Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu!

Pokèmon Let's Go is a true Pokémon game, but with too much unnecessary simplification. In the middle of a Nostalgia experience and an opening to newcomers, they didn't find the right mix, but we really enjoyed their passionate graphical work on the game.

Pokemon Let’s Go botches co-op and may feel like a step backwards in some ways, but in others, it is a surprising leap forward for the franchise. By streamlining many elements that made past Pokemon games frustrating, Pokemon Let’s Go successfully delivers a faster-paced Pokemon adventure, even though it has some missteps here and there.

Quotation forthcoming.

As a first adventure for beginners, young or old, this gets a lot right. No alarms, then, but a fair few surprises. [Jan 2019, p.119]

The combination of revisiting the origins of Pokémon with enhanced Pokémon Go mechanics makes this journey mostly a pleasant one. Too bad the controller options are so limited as it sure will divide the audience.

A title that satisfies our gaming nostalgia, but tries to define itself due to the improper implementation of different gameplay styles. If you are amongst the select few who haven’t experienced the first games of the series, then Pokémon Let’s Go! is the game for you. If you consider yourselves a seasoned Pokémon trainers, then playing the game will only make you dream of what the core games will look like when they arrive.

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!, as well as its almost identical counterpart, succeeds brilliantly at bridging the worlds of Pokémon Go and the mainline entries, combining evolved, simplified or even revised mechanics from both worlds into what is, make no mistake, a spin-off from the main franchise and not an actual new mainline game. Changes may not be to every old time fan's taste but diving in with expectations kept in check, everyone may find in there a lot to be enjoyed, both for fans of Pokémon Go or the modern games... or even fans of both who will best be able to appreciate it.

Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee!/Pikachu! is an enjoyable RPG but its the third time we've gone through it and the new elements didn't add anything to differentiate it from the previous one.

Pokemon Let's Go is the perfect game for families, casual fans, and those looking to ride a wave of nostalgia. Those looking for a complex and competitive Pokemon experience should temper their expectations, or look elsewhere.

The gameplay is easy but intuitive and it has definitely drawn inspiration from Pokemon Go. While both games are extremely attractive and cute, the game might be a bit too simple and shallow for the fans.

It is very obvious these games are made for a new generation of trainers. The Pokemon Go way of catching Pokemon is very successful, and the small changes to the beautifully crafted Kanto region are revolutionary. It is just a bit too simple for experienced Pokemon players.

Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! represent a different line in the Pokémon series. Reflecting a more accessible take, these two games make the experience more open to new players, while keeping several nostalgic and legacy factors intact for seasoned veterans. While not all is a resounding success, namely when it comes to its limited online component, uninteresting motion controls and an overall level of challenge that is below expectations, some of the games' new elements are more than likely to bring a fun, enjoyable time to players of all backgrounds.

Pokémon: Let's Go should satisfy younger players, and those entering this virtual world for the first time after having fun with the GO app. And while some of the changes in this remake are welcome, the core fans will find this title to be a somewhat shallow and easy JRPG that's a bit overpriced.

Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu justifies its own existence by trying to please every Pokémon fan. It can’t. What it does do is highlight the disparity among its bases; its fierce and loyal competitive scene, its incredibly friendly world, and its simple-to-grasp, hard-to-master systems. Going forward, the Let’s Go series would do well to let go of me. It’s okay to make a game for new and younger players, but it’s not okay to sell that game to stalwarts nearing 30. Let’s Go’s fresh ideas have me excited for the future of Pokémon, but these changes now mar the very experience that had me fall in love with this world.

Pokemon Let’s Go is best approached exactly like Nintendo described it. It’s an experimental side game and in no way a substitute for a main series title. Luckily, we should get a chance to experience a new core title for the Switch next year. As it stands, Pokemon Let’s Go is a decent morsel which will help pass the time until then.

Let’s Go is surprisingly shallow when compared to just about any Pokemon game, despite an appealing presentation that returns players to a popular location.

For complete newcomers, it’s a solid entry point into the Pokémon world. Those who have already tread those paths before won’t find anything new that's worth seeing.