By: Ryan Ramakrishnan
8. Minigames
Personally, I never found contests to be that exciting. I always tried them out, messed around a bit and then never looked back. I do however have more fond memories of minigames in “Pokemon” titles like that of Pokeathlon.
In fact, if Game Freak brought back the Olympics for Pokemon from “HeartGold” and “SoulSilver,” I’d be ecstatic. But any type of minigame to kill some time in between main story beats is welcomed, so long as it is fun. It does definitely need to have some payoff like the ability to earn evolution stones, health items, TMs and more.
Alternatively, I’d be all for them returning to the Battle Frontier from games such as “Emerald” and “Platinum” but with new improvements to make it more fun, challenging and rewarding..
7. Legendaries
I love when new regions and generations come with exciting legendary Pokemon. One of my favorite titles was “Pokemon Diamond” and “Pokemon Pearl,” though arguably more so the third title in “Platinum” thanks to Sinnoh’s exciting new legendaries including a couple of trios and mythical creatures, even the godlike Pokemon itself, Arceus.
I am hoping that generation 8 does well with its legendaries unlike that of generation 6 in “X” and “Y.” The Kalos region offer so few legendary Pokemon and was quite disappointing as a result. I want to see the games have a bunch of exciting and challenging legendaries to encounter.
With that, I’d also really appreciate fun ways of getting them. Let us find some through puzzles and mazes, others by hunting them down, some by travelling to a different island or region and others by completing milestones first. Plain and simple, I think Game Freak should give us a large variety of unique legendaries with fun means of getting to them
6. Save Files
With so many Pokemon filling up my PCs in past games, I am basically hellbent on never restarting them. I have garnered quite the collection over the years and over many games and generations so it always has me wishing I could play through, say “Alpha Sapphire” again but disappointed that I really shouldn’t restart it.
The answer to this problem that I have to imagine long-time “Pokemon” players and fans of collecting and not letting go have is simple. All Game Freak needs to include is multiple save files. In 2019, many games have save files so it is hard not to want “Pokemon” to do the same.
6. Save Files
With so many Pokemon filling up my PCs in past games, I am basically hellbent on never restarting them. I have garnered quite the collection over the years and over many games and generations so it always has me wishing I could play through, say “Alpha Sapphire” again but disappointed that I really shouldn’t restart it.
The answer to this problem that I have to imagine long-time “Pokemon” players and fans of collecting and not letting go have is simple. All Game Freak needs to include is multiple save files. In 2019, many games have save files so it is hard not to want “Pokemon” to do the same.
If the new generation allowed us to play multiple saves, we’d have the chance to try out new teams, strategies and setups, making the titles have a significantly better replay value.
5. Pokédex
While the 156 new Pokemon in “Black” and “White” made for a nice callback to the large Pokedex of generation 1, such numbers aren’t always the norm. The last two generations introduced a small amount of new Pokemon, so small that “X” and “Y” barely had 70.
While the franchise has introduced players to an insane amount of Pokemon, topping 800 at this point, I still can’t help but selfishly desire another hundred and more. I think there are still creative designers on the teams capable of giving a varied Pokedex with many evolution lines, type combos and unique, fresh designs, even after all these years.
If the Pokedex of generation 8 can’t afford to give another 150, I do at the very least hope that Game Freak will be using creativity to the max with great design choices. Aside from how the new Pokemon look, I also would hope they have individual reasons to be desired for battle. I all in all just wish for a solid new, unforgettable Pokedex.
4. Past-Generation Evolution Lines
Back to my love for generation 4, one of my favorite things that came with the Sinnoh region was the large amount of evolutions to older Pokemon. I thought this was very special to the games, something that none others have really done prior or since. So why not mimic this again, especially with so many Pokemon around?
