The A-Z of new “Pokémon X and Y”

“Pokémon X and Y,” recently released for the Nintendo 3DS, promises a grand adventure through the Kalos region with many features old and new. The game showcases many old features that Pokémon fans have fallen in love with, including the Generation I starters and the Experience Share item, which is now enhanced to suit all members of your Pokémon team. However, Nintendo and the Pokémon Company have revolutionized game play by incorporating new features like the new Fairy type Pokémon, mega evolution and horde battles.At the start of your adventure in the Kalos region, you, as a Pokémon trainer, get to choose between three starter Pokémon: Chespin (the Grass type), Fennekin (the Fire type) and Froakie (the Water type). In addition to these starters, you can also get starters from previous Pokémon generations. You can download a Torchic, a Generation III fire Pokémon, from the Internet. Also, after you beat the first gym, Professor Sycamore will provide you with a choice between the three Generation I starters: Bulbasuar, Charmander and Squirtle. The additions will help returning players feel nostalgic as well as help your Pokémon team be strong right at the beginning of the game.Nintendo has tried to incorporate the Internet more in this game, and they have succeeded. For instance, the addition of the Player Search System (PSS) gives you the ability to trade or battle with anyone in the world. Not only can this provide you with Pokémon from other countries, but you can now see how strong your Pokémon party really is against other trainers. Through the PSS’s trade you can trade any one of your Pokémon for another random one. You can still trade and battle your friends through Wi-Fi, and now you can visit each other’s Friend Safari to catch rare Pokémon once you beat the game.Another great aspect of “Pokémon X and Y” is the improved Experience Share. When one of your Pokémon battles against another Pokémon, the Pokémon gains experience points. When that Pokémon gains a certain amount of points, it levels up. Leveling up your Pokémon will make it stronger, and it may even evolve into a new Pokémon. When you activate the Experience Share, every Pokémon in your party now gets half the experience points of the Pokémon who battle, even though not all of them might fight in a battle. Although the Experience Share is a returning item, its new features make the game into something previous Pokémon games couldn’t become.However, not every video game can be perfect, and “Pokémon X and Y” does have some flaws. For instance, although the addition of the Fairy type Pokémon was one of the major selling points for the game, the Fairy type Pokémon are the new Dragon types in that they are difficult to defeat and good-looking. In this game, the Fairy Pokémon can easily defeat the Dragon type because of innate abilities. This makes Dragon Pokémon no longer the dominant Pokémon. There are barely any types of Pokémon that can easily defeat a Fairy Pokémon except for Steel and Poison Pokémon. This creates a battle against a Fairy Pokémon frustrating and almost impossible early in the game.The addition of mega evolution is also new to the game. In order to activate mega evolution, your Pokémon needs to be holding to its Mega Stone and you need to have the Mega Ring, which will be given to you after you beat the third gym. Mega evolution may seem exciting, but it only raises a Pokémon’s base stats and abilities. It can also change the Pokémon’s type for some Pokémon. For example, a mega evolved Pinsir is a Bug type Pokémon, but when mega evolution is used on it, it gains the Flying type. Mega evolution stops after one battle, so you are required to activate it every single time you fight. However, the graphics of mega evolution are beautiful in 3D, the Pokémon growing and transforming before your eyes into something stronger, more colorful and fierce.Another flaw in the game is presented by the horde battles. In horde battles, one of your Pokémon goes up against five Pokémon that are at significantly lower levels than the other Pokémon in that area. However, if you want to defeat a horde, you must use a move against each Pokémon one at a time or use a move that can wipe out the whole field. If you want to catch a single Pokémon in a horde, you must defeat the four other Pokémon first. This isn’t only annoying, but it’s also a time waster. Of course, you can escape from a horde battle, but it’s always good to battle as much as you can for those experience points.Overall, “Pokémon X and Y” provides trainers old and new with a good experience. The graphics are amazing, especially the battles in 3D, and the new features of mega evolution and the use of the Internet in the game help tie the game into an enjoyable experience.