A massive helping of Pokémon GO information has arrived on the web thanks to first-hand reports from players involved in the Beta field test.
The most interesting piece of info is that battles occur in real time and are not turn-based like they are in the mainline Pokémon games. It's worth pointing out that this is based on the gym training portion of the game, but we'd imagine it's the same in the main game.
There's a lot to get through here, so we've summed up some of the key points regarding combat in the following list:
- To attack, you either tap (for a quick attack) or hold down your finger on the screen (for the charge attack)
- A "stamina bar" is displayed underneath your HP bar and appears to be broken in two halves. It refills about 20 percent per second, and appears to be boosted when you take a hit. A long-press charge move consumes around 50% of your stamina
- Incoming attacks are shown via a red crosshair that closes in on your Pokémon, giving you the chance to dodge the blow. To dodge you swipe left or right on the screen. Skillful dodging can actually avoid the attack and place you behind the enemy Pokémon
- Area of Effect attacks seem to hit even when a Pokémon dodges
- Just like other games in the series, Pokémon type has an impact on damage. There are "It's not very effective" and "super effective" messages which pop up depending on what type of attack you're using and the type of the Pokémon you've attacking
- Damage taken during training battles - and presumably standard battles as well - persists after the contest is over, so you need to heal up after each fight
Another interesting piece of information relates to the way the game looks. Given that Ingress developer Niantic is in charge, many feared that the trademark Pokémon charm would be lost, but eyewitness reports seem to indicate that Pokémon GO is looking pretty sweet indeed - and "nothing like Ingress":
I'll just say this, though: it looks freaking fun. Nothing like Ingress. Much more like the 'encounter' screen but with the camera higher set and behind a Pokemon. You see each Pokemon's HP in a bar. There is a second bar, divided into two on the 'computer player pokemon' when training. We're still working out what's happening with that. But the attacks fly like hail. We're seeing both the 'quick' and the charge move. The animations are cool. The pokemon can jump/dodge and it appears to avoid some of the damage from the attack. It's crazy. And colorful. And gloriously not like Ingress.
It was recently revealed that the Beta test is coming to Australia and New Zealand. We already know that when the final product launches, it will hit Japan, North America and Europe first. Are you excited? Let us know.
[source reddit.com]
Comments (21)
isn't sharing this info gonna get you kicked out of the beta?
I am really looking forward to this. I like the fact that you can dodge... now I don't have to watch the anime and listen to ask say "Pikachu, Dodge it!" and then say to myself..."you can't tell a pokemon to dodge." lol
@ikki5 same though I recall an interview with.. someone (I cant remember for the life of me who) where the interviewer asked about dodging not being in the games and the guy said that an player based dodge would add a skill element to the tactical gameplay that could alienate a large portion of the player base. They wanted to reward the player for thinking and knowledge and not twitch skills.
I'm interested how well this goes down in GO
Really can't wait for this. Good bad or ugly I'm giving it a go and for sure buying one of them pokemon nubbin thingys.
Is this going to link to My Nintendo and win us coins some how?
@Uberchu Yeah, that's why I don't post any. Niantic have asked a few sites to remove so some just take the risk and will remove if they ask.
Hmm... At first I was worried that the gameplay won't be like the main series games, but after some thought I think I like this idea more. It will presumably shorten battles for quick bursts and it shouldn't detract from the value of the main series gameplay mechanics, so I won't get burnt out from the turn-based gameplay by the time Sun and Moon comes out.
Oh wow, this sounds way more promising. I was starting to worry that there was no battle system beyond an automated gym defense thing.
Hype slowly building back up...
Man, I can't wait for this game. My job takes me all over the United States. I'm going to Catch'em all.
@Tsurii We need MHXR localised.
@Warioware Considering how it is a Game Freak game and not Nintendo, I doubt it.
Sound interested the obviously want to keep mobile games happy who seem to prefer really time games, Flappy Bird for example. As you can tell where games like angry birds have just gone down the drain even Ravio is suffering! So this would probably suit the mobile gamers micely who may hop on for a quick few mins to play! I don't mind if I want to play a turned base Pokémon game I've got my 3ds by my side! It'll be nice to see a new side of Pokémon and move them about however you want Pokken was kinda that but still had a level of strategy and just only 10 playable characters while this one should have them all! I hope this links to my Nintendo and earns us some coins!
Keep trying to get off the hype train but it keeps sucking me back in.
I can't wait for this game. Does anyone know how the accessory watch thing will play into effect?
Pokemon Trading card game beta also out, but not compatible with my phone (works on my tablet). Pokemon Camp and Photo booth also out now. I hope that Go will have more compatibility from the start. There are still some problems with Miitomo.
This is looking really promising! I might have to get a tablet just to play it.
Oh, this is sounding much better than the automated battling I was expecting.
I'm Mega excited about this game, I just hope all will be well when it finally comes out.
@Serebii ok thanks! I didn't really read most of this post anyway. lol
This is almost anime style battling oh my god
@abe_hikura Well, we gotta keep in mind that Pokemon GO definitely isn't an experience created with hardcore Pokemon fans, who sit down comfortably for hours at a stretch playing the same thing, as the bigger focus.
I mean, do you really think a phone player is going to want to sit on his phone for thirty minutes selecting attacks from a list?
They're used to games that they can pick up and put down quickly, not games that take a huge amount of time and effort to figure out all the ins and outs of.
Pokemon GO being simpler is reflective of the audience they're trying to hook with it.
And for what it's worth, it sounds like the kind of neat "sub game" that some Pokemon fans who love the main games might see as an amusing diversion, but this one feels like it's definitely pointed more towards casual phone players.
Which in and of itself isn't a bad thing, since it seems people enjoy it, and the more they enjoy it, the more Nintendo will make off of it.
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