Currently, there are several Pokemon that have yet to evolve or even get a pre or baby evolution. If you look at the last couple of generations themselves, you’d find many Pokemon just dying to get put to better use. So many of these would be awesome and mean something more for the metagame, competitive scene and fans in general in comparison to how they are now as standalone Pokemon.
3. Rematches
Sometimes a grind is necessary. “Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!” and “Let’s Go, Eevee!” certainly implemented features to change how the grind works, arguably making it optional thanks to the wide array of trainers. With the next generation of “Pokemon,” it's safe to say wild battles will be back but I just hope that trainer battles are still as abundant as well.
What I really want is a way to have rematches frequently. “Pokemon: HeartGold” and “SoulSilver” allowed me to take calls and re-battle those trainers and that was one of my favorite things. Although, that’s not enough. I want generation 8 to take ever idea of rematches from other games like the Vs. Seeker, Cafe, etc. to create a versatile system of rematches all of the time. I just want the ability to battle random trainers, gym leaders, significant characters and way more.
2. Story
The narrative of the “Pokemon” games has always been quite simple at its core. It is taking on the role of a child with the goal of completing the Pokedex and becoming the league champion, as well as taking down some evil organization in between. While the later titles seem to have done more for expanding the stories, I still feel like Game Freak hasn’t quite gotten it but the potential is very much so there.
What I want to see Game Freak do in generation 8 with the story is add some depth. Nintendo’s franchises have rarely dabbled in the deep storytelling that many third parties otherwise emphasized but I feel like a “Pokemon” game could do something interesting. What I believe this story would need is a blend of choices, a non-silent protagonist, fleshed out rivals, friends, villains and gym leaders, compelling backstories, deep and interesting world lore and connections to past game characters and events. I know it sounds like a lot but I believe “Pokemon” has the potential for a great story.
1. Post-Game
One thing I really appreciate in games is the amount of content and replay value many have. I love when a game I enjoyed gives me incentive to keep the disc or cartridge in and keep playing. Titles like “Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey” and “Red Dead Redemption 2” exemplify the open world approach to this, whereas the approach to content and replay value in the multiplayer scene can be viewed in titles like “Rainbow Six: Siege” or “Fortnite Battle Royale.” But what about “Pokemon?”
The way I see it, post-game in a “Pokemon” game should be big, expensive and worth your time and attention. Titles such as “HeartGold” and “SoulSilver,” in addition to the likes of “Omega Ruby” and “Alpha Sapphire” really get it. They are remakes so they have had time to expand upon what happened post-their original launches but they exemplify how to give us stuff to do once the Pokemon League is defeated. We need more of that.
What I want isn’t anything terribly specific, though I certainly have ideas. I just want to be able to keep playing the new “Pokemon” game(s), finding new things to do, trainers and important characters to battle, species to catch, items to find and other side types of content to tackle. I don’t know if “Pokemon” is ready for a substantially huge shift like “The Legend of Zelda” saw with “Breath of the Wild;” however, I do think it is time to give side missions and a bevy of new things to see and do once the credits roll in these new titles. I want nothing more than reasons galore to keep playing for hours on end.
Those are eight aspects of “Pokémon” I want to see included or improved upon in the next generation of the series. I chose eight since it seems more than likely we are getting Generation 8 next. Stay tuned for the announcements tomorrow if all goes as it seems it will. And be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments below about what you want out of the next generation of “Pokémon.”
5. Pokédex
While the 156 new Pokemon in “Black” and “White” made for a nice callback to the large Pokedex of generation 1, such numbers aren’t always the norm. The last two generations introduced a small amount of new Pokemon, so small that “X” and “Y” barely had 70.
While the franchise has introduced players to an insane amount of Pokemon, topping 800 at this point, I still can’t help but selfishly desire another hundred and more. I think there are still creative designers on the teams capable of giving a varied Pokedex with many evolution lines, type combos and unique, fresh designs, even after all these years.
