Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!
Mar. 19th, 2019 11:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rynlingI don't think Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! cured my depression; but, if any game could, it would be this one. It's so positive and utopian, and the pokémon interaction mechanics healed my soul.
It took me 37 hours to finish the game, which brought me to a grand total of having caught 107 pokémon. I'm pretty sure I could get all 152 if I spent another 10 hours working at it, but I feel satisfied with what I have now.
What I appreciate about this game is how simple it is. Pokémon Sun and Moon featured a lot of needlessly complex gameplay systems geared toward professional "trainers" seeking to maximize their competitive potential. Even though it wasn't necessary to engage with all of these systems, I found their presence overwhelming in the sense that there is A LOT of information that the player constantly has to keep in mind or actively filter out while playing. I'm therefore grateful that Let's Go Eevee did most of the filtering for me, bringing it down to roughly Animal Crossing levels of manageable.
I also like the new pokémon capture system, which is an adaptation and improvement on that of Pokémon Go. On one hand, the simple motion controls mean that it's difficult to play Let's Go Eevee on public transportation. On the other hand, you no longer have to go through a twelve-step process to catch a damn Pidgey. The new experience-gaining and leveling system works well too.
The main problem with the game is that you can really only gain experience by catching wild pokémon, a process that requires pokéballs, which require in-game currency. Since you can only get a significant amount of currency by battling other trainers, and since each trainer will only battle you once, there's a limited amount of money in the game, meaning that you can only do so much level grinding. Since your resources are limited, you're kind of stuck with the first five pokémon you choose to develop (plus Eevee or Pikachu). This never becomes a serious problem while you're making your way through the story, but it also means that there isn't much room for experimentation or exploration of the game systems.
It's worth saying that the graphics are gorgeous and the music is delightful. I'm more or less using my Switch as a handheld console these days, and it's everything I ever wanted a handheld console to be. I'm looking forward to Pokémon Sword and Shield, and while I wait I am very much enjoying the memes.
It took me 37 hours to finish the game, which brought me to a grand total of having caught 107 pokémon. I'm pretty sure I could get all 152 if I spent another 10 hours working at it, but I feel satisfied with what I have now.
What I appreciate about this game is how simple it is. Pokémon Sun and Moon featured a lot of needlessly complex gameplay systems geared toward professional "trainers" seeking to maximize their competitive potential. Even though it wasn't necessary to engage with all of these systems, I found their presence overwhelming in the sense that there is A LOT of information that the player constantly has to keep in mind or actively filter out while playing. I'm therefore grateful that Let's Go Eevee did most of the filtering for me, bringing it down to roughly Animal Crossing levels of manageable.
I also like the new pokémon capture system, which is an adaptation and improvement on that of Pokémon Go. On one hand, the simple motion controls mean that it's difficult to play Let's Go Eevee on public transportation. On the other hand, you no longer have to go through a twelve-step process to catch a damn Pidgey. The new experience-gaining and leveling system works well too.
The main problem with the game is that you can really only gain experience by catching wild pokémon, a process that requires pokéballs, which require in-game currency. Since you can only get a significant amount of currency by battling other trainers, and since each trainer will only battle you once, there's a limited amount of money in the game, meaning that you can only do so much level grinding. Since your resources are limited, you're kind of stuck with the first five pokémon you choose to develop (plus Eevee or Pikachu). This never becomes a serious problem while you're making your way through the story, but it also means that there isn't much room for experimentation or exploration of the game systems.
It's worth saying that the graphics are gorgeous and the music is delightful. I'm more or less using my Switch as a handheld console these days, and it's everything I ever wanted a handheld console to be. I'm looking forward to Pokémon Sword and Shield, and while I wait I am very much enjoying the memes.
no subject
Date: 2019-03-19 09:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-03-22 01:24 pm (UTC)I started to rechallenge the gyms, but I only got as far as Brock and Misty. It's like, these people care so much about their pokémon, and I'm just a tourist with a hoarding problem. These fictional characters are so nice to me, and I feel bad about casually destroying their dreams, you know?
no subject
Date: 2019-03-20 11:28 am (UTC)Also really excited about Sword and Shield
and Gun. I tend to love all the fire starters, but oh man, Sobble gets me on a personal level.no subject
Date: 2019-03-22 01:19 pm (UTC)Anxiety Lizard is my spirit animal, and I will protect her with my life.
I was also overwhelmed with all of the stuff crammed into the first ten hours of Pokémon Sun, and I chipped away at it for almost a year. I'm still chipping away at it tbh. One day I will finish it, maybe.
The motion controls Let's Go Eevee/Pikachu are basically Pokémon Go, except not so broken and frustrating. Also, you don't have to touch the screen; you just have to move the controller a bit - or not move it at all and just press the A button, which usually works better. It was a bit difficult to play the game on the train, but it was fine while I was 90% comatose on the sofa. I usually hate motion controls, but this wasn't so bad, all things considered.
no subject
Date: 2019-03-24 03:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-03-24 04:30 pm (UTC)IT'S TRUE. IT'S TRUE AND SOMEONE SHOULD SAY IT.