During a Pokemon Press Event in Tokyo, Japan, Game Freak announced Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu and Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee for Nintendo Switch.
The Let’s Go series seems to be targeted towards players new to the series. It takes place in Kanto, with the same environments and Pokemon you’d expect from a remake such as that. The biggest change, however, is how you catch Pokemon. It’s based on Pokemon Go, with Pokemon wandering around and with you just lobbing balls at them until you catch the monster. Wild Pokemon battles seem to be a thing of the past, but trainer battles seem to work the same way as always.
Follower/riding Pokemon are returning from both HGSS and Sun and Moon respectively, and integration with the Pokemon Go app has also been confirmed, showing a transfer to Pokemon from Go to Let’s Go, and a transfer of gifts from Switch to app. It’s unknown exactly how this will work, but for now, it seems quite cut and dry.
Another announced item is the physical Poke Ball accessory. Since Let’s Go can be played with a single joycon, the accessory allows you to play the game as well as transfer a favorite monster and walk around with it, a la the Pokewalker from HGSS.
Before the reveal, a free to start Pokemon game called Pokemon Quest was also announced: a simple, blocky adventure game where you level up your Pokemon with Power Stones.
#PokemonQuest allows Trainers of all ages to get in on the action! In this free-to-start game, you can face off against wild Pokémon and embark on many exciting expeditions. pic.twitter.com/CZ57iGKWMX
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) May 30, 2018
If you’re not keen on how either Pokemon Quest or Pokemon Let’s Go look, Game Freak has claimed a new “mainline” entry will come late next year.
With #PokemonQuest and #PokemonLetsGo, there are so many new ways to explore the world of Pokémon! Trainers can look forward to even more with an all-new core series Pokémon RPG title in development for the second half of 2019! pic.twitter.com/d5uiIpenMI
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) May 30, 2018
