With Nintendo hosting a launch event at its World Store in Manhattan later tonight for Pokémon X and Y, it seemed like a good enough reason to give you the scoop on some of the reviews going around before some of you pile into cars, trains, or what have you and head into the Big Apple.
For most of you, your decision to buy it is already a foregone conclusion. One of the lowest ratings for the game(s) I've encountered is a scaled 7 out of 10, which is still pretty respectable. But for those of you still sitting on the fence, here's what the rest of the Internet is saying.
Joystiq, 4.5/5 - "Pokémon X and Y, however, aren't just the best-looking Pokémon games to date, they may be the best Pokémon games period...The new 3D world lends a number of modern accoutrements to the gameplay. Players can customize their characters with new clothing options, and the camera pans and zooms into and out of combat, lending the proceedings a dynamic feel not seen in prior Pokémon games...Whether you've wrangled dozens of Charmanders or couldn't pick a Pikachu out of a Safari Zone lineup, Pokémon X/Y is hands-down the best in the series."
Polygon, 9.5 - "The new Pokemon-Amie mode reinforces that newfound identity, letting you pet, feed and play mini-games with your team to improve their mood. It's kind of silly; but those models make you feel like you're hanging out with your pets - even the ones whose bodies are composed entirely of floating swords. Pokemon X and Y will be remembered for the the graphical improvement, but it's not the biggest thing the game has going for it. Pokemon's online multiplayer functionality is more robust than any game Nintendo has ever published."
Game Informer, 9 - "Pokémon hasn't made a concerted effort to step outside of its comfort zone ever since it first released in Japan in 1996 - and for good reason. It found its hook nearly 20 years ago and has held on firm for better and worse. In this way, changing things in Pokémon presents a certain degree of uncomfortable risk. X & Y offer no significant changes in direction to the Pokémon series, but this is the most drastic step the series has ever taken...The world itself also benefits from the new dimension. This isn't the first time we've walked around in a modeled, non-flat Pokémon world, but this is the first time that the full game has been presented this way. In previous Pokémon games, only certain parts of the world were 3D, creating a disconnect between the landscapes. With every building, plant, character, and signpost modeled in 3D, there's no separation and the world feels more fluid, consistent, and explorable."
CVG, 9 - "Upon entering Lumiose City, the circular capital of new French-inspired region Kalos, the perspective swings low to offer views down peach Parisian boulevards lined with busy pedestrians and inviting shopfronts. In Glittering Cave, the viewpoint tucks tight behind your shoulder and, as you creep along, wild creatures attack from the darkness and leap not up, but towards the screen. Now fully 3D, and with a dynamic camera replacing the detached eye-in-the-sky, Kalos is the first region in the series with appreciable beauty, from shimmering seas below mountainous peaks to ancient stone bridges extending from continental castles. It's basic 3D, low-res and a little fuzzy around the edges, so you'll have to use your imagination, but the groundwork's there."
Kotaku, Yes - "You're in for a treat...The Pokemon themselves see improvements, too. Listen, I don't care how awful you think the designs of the new Pokemon are. Even the ugliest Pokemon in this game looks cute thanks to the new art direction, and you're going to have a sincerely difficult time choosing just a few monsters to battle with out of a list of over 700. I found myself constantly debating which Pokemon to take with me-this was true even if I previously considered that Pokemon to be useless in battle or, worse, have a lackluster design. It helps that many of the Pokemon have little flourishes in battle, from their idling animation to the way they perform moves. I'm a big fan of how the later evolutions of the fire starter, for example, seem to bring out a wand to cast spells. If only all the Pokemon had that sort of attention to detail!"
Edge, 8 - "The games’ bestiary – the series’ largest to date – has had a complete visual overhaul and is thoroughly revitalised for it, with monsters finally represented by 3D models in battle. Animations are smoother and more characterful; some attacks connect with breathtaking force, while others follow a stylus-chewing build-up with a slapstick punchline. The newcomers – of which there are plenty – are inventively realised, too. That’s not to say that a few designs won’t rankle, of course: if you thought it wasn’t going to get sillier than a fridge with eyes, at least one creature here will prove you wrong. The new monsters are joined by a well-chosen selection from past games, including a generous helping from the oft-ignored Hoenn region, which swells the Pokédex to such numbers that it is split into three. Finally, there are Mega Evolutions, which are temporary powered-up mutations for certain Pokémon that require specific items to initiate. Those raised on Red and Blue may consider this blasphemy, but it’s a thrilling flourish for younger and more open-minded players."
Pokémon X and Y are out now, playable for Nintendo's handheld 3DS and 2DS.
