Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Eevee! – Plenty of details from Nintendo Direct, Nintendo Treehouse Live
Yesterday, during the Nintendo Direct: E3 2018 and the Nintendo Treehouse Live, plenty of new details about Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Eevee! were revealed.
First, an announcement regarding Mew: you will be able to get it if you buy the Poké Ball Plus accessory, as all of them contain the Mythical Pokémon (though only for a limited time, and you will need to connect to the internet). Unfortunately, it’s not clear how players who don’t buy it will be able to get Mew.
By the way, it’s also been confirmed that Mew will not be transferrable from Pokémon GO to Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Eevee!.
Speaking of the Poké Ball Plus, players will be able to buy it separately, or as part of a bundle including the game and the accessory. It will be sold $99.99 in North America (and most likely 99.99€ in Europe).
Next, some details about the game itself and its gameplay. First, an important detail about Pokémon: like in recent mainline entries and in Pokémon GO, you get XP when you catch one. But in this game, the amount of XP you get depends on the size of the Pokémon: the bigger it is, the more XP you get. The aura around a Pokémon in the wild indicates its size, with red meaning it’s bigger than usual, and blue that it’s smaller.
What’s more, the whole system works just like XP share in recent mainline Pokémon games: all the Pokémon in your party get XP… which makes sense, since there are no battles against wild Pokémon (and it would have been strange for only the Pokémon at the top of your party to get some XP).
If you’re having trouble with catching a Pokémon, you can use a Razz Berry in order to make it easier to catch.
While Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Eevee! does change quite a few things compared to regular mainline games, there’s elements that remains unchanged. That’s the case of the stats screen that displays when one of your Pokémon, which is still there.
Speaking of stats, CP is confirmed to be in the game, and works just like in Pokémon GO: it indicates the “global strength” of the Pokémon (based on all the stats of the Pokémon), it does not replace the usual stats (which are still there). Using Candy, you can boost the stats of your Pokémon. There’s various types of candies available, including Quick Candy (to boost Speed).
Good news for players who really wanted to have their favourite Pokémon follow them: you can have all Pokémon follow you (not just Pikachu / Eevee), and you can even swap out at any time.
While Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Eevee! is based on Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, there are some major differences with the original games. For starters, you have a new rival: he’s called Trace, and he is nowhere near “aggressive” as Blue. Also, in order to access Pewter Gym, you first need to get a Water or Grass Pokémon on your team (it’s not just recommended: it’s an actual requirement).
Next: some details about connectivity. In order to play with another player, you need to share a Link Code: it’s made of 3 Pokémon icons, and works more or less like the Raid Battle lobbies in Pokémon GO.
The Nintendo Treehouse Live presentation also shone some light on the transfer of Pokémon from Pokémon GO. It’s done via the GO Parks, which basically replace the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City. In there, you can capture Pokémon simply by talking to them, and as mentioned previously, they cannot be transferred back to Pokémon GO. Also, you can save several GO Parks in a single game.
Back to the CP mentioned above: the higher it is in Pokémon GO, the higher the level of the Pokémon once it’s been transferred to Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Eevee!
Here’s the segment dedicated to Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Eevee! from the Nintendo Treehouse Live presentation:
Finally, here’s the official description for the game, from the E3 2018 website, along with some screenshots:
Take your Pokémon journey to the Kanto region with your partner Pikachu or Eevee to become a top Pokémon Trainer as you battle other trainers. Use a gentle throwing motion to catch Pokémon in the wild with either one Joy-Con controller or the new Poké Ball Plus accessory, which will light up, vibrate, and make sounds to bring your adventure to life. Take your favorite Pokémon out for a stroll in Poké Ball Plus. Share your adventure with family or friends in 2-player action using a second Joy-Con or the new Poké Ball Plus (sold separately). Every accessory contains the Mythical Pokémon Mew! You can even connect to the Pokémon GO app using a compatible smartphone to bring over Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region!
- Become a top Pokémon Trainer on an adventure with Pikachu or Eevee!
- Play the entire game with a single Joy-Con controller or use the Poké Ball Plus accessory, which will light up, vibrate, and make sounds to bring your adventure to life
- Play a Pokémon adventure together cooperatively anytime, anywhere on one system by using another Joy-Con controller or Poké Ball Plus accessory (sold separately) to catch and battle alongside another player!
- Take your Pokémon for a stroll in Poké Ball Plus
- Gently shake Poké Ball Plus to hear a Pokémon that has been put inside from Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!
- Every Poké Ball Plus contains your very own Mythical Pokémon Mew!
- Connect Poké Ball Plus to the Pokémon GO app so that it works as a Pokémon GO Plus
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Eevee! (Switch) will be released on November 16th worldwide.
