832 replies to this topic

[Koh]

Nah, I don't think it'll be as innovative as Gen II was, but there are a few nice new things, like Horde battles.

[Moon]

3D....Trainer customization...new battle mechanics...mega pokemon...among even more Pokemon?

 

I'd say this is as if not MORE innovative than Gen 2.

Edited by Tingle, 03 October 2013 - 06:31 AM.

[Koh]

-There's always new Pokemon.

-3D is just an aesthetic.

-Minus the possible rebalancing of Pokemon with Mega Evos, it's just a form change.

-New Battle Mechanics as in Horde Battles?  That's New.

-Trainer Customization is new, but an aesthetic.

 

Most of this doesn't affect the main game though.  Gen II brought us the Day/Night Cycle which affects which Pokemon appear when, breeding to get Baby Pokemon (introducing Pre-Evolutions), the Battle Frontier (Crystal) idea, Poketech trend (PokeGear started it all), Apricot and Berry Systems (which were then used by every Gen afterwards), A Sectioned Backpack (very much needed from Gen I, with that cluttered bag that constantly fills up), Rematchable Trainers, Two Regions in One for 16 Badges, Actual Vehicle Travel (Train and Ship; St. Anne didn't actually travel anywhere on Gen I), and more.  It won't be topped unless they go all out and add a lot of things that change the way we play the game as a whole, rather than aesthetics.

[Moon]

-There's always new Pokemon.

-3D is just an aesthetic.

-Minus the possible rebalancing of Pokemon with Mega Evos, it's just a form change.

-New Battle Mechanics as in Horde Battles?  That's New.

-Trainer Customization is new, but an aesthetic.

 

Most of this doesn't affect the main game though.  Gen II brought us the Day/Night Cycle which affects which Pokemon appear when, breeding to get Baby Pokemon (introducing Pre-Evolutions), the Battle Frontier (Crystal) idea, Poketech trend (PokeGear started it all), Apricot and Berry Systems (which were then used by every Gen afterwards), A Sectioned Backpack (very much needed from Gen I, with that cluttered bag that constantly fills up), Rematchable Trainers, Two Regions in One for 16 Badges, Actual Vehicle Travel (Train and Ship; St. Anne didn't actually travel anywhere on Gen I), and more.  It won't be topped unless they go all out and add a lot of things that change the way we play the game as a whole, rather than aesthetics.

A lot of those are more or less things that already made sense to be in. Sure, it changed the game big time, but since Gen 2, have you really seen very much innovation as we're seeing in Gen 5?

[Avaro]

I think the diagonal walking changes the game as a whole, Koh :O

Other then that, I guess they really should come up with something new.

[Koh]

A lot of those are more or less things that already made sense to be in. Sure, it changed the game big time, but since Gen 2, have you really seen very much innovation as we're seeing in Gen 5?

But there isn't that much innovation, which is my point.  Pokemon has been the same bland series since Gen 3.  It's been the same thing over and over, with slightly more story, but the innovation is extremely minimalistic.  They don't have to change EVERYTHING, but it needs a major breath of fresh air.  Just being in 3D or adding diagonal movement isn't enough for it to feel fresh.

[Moon]

I would wait until the game is out to pass judgement on something like that. For all you know, it could play extremely differently in some way they haven't shown. Although considering that it's Pokemon, that's not super likely, but still.

[Avaro]

I know the perfect way to make it feel fresh. Do a real-time battle system instead of turn-based battles!

[Koh]

I know the perfect way to make it feel fresh. Do a real-time battle system instead of turn-based battles!

That's one way, but what I was thinking the series needed wasn't a battle system update, but rather a gameplay update.  Instead of it being the linear progression it's been for the past 2 or 3 Generations, it could instead be a sandbox world like Grand Theft Auto, in the sense that the player can choose where to go and what to accomplish.  If they want to be a Badge Collector with ever increasing difficult Gyms, they can.  If they want to be a breeder, they can.  If they want to be a Pokemon Ranger, they can.  Perhaps a Pokemon Professor.  Maybe they want to join Team Rocket.  A more open world with the creatures, rather than rehashing the same thing over and over again.

Edited by Koh, 02 October 2013 - 09:39 PM.

[Avaro]

That's one way, but what I was thinking the series needed wasn't a battle system update, but rather a gameplay update.  Instead of it being the linear progression it's been for the past 2 or 3 Generations, it could instead be a sandbox world like Grand Theft Auto, in the sense that the player can choose where to go and what to accomplish.  If they want to be a Badge Collector with ever increasing difficult Gyms, they can.  If they want to be a breeder, they can.  If they want to be a Pokemon Ranger, they can.  Perhaps a Pokemon Professor.  A more open world with the creatures, rather than rehashing the same thing over and over again.

 

That would fit the Pokemon theme slightly better than the linear gameplay.

