The next Pokemon game returns to where it all began, in the Kanto Region as Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! hits the Nintendo Switch come November 16 this year.

However, it should not be confused with the ‘core Pokémon RPG’ for the Switch which was teased at E3 2017. That one is set to hit stores late next year.

Developed by Game Freak, director and producer of the Let’s Go titles, Junichi Masuda emphasized that the Let’s Go games are designed for newbies to the Pokémon games, especially those whose entry to the franchise was via Pokémon Go. He added that it has been in development for around two years.

While many might still be confused as to what is the game going to be like, just imagine expanding your Pokémon Go experience from your mobile devices and taking it to the Nintendo Switch. Like the one on mobile, you use hand gestures to catch wild Pokémon but instead of flicking your finger, you now utilise the Switch Joy-Cons to ‘throw’ your Poké Ball to catch wild Pokémon.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jRtpMKLsts&w=560&h=315]

Back to Square One – But With A Modern Twist

In Let’s Go, you retrace your adventures in the Kanto Region – e.g a modern take of Pokémon Yellow, with tons of cross-play and AR integration to the game. At the time of writing, we cannot confirm on its story but we have a feeling it will be loosely tied to the original storyline with a modern twist to it.

But what we know is that this game places a high emphasis on enhanced interaction with the highly successful Pokémon Go app. 

You will not need Pokémon Go to play Let’s Go, but why haven’t you, right? That’s one of the core experiences of the game anyway.

As seen in the trailer, players are able to transfer wild Pokémon caught via mobile phones to their Let’s Go saves. We understand that this is a one-way thing only, meaning your Let’s Go Pokémon cannot be transferred to your Go account.

On the bright side, Masuda did confirm that Pokémon that are shiny in Go will remain shiny in the Switch version, but Pokémon with special hats in Go cannot be transferred to Let’s Go.

Back to Basics

There will be 150 of the original Pokémon in Let’s Go, along with their Alolan forms from Sun and Moon. Your starter Pikachu and Eevee will not evolve, but other Pikachu or Eevee caught in-game can. If you, like us are Eevee evolution aficionados, then be prepared to be disappointed as only Jolteon, Flareon, and Vaporeon are available out of Eevee’s eight evolutions in the game.

To be honest, we’d rather have Umbreons and Espeons than the Alolan version Pokémon. What about you?

For Serious Trainers

Since there are no breeding in the Let’s Go titles, there will be no eggs in-game. Players who breed Pokémon to obtain good IV and EV stats may still find the solace in Matsuda’s claim that the game, like any other main Pokemon RPGs are “accessible” but with “depth” for Pokémon trainers.

While trainers can partake in online battles via local wireless and Wi-Fi, there will be no ranked battles in Let’s Go titles. Speaking of which, a co-op mode allows a second player to hop in and battle together to catch wild Pokémon. Using the second Joy-Con, two friends can team up to capture a wild Pokémon. However, we are still unclear about double battles between players and NPCs in Let’s Go.

Not Included 

Also unveiled was another gimmicky thingamajig called the PokéBall Plus. The Poké Ball-shaped device can be used to play Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! in place of your Joy-Con. You’ll be able to throw Poké Balls in-game with a flick of your wrist and even ‘take’ your favourite Pokémon out on a stroll.

https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1436379009799843/

No word on how it interacts with the Pokémon Go Plus device at the time of writing though.

So that’s all we know about Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon Let’s Go, Eevee! for now. Expect more news related to the game to roll out as E3 inches closer. If you have any questions, do fire away and we will try our best to Diglett for the answers.