Pokémon X and Pokémon Y (Nintendo 3DS) Review

It all kicked off when series creator Satoshi Tajiri teamed up with Pokémon illustrator Ken Sugimori and a small team at Game Freak to produce the concept over six years. Together with mentoring from the father of Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda, Shigeru Miyamoto, the games were born and the rest is written in millions of plushies, trading cards, films and much more. Pokémon is a household name amongst gamers, casuals, kids and parents, remaining still relevant today despite the onslaught of Angry Birds and Candy Crush.

For those who haven't yet stepped into the shoes of the digital animal trainer, the premise of Pokémon is remarkably simple. A young lad or lady comes of age and decides to leave home, embarking on an adventure across the country to catch and raise wild bugs, birds and beasts, pitting these newfound companions against others. Sparkling badges are earned by conquering gym leaders and everlasting friendships are forged with these Pokémon. At its core, this formula has yet to have been tampered with in the seventeen years on the market. Players still set off from home as a youngster, still go through a gruelling development process and still emerge victorious at the end of it all. What Nintendo and Game Freak have done over the years is gently nudge the games here and there, constantly refining and enhancing the experience. When it comes to Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, there certainly is more of that, but Game Freak have taken bigger strides, leaps, this cycle instead of those smaller steps, to make this pair of games the definitive take on the much loved adventure.

What's immediately apparent in the new games are how even the smallest changes can make a significant impact on the experience overall and the opening minutes are a testament to the need to take the franchise forward. You still wake up and wander downstairs to a jubilant mother whose main objective is to usher her offspring out the house and into the wider world. The main difference in the opening scenes, however, is that it isn't an immediate trip to the regional professor's house or meeting a scientist for a starter Pokémon, but instead trainers are introduced to a rowdy group of teenagers. The token big chap then presents our budding Pokémon trainer a standard choice of one of three new critters to adopt - the fiery fox Fennekin, the adorable grass-type Chespin or the slightly clumsy looking Froakie. Once settled, it's time to wander the world with companions in toe, each of these friends seeking to accomplish something different - not just being the master of the Pokémon.

Shauna is a curious, energetic girl who tags along to find a dream of her own. Tierno is a dancer who's inspired by Pokémon moves in his routines and Trevor is the token bookworm, wanting to be the first to complete his Pokédex. There's also a more toned down rival, whose gender is dependent on if players choose to set out as a boy or girl. Whilst the group of travelling friends do eventually scatter and leave players to their own devices, the setup makes the adventure this time round lean more towards the animé series than a standard solo story.

Graphically is where Pokémon X and Pokémon Y have taken a leap in the right direction. Both games are rendered in full, 3D. Gone are the charming pixel sprites of yesterday and the middle-hybrid 3D of the past DS games, in favour of a sublime new look. Nintendo have blended the more traditionally Eastern guise with more Western tastes and a splash of Parisian delicacy scattered across the land. Cafés and boutiques line the streets, building a sense of culture and a more refreshing take to the previously standard allotment of houses and gyms.

It's not just the visual designs themselves that have been spruced up; the slick animation defines and creates a need to see more. The delicate raindrops, smattering of leaves, subtle dust particles as players stomp over mounds of dirt; the world echoes that sensation of childhood exploration. Where the game's animation department really shines is in the sheer amount of work that's been put into the battle sequences. With well over 650 critters to choose from, each of these are modelled with distinct personalities - even the same movesets can vary due to shape, size and occasional accessory. It's a joy to see, particularly with the 3D switch cranked to high, and would encourage the Poké-collecting even more this time round. The camera zooms, pans and makes good use of the space as these beasts go toe-to-toe, mirroring console classics Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Battle Revolution, yet keeping the pace and intensity as snappy as the past Pokémon titles.

It isn't quite perfect, however, as the 3D effect does have the disadvantage of generating a fair bit of slowdown, especially during an elemental move like "Fire Blast" or "Thunderbolt". It's a shame given how much more impressive battles look with the 3D output enabled, but Game Freak has opted to keep the experience a generally 3D-less affair for the majority of the game. The overworld itself can only be played in a less state, likewise interiors and the mini-games are in 2D too. Even the Pokédex is mainly played out on the lower 3DS screen, a missed opportunity to be able to zoom in and see critters in full 3D.

Visuals to one side, the adventure is packed to the brim with new and varied locations, gyms to conquer and fashion elements to tap into. Players can access a range of different outfits, make-up and cosmetic changes to inject in a little bit more personality and individuality into their virtual avatars. The different towns and back-alleys present a myriad of smaller sequences and side missions to wander down, not straying too far from the main plot, making going from start to finish less straightforward this time round. Gym leaders and baddies still make-up the guideposts along the journey, but do present gems of uniqueness from time to time. None of these battles are particularly challenging or induce moments of uncertainty if the right Pokémon are equipped, but are still rewarding once beaten.

