These last few days, I, like so many people who were denied the chance to be a Pokémon master at the age of ten, downloaded the heavily anticipated mobile app Pokémon Go. The character customization wasn’t all that great, this of course coming from a guy who knows fully well that most Pokémon games had a single boy model and a single girl model to choose from when starting the game. Considering that, perhaps I should have more grateful.
Beyond that, the game seems incredible. I have to assume from the constant collapses of the game’s server that there is a plethora of people vying to get into this game and going on their Pokémon journeys. Once you are in though, the work that has been done for this game is quite admirable. Your movement in the real world prompts your character to move as well, which itself is rewarding. The already well-worn joke of fans of the Pocket Monster series finally leaving their homes aside, the designers have left a lot of fun things to be explored. There are Poké Stops, blue boxes found mostly in the urban areas, that can give you Pokéballs, eggs and sometimes usable materials when you get close enough to them.
There are also gyms, but these are not like we fans remember from the game. It’s my assumption these are more like bases that people, who have joined one of a handful of teams once they reach level 5, can occupy with their own Pokémon to help hold the area for their perspective team. In a way, teams now become light-hearted street gangs who hold territory and try and take it away. The sort of face for the gym can also be anyone, as I found out from a friend who found herself to be the leader of the Bibo Gym for a short period of time. Considering a Player versus Player, or PvP, system has yet to be implemented yet, this is the best way that trainers will have to engage and strengthen their team. The alternate route is collecting stardust, the currency of the game, as well as Pokémon-specific eggs (no idea how to acquire yet) to level up your team and eventually get them into a spot to evolve.
The Pokémon come in all shapes and power levels. (Image courtesy of a friend of a Facebook.)
For those like me who felt the bind of choosing a team of six, worry not. Catching as many Pokémon as possible is essential to making progress in the game and unlocking achievements for your character. When it comes down to battling, then it will come time to choose who will fight for you. The types of Pokémon vary per place, even changing by time of day. Where I’m staying, there’s a possibility of catching a Staryu at night.
Overall, I firmly believe is the game that people have wanted as soon as they put into a few hours into their handheld Pokémon games. It feels like we’re living in a world populated by the notorious creatures (though it does seem only generation one has been released) and that we have the opportunity to live out the dream of being Pokémon Masters. There is so much content available, I imagine we assumed home bodies will be getting lots of exercise as we trek absolutely everywhere in our nostalgic quest to catch ‘em all.
Remember everyone, be responsible with your technology. (Image Courtesy of Imgur's Facebook account)
