It’s hard to define Pokémon under any one banner. For some fans, it’s a series of RPGs that prioritize catching cute critters in order to make them battle. For others, it’s a series about Ash Ketchum traveling the entire world so that he may one day become a Pokémon Master in his own right. For the rare few, it’s a trading card game that doesn’t get nearly as much love as it deserves despite being one of the best games on the market. With such a wide reach, Pokémon can affect just about anyone and everyone. With Let’s Go, its scope is only growing

A sub-series based off the hit mobile game Pokémon Go, Let’s Go is Game Freak’s attempt at combining the mobile experience with the traditional RPG side. By blending the two versions of the series, Game Freak can offer a game that is simultaneously unique and familiar. As expected, this marriage is not as seamless as one would perhaps hope. For as great as Let’s Go can be, it has some glaring issues. Game Freak’s handling of the series has always been lackluster, but Let’s Go shows it in spades. At its best, it’s bound to be someone’s favorite entry in the series. At its worst? Well, you’ll see.

30 BEST: The Graphics

via Youtube.com(Nintendo UK)

The graphics debate isn’t nearly as hot as it used to be (at the very least not as vitriolic,) but it still does matter. Now, this is not to say that a pretty game is automatically good or that an ugly game is automatically good, but aesthetic does serve an important role, especially in how it infers graphics.

Thankfully, Let’s Go is the best the series has ever looked. Using a blend of a super-deformed anime art style with the series’ inherently colorful palette, Kanto pops to life in a way it never has before. From characters models to the actual monsters, Let’s Go is the realest realization of Pokémon yet.

29 WORST: The Main Game Is Too Easy

Via youtube.com - The Official Pokémon YouTube channel

The series has not been difficult since its first Generation. Immediately going into Johto, Game Freak throttled the level of challenge to the point where anyone could reasonably succeed at Pokémon. While later Generations have admittedly tried to ramp up the difficulty with post-game, none have succeeded.

Unfortunately, this is not a problem Let’s Go miraculously fixes. If anything, this is probably the easiest set of games in the entire series. With a simplified battle system and pretty much everything set to work in the player’s favor, there is virtually nothing outside of the post game that will offer any semblance of a challenge.

28 BEST: Pokémon Follow You Again

Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu Kanto Map Header
Via: Gematsu

Both Yellow and the Generation IV remakes of Gen II shared one much-beloved concept: following. Instead of simply keeping your six Pokémon stored away for battles, both games gave trainers a little companion of their own. Where the former only offered Pikachu, the latter offered all available Pokémon at the time.

Some things never change. 

As the game models itself rather heavily off of Let’s Go, following Pokémon once again return. While logic would dictate that only Pikachu and Eevee would follow their trainers, all available in-game Pokémon have following built into them. Some you can even ride!

27 WORST: Gym Requirements

via: newsweek.com

One of the best aspects of the earlier half of the series is just how freeform the games can be. Generation I allows players to tackle Gyms 4 through 7 in any order; Generation II lets players shuffle Gyms 5 through 7; and Generation III lets players skip Gym 6 for a while before making them come back.

Sadly, in the attempt to streamline the games, Game Freak has added in Gym requirements. Rather than just stumbling upon a Gym and being allowed to challenge their leaders, trainers now have to make sure they have a certain number of Pokémon caught or a Type with an advantage in Brock’s case.

26 BEST: Alolan Evolutions Are In

Via bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net

Despite garnering a fair deal of fanfare for trying to reinvent the series so late into its run, the Generation VII games have not aged particularly well in terms of fan reception. With each new installment, fans turn on them and hard. Their only real benefit seems to be the inclusion of Alolan evolutions.

Who doesn't want Alolan Raichu? 

Bizarrely, but not unwelcome, Alolan forms return for a spin-off game that has nothing to do with the mainline series that also takes place in Kanto and not Alola. For as out of place as these evolutions are, some of them are truly awesome, and allowing them to be accessed in Kanto gives them way more use.

25 WORST: No Held Items

via reddit.com

In returning to Kanto, Game Freak also brought the gameplay back down to its simplest elements. Rather than just setting a modern game in an old setting, there is a genuine attempt to recreate the authenticity of the past. While it works conceptually, it does not lend itself to the most gripping combat.

