Pokémon Y Reviews

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My son is OBSESSED with pokemon and his birthday just happens to come about 3 weeks before Poke-day.... last year, it was Pokemon Black and White... not knowing much about Pokemon and having 2 sons, I bought both games and both kids have loved them. They have turned out to be very "complimentary" in that they can share pokemon from one version to the other.

So back in February -just as the glow of Pokemon Black and White was beginning to fade, my younger son caught wind of Pokemon X and Y and he has been OBSESSED waiting for it to come out. I pre-ordered it for his birthday and POKEDAY is finally here...

I have NEVER EVER waited in line for anything in my life... until how. Our local game store was open at midnight to hand out Pokemon to the die-hard poke maniacs. Fortunately (for a number of reasons) the lines for the new Pokemon games were nothing like the throngs you hear about for the Harry Potter series or the iPhones (I don't do well in crowds and frankly, I'm glad more people are excited about reading a book than playing a video game ... though that is probably just THIS particular video game!).

The crowd was small and most of them were college students. Some of them were a little surprised to see their friends there and as they greeted each other, they said "You never saw me here!" -being embarrassed to admit that they are waiting in line for a "kids" video game. I (being the only card-carrying AARP member in the crowd) was definitely the odd-person out. I was number 16 -and that was with letting some high-schooler "cut in front of me"... (so much for respecting your elders)

So what about the game itself?

I'm happy to say that it has been well worth the 6+ months of waiting, youtube watching, speculating, and daydreaming about the game.

Just like last year where I purchased both versions of the game -this year I purchased Pokemon X and Y. X is a "happier gentler" pokemon. Y is a dark "we will DESTROY YOUR WORLD and everything in it" version (frankly, I'm a little worried about the son that chose that one... I'm sleeping with my doors locked from now on!

The graphics make this the most significant upgrade ever. Instead of pixelated antiquated graphics where you can only move like checkers on a chess board, you can climb on your favorite pokemon and fly around in circles. The square pixelated renderings of the pokemon have matured to more sophisticated and realistic (as realistic as anime can get) forms.

Both kids love the fact that you have old and new characters together in one big pokemon family reunion of sorts. Both had their teams picked out for weeks and instantly started in on their Poke-domination. Both have not been heard from since the game was inserted in to the DS consoles -I have spare battery packs lined up in case of some catastrophic power failure that would prevent recharging the 3DS.

One of the things about this game is that it truly brings the players INTO the game. You don't just direct your team... you can actually interact with them. An added bonus is that since they both playing the different versions of the game in close proximity and the consoles can "see" each other, they can see each other's characters. The level of "community" and interactivity is substantially higher ... a good thing to me since they would normally be playing independently... however this makes it a much more collaborative activity.

If you aren't already aware, you must have a 3DS or later console in order to play this generation of the game. Both of my kids consoles are 3ds and 3ds-xl... Anything older than that won't cut it. Response time is a bit sluggish and I think Nintendo is going to have to up the specs of their consoles to keep up with the new resource intensive renderings.

This particular version of Pokemon is based on Norse mythology and based heavily on Paris (not sure what the 2 have in common)... Since both of my boys have loved ancient mythology (greek and Norse, in particular, this was a big selling point for both kids... it also provides some slight educational redeeming quality to the game (though truth be told, I still wish they were more interested in reading books!)

All in all, if you have a Pokemon fan, this is a must-have upgrade as it brings pokemon into the next generation of video gaming where it has lagged significantly behind other newer games. I suspect that this version will also be successful in attracting a whole new generation of Pokemaniacs -which seems to be Nintendo's ultimate goal since the original Pokemon demographic is now apparently embarrassed to be seen at the midnight launch of their games. Old Pokemon lovers will love this version because of the nostalgia factor. While newer ones will be drawn into the stories and strategy and battles that created the original Pokemon fans.

BTW, a word about the educational value of Pokemon... some would say there is no redeeming educational value about this video game. However, the game does teach critical strategy and problem solving skills. AND it actually helped me teach my son multiplication. If you search the inter webs, you will find the actual mathematical models for calculating the catch rates associated with various pokemon. These mathematical models are quite complicated but (being a math geek myself) by holding several of the variables constant, you can actually create a times table based on the catch rates for various pokemon characters. So if you have a kid who is a pokemon fan but not a fan of math -do some googling and you may wind up turning your poke maniac into mathematician. Any game that can bridge that gap is PURE GENIUS, in my humble opinion!

