Pokémon Go (2016)
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Pokémon Go Review
Pokémon Go is a 2016 augmented reality RPG game by Niantic for Android. It is a revolutionary game that is flawed, but undeniably fascinating.
So this game is basically the first big AR game and thus it should be respected even though it is flawed. It is undoubtedly going to influence many others in its wake. So the goal of the game is to collect all of the Pokémon and complete the Pokedex. That is at least the main goal. You go visit the PokeStops in your city which you spin and get PokeBalls for capturing the creatures along with potions for reviving the fallen ones from the gym.
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Now is the perfect time to criticize the game for the lack of inclusion for all. Yes, the game is great for urban players, but absolutely terrible for rural players. I switch from a big city to a smaller one and thus I am fine, but those who inhabit just the country or the smaller town are basically screwed because Niantic doesn’t care about them. There are no gyms to be found whatsoever in the smaller cities, but also no PokeStops for the most part and thus playing the game is almost or just plain impossible in some rural areas. That is the biggest problem that continues to plague this game.
AR is a great concept, but again you need to have the best equipped Android phone to use it and I do not have gyroscope so I personally cannot play that mode. But still the overall concept is magnificent as it promotes more exercise and walking in particularly and, sure enough, I’ve walked countless kilometers by now playing the game. Gaming in the real world is much more entertaining and rewarding than the indoors playing which is why I am excited to play more games like this, especially the HP game coming soon.
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Let’s talk about the gyms now. I like the concept to a degree. First and foremost, it is a great way to gain coins as you get 50 coins by staying six hours untouched in the gym and thus everybody gets the chance to gain coins and buy upgrades in the store and not just those who pay real money. That is great. Even though rather passive and easy, fighting and beating the gym players is a lot of fun and rewarding in its competitive nature.
I like the team split and I definitely love the competitive nature of it. However, it is pointless that legendaries cannot be put into gyms and the entire point of the game is basically fighting in gyms because there is no PvP whatsoever, at least not for now. Yes, breeding is a must and certainly some other mechanics need to be introduced, but PvP should be introduced as soon as possible as it is ludicrous for an RPG game to not have that.
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Raiding is good. I am not a co-operative guy as I do not like people and interacting and meeting with them so I can beat a raid boss is just not for me. That is why I find this mode great for those players and I respect it, but I just don’t use it all too much with the exception of the easier bosses.
But still I love the fighting in this game and how all of the various types need to be synched in order to beat the boss. And the introduction of quests is awesome as it thus gives guys like me the chance to obtain legendaries without raiding. And the monthly events are also very cool.
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The core and highlight of Pokémon Go is naturally hunting Pokémon. But even though many players are obsessed with CP and numbers, I like the stats but I am more oriented toward collecting as many Pokémon as I can. So my personal goal is to collect every single Pokémon to complete the Pokedex but also to have living Pokedex meaning that I have every one of them caught, at least one per species. My favorites for now include Pikachu, Snorlax, Vaporeon and so on.
Stardust is used for Power Ups and it is a very well utilized concept and of course catching the Pokémon with spins and appropriate throws is a great utility. I personally love Candies the most. Collecting 25, 50, 100 and sometimes 400 of the Pokémon’s candy lets you evolve it into its second and even third form. The evolutionary trees are so well established here and the most interesting part of the game. The Buddy system where you walk the Pokémon to get Candies is fantastic as is hatching eggs, again by walking.
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Pokémon Go has a somewhat repetitive score, but good sound design. The animation is pretty great for Android standards and each Pokémon looks superb and very polished. The game looks strong, the environment is well incorporated into the game and the highlight is finding water Pokémon by the river, fire in the sun etc. The weather system is brilliant too.
Pokémon Go has its problems such the lack of PvP and the lack of support for rural players, but the gameplay is fantastic with the highlights being catching Pokémon and evolving them. The ever-expanding plethora of gameplay options here is great and just the concept of gaming in the real world outside is brilliant. So it is a flawed, but groundbreaking and infectiously fun experience.
