The only thing I have been writing about this past week is Pokemon GO. It is the only thing you see when logging into Facebook or scrolling down your Twitter feed.
As great as the app is, it is not where it could be in terms of some features. Many of the things you can do in the game feel a bit mundane.
Walking around and catching Pokemon is a dream come true, but after the hunt is over and you touch on other things, you cannot help but feel like it needs more work.
Battle System
Pokemon has been built on a successful battle system which weighs up strength and weakness, agility and speed. The entire Pokemon world is based on Pokemon types and moves which compliment each other.
Pokemon GO’s battle system is the complete opposite. You enter a battle in a Pokemon Gym, and spam the touch screen as you tap to attack the Pokemon in front of you. The system has zero depth, making it feel like an afterthought in the game.
I am not asking for it to be like the TV show, but the video game series has a great turn-based battle system, which would fit into Pokemon GO and actually make it worthwhile. We could train our Pokemon to learn new attacks as they gain more CP, and then head into a Gym where our hard work pays off.
Often, Pokemon Gyms are protected by various Pokemon which are weak to yours in the Pokemon world. When you battle them, this often does not come across as it should. You want to feel the power of your Squirtle shooting water at that Magmar.
Pokemon Go’s battle system needs a serious revamp. Dodging and spamming attacks is not what Pokemon is about. We need some strategy here, and I hope Nintendo does something about it soon.
Evolving Pokemon
Everyone dreams of owning a Charizard, and you can in Pokemon Go.
This is not easy, as it requires you to catch a truck load of Charmanders for Charmander Candy, evolve it into a Charmeleon, and then do the same again for a Charizard.
Forget battling Pokemon to level up and grow stronger, ultimately evolving your Pokemon. This is where the grind comes in and makes things difficult. If your aim is to get a Golbat then your goal will be reached relatively soon, as Zubats are all over the place – but the rarer Pokemon prove to be harder to find.
Nintendo needs to somehow develop an alternate method for gaining Pokemon Candy, or maybe reduce some requirements for those rare Pokemon. I would hate to think what it would take to evolve Pokemon like Dratini into Dragonite.
Pokemon Gyms
As fun as these faction-based Pokemon Gyms are, I cannot help but feel that the system is the complete opposite of what makes Pokemon so great. Where is the challenge of battling these Pokemon Gyms for the badges? What about some recognition for staying on top, rather than just being kicked off and discarded?
Nintendo has the potential here to create a great ladder system, sort of like the Pokemon League. But instead we are in a constant battle for our factions, just to be kicked off unrewarded 10 minutes later.
I cannot help but feel that the Pokemon Gyms need some attention, as they feel like more a gimmick than anything else. Give us badges to say we did it, or make it more attractive.
What do you think about these features in the game? Let us know in the comments and forum.
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I stand by a previous comment. Give it time. With the rampaging popularity of the game, I’m betting that the developers are busting their a$$es with new features, new pokemon, new new new. Lets be patient, and wait and see. Hell, the game isnt even officially launched here in SA and we have already started whining….