Pokémon Let’s GO on the Switch combines the classic RPG games with the immensely successful mobile game Pokémon GO. Leya finds the implementation of Pokémon Let’s GO brilliant and believes that the Pokémon Company has pulled off a clever move here.
Pokémon Let’s GO is different from the classic main series of previous RPG games, such as Sun and Moon. The RPG developers at GameFreak have taken some inspiration from Pokémon GO and integrated it into the DNA of Pokémon Let’s GO.
Pokémon GO is an incredibly successful mobile MMO and made more than 2.5 million dollars daily in the summer of 2018. The success that Niantic has celebrated with its mobile game is also well understood by the Pokémon Company. The company has drawn its conclusions from this, and Pokémon Let’s GO is the clever result.
The Pokémon Company wants to reach out to GO players
What is the Pokémon Company? The company is responsible for the brand management of the Pokémon franchise. It deals with the identity and brand behind Pokémon, as well as strategic marketing. The Pokémon Company asks questions like: “To whom and by what means can we sell Pokémon?”
Influence of Pokémon GO’s success: The CEO of the Pokémon Company, Tsunekazu Ishihara, spoke in 2017 about the influence Pokémon GO will have on the future of the franchise. They were surprised by the success of Niantic’s mobile game.
This led to a rethinking of Pokémon for all platforms, including the Nintendo Switch. It was clear early on for the Pokémon Company that they wanted and needed to integrate Pokémon GO more into the DNA of the brand.
Pokémon GO brought new and old audiences
The new audience: With Pokémon GO, players who had never been part of the franchise suddenly emerged. In 2016, a real Pokémon summer broke out, and trainers were everywhere on the streets with their smartphones. It wasn’t just core gamers who dived into the mobile MMO.
Among the players were grandparents who engaged in a new hobby together with their grandchildren. There were players who were simply curious about this huge hype, wanted to check it out, and just join in. Some of these players became hooked on Pokémon GO and still faithfully participate in raids and visit PokéStops today.
The old audience: In Pokémon GO, many children of the 90s fully descended into nostalgia. Whether it was because they played games on the Gameboy, traded trading cards, or watched the Pokémon anime series. Many fans lost sight of Pokémon as young adults, leaving behind sweet memories. The mobile game allowed those memories to come back to life and made them trainers once again.
The logical consequence: Through Pokémon GO, the audience of the Pokémon Company has significantly expanded, and they wanted to transfer that to other products of the franchise.
Pokémon Let’s GO on Switch appeals to both audiences
Connection of new and old: Pokémon Let’s GO charmingly connects the two worlds of new mobile players and old nostalgia fans. The game is a remake of Pokémon Yellow. The Gameboy game includes the first 151 Pokémon and takes place in Kanto, the first region where players ever traveled as trainers.
Mobile players who have never interacted with the classic RPGs are given a perfect start from the very beginning with the Yellow remake. Nostalgia fans can indulge in memories and experience Pokémon Yellow again through the Switch at a high graphical level.
Brilliant merging of both worlds: Pokémon Let’s GO is structured like the classic single-player RPG. There are typical turn-based battles against other trainers. This is new for mobile players. In Pokémon GO, battles are only against other Pokémon in gyms.
Additionally, Pokémon in Let’s GO are caught just like in the mobile MMO. Trainers throw a ball with a swift hand motion. The motion sensors in the Joy-Cons are utilized on the television, or in the new controller Pokéball-Plus. There are also targets that indicate the chances of success. The trainer will continue to throw until the Pokémon is finally in the ball or escapes.
More for GO players in Let’s GO: The Pokémon Company has ensured to offer even more content for Let’s GO that caters to mobile players. Players earn experience points here through catching Pokémon. They also have the advantage of catching as many monsters of one type as possible and sending them to the professor. For this, there are candies that enhance the values of Pokémon. This is also very well-known from Pokémon GO.
Advantages for GO players: It is possible to connect the Switch with the mobile game. Pokémon can be transferred from the smartphone to the Switch. Additionally, there is a brand new, never-before-seen Pokémon. This was introduced in the mobile game: Meltan. The Steel-type Pokémon Meltan is, however, difficult to develop without Pokémon Let’s GO.
Connecting the generations started already in trailers: The trailers for Meltan were already a preparation for the Let’s GO hype. In these, Pokémon professors Willow and Oak discuss the newly discovered Pokémon. Here, they again tried to link the generations. One professor belongs to Pokémon GO while the other has been conducting research since 1996 in Pokémon Red/Blue.
2019 brings the “real”, new RPG to the Switch, with Generation 8
Fans of the classic RPGs are waiting for 2019: The Pokémon Company has already announced that a major main series title is coming for the Switch in 2019. They hope that this will be the game that veterans have been so eagerly waiting for. A new generation of Pokémon and a new region will be introduced.
The gateway drug to the classic RPG: With Let’s GO, a Switch bundle was naturally offered right away. Pokémon Let’s GO does an excellent job of gradually introducing GO players to the classic RPGs. It is essentially a gentle transition to the core games. It also appeals to veteran players who may have lost sight of Pokémon at some point and might now be playing with their own children.
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The clever move of the Pokémon Company: Pokémon Let’s GO can be an entry point into the core games for everyone. Veterans were directly informed about a game they wanted with the release of Let’s GO. They can see Pokémon Let’s GO as a tasty snack in between and may even be encouraged to return to the mobile game.
Both audiences are directed to each other’s platforms and can prepare for what is still to come in the Pokémon franchise.
The Poké cap can already be pulled for Let’s GO: I have been playing Pokémon since I was six years old and have not missed a single classic RPG title from Pokémon in over 20 years. Before Pokémon Let’s GO, the entire marketing and implementation of the game, I can only take my hat off.
I’m having a lot of fun with the game right now and I also enjoy the simple gameplay and the charming graphic presentation with the cute cinematic elements.
Yes, I would have definitely liked such a Pokémon 20 years ago. I’m already looking forward to the new main series title in 2019 and hope that Pokémon Let’s GO has gifted us many new Pokémaniacs – both old and new.
