Christmas morning 1998, I was so happy to find under the tree a small square box with my name written on it and “From Santa” on the tag. While I knew it was my parents who got me the present I was amazed to find inside “PokéMon Blue” and a neon green “Gameboy Pocket”. On my shelf, to this day, still sits that original game cartridge, and that original “Gameboy” still in working order. We didn’t always have a lot growing up so it holds a huge bit of nostalgia for me. It also started me down a path of PokéMon obsession.
My original GameBoy Pocket and PokeMon Blue cartridge from 1998
From games, to plush stuffed animals, t-shirts, movie collections, and TV seasons, I have been a proud fan for the last 23 years. I was beyond elated to hear the Nintendo Direct announcing the new PokéMon games coming this year and early 2022, including the first ever open world PokéMon game, “PokéMon Legends: Arceus”.
Arceus, the Legendary PokeMon, image from polygon.com
Coming early 2022, “PokéMon Legends: Arceus”, is set in the Sinnoh region. For those of you already familiar with the PokéMon franchise, you’ll note that the Sinnoh region is also in another set of games, “PokéMon Diamond” and “PokéMon Pearl”. What makes this game special is that it is set in the early days of PokéMon catching, before there were gyms, trainers, tournaments, or the Elite Four.
The new starter PokeMon, image from androidauthority.com
Resembling in appearance feudal Japan, “PokéMon Legends: Arceus” puts you in the open wilderness of the region. The Pokéballs are wooden and steam powered. The PokéMon roam free in the open world. Battling PokéMon will be as seamless as throwing your PokéMon’s Pokéball next to the wild PokéMon and fluidly transitioning into combat.
What we have seen of the game on the PokéMon Website makes it look similar in many ways to the popular “PokéMon Let’s Go: Pikachu” and “PokéMon Let’s Go: Eevee” games released on the Nintendo Switch in 2018. Gone it seems are the days of blind random encounters, and now we get to observe, chase, and battle the PokéMon we want to.
Observe, catch, and train. Trailer screenshot from androidauthority.com
The extra exciting thing about the release of “PokéMon Legends: Arceus” in early 2022, is the buildup release of “PokéMon: Brilliant Diamond” and “PokéMon: Shining Pearl” coming late of 2021. These are the updated remakes of the original “PokéMon Diamond” and “PokéMon Pearl” from 2007. We will get the pleasure to explore the modern Sinnoh region all over again in brilliant HD on the Nintendo Switch, and by the time you finish playing those, we get to experience the Sinnoh region like we’ve never seen any PokéMon game before.
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl from pokemon.com
If these remakes are anywhere as good as the “PokéMon Ruby” and “PokéMon Sapphire” remakes were, then we are in for a real treat. “PokéMon Omega Ruby” and “PokéMon Alpha Sapphire” were stunning games for the Nintendo 3DS console.
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, image from wikihow.com
PokéMon has a lot to live up to, and not every game has been a winner, but this is a franchise that is famous for listening to its fanbase. Personally I hope they bring back the primary use of the PokéBall controller that was released with “PokéMon Let’s Go: Pikachu” and “PokéMon Let’s Go: Eevee”. The concept of a controller for the Nintendo Switch that looked like a Pokéball, acted like a Pokéball, and could be thrown to catch PokéMon like a Pokéball, was absolutely brilliant.
PokeBall Plus Controller from pokeballplus.nintendo.com
I will share more information as more gets announced, but until then comment down below what your favorite starter PokéMon were. Let us know if you are as excited as I am about the future of this franchise. Also, be sure to bookmark (Ctrl+D) the Geek News Now website to not miss any of our coming information, articles, contests, and giveaways. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. Stay Geeky my friends.
