Pokémon Champions Can Save the Franchise

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Over time, the catchphrase “gotta catch ’em all” from the Pokemon series has almost led to its downfall, but a freshly unveiled game might rekindle the reasons we initially wanted to capture those Pokemon.

During the Pokémon Day 2025 livestream, fans were taken aback by an unexpected announcement trailer. Instead of the anticipated Black and White remake or a spin-off game featuring MOBAs, they were given a sneak peek at a new game titled “Pokemon Champions.

The upcoming game, set for release on both Nintendo Switch and mobile platforms, primarily concentrates on the core battle strategies from its main series. Players are invited to assemble a squad of potent allies and engage in worldwide competitions with other gamers.

The trailer provided a delightful and innovative twist, presenting an appealing blend of nostalgia and familiarity contrasting sharply with the excessive consumption-based gameplay that’s dominated the series post-Pokemon Go launch.

Pokemon Go’s hoarding has broken the series

In the games prior to Pokemon Go (which was launched in 2016), amassing boxes of Pokemon had always been an objective. However, the arrival of the mobile app dramatically elevated the collecting experience. The days of nurturing a profound emotional bond with your initial team and seeing them through to the end were largely a thing of the past.

Instead, constant mobile gameplay, events, and updates kept players chasing after more and more. Legendaries lost their rarity as players repeatedly raided for Shinies. Rare Pokemon were only valuable if they were Shiny and had ideal Individual Values (IVs). The tap-to-battle Go Battle League developed into a meta of approximately two dozen options, favoring those with the best statistics.

From an exciting trainer’s adventure to a hectic, intense whirlwind of excessive consumption that leaves players battered by an unrelenting fear of missing out (FOMO) and unsatisfied with the gaming experience, I can’t help but feel a sense of longing for the simplicity and joy of the original journey.

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Regrettably, the “more is better” philosophy didn’t merely apply to Pokemon Go. The Let’s Go series transformed the Kanto region into a rather obvious replica of the mobile app, while Legends: Arceus forwent a compelling narrative in favor of fetching numerous instances of the same species, and Scarlet and Violet were heavily impacted by mechanics primarily intended to stimulate Shiny hunting.

Reflecting on my experience completing Pokemon Scarlet and Violet in 2022, I found myself wrestling with a sense of emptiness. My collection included numerous Shiny Pokemon and many catches with excellent IVs, yet I couldn’t help but ask, “What is the purpose?” There was no Battle Tower to challenge my favorites against formidable opponents, nor were there engaging endgame goals beyond obtaining a Shiny Charm to pass the time. It all seemed devoid of meaning. How did Pokemon come to resemble nothing more than troves of rewards? Where had the thrill of battle, triumph, and fulfillment gone?

Pokemon Battles aren’t just for level grinding

Among the less favorable aspects that emerged during the Pokemon Go gaming trend was the absence of Trainer battles. These encounters were vital in enhancing immersion within the original games, and they played an essential role in character progression by enabling players to reach levels necessary for challenging Gym Leaders.

In games like Pokemon Go, battling isn’t essential; players can choose to skip it altogether. The frequency of battles has been drastically decreased in games such as Legends: Arceus, and by Scarlet and Violet, most NPC trainer battles have been eliminated – allowing players to easily bypass them.

Whenever trainers look at each other, it’s time for a Pokémon duel, a tradition as familiar as the tutorial on catching Pokémon. From Ash Ketchum’s constant Poke Ball throwing to the tough trials of Victory Road, a trainer knew they had to fight if they wanted to be the very best.

As a devoted gamer, it’s become painfully clear that stripping away the combat mechanics from contemporary titles has left me yearning for something more substantial. It seems like I’ve been chasing after an elusive fix by drowning myself in as many in-game catches as possible. Yet, isn’t insanity defined as repeating the same actions, hoping for a different outcome, only to end up with the same results?

Instead of finding the thrill from previous Pokemon titles in Scarlet and Violet as anticipated, I found myself overwhelmed with encounters of Pawmi and feeling hollow. The region of Paldea left me feeling rather frustrated.

Pokemon Champions could fix what Pokemon Go broke

The specifics regarding the freshly unveiled Pokemon Champions are scarce for now, but we’re assured of further disclosure soon. However, based on the initial glance, the preview suggests a highly promising gameplay experience.

In simpler terms, players can assemble groups of Pokémon for combat against other trainers. Furthermore, they can utilize the HOME platform to transfer their favorite Pokémon from previous games into Champions. This implies that those rare Shiny Pokémon with exceptional stats, previously only collecting dust in storage boxes, now have a meaningful role to play.

The developers of Champions strive to make “epic clashes akin to classic gameplay” accessible to a larger number of players than ever, basing the fun of traditional Pokémon battles as its cornerstone. It appears that this new game is an enlarged iteration of the Battle Tower, offering players the opportunity to engage in battles against real opponents rather than non-player characters (NPCs).

Currently, it appears that gameplay elements such as advanced catching techniques, Shiny hunting, and Gacha rewards won’t be emphasized in this title. Instead, players can concentrate on honing their skills, climbing up the ranks through battles, and enjoying their preferred companions.

Restoring a fundamental feature in the Pokémon series is not just thrilling; it’s essential. The games need to offer more than just a platform for collecting Shiny Pokémon. If the core aspects that made the initial games enjoyable are absent, there isn’t enough content in the new titles to keep fans engaged. This lack has resulted in shorter periods of interest in recent releases and exhaustion among long-time fans.

Winning tournaments could serve as a reminder for players that beyond the excitement of finding Shiny Pokémon or amassing capture collections, there lies a deeper essence to the game. The fulfillment derived from dedicating effort and constructing an impressive team of powerful creatures is a significant part of what makes these games captivating, and it should be reintroduced.

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2025-02-27 20:25