👾[Test] Pokémon Let's GO Pikachu: the right complement to Pokémon Go

Summary

Overview of Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu Scenario
Gameplay de Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee and Pikachu lifespan
- The Shiny Hunt
Pokémon Let's Go graphics and soundtrack
Towards a Pokémon Let's Go 2 sequel?
Conclusion
- Good points
- Negative points

Providing the link between the canonical episodes and the mobile version of the pocket monsters game, these two new episodes must represent the revival of the series on Nintendo Switch. Forget about augmented reality, immersion goes through the gesture. Find out everything you need to know about Pokémon Go in this test.

Do you like the principle of Pokémon Go, but endlessly wandering the streets in search of shiny ones annoys you? The Pokémon Company has the solution for you. Just like Go, Pokémon Let's Go takes the original bestiary of the green, red, blue and yellow versions. Only, it's no longer about capturing little monsters in augmented reality.

Now you can stay warm in front of your TV or capture your favorite pokemon in transport like Go. But the real promise of the game is to make the connection between the Pokémon Go experience and that provided by canonical episodes of the saga. How? 'Or' What ? By mixing new and traditional mechanics from the series.

Overview of Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu

Game modes: 1 - 2 players
Availability: November 16 2018
Price: 49,99€
Developer: The Pokémon Company
Publisher: Game Freak
Game genre: JRPG
Compatibility: Nintendo Switch
Tested on: Nintendo Switch

Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu Scenario

[Test] Pokémon Let's GO Pikachu: the right complement to Pokémon Go

Let it be said, Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu is yet another remake of the yellow version, released in 2000 on GameBoy. So, this gives you the opportunity to relive the original adventure in a new setting. So you're a boy or a girl starting your Pokémon trainer adventure in the Kanto region.

Throughout your journey, you will meet the emblematic characters of the TV series: Ondine, Pierre, Régis (Blue), Professor Chen or even Jesse and James from Team Rocket. Your goal will always be to capture the 153 pokémons present while beating the eight arena champions who will give you access to the league of 4.

You will not be able to avoid the pitfalls on the road and the many trainers who will want to challenge you. Small subtlety of Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Pokémon Let's Go Eevee, you must start the adventure with one of two pokémons. Remember that usually you have the choice between three “starters”. This gives you the opportunity to re-explore the towns of Jadielle, Argenta, Azuria, Céladopole or Parmani.

Some sketches and events change here or there without transforming the script structure of the yellow version. For newcomers or Pokémon Go practitioners, it is about discovering the origins of the series brought up to date.

Gameplay de Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu

This discovery goes through a simplification of the gameplay. Pokémon Let's Go constantly offers a compromise between the experience of the first episodes, the novelties brought by the following generations and those coming from Pokémon Go.

It is precisely the paw of Niantic that permeates the mode of capture of pocket monsters. First point, the pokémons are now visible around you. This way, you are no longer interrupted while on the move.

From the tutorial, you understand that you don't have to fight to catch them. Just like in Go, you orient and throw your poké balls in the direction of the “beast” to be captured. Big difference, the Switch has no GPS or camera, so no augmented reality.

[Test] Pokémon Let's GO Pikachu: the right complement to Pokémon Go

This does not prevent The Pokémon Company from offering you three capture modes. In nomadic mode, you move the console slightly to aim at the pokemon. It is also possible to use the joystick to direct the throw. When you play on TV, the left or right Joycon is used to throw the famous balls. It suffices to reproduce more or less the gesture of throwing a fishing rod. Finally, the Pokemon Go Plus accessory allows you to hold a small poké-ball in hand which acts as a joystick. This also allows you to get Mew.

In each mode, the objective is to throw the ball in a circle that keeps getting smaller. The color of the circle determines the level of difficulty of capture. Green, easy, complicated yellow, red, difficult. To succeed, you must then perform the throw closest to the center of the circle..

If you fail several times in a row, the pokemon will flee. In order to avoid this situation, berries will help to calm, stun or make you love the desired strange animal. These items which appeared in the second generation of the game (Gold, Silver, and Crystal) take over the characteristics of those available in the third (Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald on GameBoy Advance).

Depending on the number of poke balls used, the capture time and the pokémon captured, you get a score associated with a multiplier that determines the number of experience points your team of six monsters will share.

Capture replaces fighting

[Test] Pokémon Let's GO Pikachu: the right complement to Pokémon Go

Sharing experience is also a must during fights against trainers. Your team members all get some XP, even if they haven't fought. In earlier versions of the console game, this was only possible after picking up the Multi Exp item. With the Yellow, Red and Blue versions, the player just had to find the item. During the following generations, the object had to be worn by a pokémon which then recovered the experience necessary for its evolution.

If this does not change the course of the fights, your pokémons level up faster. It is not uncommon for your team to have four to five more levels than your opponents. Previously, long hours of grinding were required to achieve the same result.

For newcomers, let's remember how the clashes work. Pokémon is a turn-based game series. You must carefully choose among four attacks to overcome your opponents. The type of pokemon (water, fire, air, poison, etc.) influences the damage caused. A pikachu will be “super efficient” against a squirtle, but will have virtually no effect on a scum (unless you have at least five more levels).

No change of side there: the basics of the gameplay have not changed since 1996. On the other hand, you have access to attacks that did not exist at the time or that some pokémons could not learn. Likewise, Special Abilities (CS) used to surf, cut shrubs or light up dark areas are now Special Techniques (TS). That is, they are not assigned as an attack. In Pokémon Let's Go, it's Pikachu or Eevee who learns TS. Thus, it does not penalize you in your progress.