 

I am planning to get this game for my 3ds regardless but still have to wait 8 more days

It will be my second pokemon game ever. I really fell in love with the series after I played Pokemon Black/White >.>

[Moonbread]

I think Trainer Customization is going to be a really good innovation into the series.  Since Crystal and onward, the most you could do with a player character was decide if you were a boy or a girl and pick a 7 digit name.  Sure, I know in Black and White, you can choose what "type" of trainer you are, which...isn't much in customization either.  But this, this will give people the opportunity to make a trainer that's all their own.

 

And I do think that making the battles more aesthetically pleasing will be really good, too.  As much as I've enjoyed Gens 1-5, the series has really started to stagnate on me, with the same battle views and static attacks.  I've been playing Heart Gold a lot recently, but I find it easy to get distracted because the battles aren't visually pleasing anymore.  I'm glad they're getting away from sprites because there was only so much they could do with them.  Even without full 3D integration on the 3DS, it just looks so much more fresh and crisp.  And I consider that to be very important.

 

It may possibly not innovate as much as the 2nd gen did (we don't know for sure yet, that much we can say until later this month), but I think what it's doing, regardless, are huge steps in the right direction.

[thepsynergist]

With respect to horde battles, I hope they let you catch more than one Pokemon per battle, if they're available.  Being unable to throw one due to "focus" is really lame.

[Eddard McHorn Van-Schnuder]

That's one way, but what I was thinking the series needed wasn't a battle system update, but rather a gameplay update.  Instead of it being the linear progression it's been for the past 2 or 3 Generations, it could instead be a sandbox world like Grand Theft Auto, in the sense that the player can choose where to go and what to accomplish.  If they want to be a Badge Collector with ever increasing difficult Gyms, they can.  If they want to be a breeder, they can.  If they want to be a Pokemon Ranger, they can.  Perhaps a Pokemon Professor.  Maybe they want to join Team Rocket.  A more open world with the creatures, rather than rehashing the same thing over and over again.

Grand Theft Auto? That isn't what you're describing. You're describing Elder Scrolls. That might be an interesting fit, but Pokemon coupled with Grand Theft Auto? That makes no sense. You can't 'choose' who you want to be in GTA, you're playing as specific people with specific goals, whereas in an Elder Scrolls game, your adventure is up to you.

 

Anyways, I believe I'm getting a press copy of either X or Y today. Actually, I'm about to go down to the office and pick it up. Between this, GTA Online, the BF4 beta and the Dark Souls 2 beta I'm supposed to write a piece on... well, I've got a lot on my plate. But I'm looking forward to seeing what they've done with Pokemon, and I'll be back with details later.

[Shane]

I fail to see how a free open world in each and every game will be different to the 8 gym deal. Since an open world in every Pokemon will be the "over and over again" thing soon afterwards. Would be cool and better. But it would get stale just like the gym deal regardless.

Edited by Shane, 03 October 2013 - 06:53 AM.

[Orithan]

Personally, I think Gen II is wayyy overrated. It does have its innovations, particularly the Day/Night cycle and Breeding, but most of those those were needed since Gen I. I felt Johto was plain and riddled with problems like low-levelled pokemon before the Elite Four and Kanto to be complete filler aimed at just extending the game. I believe that there was a reason (other than canon) that none of the other regions are connected with each other in later games otherwise we would be seeing Hoenn and Sinnoh being connected with each other in the Gen IV games. But really; I was disappointed with HG/SS because Gamefreak did very little, aside from introducing the Gen IV mechanics and the introduction of the Pokewalker, to improve the game. I don't think it was that much better than OoT3D at being remade, considering how much care was put in to make their original games better.

I can understand all the hate Gen III used to get because, while I've only played Leaf Green, I felt it was a step backwards mechanic-wise compared to Gen II. The Day/Night cycle was removed, you could not transfer your pokemon from Gen II (which I can understand, as Nintendo may not have given support for GBC/GBA transfer) and it didn't really introduce anything new other than pokemon and items to compensate.

Where I felt Pokemon only really started to improve was on Gen IV; as it not only reintroduced the Day/Night cycle but also introduced a whole host of other features like WiFi trading, a local communal network in the Underground, the Physical/Special split (which was desperately needed since Gen I) and a bigger focus on competitive battles, including the introduction of the Pinch berries and important items like the Choice items and Life Orb. Gen IV wasn't perfect, as it ran slowly and it begun the infamous "power curve" that is very prominent in Gen V.

 

From the looks of things; I think that Gen VI is going to be better than Gen IV because this is going to make massive changes, most likely for the better. The Fairy type has been needed in some form since Gen II because Dragons have become the dominant type since Gen III and Poison needs a buff. The Mega Evolutions will make a lot of older pokemon more viable (though Blaziken and Lucario did not need a buff at all).