Like the fascinating creatures that inhabit its world, thePokemonfranchise is constantly evolving.Every new generation of games not only introduces a new region and a collection of new Pokemon, but it also presents brand-new features that are meant to improve the player’s experience.
But, with time,Game Freakbegan cutting several of these important features for a variety of reasons, whether it’s because of the technical limitations of a console or because they prefer each generation to have their own individual identity, so players can go back to those games instead of replacing them with the most recent installment. This has sadly led to mostPokemonfans missing the most innovative features of past games, and these are some of the most popular examples.
There are some places that usually appear in every single Pokemon region, and theGame Cornerwas one of them. In Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh the player can find these casino-like buildings that have several minigames in them, in which they can win all sorts of rare items.
Game Corners were a fun little distraction that provided alternate methods of getting good stuff, but they were cut after Generation Fourbecause of controversies surrounding its many gambling elements, as most people nowadays believe these don’t belong in a game for children. This was reflected in the Game Corner’s appearance inLet’s Go, Pikachu! & Let’s Go, Eevee!, where none of its machines are playable.
ThePokeNavand theVs. Seekerare two different items introduced in Generation Three that gave players the ability to battle against any trainer that was previously fought as many times as they wanted.This was a clever feature that added a lot of replayability to these gamesand was even carried on to the next generation.
However, neither of those items were brought back again (With the sole exception being the Vs. Seeker reappearing in the Generation Four remakes) and most regular trainers in modernPokemongames can’t be battled again after their initial encounter. Most fans definitely want this fun feature to be brought back.
A Cute Diversion From The Usual Battles
Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
xperience an epic journey through a world filled with Pokémon in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. Pokémon fans first enjoyed Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire when it launched in 2003 for the Game Boy Advance. A whole new generation of Pokémon fans will experience the dramatic story line that unfolds in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire.
The introduction ofcontestsinRuby & Sapphirewas a turning point for the franchise, as this was the first time that these games featured a different type of competition that relied on aesthetics and beauty instead of normal fighting. They were a key component of Generations Three and Four, alongside their respective remakes.
Contests were completely cut from subsequent installments, and it left players who preferred less action-centric experiences wanting something else to do. Generation Five tried to replace them withPokemon Musicals,but they were nowhere near as fun or complex as contests (And they were eventually cut as well).
Pokemon Black and White
New Legendary Pokémon, new heroes, a surprising new region, plus new ways for players to have fun and communicate locally are just a few of the innovative and exciting gameplay features offered by Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version, exclusively for the Nintendo DS family of portable systems.Redefining the Pokémon series, Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version offer fans and newcomers alike a completely new adventure to discover and enjoy - and for the first time ever in the series, the two games feature their own individual areas to explore. Set in the Unova region, which is located far away from the Kanto and Johto regions Pokémon fans will be familiar with, both games also feature all-new action-packed locations, such as the bustling urban environment of Castelia City.In Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version the player is tasked with completing two quests. One is to complete the Unova Pokédex by finding and catching every Pokémon in the region – however, to fully complete the Unova Pokédex, players will need to trade Pokémon between both versions. The other is to become the Pokémon League Champion by battling with wild Pokémon and other Trainers in the region. Players will train their Pokémon with the ultimate goal of taking on the Elite Four and the Unova Champion!
One of the many interesting new ideas introduced inBlack & Whitewas the addition of seasons to thePokemonworld. The Unova region would constantly switch into Summer, Autumn, Spring, or Winter, depending on the month. This was a clever mechanic that not only affected the environment but also changed the aspect of some Pokemon, likeDeerlingorSawsbuck.
Despite the fact that this seemed to be a natural addition that should’ve remained in future installments, seasons were never featured in a Pokemon game afterBlack & Whiteand its sequel. Deerling and Sawsbuck still change forms every month, but this is not reflected in their environment.
Pokemon Black and White 2
WHERE TO PLAY
InPokémon Black Version 2andPokémon White Version 2, players take on the role of a Pokémon Trainer who must explore new areas of the Unova region, starting in the all-new Aspertia City two years after the events ofPokémon Black VersionandPokémon White Version. This marks the first time in the history of the core Pokémon videogame series that storylines have continued from one game release to another. The characters and environments in Unova have undergone important changes, from the rise of new Gym Leaders to a new Unova’s Challenge area where players can level up their Pokémon more easily than ever before. A newly upgraded Pokédex allows players to see which Pokémon can be found in which area – including a wealth of Pokémon from throughout the series’ rich history, as well as new forms of Legendary Pokémon.
