I have returned. Huzzah! And I've played Pokemon X and Y. It's been out for over a month, but I beat it in a few days. Thoughts?
SPOILER SECTION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN A MONTH:
Well, they ranged from "Ehhhhhh..." to "OH MY GOD, THAT WAS AMAZING." I say Pokemon Y got me best on the emotional level. Something about actually being appreciated by the people of Kalos really makes it a great journey. And, of course, there's AZ.
But I feel that this game is a bit... anticlimactic. Yeah, there's the great payoff and all that, but so what? I had no trouble with the Elite Four. Every member of Flare? BOOM. Defeated. Gym Leaders? Well... okay, Clemont got me. That dang Emolga. But after that? BOOM. In fact, the most trouble I had at all in the game was the Inverse Battle trainer. Muscle memory, you know. Normal types are completely broken.
Let's look at Black and White. N, right? He had a full team. He had a nice, balanced team. Same thing with Ghetsis. Balanced, intimidating. Lysandre has too many Pokemon weak to Fairy types. And how many are those? Three. OUT OF FOUR. And I know that it's different because N and Ghetsis were the replacements of the Elite Four, but that's no excuse. They had balanced teams, even if three of Ghetsis's Pokemon are weak to Fighting. HE STILL HAS THREE TO FALL BACK ON.
Obviously, the graphics are better. But I never think graphics should overrule gameplay or story. I think that X and Y can be... laggy. Especially during a horde battle. Heck, even in Triples, it lags. I know that there's a lot to process, and I personally could never do it, but it feels unfinished.
POKEMON! Yes, let's talk about them. My new favorite is my Gogoat, Skillet. Not all of them are great, especially since there's a limited supply. To be honest, I actually prefer the designs of Unova to Kalos, and that includes Pokemon, humans, and the overall regional appearance. And imagine that beautiful Village Bridge music... brings a tear each time. OO EHH AHH...
I think the selection is better, sure. Having not only new starters, but Kanto starters too? That really brings in the old players, which the Unova games sort of... blocked off. I'll admit, it did seem a bit like an attempt to shy away older players. Yes, I know, a new region shouldn't exist solely on older Pokemon. But saving the fan-favorites for the end, or never? I don't know. The sequels fixed it, but it still felt limiting to me. X and Y don't have this problem at all. There are far more Pokemon available than any other region.
Whereas Black and White focused on changing the monotony of the games, like a female professor, improved storyline, and more connection to the characters, X and Y don't. They don't. Sycamore's a pleasant enough professor, and he actually battles you. The storyline is weaker because it isn't followed up on. And I can't feel too connected to many of the characters, especially since the rivals are so low-key and unimportant, the gym leaders don't get involved, the champion meets you only once, and AZ disappears. And what, may I ask, was the point of building up Alexa? She does nearly nothing.
But what X and Y lack in story, they make up for in actual battles. A new type, moves that have different typings or super-effectiveness, three new battle schemes (compared to Unova, which has a few times you can Triple or Rotation battle, and Double Wild Pokemon = Double Battle), more emotion between you and your Pokemon, experience changes, and a whole bevvy of game-changers? This is what Pokemon is about, keeping the player on their toes. Unlike games prior, it never felt like a chore to battle. Even in the Battle Maison or Chateau, there are rewards for battling, including immediate Battle Points, a lot of money, or a rise in rank. I got immersed in battle. That's what really matters in the end. Immersion. Black and White lack that. Even with Audino and EXP changes, it still felt like a chore to battle and grind. X and Y change the game, so there's all new strategy for old and new players.
Plus, Pokemon Amie is adorable. Really well-constructed and functionally brilliant. Unova titles don't connect you to your Pokemon, which the Johto sequels did. Give a reason to love your Pokemon, that's the key.
The winner in my opinion is X and Y. I like the aesthetics of Black and White, but the actual gameplay mechanics keep me coming back each time.
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