While I was fact checking (Wikipedia) for when Pokemon Red/Blue were released it said 1999 for the EU. Was it really as late as that? It seemed further back than that.

It was the height of the Pokemon craze, although my kids were into the card game, the cartoon, for me it was all about the video game. I went Red, while my middle son went Blue. My first pokemon was Charmander. Yes the first gym was easier with Bulbasaur. But a little grinding and it was a bit harder but still do able. Yeah I’m a fire player through and through. Apart from Pokemon Yellow, I always choose the fire pokemon as my starting pokemon.

Naturally during that whole initial Pokemon crazy my two youngest sons were really into catching ’em all. Ok I may have been a little hooked myself. I think my fondest memory of this time was a family holiday down in Dartmoor. We were on a walk with the boys, my middle son wanted to go to a Pokemon event in London later in the year. My wife had said he couldn’t go. Both were a bit head strong, and an argument ensued between the two of them. Even at one point as we waited for a heard of cows to pass us in a lane, the clash of wills raged on, oblivious to the bovine menace passing by.

I think excluding the last 3DS release and spinoffs I’ve played every Pokemon handheld release since.

Over the years players have wanted that good ol’ Pokemon handheld experience on their none handheld Nintendo consoles. Nintendo decided to give players the likes of Pokemon Stadium or Snap instead. It was Pokemon, just not what everyone wanted.

Fast wind to the latest Nintendo console the Switch, and finally we get that handheld experience Pokemon experience on the big screen. Although you could argue, if like me you only play your Switch as a portable device, it’s still handheld.

Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and it’s alternate version Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee bring an updated Pokemon Yellow to the Switch. The version you buy decides your starting Pokemon. Naturally if I couldn’t start off with my beloved fire pokemon, Pikachu would be my next choice.


Graphically this is a lovely looking version of Pokemon. Naturally and easily a step or two above the 3DS releases. The cartoony style has been there since day one, but now with current hardware we are starting to get the cartoon on our screens.

The use of modern techniques like particle effects and shaders to enhance various parts of the game, look beautiful. Or I’m assuming that’s what was used during the evolution cut scenes, or for various attacks like thunderbolt.

Naturally there are differences from the original version. I will put the disclaimer in that this is not comprehensive, and is based on a fading memory of a game I played many many years ago.

The first most obvious one is that the random wild pokemon encounters are out. Instead you see the wild pokemon roaming around. So you can avoid them altogether, or just capture the ones that you need to complete that pokedex. I really like this change. It streamlines and speeds up play a tonne.

This naturally leads onto the capturing the pokemon. You no longer have to battle the pokemon first and get their health real low before throwing the pokeball to capture them. That battling part is gone. Now using the gyroscopes in the controllers you move a target around the screen and throw pokeballs at the pokemon. I believe this is more like capturing pokemon in Pokemon Go! (not played it in a long time so can’t remember exactly). You can also throw berries at the pokemon to try and increase the odds of capturing the pokemon.

Now I do like this streamlining. Once again it’s a nice time saver. Although for special pokemon like Snorlax, or the legendary ones you have a timed battle in which you have to defeat them before the timer runs out. Only then if you win do you get the chance to throw pokeballs at them.

The safari zone is gone, and has been replaced by a Go! Park. This is the forced link with the Pokemon Go! App. Sorry Nintendo I’m not going to get back into that. It had its 5 minutes of use. Now it’s dead to me. With the loss of the safari zone has gone the running around capturing pokemon within it.

I miss the old safari zone, and the loss of being able to use it to build up that pokédex. But I can see why they replaced it with the Go! link up. It’s just not for me.

The HM’s are replaced with special techniques. They are renamed, the number cut down (I remember a rock breaking one not present in this), and don’t take up a slot on your pokemon’s moves. Which is nice. Plus they can be taught to any pokemon! So my Pikachu knows the version of surf and fly! Before you’d have to have the appropriate pokemon to learn the HM, so fly could only be learnt by flying pokemon for example.

I don’t remember having to meet requirements to be able to enter a gym to challenge for a badge. But in this version you can’t get into a gym to challenge a gym leader for the badge unless you meet the minimum requirements. And these vary from gym to gym.

There is no computer to store your excess pokemon in. This has been replaced by a readily accessible box. What difference does this make? Well in the original versions, you’d have to get to a poke centre to swap out pokemon. Now as long as you are not in battle you can do it it whenever. So whenever a pokemon faints you can replace it easily enough to keep your team at full strength. I suppose this could make the game easier. I have to admit I haven’t used it this way myself.

There have also been updates slipped in from newer versions of the game too. For instance choosing the gender of your character at the start, being able to dress up your pokemon with costumes, battling two trainers at once, and mega evolutions. They are the ones I noticed.

With Pikachu on your shoulder through out the game, it is also possible to have a pokemon from your party walking behind you. Which is pretty cool. If it is a flying pokemon, once you become the league champion, instead of walking around you are actually flying on the back of the pokemon.

I really am looking forward to Nintendo releasing more Pokemon RPG games on the Switch or it’s successors. However I’d like them to move away from this “updated version” release to presenting us with a brand new adventure in the series, making use of the platforms improved hardware. If Nintendo insist on the “updated version” idea, I’d prefer they give us a single purchase that is a collection of updated Pokemon games and get it out of the system as quick as possible.

I really like this updated version. Playing it on the larger screen, and taking a very enjoyable journey down memory lane.

The differences on the whole have made a better, quicker game in my opinion. I did find the game less grindy than my memory recalls. Which is always a good thing.

Right I have a Pokédex to complete, gotta catch ’em all!