Nowadays, mostPokemonfans believe thatmodern games are way too easyand that it would be convenient to have different difficulty settings, so each player can have either a more relaxed or more challenging experience, according to their preference. But what it’s curious is that this actually existed, back in Generation Five.
Black 2 & White 2were the onlyPokemongames that had difficulty settings:Easy ModeandChallenge Mode. These modes alter the AI, levels, and move sets of every single trainer’s teams, including Gym Leaders and the Elite Four. Even if they were locked behind the convolutedKey System, this was a brilliant feature, and it’s a shame that it never returned.
5Medals
The Closest Thing To Achievements The Pokemon Games Got
A lot of modern gamers have afondness for achievements and trophies, digital parameters that reward them for completing a specific task. They can be a fun thing to complete, but sadly,Pokemongames don’t really have achievements, even though this is more of a problem withNintendo’sconsoles.
Black 2 & White 2are once again responsible for having an innovative mechanic that was never brought back for future installments. When talking to Mr. Medal in any Pokemon Center, players can be rewarded with different types of medals depending on the specific actions they performed throughout their adventure. That’s right; these were thePokemonfranchise’s equivalent to achievements or trophies.
4Triple & Rotation Battles
Removed Because Of Technical Limitations
Introduced back in Generation Five,Triple BattlesandRotation Battleswere a breath of fresh air that not only increased the number of Pokemon in battle, but also completely changed the way that trainers had to think and react. While they were never as popular as Single or Double Battles, they had their fair share of fans.
These battles were sadly cut after Generation Six. While a real reason was never given, most fans believe it was because of the technical struggle of having 8 models (6 Pokemon and 2 Trainers) on-screen at the same time, which was especially difficult to pull off on theNintendo 3DS. However, the spirit of Triple and Rotation Battles lives onin the Raid Battlesfeatured in bothSword & Shieldand Scarlet & Violet.
THE NEXT EVOLUTION IN POKEMON!
- New Pokémon! Explosive 3D battles!- Explore a majestic new region!- New Features: Pokémon-Amie and Super Training!- Connect instantly with players all over the world!
While online Pokemon interactions have existed since Generation Four, they were completely changed in Generation Six with the inclusion of thePlayer Search System, also known as the PSS. With it, players could go to 3DS’s second screen and immediately access many different online features, like battles, trading, and much more. The PSS was especially beloved by fans because of how simple and accessible it was.
But sadly, the Player Search System was removed after Generation Six, and it was replaced with new similar features like theFestival Plazaor theY-Comm. And while these served the same purpose of connecting players over the internet, none of them were as efficient and easy to use as the PSS.
2Super Training
It Made EV/IV Training More Accessible
Pokemon X & Yalso introduced a brand-new minigame known asSuper Training, which not only was really fun, but it also had an added benefit for the rest of the experience: Super Training could be used to increase each Pokemon’s individual stats. So, trainers could train their Pokemon while having some fun at the same time.
LongtimePokemonfans may be aware of theinfamous training method known asEV/IV Training, which can be quite complex, confusing and tedious. Super Training made this process a lot less daunting by incorporating it into a fun minigame. But sadly, this feature was completely removed and nowadays, EV/IV Training is relegated to the use of bottle caps.
Recently, thePokemonfranchise became infamous for introducing brand-new & exciting battle mechanics that completely altered the gameplay. These were:Mega Evolutionsin Generation Six,Z-Movesin Generation Seven andDynamaxin Generation Eight.
Despite the fact that they were mostly received positively by fans - especially because they gave new forms to beloved Pokemon - they were removed almost immediately, which made them feel more like generational gimmicks added to sell copies rather than new mechanics that would evolve the franchise. Nowadays,Scarlet & Violeteven featureTerastallization, which is most likely going to be cut in the next generation. Luckily, it seems thatMega Evolution will be brought back inLegends Z-A, so maybe the other gimmicks will also return someday.
