Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! / Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! (ポケットモンスター Let’s Go! ピカチュウポケットモンスター Let’s Go! イーブイ)

Game Details:

Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo / The Pokémon Company
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release Date(s): November 16th, 2018 (Worldwide)
Mode(s): Single Player, Multiplayer
Rating(s): CERO: A (JPN), PEGI: 7 (EUR), ESRB: E (USA)
Controller(s): Nintendo Switch, Poké Ball Plus
Extra Contents: LGPE Main Page, Patches, Poké Ball Plus, Transfer Pokémon from GO to Let's Go!, Version Exclusive Pokémon

Description:

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! / Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! (ポケットモンスター Let’s Go! ピカチュウポケットモンスター Let’s Go! イーブイ) for the Nintendo Switch takes place in the Kanto Region. The game was announced during a special Pokémon 2018 Video Game Press Conference took place in Tokyo, Japan on May 30th, 2018. Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! are based on Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition, which first launched in Japan in 1998! The Let's Go, Pikachu / Eevee games were released worldwide on November 16th, 2018.

Story/Information:

Taking place in the diverse and vibrant Kanto region, this pair of games is packed with adventure for Pokémon Trainers of all ages. In the Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! games, players partner up with either Pikachu or Eevee and embark on an exciting adventure where they can catch and battle Pokémon, meet other Trainers and discover the region of Kanto.

The games both feature a variety of exclusive Pokémon which are unique to each game. In Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! Trainers are able to capture Pokémon including Oddish, Sandshrew and Growlithe; while players of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! are able to capture Pokémon such as Bellsprout, Vulpix and Meowth.

At the start of players’ adventures, they receive their first partner Pokémon, either Pikachu or Eevee. Unlike regular Pokémon, their first partner Pokémon is not interested in evolving and instead prefers to stay out of its Poké Ball. It travels with players throughout their journey by hanging on their shoulder or riding on their head. Players can become best friends with their Pikachu or Eevee and can pet, feed and even tickle them. Not only that, but players can dress up their Trainer and partner Pokémon in a wide variety of cool and cute outfits, accessories and even hairstyles to become the perfect style duo with their new best friend.

As players travel throughout the Kanto region, they meet some familiar faces as well as a few new ones. Professor Oak returns, alongside a new Rival, to present the Pokédex—a high-tech encyclopedia that records data on any new species of Pokémon that players catch in the games. Players are able to battle Gym leaders across Kanto, including fan favourites Brock, the Gym Leader of Pewter City, and Misty, the Gym Leader of Cerulean City, as they strive to become the Pokémon League champion. In-game Pokémon Trainers aren’t the only ones who can be battled. Players are able to connect with other players online or via local wireless communication between Nintendo Switch consoles to enjoy intense Pokémon battles. Players are also be able to trade Pokémon with each other using these communication features to help complete their Pokédex.

For the first time in a mainline Pokémon game, two people can now play together on one system! By shaking a second Joy-Con™, another player can join the fray. There are some real benefits to adventuring together as well, including making it easier to catch Pokémon and even battling against tough Trainers as a tag team in Pokémon battles. Grab a friend, explore Kanto and experience an adventure like no other.

Don’t Just Evolve—Mega Evolve
Players are able to Mega Evolve a Pokémon once per battle if they have a Key Stone and the Mega Stone corresponding to that specific Pokémon. Mega Evolution, known as “the Evolution that transcends Evolution,” momentarily unleashes the energy within a Pokémon and can only be accomplished when a strong bond exists between the Pokémon and its Trainer. The first three Pokémon that fans are able to Mega Evolve during their adventure are: Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise.

Explore Iconic Kanto Region Location Vermilion City
A variety of interesting locations in the Kanto region, including Vermilion City, where the luxury cruise liner the S.S. Anne docks once a year are in these games. In the Vermilion City Pokémon Gym, players can battle Gym Leader Lt. Surge, who is also known as the Lightning Lieutenant.

Here Comes Team Rocket!
Team Rocket, a nefarious organization set on using the world’s Pokémon in despicable plots to make money, is another example of the diverse cast of characters that players encounter in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! This includes the most famous members of Team Rocket—Jessie, James, and Meowth!

Clear the Way: Secret Techniques
Pikachu or Eevee can help players overcome obstacles they encounter and make travel easier in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! by learning Secret Techniques. These special skills can be used by the player’s partner Pokémon outside of battle to clear away trees (Chop Down), glide across water (Sea Skim), and quickly revisit towns and cities that have already been explored (Sky Dash).

Powerful Partner-Exclusive Moves
The player’s partner Pikachu or Eevee can use exclusive moves that no other Pokémon can use. These exclusive moves help players face any challenge during their adventures in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! And once the player’s relationship with their partner reaches a certain level, the partner Pokémon occasionally send a sign during battle that its partner power (one of its exclusive moves) can be used. Even if the partner Pokémon is not in the battle, it may still send a sign. If the player responds, the partner can bolster the Pokémon in battle by boosting its stats.

Two of Pikachu’s exclusive moves are Pika Papow and Splishy Splash. Pika Papow is also a partner power, so it’s performed when the partner sign appears during battle. The power of Pika Papow can increase depending on how strong the player’s bond is with their partner Pikachu. The Water-type move Splishy Splash can paralyze opponents.

