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The latest Pokémon Direct hit the Internet Tuesday (maybe badly all things considered) and like many fans, I have assumed this was going to be all Nintendo Switch related. Fair enough. As there is going to be a Pokémon game for the Switch, but there are also going to be a few more titles for the Nintendo 3DS family.

“Pokkén Tournament” is going to come to the Nintendo Switch as “Pokkén Tournament DX”, with its multiplayer accessibility the most noticeable feature in the trailer. Naturally, you can experience multiplayer on TV mode with two controllers and be able to connect to another Nintendo Switch when in Portable mode, but you can also use individual Joy-Cons in Tabletop mode. This is a nice feature for a casual battle away from home. However, I think the size of these Joy-Cons could have some control issues when playing a match (though I’m not familiar with “Pokkén”’s control scheme).

While I think playing on a single Joy-Con is a novel concept this looks awkward, even in a fighting game.

It will bring back online multiplayer with Ranked, Friendly, and Group (friends only) modes. So there’ll be something for everyone. The roster will still keep the previous sixteen Pokémon and add Darkrai, Scizor, Empoleon, Croagunk, and Decidueye to the mix. The game will be released on September 22 with a playable demo at E3 on June 13. There will be the “Pokkén Tournament DX Invitational” live tournament on June 14 so there’s plenty to look forward to with “Pokkén”.

Next we have new installments for the Pokémon main series, but to some of our dismay . You see, they’re going to be Nintendo 3DS only games. “Pokémon Ultra Sun” and “Pokémon Ultra Moon” returns to the Alola region but with an Alternative story with new features and Pokémon appearances. These games will be released on November 17, but it didn’t take long for some salt to surround these titles. There are arguments of nitpicking and opinions on why they may be bad and some debate on whether the 3DS should still be supported, but honestly fans were expecting “Pokémon Stars” or some Pokémon RPG on the Nintendo Switch. Should a core game be developed for the console? Personally, I’m more on board with having these titles on the 3DS, but at the same time I would like to see “Pokémon Star” come into fruition. Although the error on the official site mentioning them as Nintendo Switch games didn’t help the case.

Lunala and Solgaleo, fused with Necrozma?

And to end the Direct they have announced “Pokémon Gold” and “Pokémon Silver” Virtual Consoles for the Nintendo 3DS. Like the Generation One VCs these games will also be compatible with Pokémon Bank, though they did not specify if you can use the bank to swap Pokémon between Gen I and Gen II in substitution of the Time Capsule (as of writing). Both “Pokémon Gold” and “Pokémon Silver” will be released on the Nintendo eShop on September 22, same day as “Pokkén Tournament DX”.

pokemon gold and pokemon silver legendary beasts

Much like the Legendary Beasts “Pokémon Gold” and “Pokémon Silver” are epics being revived once again.

On a personal level, I think these were decent announcements (I’m looking forward to “Pokémon Ultra Moon” myself), but there has been some salt in the community, and I can’t really blame them (at least the reasonable ones). A Pokémon game from the main series would be a great title in the Nintendo Switch library and the system has been popular since its launch, but “Pokémon Stars” is not happening this year. The Pokémon Direct said (or at least the interrupter) said “Pokkén Tournament DX” is the first Pokémon game for the console, so that may mean there is more to come. Nevertheless, time will have to tell on which Pokémon series (aside from “Pokkén” and the core games, there is “Mystery Dungeon”, among other spin offs) as we have E3 and the rest of the year to go through.

And with that said, what are your thoughts on the Pokémon Direct? Think we should have gotten “Pokémon Stars” on the Nintendo Switch instead of Ultramons? Leave your thoughts in the comment section.

***Disclaimer***
This is a personal opinion of the writer, and it doesn’t necessarily represent the other writers (nor The Gaming Ground´s) opinions.

Source:
The Gamer
Polygon
Nintendo Everything

Credit:
Robin Ek – Editor