The format of these posts is simple: let’s discuss a specific game or series!
Let’s discuss the Pokémon series. What is your favorite game in the series? What do you like about it? What doesn’t work for you? Are there similar games you like or even prefer to the original series? Feel free to share anything that comes up and react to other comments. Let’s get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
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I have never played a pokemon game (except Go). I don’t have nostalgia for pokemon, but I would like to play. I am down to start at any point (I can probably emulate for any platform I don’t own). Where would folks recommend I start?
I’m not sure I’d recommend X/Y to start as others have. I definitely enjoyed it but it was noticeably dumbed-down compared to older games. It’s not as bad as S/M (which was so trivially challenge-free I got bored), but I’m concerned that you might just not be interested. They say that game freak keep releasing games for small children despite the players growing up, so bare that in mind if you find the newer games too easy.
I’m not sure I can recommend R/B/Y to a newbie either, as without any nostalgia they will probably seem incredibly dated. Maybe FR/LG is a good place to start, I hardly played it but it seems like you get the original experience with a bit of polish. I feel it’s better to start with an older game as then if you like it you can continue through them in order rather than going back to something with less features. That said if you think it’s too old and you’re not enjoying it then just skip to something newer!
I’m not too concerned with that. If I don’t like the best in the series, then I probably won’t like any of them, but I am OK with that. A lot of folks are saying HeartGold/SoulSilver as better starting points, so I went with that. Got it emulated, so no real loss for me if I don’t like it.
I’d say HeartGold/SoulSilver were the absolute peak, and the best entry point. Faithful to the spirit of the originals while feeling sufficiently modernized, and they went above and beyond with how much bonus content they packed into it.
Oh nice. Someone else suggested X/Y. Do you think HeartGold/SoulSilver are a better starting spot or about the same? I only ask since it X/Y is a little newer, so might have QoL improvements
Not much to add other than I am yet another voice that considers HeartGold SoulSilver to be the peak of the franchise
I will back up HeartGold/SoulSilver as well. Just a perfect modernized adaption of a classic generation, lots (and I mean lots) of content, lots of catchable Pokémon, lots of legendaries, two regions… I think they really hit it out of the park with it. I also personally enjoyed using the Pokewalker to get access to exotic Pokémon.
It’s not completely free of issues (the level curve isn’t the best and - being based on an older game - it’s much less story oriented than later titles). However, I still hold it as one of the best games they ever put out, and a great entry point.
I’d say HGSS is much more polished, and the formula hasn’t changed much since anyway. Only major mechanic differences in XY would be Fairy-type and reusable TMs.
IMO, XY is pretty rough around the edges, felt a bit unfinished. There’s a good foundation in there, with more time in the oven Z potentially could’ve been one of the best games in the series…
Awesome, thank you!
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X/Y we’re the games that brought me back into Pokémon after skipping a few generations, and the upcoming Legends A-Z takes place in the same region. Seems like a great place to start.
Excellent. Sounds like a great place to start. Thanks!