Pokémon is over 20 years old, and its formula has remained mostly intact. Yes, there have been multiple changes to the story presentation, traversal and gameplay mechanics over the years. But most of these are surface level when it comes to an actual R𒅌PG.
Pokémon is technically an RPG but is so ingrained in its so style that it is rigid to fundamental changes. With so much discussion arou💧nd the serie꧑s and what it’s meant to be, we’re taking the opportunity to examine the good and bad of the mainline series’ game design.
Here are some 5 things the mainlin🐠e series still needs, and 5 we wish 🐓would go away.
10 WE NEED: ꦓPartn♕er Pokémon To Return
There was a time where players could their starter or a “cute” Pokémon walk around with them in Amity Square in Diamond/Pearl/Platinum. There was a time where ♌the first Pokémon in your party can follow right behind you in HeartGold and SoulSilver. Those days are behind us, unfortunately.
Nowadays, this feature is replaced with Pokémon Amie and the new Pokemon Camp feature in Sword/Shield. While💝 you can interact with your Pokémon directly and feed them, nothing beats the feeling of Pokémon walking alongside you in the overworld. You feel like Ash Ketchum and his best friend Pikachu going on an adventure.
9 ꦆ WE D🌠ON’T NEED: Silent Protagonists
It would be interesting to see the protagonist have a speaking role in the game besides their personal dialogues. They usually have characters speak f💧or them with limited dialogue options; these options also don’t affect the outcome of the story, as well.
Because Pokemon is a self-insert kind of game, it’s possible that such a thing will never come to light. Your protagonist is doomed to be a smiling, mute child destined to become the Champion. However, it woul♏d be interesting to have voiced speech with different options.
8 W🌺E NEED: Engagement With The Lo🌊re
Despite more focus on cutscenes and cinematics, the mainline stories have become more and more… underwhelming. In terms of lore and intrigue, GameFreak hit their peak in Gen 5. They provided an emotional tale that targets the heart and philosophy behind Pokémon as a game. Diamond and Pearl gaveꦉ us literal gods. Creation myths were common but fascinatin🦄g.
GameFreak should give the player more opportunities to engage with the world as a whole, like the iconic Lavender Town. Integrate more regional Pokémon into the story. Add meaningful side quests that expand 𓆏on Regions and their cultures. So many opportunities.
7 WE ⭕DON’T NEED: Enemy Teams 🔯
We’re not advocating for the removal of enemy teams, just a change in direction. It would be interesting to say downsize the team and have it been like five or, so individuals be the main antagonists. Some of the Admins over the years are interesting, but most of them are just eccentric bad♑dies. No motivations, whatsoever.
If we have a smaller team or just one antagonist who’s really, really strong, that c💎an make antagonists much more engaging. It would be difficult to implement gameplay-wise, but GameFreak can put in more Trainers to compensate for fewer Grunts.
6 🌳 WE NEED: 🐻Voice Acting
Most RPGs released in the last several years has voice acting. It’s becoming more of 🐻a staple for any big-name RPGs released after 2010. Now that Pokémon has returned to homeꦬ consoles via Nintendo Switch, they could’ve added some more audio work.
Pokemon still has an anime, and that’s probably the only r🧸eason they won’t add voice acting. But it’s weird that there are full-blown cutscenes in Sword/Shield, theꦦir mouths are moving, but nothing comes out. It’s begging for voice acting, and all they would have to do is use the same voice actors from the anime. That’s easier said than done, but still, something that needs to be addressed.
5 ✤ 𓄧 WE DON’T NEED: Locked Catch Rates
It would give some difficulty to the game by modulating the Pokémon’s catch rates. GameFreak could probably give it a range based on the Pokémon’s height and weight. If the Pokémon is smaller, it gets a lower catch rate. If it’s ♎bigger, it gets a higher one.
It may take more Pokéballs, but GameFreak practically hands out money to trainers with the way they design the game. It wouldn’t be a big dea♔l. The only exceptions would be Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, of course. Their catch rates are usually 3, the lowest in the game. They’re already a nightmare.
4 WE NEED: Actual S🌺ide Quests & Puzzles
Since the removal of Hidden Machines (HMs) in Sun/Moon, there have been considerably fewer puzzles. Players just run around the aꦍrea, moving from destination to destination without stimulation outside of battles. Puzzles were around in Kahuna Challengesღ and a few Gyms in Sword/Shield, but again, those are sparse. GameFreak can bring back puzzles in a meaningful way. How about taking the mechanics of the Distortion World and apply it to another realm? That would be fun!
3 ✨ WE DON’T NEED: Hand-holding
For the last five years, Pokémon seemed a little s🧜afe with their changeꦰs and new features. There’s no sense of risk or reward when they do something. Understandably, this is a children’s game and is not meant to be overly complex. But at the same time, there are still national and international competitions going on for the mainline titles.
We’re basically saying stop hand-holding players. Kids aren’t stupid; they can figure stuff out. Hell, they can even access resources online to learn more about type advantages. Get rid of Exp. Share. Stop telling the player in the move selection which move is super effective against which Pokémon. Pokémon can be a deep game, but the most basic mechanics shouldn’t be expedited or ✅tossed at a casua༒l or new player.
2 WE NEED: Better Event🐻s
GameFreak should really take a note out of Pokémon GO’s book. Historically, Events have simply given Pokémon trainers special Pokémon that cannot obtain normally in-game. There are some events like with Darkrai and Cresselia,✱ where you are given items and challenged to go seek out the Pokémon to catch.
Those were really cool aligned with the Pokémon experience. For the last several years, GameFreak has abandoned that idea and simply given Pokémon away through Mystery Gift. It would be amazing to add new story beats with these events, linking past regions through lore or characte🙈rs. Just make it an actual worthwhile experience, GameFreak.
1 ﷽ WE DON’T NEED: Gen 1 Favoritism 🍎
I b𓂃elieve it’s safe to say the fanbase is tired of Charizard, Pikachu and Gen 1 as a whole getting used over and over again for new gimmicks and specialties. Pikachu can get some💧what of a pass considering it’s the franchise mascot, but people love other starters almost as much as Charizard. Hell, it looked like Greninja was going to be Nintendo’s next golden boy for a while.
The point is that the Pokémon Company has literally 20 years of content under their belt besides just Gen 1. Many fans have grown attached to these regions and their Pokémon in one way or another, so it 📖would be awesome to see other Pokémon and regions getting more treatment and spotlight.