Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu and Eevee Review

In short, Pokemon: Let’s Go is a high-fidelity tribute to yellow, set in the much-loved Kanto region. A vast woodland famed for its effervescent spirit and energetic soul. Often, those past stories in the sagas canon touch the heart. Thus, it’s easy to look back on those glory days with love and affection. Maybe that’s nostalgia talking, but the fierce connection we have with the area will never burn out.

Fans will adore the level at which Pokemon: Let’s Go mimics its archetype. And with a wholesome forty plus hours of story, there’s plenty of meat on the bone. The result of which is a real tribute to the legend. After it’s all over, you’ll put aside the Switch, content. Somewhat soothed by the knowledge that this game matches the magic of the first. Although Pokemon: Let’s Go is a stark, mirror image of Yellow in many ways, there are a few subtle changes. Most of which act in its favor.

The most apparent difference is perhaps the biggest one. That’s the act of catching pokemon itself. Sadly, the motion controls are slightly sticky. Furthermore, the aim and trajectory of the ball toss are often skewed and misguided. Which in effect, makes it hard to align the perfect throw. Once you acclimatize to these marginal differences though, you’ll soon settle into the system. Overall, it’s a novel idea to throw balls via the switch sticks. For the best part, it’s a design choice that works once you adjust to the alignment issues.

Ultimately, the task of catching pokemon in Pokemon: Let’s Go grants even greater reward this time around. That said, each addition to the codex issues candy and plenty of bonus XP. What’s more, the fact that you can choose which creatures to hunt down is a blessing. With that in mind, capturing foes at your own leisurely pace gives the game a natural flow. On that note, the freedom to explore is as carefree as can be.

On the surface, it’s evident that the dev-team has invested a lot of time in the lead characters. Both Pikachu and Eevee look more cute and adorable than ever. What’s more, the fun-loving animations sparkle with charm and personality. Whether that’s through the cutscenes or moments of close-up interaction, these fun-loving rogues have never looked so good. In turn, this makes the game fun and accessible to all ages. Perhaps more work has gone into the Pikachu persona, but Eevee still stands out, despite the favoritism.

Moving on, regarding skill sets, Pikachu packs more of a punch, can inflict more significant damage, and centers around power-play. However, Eevee is much more rounded, the jack of all trades if you will. As a result, this greater flexibility allows Eevee to master a unique skill from any of the eight evolution tiers. That said, the game doesn’t force you to keep either one in your squad, albeit, doing so will make life a lot easier.

Pokemon: let’s Go is designed to encourage new players into the fold. Therefore, the game is a whole load easier this time around. So much so, that I lasted the entire story without suffering a single loss. Worse still, some of the abilities at a later level can K.O the enemy in one or two hits. In spite of this, a handful of encounters did come down to the wire. Thankfully, despite the absence of difficulty in the main quest, veterans can put their skills to the test post-game. With master trainers waiting in the wings, the sense of challenge is perhaps not so lacking.

Pokemon: Lets Go also brings with it a gamut of new game add-ons a cool features. Instead of the bike, players can traverse the lands on a set number of creatures. Also, the inclusion of co-op play, whereby players can jump in and rush to your aid makes battles fun and addictive for the most part. The second player can’t capture the pokemon but provides additional support to the newbie when the going gets tough. It’s a way of assisting those who are perhaps learning the ropes. Or have taken on more than they can handle. A nice touch indeed.

Unfortunately, the UI is an obstacle and doesn’t do much to simplify the player experience. Hence flicking through item screens in the heat of battle is a grind, and takes away the buzz that comes from live, in-game action. Similarly, the pokebox scroll-down point of view makes trawling through the animal archive a bit of a chore. These are only minor gripes though, and above all else, the pros far outway the cons.

All in all, Pokemon: Let’s Go relives the glory days well, and chucks in a host of fresh features to boot. Although the sense of challenge is absent this time around, the cute characters and vivid color-soaked visuals bring this classic back to life for a new age of fans and gamers alike.

What are your impressions of the game? Did you enjoy Pokemon: Let’s Go? Like always, we welcome your views in the comments.