Specifically, this does mean the omission of several key features. Arguably the biggest game changer added to Generation II, held items are once again gone to reflect the Gen I influence. No more strategizing around items or pairing great Pokémon with unique items. You’re back to old-school JRPG battling.

24 BEST: Mega Evolutions Weren’t Removed

via Trusted Reviews

Although Game Freak embraces Generation I with more fervor than they perhaps should, they also keep the spirit of later Generations alive as well. While it would have made perfect sense to keep them away, Mega Evolutions actually continue to play a role in the core battle system.

Game Freak needs to market Charizard X somehow. 

Like Alolan forms, Mega Evolutions have not been removed. Since Kanto is such a smaller region with such a small roster of Pokémon, this actually allows the many Mega Evolutions to shine just like their Alolan counterparts. You might get some serious use out of Megas you never would have used before.

23 WORST: Starters Can’t Evolve

15- Pikachu And Eevee's Hair
Via: Eurogamer

In Generation I, Pikachu could not evolve so long as you were playing Yellow. In their best attempt to match the anime, Game Freak disallowed Pikachu from accepting a Thunder Stone. Naturally, this extends to Let’s Go with both Pikachu and Eevee forced into their based forms all game.

This is especially disappointing for Eevee whose entire gimmick revolves around being a Pokémon with many evolutions. Pikachu? Fine, this was expected, but there is no beneficial reason to keep Eevee stuck as an Eevee. It severely diminishes a great deal of the fun of the game.

22 BEST: You Can Catch Duplicates Of Your Starter

via deviantart.com/itzamandayay

Thankfully, Game Freak recognized that fans would be none too happy about keeping unevolved Pokémon on them for an entire game so they decided to rectify the situation. For the first time in the series, you can catch duplicates of your starter Pokémon out in the wild, making it possible to evolve them.

Who doesn't want four Eevees? 

While this means you can finally get the Raichu you always wished Ash had, this does mean you can actually take advantage of Eevee’s many evolutions. This is a pretty smart move, too, as the alternative would be locking Jolteon, Vaporeon, and Flareon from an entire set of games.

21 WORST: The Pokéball Controller Is Expensive

via Game Rant

Controllers are expensive, there’s just no way around that. A good first party controller, for any system honestly, is going to cost you a pretty penny. As Let’s Go pushes the idea of the Pokeball controller quite heavily, this does mean that the game more or less nudges you towards buying it.

As expected, it goes for a fair amount of change. Now, to be fair, the Pokeball controller is actually a bit cheaper than most first party controllers, but do keep in mind that it ONLY works for Let’s Go. You’re spending almost as much as a full AAA game to play Pokémon with a Pokeball.

20 BEST: Bulbasaur, Charmander, And Squirtle Can Be Caught

via deviantart.com/doubleu42

Going into Let’s Go, everyone more or less figured that Game Freak would stuff the original starters into the games somehow or another. In fact, it was even leaked incredibly early on that Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle were gift Pokémon, but they’re also more than just that.

There's a first time for everything. 

In your journey through Kanto, you’ll actually find the original three starters in the wild. For the first time in the series, you can catch your Kanto starters out in the open. The gift Pokémon are actually much better with far superior stats, but it’s still nice being able to catch them.

19 WORST: No Wild Battles

via aminoapps.com

Gameplay loops are a part of every game. They effectively signify what you do at any given time. For Pokémon, the main gameplay loop is walking around, getting into random encounters, and battling in order to catch new Pokémon. This is the loop for the entire game. Let’s Go does away with that.

While random encounters are still in, albeit not so random, and catching is still a major fixture, wild battles are gone. You can no longer battle anything but trainers. This is a carryover from Go and it basically takes the gameplay loop and dumbs it down to just catching. That said, it isn’t without benefits.

18 BEST: The Gameplay Loop Moves Faster

5- Pokémon- Let's Go Pikachu Eevee
Via: PCMag Australia

While losing active battling is absolutely a con in just about every sense, it does manage to keep the pace of the game far more active than in other Generations. With only catching to occupy your mind while in the wild, you are consistently building a new team and gaining experience at a much faster rate.

Gone are the days of Gen IV. 

This more or less cuts down the time spent in each area by roughly a quarter. You’re really saving so much time. Of course, for some this won’t be a good thing as it means less game, but it does ensure that no single area outstays its welcome. It’s especially beneficial for Kanto’s many caves.