[NCJAR]

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I've been a fan of the Pokemon franchise since Blue Version. I was pretty disappointed with the Pokemon in Black/White and the games have seemed to be getting worse and worse. That being said, Pokemon X has been quite amazing so far.

Although I haven't gotten very far in the game yet, it's a completely different feel from any of the past Pokemon games. The battles are very reminiscent of the console versions, which brought back a lot of nostalgia. The graphics are very crisp, and the towns are beautifully designed and very different from Pokemon towns that you might be accustomed to. The new Pokemon are actually interesting so far, and I haven't come across any poorly-named ice cream cones or garbage bags.

Definitely happy with my decision to buy it, and a good step back in the right direction for Pokemon.

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To put it simply maybe! Read on to see why, but be warned of some minor gameplay spoilers. To avoid them skip down to my "bottom line" section. Also, make sure to check there for the latest on the "save bug" that may temporarily break your game!

To those familiar with the series, you'll recognize the old familiar pattern right away. Receive Pokemon and Pokedex and then fight your way to the top, beating the bad guys along the way. For those new to the series however, Pokemon X/Y offers a more than adequate introduction, though because of this gameplay exposition, conversation is just a little bland for the first few towns. On that topic, while newcomers will find these games entirely accessible and enjoyable, there are several friendly nods to eras gone by placed with in the games, as old familiar faces make appearances. Further, you'll get to pick a first generation starter right off the bat to augment your team, a touch that I absolutely loved.

Speaking of familiar, the story and its baddies are nothing really new starting with Black and White, Pokemon started making more of an effort in that department, but plot is still not is strong suit. That said, some of the cast members do manage to stand out, especially a couple of really unique gym leaders and other NPCs. Most, however, are fairly cookie-cutter. Still, where this would ruin most RPGs, it's not a huge concern for Pokemon, where the goal is always catching em all and being the best.

As for catching them all, I confess myself slightly disappointed there are significantly fewer new Pokemon than were introduced by prior generations. However, the lack of quantity is neatly compensated for by high overall quality prior generations have seen some serious "dud" Pokemon, but there don't seem to be any this go-round. (Addendum: Found the dude Pokemon. Klefki, I'm looking at you!) The new additions are, fortunately, well-padded by five prior generations, and so you never run out of things to catch.

Next up is gameplay. While the basics have remained the same, Game Freak has, as always, tweaked the balance just a bit in fact, they've done rather a lot this time. Introducing a new type for the first time in 14 years is a bold move, as was retconning a few Pokemon into the new type. Fortunately, it seems to work out no doubt it'll give the hardcore metagame analysts something to chew on for a good long time, and for the rest of us, the game is more balanced than ever. Next in line of gameplay changes is the well-hyped "mega evolution" mechanic, and YES, it is exactly as cool as it sounds. I'd hate to spoil anything, but I will say that some are game-dependent, and overall X seems to get the "cooler" end of the stick in that department.

Additionally, "Pokemon Amie" is an entirely endearing side-game that I think really adds an extra dimension to Pokemon interactions. While it may not do much for some audiences, for those that really enjoy bonding with their virtual pets, this really takes things to new heights. Again, I don't want to spoil much, but there are some Pokemon that it is just endlessly entertaining to pet.

As to graphics, well, screenshots obviously don't do the game justice. Pokemon in 3D is reminiscent in some ways of the console games, especially with the exciting dynamic camera movements and attack animations. The sheer amount of "stuff" going on in battle makes it very exciting except for when it causes a bit of lag. This is mainly an issue in larger-scale battles (horde battles are also an exciting introduction!), but a slight disappointment nonetheless, since it's precisely those big, epic moments that would be most impressive in smooth, 3D glory. On the other hand, the world is absolutely gorgeous running your customized character through Kalos is a real treat, especially with all the ways to get around. Having played since the first generation, jumping up a ledge for the first time was an absolute joy.

Sound effects are, as usual, a bit outdated. The music however is gorgeous not quite a match for the second generation (in my own opinion) but beautiful nonetheless.

Overall, X and Y are fantastic additions to the Pokemon family. They shake things up in exactly the right way while maintaining the philosophy of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Hardware limitations can sometimes put a damper on things, but they hardly dim the brilliance of a very exciting sixth generation.