If the Pokedex of generation 8 can’t afford to give another 150, I do at the very least hope that Game Freak will be using creativity to the max with great design choices. Aside from how the new Pokemon look, I also would hope they have individual reasons to be desired for battle. I all in all just wish for a solid new, unforgettable Pokedex.
4. Past-Generation Evolution Lines
Back to my love for generation 4, one of my favorite things that came with the Sinnoh region was the large amount of evolutions to older Pokemon. I thought this was very special to the games, something that none others have really done prior or since. So why not mimic this again, especially with so many Pokemon around?
Currently, there are several Pokemon that have yet to evolve or even get a pre or baby evolution. If you look at the last couple of generations themselves, you’d find many Pokemon just dying to get put to better use. So many of these would be awesome and mean something more for the metagame, competitive scene and fans in general in comparison to how they are now as standalone Pokemon.
3. Rematches
Sometimes a grind is necessary. “Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!” and “Let’s Go, Eevee!” certainly implemented features to change how the grind works, arguably making it optional thanks to the wide array of trainers. With the next generation of “Pokemon,” it's safe to say wild battles will be back but I just hope that trainer battles are still as abundant as well.
What I really want is a way to have rematches frequently. “Pokemon: HeartGold” and “SoulSilver” allowed me to take calls and re-battle those trainers and that was one of my favorite things. Although, that’s not enough. I want generation 8 to take ever idea of rematches from other games like the Vs. Seeker, Cafe, etc. to create a versatile system of rematches all of the time. I just want the ability to battle random trainers, gym leaders, significant characters and way more.
2. Story
The narrative of the “Pokemon” games has always been quite simple at its core. It is taking on the role of a child with the goal of completing the Pokedex and becoming the league champion, as well as taking down some evil organization in between. While the later titles seem to have done more for expanding the stories, I still feel like Game Freak hasn’t quite gotten it but the potential is very much so there.
What I want to see Game Freak do in generation 8 with the story is add some depth. Nintendo’s franchises have rarely dabbled in the deep storytelling that many third parties otherwise emphasized but I feel like a “Pokemon” game could do something interesting. What I believe this story would need is a blend of choices, a non-silent protagonist, fleshed out rivals, friends, villains and gym leaders, compelling backstories, deep and interesting world lore and connections to past game characters and events. I know it sounds like a lot but I believe “Pokemon” has the potential for a great story.
1. Post-Game
One thing I really appreciate in games is the amount of content and replay value many have. I love when a game I enjoyed gives me incentive to keep the disc or cartridge in and keep playing. Titles like “Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey” and “Red Dead Redemption 2” exemplify the open world approach to this, whereas the approach to content and replay value in the multiplayer scene can be viewed in titles like “Rainbow Six: Siege” or “Fortnite Battle Royale.” But what about “Pokemon?”
The way I see it, post-game in a “Pokemon” game should be big, expensive and worth your time and attention. Titles such as “HeartGold” and “SoulSilver,” in addition to the likes of “Omega Ruby” and “Alpha Sapphire” really get it. They are remakes so they have had time to expand upon what happened post-their original launches but they exemplify how to give us stuff to do once the Pokemon League is defeated. We need more of that.
What I want isn’t anything terribly specific, though I certainly have ideas. I just want to be able to keep playing the new “Pokemon” game(s), finding new things to do, trainers and important characters to battle, species to catch, items to find and other side types of content to tackle. I don’t know if “Pokemon” is ready for a substantially huge shift like “The Legend of Zelda” saw with “Breath of the Wild;” however, I do think it is time to give side missions and a bevy of new things to see and do once the credits roll in these new titles. I want nothing more than reasons galore to keep playing for hours on end.
Those are eight aspects of “Pokémon” I want to see included or improved upon in the next generation of the series. I chose eight since it seems more than likely we are getting Generation 8 next. Stay tuned for the announcements tomorrow if all goes as it seems it will. And be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments below about what you want out of the next generation of “Pokémon.”
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