Its been fifteen years since the release of Pokemon red and blue, and throughout the years, the core Pokemon experience has stayed the same. With Pokemon X and Y, GameFreak has taken the necessary steps forward to evolve the series. Pokemon x and y may not be perfect, but it may arguably be the best entry in the series so far.
I dont think it needs to be said that Pokemon X and Y's presentation is levels beyond previous entries into the series. For the first time, the game has fully rendered 3D models, which looks amazing in the overworld, but truly shines in the battles. Attack are vibrant and full of life, with most having unique animations. Some that have similar functions like 'Surf" and "Muddy Water" are pretty much the same just with different colors, but for the most part you will find that no two moves are alike. Some range from being very simple to others being completely epic and jaw dropping.
One thing that may surprise people is that the story is actually very good this time around, though there is one problem; The Beginning. With Pokemon Black/White I felt that the game started off very strong with a story that went to some pretty dark stuff but eventually ended pretty weak with a safe ending. With X and Y its the opposite. The Start is very safe following suit with other previous game and drags on for awhile. While you may find your self with your first gym badge and access to a wide array of Pokemon within the first hour, it takes several hours before you are standing in front of the second Gym leader. Luckily the pace picks up dramatically after the third Gym with an ending that I found very surprisingly emotional and very satisfying. No Spoilers but what Team Flare is trying to do in this game is no joke at all.
One last thing to note is that GameFreak gives players for the first time a chance to personalize and customize their trainers. After choosing your gender you are able to choose a basic skin tone for your trainer, but it does not stop there. Throughout the game, trainers can travel to stores all over the Kalos region with a wide variety of clothing and accessories to choose from. My one Disappointment with this system is that I wish there were more hairstyles to choose from. Although this seems minor, I would have loved to be given the option to make my trainer bald, to say the least.
As I said before, at its core Pokemon X and Y largely stays the same. You travel around the Kalos region capturing, collecting, and training creatures called Pokemon. From the wide variety of Pokemon, Old and New, you choose a team of 6 that is well balanced and battle it out with each major cities' Gym leaders, collecting the badges that you earn as a reward. Though it is nice to see Old faces return, I believe most Pokemon fans will find the lack of new Pokemon a bit disappointing. Once you collect all eight you are then eligible for the Pokemon League, where you challenge the 5 greatest trainers in the Kalos Region, the Elite Four and the League Champion. If you succeed in doing so the aforementioned title is yours. Along the way you encounter friends, other trainers and an evil organization called Team Flare hellbent on making their perfect world a reality. All the staples of Pokemon are here with some major additions that help streamline the experience and add another level strategy to the competitive multiplayer.
On top of a brand new type of Pokemon, you also gain the ability to "Mega Evolve" some of your Pokemon a few hours into the game. Mega Evolution (though never truly explained) is an awesome addition to the game. It is not just a stat boost, for some Pokemon it changes their types around, giving some advantages and exposing weaknesses to your Pokemon. For example Charizard is commonly mistaken to be a Dragon type by casual fans. It is in fact a Fire/Flying type, but when it mega evolves into Mega Charizard X (only available if you got Pokemon X) It becomes Fire/Dragon, closing it weakness to Electricity and other types, but opening its weakness to Ice, other Dragons types, and that new type called Fairy types. Speaking of Fairy types, as great as it was for GameFreak to add a type that stands up to the once overpowered Dragon types, it feels like they just replaced one Overpowered type with another. It will take you a while to figure out which Pokemon are fairy types, especially considering most of them are old Pokemon, and figuring out their weakness without a guide online can be a bit frustrating.
Two other optional gameplay mechanics, Pokemon-Amie, and Super Training were also added to help players achieve the best performance from their Pokemon. Gone are the days of scouring the internet trying to figure out what the heck EV and IV training are. With super training for the first time trainers are able to see Pokemon's EVs or base stats, and through mini games, trainers are able to raise the individual base stat of their Pokemon. Its a fun and much more accessible way for trainers to improve their Pokemon. With Pokemon-Amie trainers are able to play and pet with their Pokemon. Using the stylus and the second screen of the 3DS, trainers rub the screen to pet them and feed them Poke Puffs. The more you do so the more affection your Pokemon will show which will in turn improve their performance in the battlefield like trying not to let its self fall asleep, or withstand a mighty blow that should have finished it off. It is yet to be seen whether or not this will affect how your Pokemon's performance Online.
The last major Upgrade that Gamefreak added is the PSS system or the "Player Search System." On the second screen you can connect to the internet and see if your Nintendo 3DS friends are online and find random players online in the "passerby" section. Connecting with other trainers has never been so easy. You just click on a face below be it a friend or a random player, and ask them if they want to battle or trade. That is it. With a improved online multiplayer, it can only mean even more trainers and a guaranteed longevity to X and Y until the next game comes out.
Pokemon X and Y are the perfect glimpses into what Pokemon games are going to become. Its not the most steady step forward but it certainly the step the series needed. Veterans, New fans, and people who have not played since the Gameboy days should all give X and Y a chance because it is easily one of the best and most accessible Pokemon game to date.
+ Streamlined Online Multiplayer
+ Character Customization
- Not a lot of New Pokemon
- Fairy Types are a bit Overpowered
- Not enough Customization.
Additional Thoughts: With the lack of new Pokemon and things to do in the Kalos region after you finish the game I cant help but get this overwhelming feeling that this just the beginning of a new era of Pokemon. I mean of course they are going to do another one, and probably many more but this feels like they are testing the water with this title with the 3D models, mega evolution, and everything else they added. Not that this isn't a proper Pokemon game, but I predict that the next game, if its not a mid generation release, like a remake or black 2 and White 2, will be in a brand new region with all new pokemon across the board and less of a focus on the older pokemon.
