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It looks nice. I'm still waiting for an "open world" style Pokemon game. For example take the Zelda: Breath of the Wild game/engine as a starting point and mak

It looks nice. I'm still waiting for an "open world" style Pokemon game. For example take the Zelda: Breath of the Wild game/engine as a starting point and make a Pokemon game. There's nothing inherently wrong with an on-rails game, and Pokemon games are well known for it. But it feels like the type of theme where exploration being a cornerstone would be fantastic. I was hopeful after Pokemon Go's success (a game pinned on exploration) and Breath of the Wild, that that would be a natural progression.

saagarjha 8y ago
That would certainly be interesting. I think they might have to modify the traditional 8 gym/Pokémon League system, though.
- Someone1234 8y ago
  I agree, they would definitely have to find a new progression system. They could make it a "Team Rocket" based game. Instead of focusing on Gyms, you're trying to stop Team Rocket from liquifying the environment for example. I like Gyms, and I don't think "on-rails" Pokemon games should go away (there's obviously a large market for them). I just want a game where I can go explore and be surprised/find hard to locate Pokemon. Just feel like the whole theme of Pokemon just naturally flows into that style of game.
ahoy 8y ago
I was just thinking today that nintendo has been remarkably conservative with their main-line pokemon games. The core gameplay has changed very little since 1996. I guess they can't be blamed for not changing a winning formula but it's still interesting.
- cbhl 8y ago
  I really liked the juxtaposition of the "Technology is Incredible" guy from Pallet Town in the original Red/Blue/Green versus Let's Go Eevee/Pikachu. The side games are where all the cutting-edge development happens. Someone comes up with an idea, and builds a prototype. If it works well, it gets integrated into the main-line games. Pokemon Snap tested, "can we render a pokemon in 3D". Pokemon Stadium I and II tested "can we do a 3D battle system". Eventually these made their way into the 3DS titles. More recently, the catching mechanics in Niantic's Pokemon Go made their way into the main-line Let's Go Eevee/Pikachu.
  - excalibur 8y ago
    I don't know that I would classify the Let's Go games as main-line Pokemon titles, many people see them more as a bridge leading in that direction for new (or lapsed) fans who were pulled in by Niantic's hit.
- NathanKP 8y ago
  I mean a lot of people forget that Nintendo was founded in 1889. A company that old has obviously changed a lot over that time, but the changes that they have made and are making are slow and careful. What I respect about Nintendo is that they stick to the winning formula when it makes sense, and come out with new things when its the right time. They are obviously in it for the long run, and willing to adapt gradually but effectively
izzydata 8y ago
The open world style of Breath of the Wild seemed amazing at first, but I failed to get into it like I had every other Zelda game. It didn't feel like a Zelda game to me. It may be more successful to make that style of game, but it would alienate fans of the traditional style of the game like myself.
- tnecniv 8y ago
  My biggest complaint with BotW was that the pacing was odd. It was clear they designed everything in the world to be completed on the time scale of a subway ride. I understand why they did this, given that it was the launch game of a new handheld platform, but it felt limiting from a design perspective. Most of the puzzles just weren't that challenging and the dungeons were rather lackluster instead of being big events.
  - I-M-S 8y ago
    BOTW was designed for WiiU, which is not a mobile console
- Someone1234 8y ago
  You're likely correct. But I'd argue that BotW was the most popular Zelda game ever, so while it did upset some of the fanbase it brought in more new people than it lost in traditionalists. With Pokemon, they already have multiple branches of games running side-by-side. I would think that if they did an open world game, it wouldn't be part of the main franchise but rather its own new branch. A new line of games would likely give them more freedom to break away from the typical formula as well (e.g. not gym-based progression).
  - izzydata 8y ago
    It's probably for the best that they search for a new audience. Trying to appeal to an aging fan-base that will have less time for games is not a great financial decision.
    - 8y ago
anth_anm 8y ago
Zelda works in that framework. Pokemon could use changes to the formula, but open world just doesn't sound very good.
Razengan 8y ago
> I'm still waiting for an "open world" style Pokemon game. Hopefully when we have persistent, shared AR worlds once everybody has always-on AR glasses.
ArtWomb 8y ago
I like the setting, Galar, complete with Tudor-era details ;) Your average Pokemon super fan is in say the 6-10 year old age range. But strategy elements of RPGs can be difficult to grasp so young. With kids often getting "stuck" after a few easy battles and making little progress beyond. I think that's why the Mystery Dungeon series was so popular, despite being "off-brand". More of a Roguelike exploration scenario. And focuses on creating an emotional bond with hyper-kawaii styled "virtual pets". Rather than achievement of battle supremacy.
danShumway 8y ago
If you're OK with dumping your own ROMs and modding them, Crystal Clear[0] already exists. It scales trainers as you collect badges, so you can tackle gyms in any order. It works surprisingly well, even for such an old game. The fact that you can just fly anywhere as soon as you get a couple of badges means that the sidequests and caves feel less like chores and more like just stuff to do when you get bored of battling gyms. The scaling ironically reduces grind, because it means most trainers you fight will give you decent chunks of EXP, and you can always skip a trainer and come back for them later without trivializing the battle. I walked away from it kind of wishing that Nintendo would just carbon-copy some of its design decisions for future games -- I can only imagine how much more interesting that formula would be in a game where I didn't already have the majority of the content memorized. [0]: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yvciS0eLrTdQfLGVQEBkhZwzBEZMDSTofTnluLRYWbI/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yvciS0eLrTdQfLGVQEBkhZwz...

saagarjha 8y ago

That would certainly be interesting. I think they might have to modify the traditional 8 gym/Pokémon League system, though.

