SM4SHshorts

Episode 2:

"Stay alert boys, there's an experienced Pokémon Trainer."

Guard throws out Poké Ball.

Viewers eagerly anticipate the arrival of a powerful Pokémon.

Magnemite appears.

Okay this was my main gripe with the device! Awesome news!!

Great review. I was catching 'mon as I read this (and now as I'm writing this). My experiences so far:

PROS

Catching 'mon without needing the app on my screen (obvs) - although it still needs to be open

Effortlessly catching common 'mon I wouldn't usually bother with (great for collecting Stardust, levelling up, and herding 'mon for double XP Lucky Egg Evolutions)

Gaining mileage easily (great for hatching eggs and collecting candy for your Buddy Pokémon)

Collecting items from PokéStops

CONS

Fiddly to setup

You can't use Razz Berries or different types of Poké Ball

You don't have control of how you catch Pokémon (so trying to gain extra XP or increase your odds of catching a Pokémon by manipulating your throw doesn't apply here)

Harder to catch stronger Pokémon you encounter due to the two reasons above

Arguably the worst one of them all - the device seemingly doesn't detect new Pokémon (EDIT: although this has recently been discovered as untrue)

Some of the cons are excusable due to how the device is supposed to provide a casual and complimentary experience to the app, but some (such as not being able to detect new Pokémon) aren't.

Just my two cents - happy overall though!

"It's also worth noting that you will only be able to capture Pokémon with the GO Plus if they are already listed in your Pokédex - new Pokémon which you've not yet captured can only be snared using your phone."

This is SUCH a shame. I was hoping that the LED light would flash in a unique way to signify a new Pokémon. Or am I misunderstanding this in that it will still notify you of a new Pokémon, but you can only catch it by using your phone device?

My favourite console of all-time (yes, I say that having grown up on the SNES and N64). The GameCube was just so special, and it suffered the same syndrome that the Wii U did.

Both great consoles with some timeless titles, but poor marketing and poor initial judgement halted their successes.

I'm so glad the look of Mario characters evolved over the years, golly this looks horrendous.

I'm afraid I can't say the same for Sonic and co though...

@aaronsullivan https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/08/talking_point_pokemon_gos_next_major_update_should_target_gen_vii_pokemon

I love Miyamoto. I'd be forever grateful if I could meet him one day...

@Rhydas S'all good brother, I didn't feel that it came off that way at all

Love it. So simple, yet effective - and a great way to bring more and more casuals into the world of Super Mario. This is exactly what the red plumber needed to harness a larger audience.

@Classic603 Fair! We agree to disagree

@Classic603 Like I said, it's just my two cents. Perhaps the industry I'm in leads me to think a certain way, but I can't help it if these are my immediate thoughts when watching a video AND with the article's tagline reading "Try not to fall out...". It just seems unnecessary to me - there are more positive ways to convey the end message without the need of two children falling out.

The kids could work through a shared problem via camaraderie and support (such as catching a rare Pokémon or in a 2v2 battle) and the video would still achieve the same result. They still have a problem to overcome - but not with each other or other people, but within the game itself. Anyway enough said on the matter!

@Rhydas I get that, but I can't help but feel that associating any sort of negativity and emotional distress when marketing a kids' game can be a good thing for publicity. Personally, there's no need for all that malarky, especially when your core audience are kids at the end of the day.

Sure, we're all aware of what really goes on in the real world, but I felt this was a poor choice of direction to try to convey the element of strengthening a bond. As mentioned, that could've been done via teamwork and supporting one another, or come to think of it something like a 2v2 battle.

Just expressing my personal opinion!

I loved the first of the "Train On" series, but I'm not so hot on this one. Coming from a children's entertainment place of work myself, even the notion of showing a child being verbally taunted, or expressing disappointment and being distraught over losing just isn't the way to go. It's a potential deterrent to kids wanting to play this game.

Perhaps I'm overthinking it, but it displays the idea of competitiveness in a negative light - which we're obviously aware exists in real-life - but there isn't a need to show it here, especially when children are concerned.

