I can't understand what people see in Pokemon

[EightBitNate]

Ok, so that other thread stirred enough discussion for me to want to create a new thread. I've read other opinions on this and the issue appears to be divided. Can someone explain to me why the Pokemon games are so well-received?

I have a couple gripes with a couple of the games' aspects.

Granted, the gameplay of the games is solid. The system is really well done and it makes for a cute RPG. However, it's been done over and over and over... The argument for this is usually about tweaking the stats of the Pokemon and the effectiveness of different types, but honestly, almost nothing has been done that evolves and benefits the games substantially. It has used the same basic formula this whole time while every single other one of Nintendo's games has changed beautifully. Why is it that Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed get shat on for doing the exact same thing? The biggest change to the formula is the addition of 3D models, and even that hasn't changed the games significantly. It's not even like there isn't room for improvement, either. I've played X/Y (albeit, briefly) and the system felt slow.

Secondly, I, for the life of me, cannot understand what you see in X/Y's graphics. At least the 2D games' graphics were a little charming. X/Y honestly feels like a grown man in children's clothing. The design of the characters and animations are only decent, and environments are basically non-existent. They completely stripped the graphics of what made them special and now it looks like a 2D game pretending to be 3D. The game is boring to look at. Not to mention how unsaturated all of the colors are.

what am I looking at

I'm not trying to tell you to stop playing. If you enjoy the games, please, carry on. However, the reception for the games is the most mind-boggling thing I've read on GAF and I'm curious to see why the games are so beloved.

 

[zroid]

They are fun

 

[Snacks the sober sea lion]

Granted, the gameplay of the games is solid. The system is really well done and it makes for a cute RPG. However, it's been done over and over and over... The argument for this is usually about tweaking the stats of the Pokemon and the effectiveness of different types, but honestly, almost nothing has been done that evolves and benefits the games substantially. It has used the same basic formula this whole time while every single other one of Nintendo's games has changed beautifully. Why is it that Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed get shat on for doing the exact same thing? The biggest change to the formula is the addition of 3D models, and even that hasn't changed the games significantly. It's not even like there isn't room for improvement, either. I've played X/Y (albeit, briefly) and the system felt slow.

Metagame.

Someone who is not me will explain it.

 

[GulAtiCa]

I find it exciting to collect and capture all the Pokemon. It's just fun to me.

 

[Professor Beef]

It's never been about the graphics. It's always been about the battles. It's why you never see people who have been playing Pokemon since the beginning complain about the graphics, because they know better.

 

[cafemomo]

It's that feel of going on an adventure. Even after 15 years it still has that charm.

 

[HawthorneKitty]

I like Pokemon.

 

[JSoup]

They are fun

Pretty much this. Pretty much why people play any game ever.

 

[dimb]

It's that feel of going on an adventure. Even after 15 years it still has that charm.

You could get this from almost any RPG.

 

[linkman26]

Gotta catch em' all.

 

[EloquentM]

It's one of the few RPGs where I feel like I'm actually role playing. Yes, I'm a 6x Pokemon world champion. At least once in every region (before x and y).

 

[stktt]

You could get this from almost any RPG.

You can also get this from Pokémon.

 

[z0m3le]

As someone who hadn't played since the original was released (played RED) Pokemon Y feels familiar yet it has evolved a lot. Multiple pokemon battles exist, they can carry items now that have different effects, it has online features like trading and battling, and even o-powers which wasn't there before... Honestly it's changed a lot and while it is undeniable that it is Pokemon and everything that goes along with it, to say it hasn't changed is disingenuous.

I'm not going to speak to the graphics, because that is really just opinions but this pokemon is very different from the one I played 15 years ago.

 

[astarisborn94]

I like Pokemon.

This and I look forward to getting my hand on the next gen of Pokémon.

 

[hunterslasher13]

They were fun during the first 3 gens but when they continued after the 3rd I just jumped out of the series. It was a fun series as a kid I will say that.

 

[Lumpy Onion]

It's my first Pokemon game and I'm finding it charming as can be. The visuals make me smile, it's addictive, the music is sweet, yeah I dunno but I like it. I also love how the dialogue and text has thus level of charm and care that really makes it feel a Nintendo game. Makes me feel like a kid again.

 

[EightBitNate]

They are fun

If you were to use this argument with CoD you'd get laughed at

 

[Anth0ny]

that first person screenshot is like the worst possible shot of the game lol

People like it because of the character designs, the writing, simple yet deep gameplay, Nintendo charm, nostalgia... the list goes on. Is it that hard to understand?

 

[K' Dash]

After playing (and loving) Pokemon Red and seeing the flood of Pokemon games in the different consoles, I used to think like you.

I had never been so wrong.

Edit: you sure know how to pick your screenshots

 

[LX_Theo]

They are fun

So... Are we done here, now?

 

[Sophia]

You could get this from almost any RPG.

Nah, I wish. What makes Pokemon stand out as an RPG is that it doesn't really hand-hold you. The road loosely leads you in the right direction, and you have a minor goal (get the eight gym badges) but often you're just out to explore and see what new Pokemon you can find. As well as what new trainers you can meet.

 

[Seik]

Square tried to make Final Fantasy 'evolve'. Look where we are now.

It's fun classic RPG styled gameplay, Pokemon always did fine, so Nintendo didn't try to fix what ain't broken.

what am I looking at

An over sized & compressed JPEG.

 

[GulAtiCa]

They were fun during the first 3 gens but when they continued after the 3rd I just jumped out of the series. It was a fun series as a kid I will say that.

You should jump back in. This is the perfect time to do so. The game has so many wonderful improvements that really adds some life back into them (not that they were really stale or anything)

 

[Beats]

I like the competitive part of it and team building aspects. Though I would like it if more Pokemon were viable.