Eevee’s exclusive moves include the partner power Veevee Volley as well as Bouncy Bubble, Buzzy Buzz, and Sizzly Slide. When Eevee uses Veevee Volley, its power can increase depending on Eevee’s relationship with the player. Bouncy Bubble, a Water-type move, can heal Eevee for half the damage dealt to the opponent. The Electric-type move Buzzy Buzz paralyzes the opponent. An opponent can always be left with the burned status condition if it is hit with Eevee’s Fire-type move, Sizzly Slide.

Best of Friends: Befriending a Partner Pokémon
Players can interact with their partner Pokémon when they are not in battle by selecting the Pikachu or Eevee icon on the main menu. By petting and playing with their partner Pokémon, players can improve their relationship with Pikachu or Eevee and can receive in-game benefits such as presents. When the game is in handheld mode, players can use the touch screen to play directly with their partner Pokémon.

Explore the Kanto Region: Celadon City
Celadon City is one of the many interesting locations in the Kanto region that players can explore in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! This large city, known as the “City of Rainbow Dreams,” has an arcade and even a department store. Erika, sometimes called “the Nature-Loving Princess,” is the Gym Leader of the Celadon City Gym and specializes in Grass-type Pokémon.

Special Nintendo Switch Bundle
A special bundle that includes a Nintendo Switch system, Pikachu- and Eevee-themed Joy-Con controllers, a pre-installed copy of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, and a Poké Ball Plus were released on November 16th, 2018. The front of the dock features Eevee and Pikachu, while the back of the console has silhouettes of both partner Pokémon.

GO Park:
In Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, you’ll be able to use a Bluetooth connection to bring Pokémon you’ve caught in Pokémon GO into the Kanto region to join you on your adventures. Pokémon that are transferred from Pokémon GO appear in a place called the GO Park complex, which is located in Fuchsia City. The GO Park complex is made up of 20 individual GO Parks, and you can keep up to 50 Pokémon in each one. To take Pokémon stored in the GO Park complex on your journey across the Kanto region, you have to find and catch them within a GO Park first. You are not limited to connecting with just your own Pokémon GO account, though—there is no limit to the number of Pokémon GO accounts that can be tied to a single save file, so you can receive Pokémon from your friends and family, too. Once you have 25 of the same species of Pokémon in the GO Park complex, players are able to play a special minigame to win Candies. By using the GO Park complex, you can even transfer Alolan form Pokémon into Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!

By using Candies in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, players are able to power up their Pokémon. Pokémon grow stronger after taking part in battles, but by giving your Pokémon Candies, players are able to raise the specific stats of that Pokémon. Different types of Candies have different effects—for example, some can increase a Pokémon’s Attack and others can increase a Pokémon’s Speed or Defense. These Candies can be obtained in a variety of ways, including by transferring Pokémon to Professor Oak, by successfully completing games in the GO Park complex’s Play Yard or by taking your Pokémon for a stroll via the Poké Ball Plus device. By collecting and utilizing these Candies, you can create a very strong Pokémon team.

In the Pokémon world, there are incredibly powerful Pokémon that are rarely seen but are spoken about in the region’s myths. These are known as Legendary Pokémon. In the Kanto region, players are able to find several Legendary Pokémon, including the Legendary bird Pokémon—Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. The way to catch these Pokémon in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! is different from how you would catch most other Pokémon. You have to defeat these Pokémon in intense battle before you can have a chance to catch them. It won’t be easy, but once you manage to catch them, these Pokémon can follow you throughout your adventure.

Become a Master Trainer:
The fun doesn’t end after the player becomes the Pokémon League Champion. After becoming Champion, the player can encounter Master Trainers who are dedicated to training a particular species of Pokémon. Accordingly, there is a Master Trainer for every Pokémon species in the Kanto region. An image of each Master Trainer’s favourite Pokémon is displayed above their head. Battling a Master Trainer is a true test of skill and strength since items cannot be used in battle. Players who emerge victorious from the battle can leave with that Master Trainer’s title. Titles can then be displayed prestigiously in-game during Link Battles.

Patches:

Version 1.0.1 - January 23rd, 2019

Bug preventing Mystery Gift Pokémon being added to the Pokédex fixed.
The □ and ☆ symbols were swapped in the IV Judge option.
Other minor fixes.

Features:

Take your favorite Pokémon out for a stroll in Poké Ball Plus. Share your adventure with family or friends in 2-player action using a second Joy-Con or Poké Ball Plus (sold separately). Every accessory contains the Mythical Pokémon Mew! You can even connect to the Pokémon GO app using a compatible smartphone to bring over Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region!
Explore the diverse and vibrant region of Kanto! True-to-size wild Pokémon roam around in the game, so catch them like a real Pokémon Trainer by using motion, timing, and a well-placed Poké Ball. Poké Ball Plus lights up, vibrates, and plays sounds based on what you do in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! When you take your favorite Pokémon out with you in Poké Ball Plus, you can also gently shake it to hear the Pokémon inside! Connect Poké Ball Plus to the Pokémon GO app and it will light up and vibrate when you’re near a Pokémon or Poké Stop.
GO Park—GO Park is enabled as a player progresses further in the game and will help players befriend Pokémon from Pokémon GO in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! This feature allows for Kanto region Pokémon from Pokémon GO to be transferred to Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! These Pokémon will then need to be captured with a Poké Ball again. The player can interact with them in a whole new way in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!
Candy Jar—Players can use a variety of Candies to strengthen their Pokémon in a training system introduced in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! Later in the game, players will be able to send their Pokémon to Professor Oak to receive these candies.
Link Trading and Battles—Players will be able to trade and engage in Single and Double Battles with other players online and via local wireless communication. Battling and trading online will require an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, a paid service that launched in September of 2018.