Pocket Monsters Let's Go! Pikachu & Pocket Monsters Let's Go! Eevee

The Kanto Region is more than just the region that started the Pokemon story. It's a region that makes you come back for more. You've played it in the original Pokemon games such as Red, Blue/Green, Yellow, then the Gold and Silver saga, then the Fire Red and Leaf Green remakes, and also the Heart Gold and Soul Silver remakes. It's a region that once you started, forever smitten, and now, you are back in the region where it all began, this time on the Nintendo Switch, showcasing the future of Pokemon games in the Switch era while stirring up some nostalgia.

Pocket Monsters Let's Go! Pikachu

Pocket Monsters Let's Go! Eevee

Pokemon heads to Nintendo Switch in an all-new-but-not-so-new video game that brings you back to where it all began with new and exciting ways to play. The Pokemon Let's Go! games welcomes players back to the Kanto region as a Pokemon trainer and in this game, trainers catch, evolve, and train different Pokemon. There are over 150 Pokemon to collect in the Kanto region and although the game feels pretty much the same as the originals, the Let's Go games promises to be more different than the rest of the installments. You can either play it alone or co-op with your pal by giving your another Joy-Con to him/her and enjoy playing Pokemon together.

In Pokemon Let's Go! Pikachu, trainers paired up with Pikachu, while in Pokemon Let's Go! Eevee, they paired up with Eevee. Either way, both partner Pokemons are unique in their strengths and they're going to be forever at your side whether you like it or not. On second thought, we all like having mascot Pokemons on our side for the rest of our lives. 

Throughout your quest for the Indigo League, you may find your journey with your partner Pokemon to be full of obstacles. Luckily, however, your partner Pokemon will have some new tricks no Pokemon has done before. Later on in the game, your partner Pokemon will trigger Secret Techniques (which pretty much like the Hidden Machines from the past) which allows them to cut trees, cross through waters, or fly through areas you've visited before. Also, they can take advantage of their brand new exclusive moves no other Pokemon can learn. When you see a sign during a battle, just wave your Joy-Con to use their special powers. For Pikachu, there's Pika Papow and Splishy Splash. For Eevee, there's Veevee Volley, Bouncy Bubble, Buzzy Buzz, and Sizzly Slide. Put these new powers to good use.

Catching Pokemon is the main goal of every Pokemon game since the start but here in Let's Go!, catching Pokemon now works like the ones from the Pokemon Go app games. Using the Joy-Con or the Poke Ball Plus, players throw a Poke Ball on the Pokemon and when caught, it's yours to keep. Just like in Pokemon Go, the catch rate varies by the color and the size of the circle and to make the catch more easier, feed them berries. If it's not working, try again, but hurry because any time, the Pokemon you're trying to catch may run away so catch it while you can!

Like the Pokemon you caught? Set is as partner and your new Pokemon will follow you wherever you go. Some may find you hidden items while some will let you ride with them, making the journey quicker and easier.

While taking a break from your adventure, you can play with your partner Pikachu or Eevee by petting it, feeding it with berries, or tickle it. As your bond with your partner Pikachu or Eevee grows, it can even do high fives or find gifts for you as you travel. You can even personalize yourself or your partner Pikachu or Eevee as well. You can give them new hairstyles, accessories, or outfits to your partner Pikachu or Eevee to your liking.

Got a Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle? If you managed to evolve it all the way to Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise, later on, you can obtain Mega Stones for them to Mega Evolve, allowing you to turn the tide of the battle in your favor. Also, keep an eye out for Legendary Pokemon such as Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Unlike regular Pokemon, you have to battle them and when you defeat them, you get the chance to capture it. Be ready with lots and lots of Ultra Balls and berries when you're onto it.

In tradition, there are Pokemon exclusive to each version. In Let's Go! Pikachu, Pokemon such as Oddish, Sandshrew, and Growlithe only appear in the wild. In Let's Go! Eevee, you can only caught Bellsprout, Vulpix, and Meowth. As well, Differences aside, there's always trading that will help you complete your PokeDex. Either local or online (requires online subscription), trading Pokemon with friends is one of the many ways to complete the PokeDex. Who knows, there are some Pokemon that can be evolved by trading.

Demonstrating the future of Pokemon games, Let's Go! features Pokemon Go! connectivity so most of the Pokemon from the Kanto region you caught from the Pokemon Go app game can be sent to the game. You can even send Alolan variants of Pokemon such as Rattata, Sandshrew, Vulpix, Geodude, Marowak, Raichu, Meowth, Grimer, and Exeggutor as well. Did you know that if you sent 25 of the same species to the game, you'll play a special mini-game where you can win Candies for your Pokemon?

As you get hooked to their new feature, word of advice, however, that there is a chance that you might get a Mystery Box, which can be received by sending Pokemon from Pokemon Go to Pokemon Let's Go and there is a chance that you might get a brand new mythical Pokemon exclusive to Let's Go. A long time ago, while you were playing Pokemon Go, you may have encountered a mysterious creature that turned into a Ditto. Now, it has revealed that they mystery creature is none other than the mythical Pokemon named Meltan and get this; by gaining 400 Meltan candies, Meltan evolves into Melmetal, being the first-ever mythical Pokemon to evolve. Getting 400 Meltan candies to evolve it into Melmetal sounds like a herculean task but there are many ways to get 400 candies to evolve it so try it.

Defeated the Elite Four and became the Pokemon League Champion? That's only the beginning because later on, you might run into Master Trainers. They will battle you with one catch; if you have their favorite Pokemon and you'll only battle them without items. This is a true test of skill and if you defeat them, you'll earn the title that will make it worth the bragging rights in Link Battles.

Did you know that for limited quantities, you can get the Mythical Pokemon Mew on the Poke Ball Plus? Better buy one now while you still can to add this Psychic Pokemon in-game. This is a useful Pokemon that can learn almost any technical machines that can adapt through different battles.

So, there we are. While this game takes us back to where it all began, the new and exciting ways to play Pokemon Let's Go! delivers brings us the glimpse of the future of the Pokemon franchise while remembering the great heritage this worldwide phenomenon delivers after over two decades. It may feel like a Throwback Thursday to us but Let's Go! could serve as the new standard of the next Pokemon games. A template of greater things to come. So, get up and go as your new Pokemon adventure awaits.