Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! Wiki – Everything You Need To Know About The Game

Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are Nintendo Switch RPGs developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokemon Company and are spinoffs in the series.

Development

In 2017, Nintendo announced that a Pokemon RPG was in development for the Nintendo Switch to be released in 2018. It was assumed that this would be a mainline entry in the series and part of Pokemon’s eighth generation, however, in 2018, Nintendo confirmed that these games were Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! and that the mainline generation 8 Pokemon games for the Switch would instead be launching in 2019. Pokemon Let’s Go is a remake of Pokemon Yellow, originally released for the Game Boy in 1988.

Nintendo stated during the game’s announcement that Let’s Go was primarily aimed toward younger audiences and would serve as an entry point into the series, and as such would function a bit differently than mainline Pokemon titles. The game was also confirmed to be incorporating several mechanics from the popular mobile game Pokemon GO. While Pikachu was chosen as one of the mascots to harken back to Pokemon Yellow, game director Junichi Masuda stated that though Game Freak had originally considered going with Psyduck as the second mascot Pokemon, they eventually settled on Eevee. This was done because Psyduck is the same colour as Pikachu, and also because of how popular Eevee is with fans of the series.

Nintendo also announced a Pokeball controller accessory for Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! The controller is shaped like a Pokeball, where the central button functions like an analog stick. It can be held in one hand and the entire game can be played with it, while during wild Pokemon encounters, players can use the motion controls to mimic the action of throwing a Pokeball to catch the wild Pokemon.

Story

Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are remakes of Pokemon Yellow, and as such are set in Kanto. Players will be revisiting the locations and cities from Game Boy title, while Team Rocket will also return as antagonists. Meanwhile, Team Rocket Jesse and James, who have never appeared in any of the Pokemon games but have been prominent characters in the animated television series since its beginning, will also be featured as characters in the games.

Gameplay

Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! feature several notable changes in the core gameplay mechanics of the series. The most notable of these is the removal of wild Pokemon battles. There are no more random encounters, and wild Pokemon will now appear in the overworld. When players engage with them, there will be no battles, and players will instead enter a screen that is based on the catching mechanics in Pokemon GO. Players can either throw berries at Pokemon to pacify it, or throw a Pokeball at it to catch it. Pokeballs can be thrown through motion controls or regular inputs, and the success of these throws depends on the timing. Thrown Pokeballs can also occasionally miss the target.

The accuracies of these throws and catching wild Pokemon will also provide players’ Pokemon with experience points. Trainer battles against NPCs will still be featured in the game, however, core mechanics such as Abilities, giving Pokemon items to hold, and EVs will no longer be featured. Replacing EVs are Candies, which will now be used to increase core stats of your Pokemon (such as Attack, Special Attack, Defense, Special Defense, etc.). The CP stat seen in Pokemon GO is also included. Breeding of Pokemon is also no longer in the game. Online features including Global Trade System, Wonder Trade, and Battle Spot are also missing, and players will instead connect with each other via a simpler method. Online trading and battling requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

Another change made to one of the series’ fundamental mechanics is to gym battles. Each gym will now have certain requirements that players will have to meet if they want to challenge them. These requirements will include things such as minimum levels, types of Pokemon being carried, and other variables. Depending on which version is being played, the player will start out with either Pikachu or Eevee as their starter Pokemon. The starter Pokemon will remain in the party permanently, and will travel around on the player’s shoulder, similar to how Pikachu travelled with the player in the overworld in Pokemon Yellow. Players can also customize the appearance of their starter Pokemon by adding dressing and clothing options to them.

The starting Pokemon also cannot evolve, which is similar to how Pikachu could not be evolved in Pokemon Yellow. Similar to Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, players can also choose another Pokemon to follow behind them in the overworld. Several larger Pokemon can also be ridden, similar to Pokemon X and Y and Pokemon Sun and Moon, which also means that HMs are once again not in the game, since players can fly or surf on the backs of various Pokemon. All original 151 Kanto Pokemon species will be collectively included in Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! Additionally, mega evolutions of Kanto Pokemon from Pokemon X and Y as well as from Pokemon OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire will also be included, while Alolan versions of Kanto Pokemon as seen in Pokemon Sun and Moon will also be featured. Players can also transfer Kanto Pokemon that they catch in Pokemon GO to Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!

Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! will also feature local co-op multiplayer options. At any time, a second player can join the game by shaking the second Joy-Con controller. Once a second player joins the game, trainer battles are no longer regular fights, and instead turn into two versus one fights, with each player controlling a Pokemon in the battle. During wild Pokemon encounters, each trainer can throw berries and Pokeballs at the wild Pokemon.

Note: This wiki will be updated once we have more information about the game.