|
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go Eevee! (or simply Pokémon: Let's Go) are the first Nintendo Switch games in the Pokémon series. It is inspired by Pokémon GO and Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition combining a mainline game in Kanto with the catching mechanics of Go. The game includes the original 151 plus some from Alola.
Gameplay[]
The game takes place in the Kanto region where the player can choose their starter from either Pikachu or Eevee. Catching works like Pokémon GO where the player can throw a ball by swinging the Joy-Con or the Pokéball Plus like throwing a ball to catch it. Pokémon are now visible in the overworld and can be run into to encounter. Pokémon can follow the player in the overworld. Pikachu and Eevee can ride the player and the player can ride select large Pokémon like Onix.
Another player can join in for local co-op player where the players can throw two balls at the same time for greater success. Trainer battles also become co-op double battles in this mode.
Pokémon Go interactivity[]
The player can connect to Pokémon Go for a place called Go Park where the players can interact with the Pokémon from Pokémon Go. It can connect back to Pokémon Go for special gifts in that game.
Development[]
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! were unveiled during a press conference in Japan on 30 May 2018. They are primarily aimed toward a younger audience and those who are new to the Pokémon franchise. At the time of announcement game director Junichi Masuda mentioned that the games had been in development for around two years. Masuda also stated that he considered the games to be remakes of Pokémon Yellow, explaining that Yellow "resonated" best with younger players because it incorporated elements from the Pokémon anime television series. According to Masuda, he decided to make Eevee the mascot of the other game due to its popularity and abundance of fan art. He had previously considered Psyduck but ultimately changed his mind, stating that it was due to Psyduck being the same color as Pikachu.
Plot[]
The setting and story remains largely the same as Pokémon Yellow.
The eight Gym Leaders and the members of the Elite Four return, as well as the antagonist faction Team Rocket, including Jessie, James and Meowth from the anime series.
Reception[]
The reception of Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go Eevee! was fairly mixed. Critically, the game was praised by many gaming journalists even earning a 81 on Metacritic, but it was subject to a massive negative review bombing from the user side of Metacritic, making its user score fall to 53 around the time of release. This was likely due to the divide that the games created in the Pokémon community due to its different direction from the previous installments. Many feared that the game being targeted towards the more casual audience coming from Pokémon Go would cause Game Freak to focus more on this audience in future games, which could lead to the removal the more complex mechanics typically featured in mainline Pokémon games. This was later deconfirmed with the announce of Pokémon Sword and Shield, two more traditional Pokémon games than Let's Go was.
Sales[]
The NPD reported the launch sales of Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! in North America as being positive and described it as "the most important launch" of the year. On streaming site Twitch, the games were the most-viewed titles on launch day with 125,457 viewers, above Fortnite. Within ten days of release, the games sold over 1.5 million units in the United States, as of 26 November 2018. As of 18 December 2018, the games had sold 2 million units in the US. They had the second highest launch month ever in dollar sales for the franchise in the US, behind only Pokémon Stadium.
On 22 November 2018, The Pokémon Company announced that the games had sold over 3 million units worldwide in their first week on sale, making them the fastest-selling Nintendo Switch titles. By December 31, 2020, total worldwide sales have reached 15.07 million copies.
Other media[]
The Two Professors is a series of three CGI-animated shorts prior to the release of Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! featuring Professor Oak and Professor Willow and the Mythical Pokémon Meltan. The episodes were uploaded to the official Pokémon YouTube channel beginning on September 25, 2018.
See also[]
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (another Kanto remake)
External links[]
- Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! at GameFAQs
- Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! at GameFAQs
- pokemonletsgo.pokemon.com
This Nintendo Switch-related article is a stub. Please help by expanding it.