Both Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! have changed the series’ formula quite a bit. Despite Pokémon Go‘s influence, Director Junichi Masuda confirms that the two new Nintendo Switch games are not just spin-offs.
As reported by Nintendo Everything, in an interview, Masuda states Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! “aren’t just spin-offs” and are indeed “core Pokémon titles.” There is also some potential for the game’s Pokémon Go functionality to make its way to future Pokémon games. Here is the full statement:
“These games aren’t spin-offs. These are core Pokemon titles. As for whether we would make other games that could connect to Pokemon GO, that will depend on how the games are received. If we hear a lot of people saying that they enjoyed being able to bring Pokemon to these games from Pokemon GO, then we’ll think about maybe having future titles also be able to connect to it.”
Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! launched November 16, 2018. Although it is a remake of 1998’s Pokémon Yellow, it deviates from the traditional gameplay mechanics from previous games. The latest Pokémon adventure takes some notes from Niantic’s popular mobile game Pokémon Go, namely in catching the pocket monsters. It also removed random encounters and battles with wild pokémon.
Another prominent feature in Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! is its integration with Pokémon Go. What was once the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City is now Go Park. This is where you will transfer your caught pokémon from Pokémon Go to Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee!. However, you will still need to catch them in the park after the transfer is complete.
While Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! deviated from the norm, it certainly didn’t stop people from buying it. Collectively selling 3 million units in just its launch week, the pair not only became the most successful launch for the Pokémon series but also the best first-week release in Nintendo Switch’s history. That success continued during the Thanksgiving shopping week where the two titles hit combined U.S. sales of more than 1.5 million since its launch.
Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! are available now for Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned to read our review very soon.