 

[EightBitNate]

Square tried to make Final Fantasy 'evolve'. Look where we are now.

It's fun classic RPG styled gameplay.



An over sized & compressed JPEG.

Tbh that was the worst shot I could find but whatever

 

[zroid]

If you were to use this argument with CoD you'd get laughed at

I wouldn't laugh at someone who thinks CoD is fun.

 

[ChiliManiac]

It's just fun, there's very little stress and I can just enjoy the game. Also brings a certain Nostalgia factor. Esp with the new Pokemon X/Y

 

[MormaPope]

What I want out of the series is some grungy or incredibly violent/vile reboot. Military groups that use and train pokemon to wipe out civilizations, pokemon creatures that bind together and rebel against human overlords, pokemon that train and sell other pokemon like slaves.

I have nothing against the current pokemon formula or the concept of pokemon. I just wish there was something neater done with the lore.

 

[Levyne]

The metagame is pretty hardcore. I mean, I haven't built a team since Diamond I don't think, but having sweepers, walls, etc, I don't remember all the terms anymore...it was pretty nuts.

 

[PaulExcellent]

Collect ALL the little monster things.
Or explore the many rad regions.
Or make them go in contests.
Or make them level up.
Or don't.

Pokemon is a rather interesting game because of the freedom it gives you while providing you a set quest if you so wish to follow it.
You can become Pokemon League Champion, and become a Contest Trainer.
Or you could level up all of your Pokemon. Or catch them all. Or just make eggs.
Hell, for some of those, you don't even need to be a Champion.

It's varied, the Pokemon designs appeal to many, it's easy to get attached to the little bastards, and it's just a really fun game.

it dont even matter anyway cause mewtwo is da best and if you dont agree then get out of my face

 

[Zefah]

Those are like, your opinions, man.

You throw out a bunch of assumptions to frame the discussion, but a lot of people won't agree with those assumptions, so it's hard to have a conversation with you.

 

[Bsigg12]

Its a very accessible JRPG with a surprising amount of depth.

 

[Partition]

yeah op fun is bad

 

[Atlas157]

I've played every Pokémon main series game from Red/Blue to X/Y, and I love them all. My favorite region is Sinnoh, but X and Y takes the title of best games in the series.

I just find it fun.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Ok, so that other thread stirred enough discussion for me to want to create a new thread. I've read other opinions on this and the issue appears to be divided. Can someone explain to me why the Pokemon games are so well-received?

I have a couple gripes with a couple of the games' aspects.

Granted, the gameplay of the games is solid.

Well this wrapped up quickly.

 

[cosmicblizzard]

If you were to use this argument with CoD you'd get laughed at

And you'd get laughed at using that argument for Pokemon as well depending on where you say it.

 

[eighty(one)]

They are fun

Indeed they are.

Spoiler

At least X is (can't speak for others in series/X is my first).

The game reeks of charm and character. It's rather endearing to raise your individualized critters and command their destiny (aka stat growth).

 

[Dr.Palutena]

If you were to use this argument with CoD you'd get laughed at

If someone asked me what I liked about call of duty and I said it was fun and then they laughed at me , I would probably just say they're an asshole and move on.

 

[EightBitNate]

I wouldn't laugh at someone who thinks CoD is fun.

Not saying you, but the idea of releasing multiple titles with few changes in between in a short time period is usually called out by GAFers. Just find it odd that people ignore this rule with Pokemon

 

[Orayn]

If you were to use this argument with CoD you'd get laughed at

And people are wrong to laugh. I don't really like CoD, but I also don't see the point in trying to tell people that they're having fun "wrong," or try to browbeat them about why they like the series as if there has to be some deeper reasoning behind it. That's just asinine and immature.

Not saying you, but the idea of releasing multiple titles with few changes in between in a short time period is usually called out by GAFers. Just find it odd that people ignore this rule with Pokemon

GAFers aren't a hivemind.

 

[SmileBit199]

If you don't get Pokemon, you don't get fantasy football. It really is one part fantasy sports, one part tomagachi pet, and one part pogs.

 

[xJavonta]

I felt the same way. I used to play them religiously and then sometime in High School I stopped enjoying them.

Then after like 4 years of no Pokemon, I bought this one since everyone I knew still got hyped about them and I've been enjoying the shit out of it.

TL;DR: Got bored of it, took a long break, came back and love the fuck out of it.

Edit: also, the game is fucking pretty. Colors could be brighter, but the game is just flat out gorgeous. Has an artstyle that's really nice on the eyes

 

[Mr. Fix]

.

 

[MrCookiepants]

The visuals are beautiful in battle. Pokemon look just as they should. Gamefreak nailed the transition to 3D.

And Pokemon does get shit on all the time for being samey. Especially with all the remakes and re-releases. It's just that it's not a console game, so it's not talked about as much in general discussion.

 

[cosmicblizzard]

What I want out of the series is some grungy or incredibly violent/vile reboot. Military groups that use and train pokemon to wipe out civilizations, pokemon creatures that bind together and rebel against human overlords, pokemon that train and sell other pokemon like slaves.

Sounds like you want Pokemon Reburst.

 

[Chet Rippo]

It's about collecting monsters and raising them so you can compete with others to see who is the very best, like no one ever was. If you can't see the appeal there, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[cafemomo]

You could get this from almost any RPG.

You can, I get it all the time whenever I'm playing a Final Fantasy or DQ game. But Pokemon just has the "extra" something. And that extra something is why I hold Pokemon to a high regard along with FF.

 

[EightBitNate]

Well this wrapped up quickly.

So is CoD's, but those games are synonymous with "shit" on the internet

 

[Hattori]

Have you played Pokemon XY? Just curious.

 

[Cow Goes Moo]

you collect monsters to fight against other monsters!