This past Monday, Nintendo broadcast its first Nintendo Direct news announcement this year and presented gamers with a tantalizing first look at the upcoming “Pokémon X” and “Pokémon Y.”
They ran out of colors to use as titles already? (Courtesy of Nintendo)Presented by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, the Nintendo Direct was broadcast in seven languages simultaneously and began with Iwata looking back on the Pokémon franchise’s journey through the years. Starting with the very first games released in Japan, “Pokémon Red” and “Pokémon Green,” Iwata walked the audience through over a decade of Pokémon history, which culminated in a special trailer that showed off the new “Pokémon X” and “Pokémon Y” games.
Planned for release on the Nintendo 3DS, the trailer showed off the fully 3-D cell-shaded graphics of the new games. In addition to fully-animated and 3-D models of Pokémon during battles, the trailer revealed that the new graphics are set from a more horizontal angle that allowed for the 3-D effects of the 3DS to take full effect and create a wonderful sense of depth. Battles in particular look especially exciting, since the Pokémon and their attacks have become far more animated, with new attack animations and stylistic action lines accompanying some of the more flashy moves.
Battles are more action-packed with flashy new animations and particles for attacks. (Courtesy of Nintendo)Besides the beautiful new graphics the trailer introduced the three starting Pokémon that players will be able to choose from: Chespin, Fennekin and Froakie. Grass-type, Fire-type and Water-type respectively, only their first evolutionary form was shown. At the very end of the trailer, the two new legendary Pokémon unique to each version were revealed, though only their appearance and characteristics are known at this point. The trailer didn’t provide a name for either of them, so Pokémon fans are free to speculate.
Every new Pokémon game has historically brought new features to the series in addition to a fresh roster of Pokémon to chase after. As of now, there have been no other announcements as to the features and improvements that will be introduced in Generation VI. Now I would like to open the floor for discussion and offer some ideas of what I think and hope to see for “Pokémon X” and “Pokémon Y”.
One of the new legendaries shown in the trailer. Its name remains a mystery. (Courtesy of Nintendo)First and foremost, given the release of the Wii U, I want to see a new Pokémon Stadium game that will connect with the new 3DS games as well as the prior
games, “Black and White” and “Black and White 2.” Secondly, I’m hoping to see a way to set up mini-tournaments in-game with friends via Wi-Fi. Finally, I am of course excited to see what new Pokémon await, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a Ghost/Steel combination to be created.
“Pokémon X” and “Pokémon Y” are slated to be released worldwide in October 2013, so start saving up for that 3DS if you haven’t already!
What do you think about the new Pokémon games? What do you want to see in the new games? Most importantly, if you are thinking of getting the games, who are you choosing as your starter?
What to get in touch and talk gaming? Reach the reporter at preston.sotelo@asu.edu or via Twitter at @p_sotelo
