Things You Should Know Before Buying Pokemon Let’s Go
The Poke Ball Plus Is Cool, but Not Necessary
Alongside the release of Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee and Pikachu comes the Poke Ball Plus. This is a neat, motion-controlled accessory that allows players to catch Pokemon, navigate menus, and battle other trainers, among other things.
You’ll throw Poke Balls in-game by pretending to throw the Poke Ball Plus, you can use the button of the Poke Ball itself to move your character around and access menus, and it even comes with Mew, the mythical Pokemon inside.
It all sounds pretty darn cool, but it’s worth noting that this accessory certainly isn’t necessary for you to play through the game. You can still enjoy Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee by simply using the Joy-Con of your Nintendo Switch or a Pro Controller if you prefer.
Ultimately, outside of lighting up, letting out a unique Pokemon cry, and coming with an incredibly rare Pokemon, the Poke Ball Plus doesn’t offer a whole lot more to your gameplay experience, and it adds a fair amount onto the price of the game, too.
Still, if you’re looking for a neat collectible, or the allure of Mew is too strong to turn down, the Poke Ball Plus is a cool little addition to your collection, albeit not essential.
Things You Should Know Before Buying Pokemon Let’s Go
You Don’t Battle Wild Pokemon the ‘Traditional Way’
While Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee are taking players back to the Kanto region, not everything is staying the same. Arguably the biggest change to how things are going to play out in this return visit to Kanto is the way you’ll battle and capture Pokemon. Well, that’s to say you’re not going to battle wild Pokemon anymore.
Instead, the Let’s Go games opt to follow the same encounter and capture system that we saw in the mobile title Pokemon GO, as you can see above. You’ll need to throw your Poke Ball at the correct time and use items to make the Pokemon more willing to be captured.
Don’t be too disheartened, though. Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee still enable players to use their Pokemon in battle against other trainers. There are still Gyms to take on, the Elite Four, and even new Master Trainers to test your skills against.
Just don’t go expecting to grind out some EXP against Golbats in Victory Road to prepare for the Elite Four this time around.
Things You Should Know Before Buying Pokemon Let’s Go
Motion Controls are Always On
There’s one thing you should be very much aware of if you’re planning on playing Pokemon Let’s Go in handheld mode, and that’s that motion controls are kind of always on. Sure, you can technically play these Switch titles on your TV and never really have to worry about it, but amidst some confusion a while back, Nintendo clarified what the deal with motion controls is.
In a statement provided to IGN by a Nintendo representative, it was confirmed that “Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu, and Let’s Go Eevee do not require players to use motion controls or physical gestures when in Handheld Mode. Instead, players can use the joystick on the left Joy-Con controller to aim and press the A button to throw a Poke Ball.”
However, IGN was again able to confirm that motion controls cannot be turned off. This does mean, however, that in order to not use motion controls in Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee, you’ll need to essentially place your Switch flat on a table with Joy-Cons attached and not move the system at all. If you move the system, you’ll automatically trigger camera motion controls.
It’s certainly not ideal, especially if you’re wanting to play Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu or Eevee on a crowded commute in where you’re being jostled about a bit. Unfortunately, it’s just something you’ll have to deal with.
Things You Should Know Before Buying Pokemon Let’s Go
Each Game Has Version Exclusive Pokemon, Use Pokemon GO to Good Effect
As has been the case since the original Pokemon Red and Blue games released, Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee both have their own version exclusive Pokemon. For those unaware, this means there are a set few Pokemon you can only catch in one game, and a few you can catch in another.
Currently, it’s been confirmed that Oddish, Sandshrew, and Growlithe have been confirmed to be exclusive to Let’s Go Pikachu, and Bellsprout, Meowth, and Vulpix are exclusive to Let’s Go Eevee.
However, keep in mind that these Switch games feature integration with the mobile title that took the world by storm back in 2016, Pokemon GO. As such, if you’ve already caught all of the exclusive Pokemon from the Let’s Go title you’re not picking up in the mobile game, you can just transfer them all over and be none the worse off.
Things You Should Know Before Buying Pokemon Let’s Go
You Need an Online Subscription to Trade and Battle with Friends, There’s Co-Op Too
The Nintendo Switch Online subscription doesn’t offer a ton of additional incentives for being a subscriber likes it Xbox and PlayStation counterparts, but if you want to trade and battle with your friends in Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee, you’re going to need one.
It’s also worth noting that the plethora of additional trade and battle options we’ve seen in previous Pokemon titles, such as Wonder Trade, Battle Spot, and the Global Trade System, are not included in the title.
If you do want to make use of the online trade and battle features that are present in Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee, you’ll be looking at $3.99 a month, $7.99 for three months, or $19.99 for a 12-month subscription.
There is, however, a co-op function within the Let’s Go titles that enable you to play alongside a fellow trainer on your adventure in local play. Though, it’s worth noting it makes the whole thing a heck of a lot easier. When an icon appears on-screen, a second player can shake the second Joy-Con and drop into the game.
Doing certain things with your ‘Support Trainer’ such as throwing Poke Balls at the same time grants an additional EXP bonus for your team of ‘mon. And of course, simply having an additional trainer alongside you in battles and when attempting to capture Pokemon makes the whole thing that little bit more of an easier experience.
About the author