17 WORST: Go’s Mechanics Don’t Really Translate

Via: Dice Insights

Let’s get one thing straight, Let’s Go is not part of the main series. Although it may seem like a remake of Generation I, it is very much its own game. It is not a part of its own series, however. Rather, Let’s Go is a natural extension of Go. Well, maybe not as natural as Game Freak was perhaps hoping.

What makes Go so enjoyable? Its pick up and play nature. You can be anywhere, turn it on, play for a few minutes, and feel satisfied. Its core mechanics are all catching based and require simple flicks. That doesn’t translate. The longer story doesn’t exactly benefit a gameplay style that involved gyroscope aiming from start to finish.

16 BEST: Gym Rematches

via: gaminghistoria.com

Rematches need to be in every single game, plain and simple. Originally, Game Freak even designed Generation I so you could challenge every single trainer indefinitely. Every single time you locked eyes, you’d be thrust into a new battle, but this was removed in order to make dungeons flow smoother.

It's incredible how often this feature isn't included. 

Thankfully, Game Freak has finally realized that fans DO want rematches so we see the triumphant return of Gym rematches. Finally, you can challenge the Kanto Gym Leaders to proper rematches and ensure you have a perpetual source of money and experience all the way to the end.

15 WORST: No Pro Controller Support

via gamespot.com

The Nintendo Switch’s Pro Controller might actually be the most comfortable controller currently on the market. Although the Xbox One’s controller gives it a run for its money, the Switch ultimately comes out on top with a truly comfortable feel and great button placement. The revised versions even have better D-pads!

Sadly, Game Freak does not want you using this masterpiece of a controller. You’re either using the Joy-Cons or dishing out the money for the Pokeball controller. This is absolutely an intentional move meant to get people to buy a controller they otherwise wouldn’t since they can’t use their preferred controller of choice.

14 BEST: The Post Game

via Wccftech

Although they don’t always hit it out of the park, post games in the series seldom disappoint in a vacuum. At worst, they simply aren’t as good as other post games such as in Generation VI, but they’re always welcome additions. Let’s Go is no different with its own fun post game to wade through.

The post-games are always worth looking forward to. 

In beating the Champion, Master Trainers will flood Kanto, giving you a chance to test your skills against some seriously interesting battles. They’re all Type based and go on to unlock even better challenges. While the main game is easy, the post game does genuinely offer some great content.

13 WORST: Let’s Go Is More Of The Same

via modojo.com

Even though Game Freak has positioned Let’s Go as an almost reinvention of the series, it is ultimately more of the same in every sense. Nothing about it is unique, lifting from both the mainline and the most popular sub-series. It is the absolute definition of derivative. Every fiber of its being has been done before.

At its core, it really is just a pseudo-remake of Generation I with nothing new added in which, in itself, is just Yellow. In terms of mechanics, it’s Go but shoved into a mainline game. The story is old, the combat was fresh in the 90s, and its biggest claim to fame is a follow mechanic that was already brought back in Gen IV. It offers nothing new.

12 BEST: Green Is Finally Canon

via

Well, maybe not nothing necessarily. While the game is mechanically rather dry, it does add some fairly interesting idea. Most specifically, it finally canonizes Green. More commonly known as Leaf, Green is the Gen I female protagonist who was cut from the game and added back in during the Gen III remakes.

Time has been kind to her at last. 

This marks her first appearance in a canon game. In Gen III, Red is the canonical player character as dictated by Gen IV meaning that Green cannot exist. All the same, this game does reinforce the idea that Green DOES exist, she just didn’t go on the same adventure Red and Blue did.

11 WORST: You’re Less Likely To Understand Your Team

29- Pokémon- Let's Go Pikachu, Eevee
Via: Geek

At its core, Pokémon is a game series about team building. You pick six monsters out of a line up of hundreds and you build accordingly from there. Building up a proper team requires an understanding of how each Pokémon works- who pairs well with who- and that understanding is gained through battling.

As wild battles have been omitted, however, players will now be given much less time to actually experiment with their team. They’ll need to build exclusively for trainer matches and Gym battles. Although it may not seem a big loss considering how easy wild battles are, this does mean team synergy will naturally fall quite a bit.