After a long wait, the next Pokemon games for the Nintendo Switch have been announced. Pokemon Let’s GO Pikachu and Let’s GO Eevee showcase a different gameplay style and mechanics which heavily resemble Pokemon GO. The simplest way of summing these games up is a mix between mainstream Pokemon games and Pokemon GO. Now that the news has been released for a few days, we can summarize all that is currently known about the games. NOTE: These games are NOT the mainstream games hinted at during last year’s E3 convention. Those games will be released sometime next year.

Summary

Pokemon Let’s GO Pikachu & Let’s GO Eevee are re-makes of Pokemon Yellow. The idea behind these games is attracting the players who only Play Pokemon GO, and getting them interested in mainstream Pokemon games. This explains why only the 151 original Kanto Pokemon plus Alolan forms are included in the game, as well as CP even though the Pokemon have the traditional levels. It all helps make things clearer for someone who has never played a Pokemon RPG before.

What is CP

A big confusion for many Pokemon players who have never played Pokemon GO is what CP is. In Let’s GO Pikachu/Eevee, when you encounter a wild Pokemon, it displays its level, gender, and CP. CP stands for Capture Points, and is a calculation of the Pokemon’s IV’s EV’s and Base Stats. Higher CP values doesn’t necessarily mean a stronger Pokemon, it all depends on the level of certain stats.

Major Changes

Multiplayer

Let’s GO Pikachu/Eevee allows you to play local multiplayer with at least one other person. Multiplayer cannot be played over the internet. It is unknown of another player gives any benefits other then allowing two people to play at the same time.

Pokemon in the Overworld

Many Pokemon are seen in the overworld. Instead of randomly encountering Pokemon in tall grass, they now spawn in the grass as if they were really there, allowing you to have a small choice as to which Pokemon you encounter. Any Pokemon can now also follow you throughout the overworld. You can select which Pokemon you want to follow you through your Bag. It seems like this feature can be toggled on or off, since some images show no Pokemon following the trainer. Also, some Pokemon are too large to follow, so instead the trainer rides them (like Onix, Charizard, and Lapras). Pikachu or Eevee (depending on the version) also will ride upon the player’s shoulder or head.

Capturing wild Pokemon

Battling wild Pokemon has been removed, and instead replaced with a capture screen. Before throwing your Pokeball, you have a few options. Get ready, Items, Help, or Run away. The Get ready button signifies that you are ready to throw your Pokeball of choice on the wild Pokemon by flicking the Joycon. When throwing the Pokeball, the angle determines the direction the ball is thrown allowing you to throw straight, diagonally, underhand, or sideways. Items presumably takes you to a screen where you can select between different Pokeballs, or choose a berry to aid you in capturing the target Pokemon. Help will probably send you to a tutorial screen showing you how to capture Pokemon. Run away is pretty self-explanatory. Player 2 only get the options “Get ready” and “Items.” Some information regarding the target Pokemon is also displayed. It shows the Name, Gender, Level, and CP of the Pokemon. If two trainers are playing together, it is possible to throw two Pokeballs at the same time, presumably to get a larger capture bonus.

Training your Pokemon

The developers of the games have stated that the way in which you train your Pokemon has been simplified. Currently, there are no details on what this will entail, but since there are no wild Pokemon battles, another method must be included.

Brand New Pokemon

During the end of the trailer, it shows a gift being transferred to Pokemon GO from Let’s GO Pikachu/Eevee. During the Q&A afterwards, the developers confirmed that these games will include one new, never-before-seen Pokemon.

Starter Pokemon

Based on which version of the game you choose, your starter Pokemon will be predetermined for you. Let’s GO Pikachu will start you with Pikachu, while Let’s GO Eevee will start you with Eevee. There will be a feature allowing you to interact with your starter by feeding and petting it. It is unconfirmed if you will be able to do this with every Pokemon you obtain or not. Also, you can create custom outfits for your starter, something that can’t be done on every Pokemon.

Gyms are returning!

In a few shots, we see a glimpse of a Gym building. This makes sense since this game is a re-make of Pokemon Yellow.

Online Functionality

Let’s GO Pikachu/Eevee will make use of the Nintendo Switch’s online subscription for battles and trading. Features such as Wonder Trading, Battle Spot, and the GTS will not be included in the game.

PC Boxes? Who needs them

During the Q&A, the developers of the games revealed that they PC Box has been removed from the game, and instead you can check and switch your Pokemon straight from your bag.

Pokeball PLUS

A new accessory to go along with Let’s GO Pikachu/Eevee is the Pokeball PLUS. It functions as a fully working controller, allowing you to play the game solely with the Pokeball PLUS. The middle circle on the Pokeball contains a combination joystick and button. This shows that the entire game can be played using only motion controls, a joystick, and one button (pretty simple). Additionally, the device will work with Pokemon GO as a Pokemon GO PLUS.

Locations in the trailer & Pokemon seen there

• Professer Oak’s Lab
• Pallet town
• Route 1 – Pidgey
• Route 2 – Rattata, Pidgey, Weedle
• Veridion Forest
• Pewter City
• Route 3
• Mt. Moon – Clefairy, Geodude, Paras, Zubat
• Nugget Bridge – Trainer: Bug Cather Cale
• Route 5 – HM’s won’t return
• Underground path between Route 5 & Route 6
• Vermillion City
• S.S. Anne
• Pokemon Tower (Lavender Town) – Haunter
• Route 14 – Venonat, Pidgey, Oddish
• Route 17 (Bikes removed) – Raticate, Psyduck, Pidgey, Dodrio, Pidgeotto, Ponyta, Rattata
• Fuchsia City
• Route 20
• Pokemon Mansion – Magmar

Trailers

English

Japanese