While Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon launched for the 3DS just last month, many have turned to Nintendo’s upcoming RPG announced for the Switch at this year’s E3. Not much is currently known about the title, but rumours are now suggesting that it might even drop its traditional turn-based system in favour of something simpler.
So far, all that’s officially known about Pokémon for the Switch is that it is intended to be a fully-fledged RPG instead of the spin-offs we are used to seeing such as Pokémon Stadium, or Pokémon Colosseum.
While the latter, including its sequel Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, were indeed RPGs for home consoles, they featured a scaled back system that limited the Pokémon that could be caught in a linear fashion. The Switch version, whatever it may be called, is said to be a lot more akin to the main titles.
The latest rumours come from the same people that leaked Team Rainbow Rocket before it was officially announced to appear in Ultra Sun and Moon, stating that the Chinese localisation team has finished translating the script for the title, it will include the latest Z-Moves and Mega Evolutions, and while it won’t include new ones, it’s said to make use of the Joy-Cons motion control system for the former.
The region is said to be inspired by Europe, particularly Spain or Italy and is aiming for a release date of late 2018 or early 2019.
Notably, the narrative is said to include the themes of conflict between tradition and innovation, which feeds into the biggest rumour of them all; dropping the original turn-based system for a newer, simplified real-time system akin to Pokkén Tournament or that of the Digimon World games, using blocks, grabs and attacks.
KitGuru Says: While it might be tooled as ‘innovation’ if true, I am concerned that this would remove an element of depth to what is already a fairly simple battle system as far as turn-based mechanics usually fare. How do you feel about these rumours?
Masaka
I would play a full RPG with Pokkén-like gameplay, as long as it has every Pokémon in it. I will always love the turn-based gameplay, but each generation makes it more and more complicated. I can imagine it being a put-off for newcomers.
It will be a put-off for Oldcomers too. Have you ever played the new Digimon World: Next Order, man, the only reason I supported the game was because of nostalgia, but the combat system is awkward to use.
It’s interesting you raise that point, because that’s exactly what turned me off from the series after the Gold version for Gameboy Color. Once I realized that each sequel would add like 100-200 new pokemon, it was just getting annoying. The idea of the game is to “catch them all”. But it’s like….. I can barely even remember about the first 151 that were out! XD
I’ve ALWAYS wanted actual blocks, but it would be nice if the turn-based system stayed the same.
Truthfully, I would like to see more pokemon XY multi-type moves, and even combining 2-4 moves, sorta like water/grass/fire pledge.
Korgano
Quit acting like this is coming out on a home system, this is a hybrid, a handheld which has a dock to play as a console, that’s why Pokemon is coming to it, because surprise, surprise, Game Freak sees it as the 3DS’s successor (which it is), not just the Wii U successor (which it also is).
You might have a point, but overcrowding of Pokémon species isn’t really my issue. I hope they keep adding more.
Switch is a home console which can be removed from the dock to play portably. It’s a portable home console.
The reason Pokemon is coming to Switch is because Nintendo is going to retire the 3DS and so Game Freak has no alternative but to make a Pokemon for Switch.