Perhaps I'm missing the point, but I'm not a fan with the overall direction they've taken here. Maybe they should've done something more along the lines of Boy A catching a rare Pokémon with Boy B just missing out due to it fleeing or something of the sort, with Boy A consoling Boy B and motivating him to keep his head up and catch the Pokémon in his second attempt. I'm no scriptwriter, but I think that would've been a better approach due to showing an element of camaraderie and friendship.

Just my two cents...

@Freeon-Leon @headfirstslide The former! Gee, how inconvenient!

I can't help but think of Twilight Princess' first reveal when I glance at the first option, so "A Major Press Event / Conference, Streamed Online" it is (if handled correctly, of course).

I'd love them to open with a bang, such as a new 3D Mario, Metroid, F-Zero etc. We need Miyamoto with props to make it complete.

@rjejr It's a pop-up store, so all that effort for less than a week's worth of trade wouldn't warrant the cost involved of painting + removing it all. Cool vid though!

Twas a lunch break well spent! Speaking of "spent", my poor wallet could do with a Hyper Potion or two...

@Tsurii That sucks, but thanks! I'd rather avoid shipping costs and just await a UK link in the near future, if any...

UK link anyone?

As much as I thought I'd love Pokkén Tournament, I just couldn't really get into it. I played it for two weeks straight after its launch, and just couldn't become a fan of its mechanics. Its concept and visuals are cool, but the fighting engine is just meh.

That coupled with always having Smash on the go meant I didn't touch the game again. I guess my problem is if it ain't Smash, it's trash. Jk, I still love me some classic fighting game styles like SF and MK, but PT just didn't do it for me at all, which is a shame really...

Sm4sh, MK8, Splatoon, and SMK are still relatively new. However, Smash has been confirmed for the NX, but of course, it's too soon for a new release (Sma5h) - so a definitive version works for me since I still need to be playing this game. Include all the DLC, all the 3DS content, and a couple of other extra bonuses (a few new characters, stages, and maybe even an adventure mode), and I'm game.

As for MK8 and Splatoon, I say hold-off. Instead of rereleasing these titles in the same vain as Smash, why not fill the gaps with 1P Super Mario and Metroid adventures (and Zelda BotW of course) for the time being, and release MK9 and "Spla2oon" in late 2017 and beyond? Perhaps games such as a Pokémon Stadium-esque game (PS3?), Mario Party 11, a new F-Zero and others could help fulfil that multiplayer bracket until then.

It's a tricky situation - the Wii U still possesses relatively new, high quality titles where new instalments aren't needed just yet, however a new console warrants a new game in each series. Nintendo need to make sure they don't make the same mistake with the NX that they did with the Wii U - and that's have a lack of their signature, core titles within the first couple of years of the new console's release.

Hm, some interesting points here. Gen II is by far my favourite Gen, but I think a bit of patience with it for the launch of Gen VII could go a long way!

I don't know. Mixed feelings. Certain new Pokémon look great, and while some of the Alola forms look awesome, I'm just not a fan. The series has grown overwhelmingly - Mega Evolutions are as far as I'd have taken it. I'm all for innovation and reinvention, but this kind of overdid it for me. Maybe it's just a lot to take in at the moment, and I'll probably grow to like it somewhat come November, but right now I just think the franchise is an overkill.

My future child will be named Dunsparce, boy or girl.

Weird. I still haven't received a "sorry" email from Ninty UK...maybe I'm a lucky customer?!

:'-)

@Marce2240 Exactly.

Many platforms already do this, and I actually couldn't care less as long as its not putting my privacy at risk. If they want to learn more about how I behave within the app, so be it - learn from what I dislike and make it better I say!

TEAM INSTINCT!

And here come the server issues!

@AshFoxX Agree with you on seeing other players on the map, and I said the others already, but I have to disagree on the battle system here.

