Match-3 games are a dime a dozen. It takes a lot for one of them to stand out from the crowd and to be worth playing, especially on mobile devices. Nintendo manages to succeed at both of these by applying mechanics from their Pokémon series to the well-worn genre.
This is far more than a simple reskin of mobile games we've already played before. Yes, you are using the standard mechanicsMatch-3 games are a dime a dozen. It takes a lot for one of them to stand out from the crowd and to be worth playing, especially on mobile devices. Nintendo manages to succeed at both of these by applying mechanics from their Pokémon series to the well-worn genre.
This is far more than a simple reskin of mobile games we've already played before. Yes, you are using the standard mechanics of just matching like pairs (only this time with more freedom as you can move pieces all around the board instead of just being limited to what it right next to you), but more strategic elements from the Pokémon series are in play to give it more depth.
For one thing every match you make helps you take down an enemy Pokémon (the overall goal of the levels). Knowing what Pokémon are most effective against your opponent is key. Once you beat the Pokémon you can attempt to capture it and use it to help you in later levels. The game really taps into that "Gotta Catch 'Em All" mentality that has been a staple of the Nintendo series for years. There's even a leveling system to get your captured Pokémon stronger for the battles ahead.
For all of it's successes in blending the Pokémon and match-3 genres the game does have one rather huge flaw; the life system. The game is definitely free-to-play and you can make it through the entire game without spending a single cent. However the life system limits just how much you can play it at a time without spending money. It's not unusual for match-3 games to give you lives, but usually you only lose one when you actually fail to beat a level. In this game you lose one every time you attempt a level. It's an irritating and restrictive feature, but not one I found game-ruining.
It's makes some other attempts to grab at your wallet with power ups, stronger Pokeballs, and the option to buy more moves if you've run out in a level. There is an in-game currency system to help alleviate some of the annoyances of the F2P model, but for the most part the biggest complaint is the irritating handling of the lives system. Yet, despite that issue I still found myself really enjoying the game.
The Pokémon series does a lot to help bring new life to an overly crowded genre. It's got the addictive nature of the core series with the portable friendly nature of the match-3 genre. It doesn't completely reinvent the wheel, but it does enough different to make it among the best match-3 games out there. Irritations with the freemium model aside this is one mobile game worth playing. Especially for the Pokémon fans out there.… Expand
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