Pokemon Unite is a strange game. It’s a MOBA that’s not really a MOBA and a Pokemon game that’s not really a Pokemon game. There’s also a third thing Pokemon Unite is but also isn’t - it’s a sports game that’s not really a sports game.
In Pokemon Unite, you score points by dunking into a basketball hoop. That, very clearly, is a sportsball thing. You don’t dribble around your opponents or pull off any ankle breakers - instead you have to kill them or other weaker foes to build up your points - but there’s a clear element of sports to the matches. You have different team roles, wear matching jerseys, attack and defend different halves, and need to balance risk and reward in your play and the directions you take. Picking Cinderace - the best starter ever - only adds to this, as he dribbles through defenders with the determined flair of Sadio Mane.
While there's perhaps not enough there to justify calling Pokemon Unite a sports game, there's certainly enough to call it a sports game that's not a sports game. It's a mini-MOBA, but in a way, it's also a mini NBA 2K. The argument for whether Pokemon Unite is a sports game or not is kind of moot though; you can think that it is or think that it isn't - nothing is really going to change. What might change though is that we could finally get the Pokemon Sports game we've always deserved.
Pokemon is no stranger to spin-offs. Pokemon Unite itself is one, while the best Pokemon game this century - perhaps the best game this century - is Pokemon Go, another spin-off. There's also Stadium, Snap, Pokken, and the criminally underrated PokePark in the mix. The obvious question to ask is 'why have we never gotten a party game?' - Pokemon is one of the few series that could take on Mario's might in the genre, and since they’re both on team Nintendo, they could have staggered release cycles instead of ever truly going head to head. I don't have the answer for you - I'd like Poke Party myself. But Pokemon seems even more suited to a sports title, and Unite gives us just a little taste of what that can be like.
Just like how Mario is the inspiration for a hypothetical Poke Party, he should also be under the spotlight should Pokemon move into the world of sports. Mario has vast experience there too, through Mario Golf, Mario Sluggers, Mario Strikers, and Mario Hoops, not to mention his frequent appearances at the Olympics with his rival Sonic. Pokemon's move into sports would need an arcade flair, but the series has so many excellent characters that can be easily adapted into various different sports. Unite has Speedsters, Attackers, Defenders… could that translation of Pokemon stats into MOBA roles not easily be applied to Point Guard, Winger, QuarterBack, or Pitcher.
The act of getting a slam dunk is extremely satisfying in Pokemon Unite, but it’s not without its issues. The more points you have banked, the longer it takes. This is perfect for the risk-reward balance of a MOBA, but it robs the moment of its sporting glory. In basketball, a dunk is instant. One minute you’re blocking the net, the next your man wriggles away from you and leaves you stranded while he’s airborne.
Pokemon has all the tools for a great arcade sports game. Teams could be based on types or regions, there are a huge range of locations to use, and there are so many Pokemon that lend themselves perfectly to various sports. Cinderace and football is an obvious one, but Machamp is the perfect ‘roided up slugger too.
Pokemon has always excelled at spin-offs. That sports haven’t had a chance at one yet is baffling, when there are so many possibilities that perfectly suit both Pokemon and sport. Hopefully after Pokemon Unite, they’ll get their chance.