Yes, the current battle system isn't the most elegant way of taking out gyms, but the whole point is that it's supposed to be a casual game. There's just enough depth in the game for veterans to seek out an edge, but not too much to overwhelm casuals - and that's part of the reason why GO has done so phenomenally well.

If GO had complex battle mechanics and stayed true to its roots, what would be the reason to purchase the main-series games? Casuals would also have to learn a great deal about Pokémon's ins and outs - something that'd increase the drop-rate of the app loads.

That's my two cents anyway...

Great review. Server issues aside, I'd give this game a 9/10. It's been a phenomenal week or so, and hopefully this wave will only continue with some of the future updates they have planned.

The community both around my home and work has been unbelievable. I've met a ton of cool people (both casuals and gamers), and encountered some awesome moments. This app provides a truly unique experience I haven't felt for a long time. It's the closest thing to the one dream all Pokéfanatics of yesteryear had!

@Megumi_Sagano Hmm good point! @aliuc I've already said that.

Drampa reminds me of a Legend of Zelda-esque dragon, like Valoo from The Wind Waker or Lanayru from Skyward Sword.

Aaannnddd...DONE!

@LordMolecule The WW theory has been surfacing around the internet, and was covered well by YouTuber Zeltik (not sure who was the actual originator of the theory though). As for the second one, it's something I thought of as soon as the new footage was unveiled. I'm sure many shared the same thought, so I'm not laying claim to it or anything!

Already off to a good start, love it.

That was phenomenal. What talent.

@Peace-Boy The initial interview was conducted before the rumour was debunked, but the question still remains relevant due to the possibility of development for the next Nintendo handheld system (whatever that may be).

In the words of the great Street Fighter announcer - PERFECT.

Does he mean we should play the NX alongside the Wii U as it offers a completely unique experience? I'm sure it's still going to be (whether officially declared or not) the next Nintendo console, therefore being a successor to the Wii U.

@amishpyrate They still do, licensing their IP to other studios to create games for them - most notably Star Wars Battlefront. I think it's a genius move - it's what they do with all their clothing and general merchandise anyway, and they profit bucket-loads. The Lego games will be heavily involved (more-so than ever), let me assure you.

Okay that Japanese trailer was awesome. Amazing tone of direction!
So much hype, tough call between Rowlet and Litten!! The cover art to Sun is tempting me to go with Sun over Moon now...

Okay that Japanese trailer was awesome. Amazing tone of direction!

So much hype, tough call between Rowlet and Litten!! The cover art to Sun is tempting me to go with Sun over Moon now...

@Baker1000 fully agree. I've always said that perhaps people dressed in full character costumes could come to the front of the stage and re-enact moments from the piece of music being played. It would add so much more to the overall show. I've been twice too, and while it's still amazing, something more could bring it further to life.

@Xenocity True. Well, there's still the Tokyo Games Show to hope for in September...

NX and Zelda in 2017? Not a problem in my eyes - if they need more development time then I'm all for it (although yes, this is the second delay now).

It also allows those who do not have the time to delve into all of Ninty's latest releases to play catchup (Pokken Tournament, Hyrule Warriors Legends, Star Fox Zero, and even Xenoblade Chronicles), as well as fully enjoy Pokémon Sun and Moon in late 2016 without having to worry about anything else.

However, nothing but Zelda at E3? That's the real disappointing news. Some NX progress would've been the logical move, and any Sun/Moon further developments would've been nice. Perhaps they have one more trick up their sleeve, but let's not hold our breath...

@CapeSmash I have to disagree. If we're going into the film/cartoon territory, the likes of Mickey Mouse etc. are way better candidates than Shrek due to their pioneer status within the industry. But I still firmly believe none of them deserve a spot on the roster, due to, you know, them not being video game characters and all.

The short showed just how much potential Nintendo have in the TV industry. I for one thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I'm not a massive Star Fox fan. Awesome stuff, it's actually done it's job to make me want to consider purchasing the game. Hook, line, and sinker...

@Notoriousdrp Hahaha I was thinking the exact same thing.