Pokemon Let's Go Eevee & Pikachu - Similarities with Pokemon GO
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee are games that are meant to bridge the gap between Pokemon GO and the more “usual” games in the franchise. And, in my limited time with the game at Gamescom 2018, I came to notice the similarities and differences between the two games. So, I’m going to present you with some of the biggest examples of how these games compare to one another.
How Similar Are Pokemon Let’s Go and Pokemon GO?
Based on my experience with Pokemon Let’s Go during Gamescom 2018, my answer would be: similar enough. What exactly do I mean by that? Well, essentially, Let’s Go is similar enough to Pokemon GO that you’ll quickly feel at home even if you’ve only ever played Pokemon GO. As for the mechanics that are different, you should be able to pick them up without much trouble. Pokemon Let’s Go is a game that is easy for everybody to pick up.
The most familiar thing, in my opinion, is the capture mechanic. It features the same colored circle that shrinks in size that you’ll immediately recognize if you’ve played Pokemon GO. That system is the absolute same. The only difference is that you have to make a throwing motion with the controller instead of swiping on your touchscreen. There are still berries that you can give to the Pokemon you’re trying to catch to make it less of a struggle. But, overall, you’ll feel right at home when it comes to that. This is where the similarities end, when it comes to the game mechanics. But, trust me, the rest isn’t hard at all.
The list of Pokemon that will be available in Let’s Go, as I understand it, is going to be the same as in Pokemon Yellow. In other words, it’ll be the Kanto region Pokemon, aka those that were in Pokemon GO at the start, before they started adding new ones. So, if you’ve played Pokemon GO, you’ll be familiar with the monsters you’ll be able to catch and how they work. You’ll also likely know which Pokemon types work best against others, so planning out battles should come fairly naturally. Battles do function differently, which we’ll get into right now.
Pokemon Let’s Go – Differences from Pokemon GO
One of the most obvious differences is that you won’t be moving around the real world. Instead, you’re moving around in the world of the game, and you’ll see Pokemon just hanging around; they don’t only pop up when you approach their location. Another difference is the presence of NPCs. Like in the “normal” Pokemon games, you’ll be able to meet a bunch of characters in the overworld; some friendly, some quite less so. Some of them will be very willing to pit their Pokemon against yours. Which leads us to the battles.
The battles are a candidate for the biggest mechanical difference between Pokemon GO and Pokemon Let’s Go. I never liked how fights worked in Pokemon GO; it always seems to devolve into manic screen tapping until you win. Well, in Let’s Go, you’ll be introduced to more typical Pokemon battle mechanics. In short, the game turns into a turn-based brawl. You pick your Pokemon, the enemy picks theirs, and you duke it out. You can swap out Pokemon if it turns out to be necessary. Plus, on top of the attacks your Pokemon has, there are moves like Roar, which everyone seems to have. These don’t deal much damage, but they can inflict status effects, like decreased speed.
Also, leveling Pokemon works differently in Let’s Go. After you win a fight, every Pokemon you have gets experience points. They gain levels, and they become more powerful. Simple as it gets. No candies or stardust; it’s just as classic RPG as it gets.
This is as far as I can go in terms of differences and similarities between Pokemon Let’s Go and Pokemon GO, based on my limited time with Let’s Go. I’m sure there’s more to dive into, but we’re going to have to wait until the full game comes out to really feel all the differences. Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee and Pikachu are coming out on November 16th on the Nintendo Switch.
