Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu were released on 16th November 2018, two weeks after the release of the Sun & Moon Lost Thunder expansion.
Played on the Nintendo Switch, they are essentially a 3D remake of Pokémon Yellow which released in 1998 and was played on the Nintendo Game Boy.
The game card is housed in a plastic case which depicts the central Pokémon of the game purchased.
Please note: this review does contain information about the gameplay and although this has been heavily generalised it is impossible to avoid some spoilers when reviewing a game.
The Aim of the Game
The game is set in the Kanto region and the main aim of the game is to become the region’s Champion Trainer. To do this you have to defeat the eight Gym Leaders as well as the Elite Four and the current Champion.
You begin the game as a novice Pokémon trainer and your partner Pokémon is either Eevee or Pikachu depending on which game you are playing. Your partner Pokémon is not able to evolve but learns special moves that help you in your quest to become the Champion Trainer.
Professor Oak equips you with a Pokédex and requests that you fill it with the wild Pokémon you collect to help him in his research. From the Pokémon you catch, you select five to join your team. It’s a good idea to select different types of Pokémon as this gives you a greater range of skills overall. Every time you catch a wild Pokémon you gain points for each member of your team.
Another way of gaining points is by defeating the trainers that you meet along your journey. When your Pokémon have sufficient points they are able to level up and acquire improved skills.
The Gameplay
You begin you journey in Pallet Town and set off towards Pewter City. As you explore the Kanto region your route takes you through Viridian City, Cerulean City, Vermilion City, Lavender Town, Celadon City, Fushia City, Saffron City and Cinnabar Island. Outside of the main city regions you will visit forests, islands and underground caves.
You can also visit the Safari Zone. This unique region links to Pokémon Go and enables you to import Pokémon from the Pokémon Go game.
The main cities have a Poké Mart where you can stock up on potions, poké balls and other equipment. They also have a Pokémon Center where you can heal your Pokémon.
Pokémon Gyms are located in Pewter City, Viridian City, Vermillian City, Celadon City, Saffron City and Cinnabar Island. In order to enter some of the gyms you have to fulfil certain criteria first. Once you have defeated all eight gym leaders you can take on the Elite Four. Team Rocket make regular appearances throughout the game determined hamper your progress.
What is the Difference between Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu?
The location, regions and aims of each game are the same. The only difference between them is the starter Pokémon and the Pokémon that are unique to each game.
In Let’s Go Eevee your starter/partner Pokémon is Eevee, while in Let’s Go Pikachu you are accompanied by Pikachu. There are also a number of Pokémon characters that are exclusive to each game.
Pokémon that are exclusive to Let’s Go Eevee:
Ekans
Arbok
Vulpix
Alolan Vulpix
Ninetales
Alolan Ninetales
Meowth
Alolan Meowth
Alolan Persian
Bellsprout
Weepinbell
Victreebel
Koffing
Weezing
Pinsir
Pokémon that are unique to Let’s Go Pikachu
Sandshrew
Alolan Sandshrew
Sandslash
Alolan Sandslash
Oddish
Gloom
Vileplume
mankey
Primeape
Growlithe
Grimer
Muk
Alolan Muk
Scyther
Verdict
Pikachu and Eevee are charming fan-favourite Pokémon that players will enjoy partnering to complete the game.
The cities, landscapes and seascapes of the Kanto Region are colourful and enjoyable locations to visit and explore. There are also ample opportunities to capture wild Pokémon and complete your Pokédex.
The game is not short on battles either with trainers and Team Rocket to defeat along the way. Defeating the Gym Leaders, the Elite Four and the Champion offers a more challenging battle experience, but in general the gameplay is not particularly challenging.
Overall, Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu are a good introduction to playing Pokémon video games and ideal for children or beginners. They also offer a trip down memory lane for those that remember the Game Boy originals and a delightful gaming experience for fans of the Pokémon franchise.