Someone1234 8y ago
I agree, they would definitely have to find a new progression system. They could make it a "Team Rocket" based game. Instead of focusing on Gyms, you're trying to stop Team Rocket from liquifying the environment for example. I like Gyms, and I don't think "on-rails" Pokemon games should go away (there's obviously a large market for them). I just want a game where I can go explore and be surprised/find hard to locate Pokemon. Just feel like the whole theme of Pokemon just naturally flows into that style of game.

ahoy 8y ago

I was just thinking today that nintendo has been remarkably conservative with their main-line pokemon games. The core gameplay has changed very little since 1996. I guess they can't be blamed for not changing a winning formula but it's still interesting.

cbhl 8y ago
I really liked the juxtaposition of the "Technology is Incredible" guy from Pallet Town in the original Red/Blue/Green versus Let's Go Eevee/Pikachu. The side games are where all the cutting-edge development happens. Someone comes up with an idea, and builds a prototype. If it works well, it gets integrated into the main-line games. Pokemon Snap tested, "can we render a pokemon in 3D". Pokemon Stadium I and II tested "can we do a 3D battle system". Eventually these made their way into the 3DS titles. More recently, the catching mechanics in Niantic's Pokemon Go made their way into the main-line Let's Go Eevee/Pikachu.
- excalibur 8y ago
  I don't know that I would classify the Let's Go games as main-line Pokemon titles, many people see them more as a bridge leading in that direction for new (or lapsed) fans who were pulled in by Niantic's hit.
NathanKP 8y ago
I mean a lot of people forget that Nintendo was founded in 1889. A company that old has obviously changed a lot over that time, but the changes that they have made and are making are slow and careful. What I respect about Nintendo is that they stick to the winning formula when it makes sense, and come out with new things when its the right time. They are obviously in it for the long run, and willing to adapt gradually but effectively

izzydata 8y ago

The open world style of Breath of the Wild seemed amazing at first, but I failed to get into it like I had every other Zelda game. It didn't feel like a Zelda game to me. It may be more successful to make that style of game, but it would alienate fans of the traditional style of the game like myself.

tnecniv 8y ago
My biggest complaint with BotW was that the pacing was odd. It was clear they designed everything in the world to be completed on the time scale of a subway ride. I understand why they did this, given that it was the launch game of a new handheld platform, but it felt limiting from a design perspective. Most of the puzzles just weren't that challenging and the dungeons were rather lackluster instead of being big events.
- I-M-S 8y ago
  BOTW was designed for WiiU, which is not a mobile console
Someone1234 8y ago
You're likely correct. But I'd argue that BotW was the most popular Zelda game ever, so while it did upset some of the fanbase it brought in more new people than it lost in traditionalists. With Pokemon, they already have multiple branches of games running side-by-side. I would think that if they did an open world game, it wouldn't be part of the main franchise but rather its own new branch. A new line of games would likely give them more freedom to break away from the typical formula as well (e.g. not gym-based progression).
- izzydata 8y ago
  It's probably for the best that they search for a new audience. Trying to appeal to an aging fan-base that will have less time for games is not a great financial decision.
  - 8y ago

anth_anm 8y ago

Zelda works in that framework. Pokemon could use changes to the formula, but open world just doesn't sound very good.

Razengan 8y ago

> I'm still waiting for an "open world" style Pokemon game. Hopefully when we have persistent, shared AR worlds once everybody has always-on AR glasses.

ArtWomb 8y ago

I like the setting, Galar, complete with Tudor-era details ;) Your average Pokemon super fan is in say the 6-10 year old age range. But strategy elements of RPGs can be difficult to grasp so young. With kids often getting "stuck" after a few easy battles and making little progress beyond. I think that's why the Mystery Dungeon series was so popular, despite being "off-brand". More of a Roguelike exploration scenario. And focuses on creating an emotional bond with hyper-kawaii styled "virtual pets". Rather than achievement of battle supremacy.

danShumway 8y ago

If you're OK with dumping your own ROMs and modding them, Crystal Clear[0] already exists. It scales trainers as you collect badges, so you can tackle gyms in any order. It works surprisingly well, even for such an old game. The fact that you can just fly anywhere as soon as you get a couple of badges means that the sidequests and caves feel less like chores and more like just stuff to do when you get bored of battling gyms. The scaling ironically reduces grind, because it means most trainers you fight will give you decent chunks of EXP, and you can always skip a trainer and come back for them later without trivializing the battle. I walked away from it kind of wishing that Nintendo would just carbon-copy some of its design decisions for future games -- I can only imagine how much more interesting that formula would be in a game where I didn't already have the majority of the content memorized. [0]: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yvciS0eLrTdQfLGVQEBkhZwzBEZMDSTofTnluLRYWbI/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yvciS0eLrTdQfLGVQEBkhZwz...