Not much can be said about the Pokemon series that hasn’t been said before. The new releases have been lackluster, the Pokedex has gotten out of control, and the original charm doesn’t translate well from 2D to 3D. I know it, you know it, we are all on the same page.
And despite Nintendo’s best efforts to legally monopolize the monster-v-monster genre, it can’t be overstated how its battle system has left its mark in gaming history and pop culture as a whole.
But while it still lacks in all of the aforementioned fields, there is something that caught my eye in the last couple of months that I haven’t seen discussed as much as I thought it would: how Pokemon GO’s spin on Pokemon battles should be the new normal, or at least an alternate way of experiencing the Pokemon world.
Long gone are the days of choosing between moves and your berries in battles that seem to freeze time and ultimately turn the esports and casual let’s plays into stimulant chess. Going from sprites to 3D models with subpar animations, dull coloring, and inexpressive rigging hasn’t done the franchise any favors. Its biggest problem lies in Pokemon's idle animations, and that’s exactly what GO unintentionally patches.
The 2016 phenomenon took the world by storm almost a decade ago, and while it did not add trainer v. trainer gameplay until a couple of years after its release, its format has stayed relevant as one of the best ways to keep battles as they should be, dynamic.
When I started playing Pokemon, I remember longing for a hint of the anime. Fast-paced decision-making, heart-stopping action that kept you at the edge of your seat thanks to the characters, narrative, and, of course, the Pokemon.
When you cut the idle animations and waiting period from the original turn-based RPG gameplay, Pokemon becomes about team familiarity and strategy equally, instead of an infinite inner monologue before making a one-turn decision and seeing it play out underwhelmingly.
Pokemon GO incentivizes trainers with unrestricted screen tapping for Light Attacks, maxing out top tapping speed to keep it casual, and putting Pokemon stats like Speed, Special Attack, and Special Defense to good use. These Light Attacks charge a Strong Attack that you can choose from depending on the opponent’s type, but beware, as Protects AKA Shields are in play, impenetrable lines of defense that can be considered perfect dodges, limited to two per trainer battle.
Status Effects are not lost either, as they, no pun intended, are still caused by attacks that have percentages attached for them to be triggered. To compensate for Specials and non-physical attacks, certain Pokemon are given spawn effects that trigger immediately after being sent out to battle.
Of course, this fighting system does not take into account HP restores, and status fixes the game is also popular for, but keeping the original material as inspiration, it was a rare sight to catch Pokemon being healed during battle.
And if you’re wondering what happens to the core feature of the game, you know, the catching Pokemon part, I think a hybrid style of gameplay works best to keep the ball rolling.
Wild Pokemon encounters remain turn-based, resembling a wild researcher circling a new specimen, Chris Pratt-Jurassic Park-style, while trainer v. trainer battles become tapping wars, switching between Pokemon as trainers see fit without interruptions.
If you want to go further, you could even have Special Attacks as Strong Attacks that charge at half the speed it takes for a Physical Attack to load. This way, all the Pokemon strategy remains alive, and the gameplay becomes euphoric for players, watchers, and esports viewers alike. The Pokemon GO formula has proven to keep it moving, keep it fun, and keep it Pokemon, a fresh take for a franchise very much in need of one.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming features and opinions.