Our Verdict
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! holds up as a fantastic entry to the franchise, and runs loads higher than different Pokémon video games on the Nintendo Swap. We nonetheless advocate it even years after launch because of its companion critters, refreshed graphics, and nostalgic emotions.
We’re rapidly coming as much as the discharge of the Swap 2, so it’s time to have a look again at a number of the iconic video games Nintendo launched in the previous couple of years. That’s the place this retrospective Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! overview comes from.
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee launched in November 2018, marking practically seven years since their debut. We will now examine them to a number of different Pokémon video games on the Swap and see how they maintain up. Whereas the video games are comparable, I personal the Eevee model, so we’ll deal with that.
These video games function HD remakes of Pokémon Yellow, splitting the one title into two to match most different releases within the franchise. The attraction of the GameBoy recreation remains to be there, although modernized to welcome one other era of players into the magic of Pokémon’s first era.
Let’s Go, Eevee! brings you again to the area of Kanto – the OG, the primary place we meet Ash, Charmander, and Magikarp amongst so many extra iconic critters. You start in Pallet City, the place Professor Oak tells you that you just get a Pokémon of your individual and that your journey begins right here. Wonderful! That is what we’ve all waited for. You then make your method by the world, beginning encounters with wild Pokémon, catching them, battling different gamers, and dealing by your badge assortment.
Everyone knows the story. Everyone knows what occurs. What we’re right here is whether or not the sport is nice, whether or not it holds up, and whether or not it falls in keeping with different – let’s be sincere – disappointing Pokémon releases on the Swap.
The positives of Let’s Go, Eevee! (and Pikachu) embody the sheer nostalgia of the sport. Not everybody has Pokémon Yellow knocking round, so it’s a fantastic alternative to return to a recreation out of your childhood or uncover it whereas nonetheless in your childhood, relying on how outdated you’re.
My favourite factor was the buddy Pokémon. I wasn’t going to spend $50 on a recreation I’d already performed, however what? I can have a Paras trotting alongside me? I can journey an Aerodactyl by the streets? OK, superb, take my cash. To be truthful, I had a good time with it and it is perhaps the most effective Swap video games, for my part.
The most important constructive, although, is that it really works. It doesn’t stutter. There aren’t any body drops. It doesn’t have clipping or character fashions going haywire. I had a fairly garbage time taking part in Pokémon Scarlet – exterior of the cutscenes, there have been so many points with the graphics and the way effectively the sport labored. Or, didn’t work. Pokémon Legends: Arceus additionally had some crispy graphics, although did run a bit higher. We by no means received options for this, and searching again at how effectively Let’s Go runs and the way good it seems to be in comparison with the later video games is astonishing.
One other key distinction to the later video games is which you can play Let’s Go, Eevee! with another person. How beautiful. You possibly can each throw balls at an unsuspecting Bellsprout! Plus, you don’t want a second controller as the sport requires just one Pleasure-Con per individual. This can be divisive, however I discover it type of endearing. It means you’ll be able to lie in your facet and play the sport with one hand poking out of the quilt, and for a lazy woman resembling myself, it is a win.
I do marvel what occurred to the “Let’s Go” franchise, although. It’s been practically seven years, and we nonetheless don’t have one other remake. Or any DLC to increase the realm, regardless of many individuals assuming it might come. Maybe Let’s Go is only a recreation to deliver Pokémon Go gamers to the Swap by giving a better entry level with fewer mechanics. I wish to see one other Let’s Go recreation, although, because it appears a waste to arrange a brand new franchise after which depart it within the mud.
Additionally it is a bit odd to me which you can get the Alolan variants of some Pokémon in Let’s Go. I imply, I suppose it is sensible, as Alola and Kanto exist on the similar time and other people on the earth do journey, nevertheless it signaled to me that there could be an growth to the sport and… there wasn’t. I additionally didn’t like Meltan and Melmetal’s designs and didn’t even attempt to catch them within the recreation by way of the convoluted Go integration methodology. I additionally skipped the overpriced, tiny Pokéball controller that got here out across the similar time. Even for Mew, I’m not spending an additional $40 on high of a $50 recreation.
Total, I nonetheless advocate Let’s Go, Eevee! – and Pikachu should you want the electro-rodent. It’s a superb and enjoyable remake that’s devoted to the unique, however with a refreshed soundtrack and a pleasant new type to match fashionable expectations. The total price ticket could also be a little bit excessive for what it’s, however it’s positively price your time should you get pleasure from Pokémon.
For those who want a selected counter to a kind as you come up in opposition to the elite 4, we’ve received lists of the finest ghost Pokémon, finest electrical Pokémon, and finest fairy Pokémon which will assist.
