Topic: Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee!

Except in Gen 5

@Octane I am surprised by a weasel learning Surf. Drampa I get because Dragon, I kinda assume that, and Slurpuff I'm okay with because when you see the rest of it's movepool you expect it.

An improvement it was, but the game was still littered with barriers

^This^

@TheLZdragon Actually, no. In Black and White there was only ever one mandatory use of a HM move, and it's to access the first battle with Team Plasma in the Dreamyard.

In BW2 the only HMs you need use are Surf and Strength.

Ah the surfing Rhydon, who else remembers that episode?

Still, surfing Tyranitar was the most surprising entry in that list imo.

@link3710 It makes kinda sense:

The only thing I like about HMs were that they gave Bidoof a use.

@Octane Probably my favorite reply I've ever gotten on this site, thank you.

@Octane
I don't think you understand why I and many others hate HMs.
They restrict your freedom in which Pokémon you want to bring along and which moves you want them to learn. Simple as that. Sun and Moon apparently did a perfect job removing them. It's now possible to create a team of Pokémon however you see fit. And that's beautiful!

The one thing I don't like about Ride over HMs is that you can't use your own Pokemon for it. One thing about HMs, and I think this is the reason Game Freak implemented them in the first place, is that it creates a sort of bond between you and your Pokemon. Your Pokemon are actually helping you explore the world and make progress in your adventure. With Ride, it's just some random Pokemon. It kind of breaks that connection. It'd be nice if you could use your own Pokemon for Ride abilities. If you have a Waillord or a Floatzel or a Golduck on your team, Surf on those instead of Lapras or Sharpedo. If you have a Pidgeot or a Braviary, you can use those instead of Charizard. Let your own Pokemon get in on the action.

Now normally this would be seen as ridiculous because of how many overworld models they would have to animate to make this work. However, we've seen from SM's files that they're already working on that anyway. So this would actually be a somewhat reasonable expectation. Would also give somewhat of a use for bringing back Pokemon following you which people are expecting to see again, instead of just cute, mainly useless interactions with your Pokemon you could have them use their field move. That would really take both the Ride system and following to a whole new level.

@Bolt_Strike I prefer that solution over the current one. If they don't want to bring back HMs, allowing to use your own Pokemon to surf and fly would be a lot better. So you've got a list of Pokemon that are 'surf compatible', a list of Pokemon that are 'fly compatible'. Maybe allow any Pokemon that knows either cut, slash, metal claw, etc. to cut down trees. And Pokemon that know Headbutt, Strength and/or Double-edge to move large boulders. It's just a suggestion of course. That would be some kind of middle ground. You're still doing away with the HMs, but you still need your Pokemon to overcome certain obstacles.

Or bring them back but drop the archaic limitations on them

Yeah, Sun/Moon's solution of using specific riding Pokemon for the tasks felt very impersonal. I also didn't like how over half of them were G1 Pokemon. But I guess at least some of them weren't.

I always thought even if they kept HMs around, they should at least make it optional whether the Pokemon learns it is an attack move or not. That would certainly solve one half of the problem.

The funny thing about Ride Pokemon is the make clear its specifically that specific Pokemon. It's specifically Hapu's Mudsdale etc.

So what happens if she's riding it and you teleport it away?

@Harmonie I'm wondering if Gamefreak may just go halfway & allow you to use HMs... to make Ride Pokémon. Only certain pokémon can use them (like HMs), but they allow you to use the pokémon the same way you use Ride Pokémon.

Was interested watching a few videos earlier where two independant "leaks" from very different sources both state that the battle system will be simplified & more similar to Digimon World and that Gamefreak was once of the first teams to get development software for the Switch (meaning they've had a few years to start working on it).

Obviously all leaks are taken with a huge grain of salt until confirmed.

@DanteSolablood Most of those "leaks" are based on each other to gain credibility. And the most radical ideas get the most attention. Don't pay attention to those. There's no reason why GF would want to ditch the current battle system. They've spent more than 20 years refining it, or at least trying to. And let's not forget the huge online audience that keeps these games alive after launch.

@sillygostly Defog really is the worst HM ever. When I see a place where it's needed, I'm like "I don't really want to teach it to anyone and I'm too lazy to go fetch another Pokémon for my team. I remember it being annoying to advance without it but maybe it wasn't that bad. I'll just continue without it." and then after a while I realize that I've made a horrible mistake.

I'm not a fan of Waterfall, Whirlpool and Dive either. I usually have just one water type with me and Surf is already taking one slot. I don't want to teach two more and limit my combat options.

@Late At least Surf and Waterfall are special and physical. I can live without Dive and Whirlpool as well.

@Octane Indeed, I appreciate that rumours create rumours. However, I'm not too sure about the "it's fine" idea on why they'd not change the battle system... let's not forget, almost ever generation there are complaints about the game feeling stale & recently many other big Nintendo Franchises have embraced change. You could easily have said "why would Nintendo change how Zelda works, they've been refining it's dungeon RPG system for 30 years".

Either way, I never put too much faith in any leak/rumour unless there is actual evidence behind it.