barrage of new features and additional Pokémon that bring the total to around 700, these paired versions offer an all-new exciting adventure in the Kalos region while staying faithful to the series’ core elements of battling, trading, and collecting.
For several years, Pokémon games have always been inundated with 2D pixels presented through a bird’s eye view format. Though Pokémon Black and White has been the series’ stepping stone into 3D territory, a few of its elements such as character sprites remain 2D. However, Pokémon X and Y takes an enormous leap into 3D gaming which effectively showcases the capabilities of the Nintendo 3DS handheld. As early as the games’ first few minutes, the fantastic 3D display leaves the players amazed as they are greeted with a brief cutscene of a bird Pokémon making its way through their bedroom in a cartoon-like fashion.
The battle graphics are completely overhauled to accommodate all the Pokémon, now rendered in CGI models with very dynamic movements. Fainted Pokémon no longer disappear to the ground as every one of them receives their own fainting and attacking animations. The camera constantly pans to display both opposing Pokémon in various angles and even split-screen views once in a while. Health bars are now smaller which allows a better view of the updated attack animations and colorful backgrounds. The music score, ranging from the common wild Pokémon encounters to the climatic Elite Four showdown perfectly complements the intense action of these brawls.
However, the downside is that the 3D stereoscopic effect of the 3DS is only limited to Pokémon battles, special cutscenes, and select areas. The stereoscopic function disappears in overworld play which can be really disappointing since a lot of areas such as large cities and Pokémon gyms would really look very pleasing when viewed in 3D. Turning the function on also causes a slight drop in the frame rate during battles which is a slight letdown for a handheld console game.
New features in the battle system shake up existing battle strategies. For the first time in 14 years, a new type is introduced: Fairy-type. This is implemented to balance the overpowered dragons that run rampant in the current metagame. Old mons like Jigglypuff and Togepi are retconned to fit into this new type. Another new addition which received mixed reactions from veteran players is the concept of Mega Evolution. Pokémon who are thought to be already in their final forms apparently are still able to undergo a temporary upgraded state in battle as long as the right items are present.
One of the features that players have been hankering for a long time is character customization. With Pokémon X and Y, this is now made possible. Dotted throughout the region are boutiques where players may purchase clothing and accessories. From hats to socks and various paraphernalia, these can be easily changed through fitting rooms at the back of Pokémon Centers. Skin tone, hair length and color, and lens can also be changed depending on the player’s taste. This much welcome innovation eliminates the redundancy of seeing the exact same player model over and over again during live battles.
Meanwhile, the bottom screen of the 3DS is reserved for various minigames that can provide a nice break from all the relentless Pokémon battles. Pokémon- Amie makes the players interact with their Pokemon by using the stylus to pet or feed them Poképuffs – the games’ own version of macaroons. Even ferocious monsters like Mewtwo tend to look adorable with just a tap of the stylus.
The Pokémon Search System is also located in the bottom screen. It assures players that even if they don’t have any friends nearby who are playing the games, they can never be alone. It’s a nifty communication tool that allows more efficient interaction among other Pokémon players around the globe. Trading and battling Pokémon has never been this convenient.
What would a Pokémon game be without the Pokémon themselves? Like past installments, this generation also has its fair share of quirky designs such as an iceberg or even a keychain Pokémon. But there’s also a lot of mons whose design really stands out in a positive way like the gargantuan Tyrantrum or Chesnaught, who is reminiscent of the traditional RPG’s knight or paladin. Unfortunately (or fortunately for some), there’s a notable lack in the amount of new Pokémon. It really limits the options for a player who decides to do a playthrough using only the Pokémon that debuted in this generation. However, an expansive repository of Pokémon from previous generations make up for the low number, so players don’t have to worry much about not being able to assemble a well- balanced team to plow through the game.
All the hype that Pokémon X and Y have been receiving for the past few months is surely worth it. The games manage to welcome long-time players as well as those who are just starting with the series. Despite some slight flaws, the visual and audio elements – arguably the best in any Pokémon game – are a huge improvement and add up to a refreshing gaming experience that allows hours of fun gameplay. With four million copies sold worldwide just in its first two days, the Pokémon franchise proves to everyone that it has no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