Despite the architectural overhaul in the Kalos region, the NPC characters still haven't quite as much depth or development to them. Locales are still as peculiar and charming, each giving tips about where to go and what to do within the vicinity, but still give off the impression of being almost cardboard cut-outs in nature. Wash away the façade of smiles and regulated walking patterns and they emerge as dressed up sign-posts. There isn't a need for a Shakespearean play's worth of dialogue, but a more dynamic and less generic approach would have made the interaction more flavourful.

We've explored the visuals and storyline in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, but what about the actual meat of the game; the Pokémon themselves? There are a ridiculous amount of critters in the Nintendo book of big and beautiful monsters, over 650 now, and the newer ones do fit nicely into the already comprehensive selection. Litleo is an adorable lion cub that heats up the mood with fearsome fire attacks, Pancham is the cheekier bear variety who evolves into the ruthless Pangoro, Tyrunt takes a step back by clawing into the dinosaur age. These are just a few of the newbies, but the main focus in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y seems to be an attempt at melding new with the old, and clearly bringing back some of the favourites that made the series so popular in the first place - Pikachu, Pidgey and various others from the first three generations make appearances early on, and after besting the first gym, the Pokémon professor offers players a first-generation starter.

Throughout the encounters with both the wild and trainer-owned Pokémon, there's a sense of completion, acting as a tribute to the past that gradually phases in a selection of brand new Pokémon to meet - balancing nostalgia with a sense of newness.

It's not just a simple set of new names either, with Nintendo shaking up the battle specifics by introducing a new Fairy type that incorporates both new and existing Pokémon. Effective against fighting, dragon and dark, the Fairy group are resisted by fire, poison and steel. It's far more complex this time round, blending multiple types together for a head-scratching set of rules. For those unfamiliar with the battle mechanic, Pokémon are grouped by their genetic make-up - some are pure breed, for example fire, grass, rock and electric, whilst others can incorporate dual types. Each type can deal double damage to another, whilst being ineffective to some - an advanced rock, paper, scissors of animal fighting as it were. Because there's so much variety within the world, and not strictly limited to new critters, there's a strong desire to keep playing, exploring and discovering what's there in every nook and cranny.

Those wanting to push power even further can dabble in the much talked-about "Mega Evolution", an ability that can cause a handful of Pokémon to temporarily change their form, and sometimes even their type, mid battle. It can only apply to a single critter in the current trainer's party, but can instantly shift the action in one's favour during those crucial moments. It's a neat touch, and especially compelling to see which of the many Pokémon can actually mega evolve, and fortunately doesn't dominate the main game too much to become distracting.

Winning battles against wild creatures, roaming trainers, baddies and gym leaders strengthens and defines a player's Pokémon team. This has remained essentially the same throughout the series and can easily rack up hours upon hours for those wanting to reach level 100 for each of their six primary Pokémon, and even more so with the rest of their digital animal collection. Fortunately with the new games, the process has been made far more streamlined, with the focus being on quick and rewarding progression, rather than a dull grind. The EXP Share, which was a key item in previous generations, is now a general item that can quite literally be turned on and off, and distributes experience regardless of which Pokémon were out during the battle. There's even experience gained when catching a Pokémon. The progression of the game is sped up - there's less roaming about, less repetition and a bigger push on getting to the next area or triggering the next part of the storyline - it's a refinement that's more than welcome in an RPG of this nature.

It's not all about battles either, as the Kalos Region Pokédex, a virtual computer housed on the 3DS touch-screen, incorporates a wealth of new mini-game training options to strengthen both the Pokémon's wellbeing and core abilities. Pokémon Amie is a breeding feature, where players can pick from their current team, feed and play short mini-games like berry collecting and tile puzzles on the bottom screen. It's a welcome extra that leans into the world of nintendogs, and lets trainers get that bit closer to their virtual pals. Those wanting to boost stats can also try Super Training on the move - either bopping a little punching bag sprite or playing through a footy-inspired set of vigorous challenges. Both of these modes are available on the fly to avoid having to wander over to a nearby town - it adds to the streamlined focus and maintains that progression.

Levelling up multiple members of the team does still require a lot of hard work and commitment, but the changes have made Pokémon a far leaner, battle machine without as much backtracking - trimming the excess fat off a succulent pocket meal.

At any point, players can interact with the online community through the Player Search System (PSS) that's embedded on the Pokédex. Once connected, the screen displays registered 3DS friends, acquaintances plus a selection of random passers-by who can be battled, traded with or spoken to through the in-game chat system. There's also the ability to create a short "about me" Trainer PR video for those wanting to entice others to a battle or two without words.

The online system is quick to connect to and surprisingly versatile given the Pokémon franchise's history of limited online connectivity. A handful of battles with randomers were pulled off without a hitch, the fight wrapped into a 60-minute maximum time, with 60 seconds per action. If Pokémon are sub level-50, there'll be automatically upgraded to balance the playing field, though there is the option to remove restrictions for more intense wireless battles.