**UPDATE ON THE SAVE BUG** Nintendo and Game Freak are aware of a game-crashing bug that may occur when saving on the outskirts or some inner avenues of Lumiose City. A patch has been released for both the downloaded and cart version, and can be downloaded for free from the 3DS eshop. There are different downloads for versions X and Y, be sure to get the correct one!

Questions or comments? Feel free to leave them below, or to contact me at SeanOnAmazon@gmail.com.

Honest reviews on Pokémon Y

I won't bother by giving you a synopsis or details about the game that can be easily found in a general review. Instead I will list a few details why, even with only 20 or so hours into the game so far, that I believe that X and Y are the best installments in the series. In no particular order:

1) The boring guided intro is gone and you are almost immediately on your own catching Pokemon and exploring.

2) Many old favorites from generation I and other fan favorites are featured almost right from the beginning. This is in stark contrast with B & W, where only new unknown pokemon are featured initially. This should appeal to gamers who are fond of the first games form the 90's.

3) No more waiting for powerful pokemon in the late-game, formerly only really usable in post-game. I caught a Bagon by the second gym and that's only the tip of the iceberg.

4) Mega-evolutions bring interest back to fan-favorites, showing younger gamers the great pokemon they are not familiar with and, again, appealing to gamers who played the original games.

5) "Super Training" makes EV training (competitive training) fun, easy, fast, and accessible for anyone. You can fully EV-train pokemon in less than an hour, and undo it all with a special item, and redo it as you change your strategy.

6) Trainer customization and online features make this feel more like an RPG.

7) The shiny encounter odds are reasonable now.

8) Perfect IV pokemon are a few breeding steps away with the new "Friend Safari" and new breeding mechanics.

9) The graphics are stylized just like the anime now. It REALLY looks great.

10) Now that Game Freak has tweaked the game to be more reasonable, competitive pokemon can be trained in a reasonable time, therefore cheating/hacking is not even necessary (it is blocked for the foreseable future anyway).

Now if I had to give it a few negative points: the 3D is only active in single battles and only certain parts of the overworld because the framerate is low when 3D is on and would probably become terrible with more action, the dialogue is still a bit childish and boring for the most part with bland side-characters, the difficulty needs to be higher (although they did make is accessible for all ages at least), and the 3DS really needs a cellular card in it or something because WIFI is still not consistent enough when going various places to take advantage of the new online features. I am sure if Nintendo had an online service for the 3DS like the Amazon Kindle does, even for a low cost, that many would subscribe just for this game.

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Let me begin by saying that I am a long, die hard, Pokemon fan. I began back with Pokemon Ruby, and subsequently moved to play the first and second generations. I was absolutely and completely mesmerized by the amazing fun and thrilling rush of playing any Pokemon game. I still remember skipping middle school to stay home and train my Larvitar in Pokemon Silver. I still remember bringing my Gameboy Advance everywhere to try to find Surf in Pokemon Red. I vividly remember beating the Elite Four in Pokemon FireRed for the first time and maniacally pressing A in hopes of catching Mewtwo with the UltraBall.

However, things have changed. I am a college student now. Pokemon Black and White, was for me, a major disappointment. I logged over 100 hours in Pokemon Pearl and Platinum and barely even got my 7th badge in Pokemon Black before completely quitting and never touching it again... I feared the worst, oh god, did I outgrow my childhood? Was I becoming more cynical, more serious, heaven forbid, more mature?! No!! Where was my childhood thrill that I got from training my Dragonite, capturing Lugia, and chasing down Mesprit?! I feared the fun would never return and I was just another grown up...

Well, Pokemon Y brought it back... and during midterms week.

I have logged in more than 20 hours with Pokemon Y so far, (who needs microecon anyways?) and I barely got my 8th badge, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS GAME. I feel the same rush I felt when I was in middle school training my pokemon! This game is great! It fixed all of what was wrong with Generation V such as boring and lackluster Pokemon interactions, and revamped the system without taking away my beloved formula of capturing Pokemon.

My Charizard, Raichu, and Greninja are all ready to tackle the Elite Four and I feel like a Pokemon Master again! DEFINITELY BUY THIS GAME IF YOU LIKE POKEMON. Even if you were disillusioned with Pokemon Black and White, give XY a try. I did, and I do not regret it. The graphics are amazing, and the magic is certainly there.

Pokemon Y brought some well needed air to the franchise and I can say that I am a Poke Maniac, once again.

This game feels a lot like Generation III and IV! This feels like a TRUE Pokemon game!