Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo, The Pokémon Company
Platform: Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DX XL, Nintendo 2DS
Pokémon X/Y – Review
Pokémon is probably one of the best known franchises in the history of gaming. Many people grew up watching Pokémon or playing it on their Gameboys. With Game Freak releasing multiple different Pokémon games for the Nintendo DS, they wanted to do something special for the 3DS. Pokémon X and Y are the first Pokémon games to be released in 3D and with loads of new features.
Story
The story of Pokémon X and Y takes place in an all new region called the Kalos region. Here you can find a lot of newly discovered Pokémon as well as old Pokémon who traveled here. This region has more than just interesting Pokémon; it’s filled with beautiful forests, skies and sometimes even a desert.
Just like in every Pokémon game, you start off in your hometown, ready to go to the professor to pick up your very first Pokémon. In this game, you start off in Vanville town where you just moved to and where you meet new friends. This time, you have to protect the world against Team Flare who wants to capture the legendary Pokémon (Xerneas or Yveltal) and use its power to dominate the Kalos region but their plans might be bigger than this.
Did you know? In the middle of Kalos, you can find Lumiose city. Lumiose city is a metropolis filled with shops, cafés and a big tower in the center of the city which also serves as a gym. The prism tower in the middle of the city is based on the real life Eiffel tower in France.
Graphics
As you will notice straight away, Pokémon X and Y have better graphics than any other Pokémon game. Game Freak has taken advantage of the 3DS and its features by making the game in 3D and using the joystick to move diagonally.
The battles played in the game are much more interesting and amusing with the new effects. Every move from the older games has been reworked and every Pokémon has a different animation using the moves.
The game also has a Pokémon-amie feature. Pokémon-amie shows a 3D model of your Pokémon. This 3D model is also a great use of the features the 3DS has.
Sound
Everyone who has played a Pokémon game knows that it has its own typical music depending on where you are. In the Pokémon center, you hear the same music as you do in every other game and this is the same for caves, forests and other areas.
Game Freak didn’t want to keep the music the same as in every other Pokémon game so they reworked the music and made it more fitting. You can still recognize every single soundtrack that existed in the other games but the new touch to it makes the experience that much more fun.
Besides reworking a lot of the featured tracks, the game still has some of the old tracks to keep the nostalgic feeling of playing Pokémon there.
Gameplay
Just like in every other Pokémon game, the professor starts talking to you. While the professor introduces the Kalos region with all its glories to you, you can see a video playing, showing you what the professor is talking about. While watching the small video, you can make up your mind on if you’re a boy or a girl, since the professor still can’t seem to figure that part out.
When you first enter the game, you see another short video which shows the power of the 3D effects in the game. When this ends, your journey begins.
The first thing you do when you go off on your journey, of course, is getting a Pokémon. After you leave your house, you meet your new friends who also have to go get their Pokémon. You can choose between the three new starters; Chespin (grass), Fennekin (fire) and Froakie (water).
After you have chosen your Pokémon, you have to train it, catch more Pokémon and become strong enough to be able to face the Elite 4 and their Champion. On the way to the Elite 4, you fight gym leaders, earn badges and face several dangers.
Some of the new features you’ll find in this game are the mega evolutions, sky battles, new transportation types, a new Pokémon type and much more. Mega evolutions apply only to some Pokémon, for example Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur. When you enter a battle and your special Pokémon is holding the necessary item, you can use the mega evolution. This makes a Pokémon look different, but next to that, it also becomes stronger. This effect ends after the battle though.
The new type of Pokémon you can find is a fairy type; this type is the counter of dark type and dragon type Pokémon which makes it a very interesting change.
Sky battles can only be fought by flying Pokémon and can only occur on high places and mostly against trainers.
Besides training your Pokémon, earning gym badges and defeating the Elite 4, there’s a lot more to do. You can make use of the PSS (Player Search System) to battle, trade and talk to friends. You can also strengthen your bond with your Pokémon using Pokémon-amie or super training.
In Pokémon-amie you can play with your Pokémon and feed it cupcakes to gain affection and grow a stronger bond. With super training, you can strengthen your Pokémon’s base stats by playing games or letting them hit a punching bag.
Last but definitely not least, you can go hunt legendary Pokémon. Pokémon X and Y each have a different featured legendary Pokémon. After defeating the Elite 4, you can also catch Zygarde, Mewtwo and one of the three legendary birds from the first generation of Pokémon games depending on your choice of starter Pokémon.
Conclusion
Pokémon X and Y bring a whole new perspective to the Pokémon franchise. With 3D graphics and all new features, you can keep playing for hours. The Pokémon franchise brings fun for every kind of gamer, old and young and will hook you to your 3DS.
If you’ve enjoyed previous Pokémon games and start playing Pokémon X or Y, you will have both a blast of nostalgia and an exciting new experience in one package. This game is a must have for your 3DS.
Pokémon X/Y - Review,
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