Go Park: the link between mobile and console

[Test] Pokémon Let's GO Pikachu: the right complement to Pokémon Go

For Pokémon Go players with a Switch, the appeal of the game lies in the pokemon exchanges between the two titles. On this occasion, Parmani Safary Park is replaced by Go Park. Several capture areas are available that must be filled with pokémons captured from Go. To do this, you must link the mobile application to the console. Once done, just transfer them to the Go Park.

It's from here that you can add them to your collection (and add them to your team) by capturing them again. Be careful, Niantic points out that pokemon transferred not captured in the Park can be lost forever. You have been warned. Those who take advantage of this feature thus get a Meltan and its Melmetal evolution during the Pokemon Go Kanto Event.

A friendly and pleasant 2-player mode

[Test] Pokémon Let's GO Pikachu: the right complement to Pokémon Go

It is possible to play Pokémon Let's Go in pairs using two Joy-Con. You can then explore the world of Kanto and capture many Pokémon together.

Le player 1 controls all menus, and is the only one who can exit of a zone. This avoids confusion. Player 2 cannot go through the doors alone, but can instead help throw Poké Balls at the Pokémon.

If both players throw their Poké Balls synchronously, they'll even enjoy a bonus and increased chances of capturing the Pokémon. This multiplayer mode is particularly appreciable to play with a child or a fan of the Pokémon universe who is not used to video games.

Pokémon Let's Go Eevee and Pikachu lifespan

[Test] Pokémon Let's GO Pikachu: the right complement to Pokémon Go

The simplification of the gameplay obviously has consequences on the life of the title. Pokémon Let's Go requires less investment than its elders, while targeting the same population. Indeed, the developers want to seduce the youngest with a cute art direction, gameplay shortcuts while offering a smooth journey for those who redo the original adventure for the three hundred and ninety-eighth time. If you have to forget the bike, pokemon backpack transport replaces the functionality. Some special attributes disappear at the expense of gameplay depth.

Above all, you no longer have to go to the nearest pokemon center to remove your pokeballs from the pc. With Pokémon let's Go, everything is done from the character's bag. By combining all the shortcuts offered by Pokémon Let's Go, a seasoned and hurried player can complete the adventure in almost 10 hours. For a pokemon, it's short. Newcomers who take their time and face all the trainers obstructing their path will play for around 30 hours before becoming a master trainer.

After beating the council of 4, the fiercest of you can have fun capturing the 153 pokemon that inhabit the Kanto region. They will be able to meet the legendary birds (Electhor, Artikodin, Sulfura) and Mewtwo. But the real challenge of the end game is to face the 153 expert trainers.

Each of them is a specialist in one type of pokemon. You have to find them, face them and beat them using the same pokemon as them. To recognize them, nothing could be simpler. A small bubble floats above their heads. Fortunately, the Legendary Trainers will save you a fight. They will ask you to show them a pocket monster with advanced stats.

Naturally, Pokémon Let's Go's tedious end game will push players to compete online.. Unfortunately, there too the game accuses the blow of its simplification. Indeed, only two game modes are available in one against one or two against two.

The Shiny Hunt

[Test] Pokémon Let's GO Pikachu: the right complement to Pokémon Go

The hunt for Shiny Pokémon also extends the life of the game. In Let's Go, if you catch the same Pokémon more than 25 times in a row, your chances of encountering it in chromatic version greatly increase.

It is therefore easier to catch Shiny Pokémon than in other games in the saga. You can also see if a Pokémon is Shiny even before facing it. All you have to do is store them in the Pokémon Home to transfer them to other versions.

Pokémon Let's Go graphics and soundtrack

[Test] Pokémon Let's GO Pikachu: the right complement to Pokémon Go

If Pokémon let's Go Pikachu struggles to convince on the length, its visual appearance is particularly successful. With the aesthetics and the shimmering colors of the Ultra versions, the developers have harnessed the power of the Nintendo Switch to create the most beautiful episodes of the series. Rediscovering the original adventure in these conditions is a pleasure at all times. Most of the monsters are faithfully reproduced and there are few hiccups on this side.

On the other hand, there are slowdowns in the most populated areas, especially in the jade forest. Likewise, the interior of buildings and certain assets are copied and pasted excessively.

The staging of the fights takes full advantage of the power of the console. The effects are for the most part very successful and make the fights pleasing to the eye.. Previously, we went to the options to remove the effects. Now, we look carefully at the slightest fatal-lightning or any atlas strike.

As for the soundtrack, rediscovering each of the emblematic pieces of the red, blue and yellow versions is particularly enjoyable. Special mention to the resumption of the Lavanville theme. However, it was regretted that only the cries of Pikachu and Evoli were digitized. We would have liked to hear Salamèche, Bulbizarre, Carapuce and the others with their voices in the cartoon. We know, we ask a lot.

Towards a Pokémon Let's Go 2 sequel?

[Test] Pokémon Let's GO Pikachu: the right complement to Pokémon Go

Beginning of September 2020, Nintendo and Game Freak have registered the trademark ”Entei“. As a reminder, Entei is a legendary fire-type Pokémon that first appeared in the Gold and Silver versions of Pokémon. He is one of the three legendary dogs of the second generation.

This registered trademark could therefore have a link to the sequel to Pokémon Let's Go, which this time would propose to explore the continent of Johto. Everything suggests that this new game could be unveiled soon ...

Conclusion

For a first foray on Switch The Pokémon Company tries with Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Pokémon Let's Go Eevee the coup of compromise. It is typically the title which does not want to anger anyone and which mathematically turns part of its audience against it. First generation diehards will be delighted to visit the Kanto region.

Newcomers and Pokémon Go aficionados will quickly get used to the specifics of the title. Hardcore fans, on the other hand, will point the finger at a simplification too present to satisfy them. In any case, the care given to the title can only reassure for the future on Nintendo Switch. The canonical episode expected for next year therefore raises many expectations.