The Pokémon video game series has grown since the first installments, Red and Blue, were released in 1996 in Japan and 1998 in the United States. The newest versions of the game, X and Y, came out on Oct. 12, bringing huge changes to the tried and true formula of the previous games.
The character starts out as a young kid who players can customize slightly, an unprecedented feature for the series. Along with in-game friends, the character goes on an adventure to see every Pokémon in the world and fight the eight gym leaders in the region, just like every prior installment. A few tweaks are made to the basic journey, which make for a more interesting story.
One of the biggest and best changes that X and Y bring is the increase in graphics. Gone are the flat sprites of previous generations. Enter 3-D sprites, around which the camera will rotate, taking full advantage of the Nintendo 3DS’s screens. Seeing favorite Pokémon from years past in this new, crisp and clear light is a thrilling experience.
The game takes place in Kalos, a new in-game region based off of France and other parts of Europe, even featuring its own Eiffel Tower. The vast world offers a lot of interesting locations to see and explore. It’s clear the developers wanted to make the world seem more lived in than any earlier games.
In addition to a detailed and lively world, the improved graphics have made Pokémon battles a pure delight to participate in and watch. Not only is every Pokémon represented with clear detail, every attack has been given an animation, many of which are neat to see compared to the lack of animation in the old games.
Pokémon X and Y add a few new gameplay mechanics as well. The most notable and most game-changing mechanic added is the much-discussed mega evolution ability. Later in the game, the player can use items to mega evolve certain Pokémon into a new form never before seen. This includes many older Pokémon such Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur and Mewtwo.
Mega evolution has advantages such as stat boosts, type changes and new abilities that are only available in a mega form. While it’s interesting to see old Pokémon get new forms, the advantages to mega evolving aren’t always worth it. Players can use only one mega evolution per battle, and some of the items for it can be hard to find.
Super Training, Pokémon-Amie, and the Player Search System (PSS) are also new additions to the series. Super Training allows the player to increase a Pokémon’s base stat through mini games, allowing custom tailored stats. Pokémon-Amie allows the player to play and feed their Pokémon to make them happier and increase the chance of dodging and critical hits. The PSS allows players to trade and battle with others across the world at random.
These features, of course, are completely optional.
One drawback to the new game is that became rather easy. Though Pokémon games have never necessarily been hard, this game gives the player so many new features that make the game easier when taken advantage of. However, there is quite a competitive scene online that can up the challenge.
Since the first games came out 17 years ago, the Pokémon series has undergone a progression of tweaks and changes. Thankfully, despite new adjustments, X and Y still manage to maintain the feel of the original games.
