The Pokémon Company
If you ’ve been look for an excuse to revisitPokémon XandY , the announcement ofPokémon Legends : Z - Ajust indue you a perfect alibi to do so .
Released for Nintendo 3DS in 2013,Pokémon XandYare important but quiet entry in the RPG series . They were forward - looking games thatbrought the serial into full 3Dand rent significant step in pull in Pokémon even more accessible and easy to roleplay online . A pile of problem more hard-core fans have , like the game being too casual - focussed or having a bevy of expert issues , also got their starting time here . That makesPokémon X and Yfascinating game to revisit — and I recommend you do so before long .
The Pokémon Company
Nintendo plans to close off theonline services for the 3DSin April . When it does that , some core boast ofPokémon XandYwill be gone forever and a day . As such , you ’ll need to play one of these games very shortly if you want to experience them in their full glory beforePokémon Legends : Z - Areleases and take up us back to Kalos in 2025 .
A new era
Pokémon XandYare the first 3D plot in the series , and they look the part . Replaying the RPGs now , the chunky visuals and always dip systema skeletale rate certainly show their age . They feel like a word of advice shot for the proficient job that would eventually come toplague the serieson Nintendo Switch , too . Although their outside can be rough , there ’s a lot to appreciate when digging deeply .
The games are pose in the region of Kalos , which is found on France . Its centerpiece is the Paris - inspired Lumiose City , which stay one of the openhanded and most entertaining home to research in a Pokémon biz . I ’m not surprised Game Freak is fully settingPokémon Legends : Z - Athere . When X and Y launched , it still matte up like the serial publication was perforate above its weight course of instruction , moot the hardware it was on , and not lessen behind the time like it is on Nintendo Switch .
Visual figure is a high spot , with elaborate towns and many magical monsters . XandYalso accent their narrative and full stamp of characters , many of whom are on a journeying alongside the player . While the writing is n’t exceptional , this is one of the few Pokémon games where it feels like you ’re going on an adventure with friends and coming of age as you take on a very grownup threat . Its baddie , Lysandre and Team Flare , are such hammy capitalistic critiques that amount back around to being hilarious .
On the gameplay front , Pokémon X and Ymay not be as refined as their Unovan precursor , but they acquaint some idea that would go on to define the series . This is the first game where the experience share applies to all Pokémon on the player ’s team , and catching Pokémon offers up experience . Although those features may frustrate players looking for a more challenging experience , I remember that those features made this the first Pokémon game where I felt inspired to “ catch ‘ em all , ” something I still strive to do in new entries .
Mega Evolution , which unlocks a new form of Pokémon like Charizard or Mewtwo , is also a fun fight thingumajig and one I bask using more than Z - moves , Dynamax , and Terastallization . The reveal drone forPokémon Legends Z - Ateases that this feature will return , so it ’s a good approximation to play back this game and get a refresher on how it all exploit . Still , when it comes to account and gameplay , those are things you follow to understand and appreciate at any percentage point in the future . There are component ofPokémon XandYthat will so go aside forever .
End of an era
Pokémon XandYwere the first game in the series to make on-line play a really ever - present part of the experience . If you ’re connect to the internet , the Player Search System invariably appear on the 3DS ’ bottom screen . From that , players can see their friends , acquaintances , and passersby from around the orb . This bottom screen menu is a hub for trading , battling , and exchange gameplay buff called O - Powers . I sunk countless hours on Wonder Trade - driven running where I ’d get random Pokémon from player I did n’t know , and I ’m saddened that I wo n’t be able to do those things anymore very soon .
After April 8 , 2024 , those Player Search System feature wo n’t work inPokémon X and Yanymore . It pit theend of documentation for quite a few plot . Thankfully , Nintendo says thatPokémon Bankwill still be compatible with games likePokémon XandYafter the on-line service shut down , so it ’s at least possible to transfer any Pokémon from these games onward to titles likeScarletandVioletfor now . That does n’t intend I ’m not disappointed that part of thePokémon XandYexperience will be gone forever in just a few week .
Some of these feature of speech could potentially return in some manner , but that ’s still not the same as the original . That can only be experienced in its initial form , without hacking , for another calendar month or so . As such , you should n’t await to revisitPokémon X and Y. Hopefully , you ’ll recover more to appreciate about the plot this time around , or at least get a proper priming coat so you ’re excited whenPokémon Legends : Z - Adrops sometime in 2025 .
