Pokémon is a series that is near and dear to me. I love Pokémon with all my heart, so when I saw Let's go's reveal trailer I was cautiously optimistic.

As more information came out about the game I was honestly really excited. I was confident the game would be a fun experience and tide me over until the next Pokémon game. And honestly I was right in some ways with that prediction.

I know in this book specifically I was hard on the game before but I really don't think the marketing or reveal were bad at all.

Just keep in mind there's heavy biases in this review, but I do have some negative things to say. Now onto the review!

Let's start with the graphics. These are by far the best looking Pokémon games to date. They take the X and Y artstyle and refine it with the new hardware.

Nothing is impressive compared even to other switch games but for a Pokémon game it's amazing to see such clean smooth 3D models and gorgeous HD visuals even while on the go.

The style works for a game like this and I'm really happy to see it come back looking so beautiful.

The game runs amazingly at 30 FPS at all times. There can be a crazy amount of Pokémon, trainers, and hazards in an area and the frame-rate won't drop at all. It's a huge refresher from Pokémon Sun and Moon which had frame drops nearly whenever more than 4 models were onscreen.

I really like how the Pokémon now appear in the overworld. It's now largely up to you if you want to get into battles, while Pokémon will still pop up in your path this has a much more important secondary purpose.

You know exactly what Pokémon you're going to be battling, no more RNG on what Pokémon you'll encounter when you get into a battle. It's random what Pokémon will appear yes but you know once they show up they're yours to battle.

They added a lot of rare Pokémon to each area so this is very helpful. I found a clefable in mount moon just as an example. They usually have the evolved form of Pokémon in the wild now.

There's a large variety of Pokémon everywhere like Bellsprout in Route 1 as just one example of many. The spread of Pokémon is very even and you can easily build a balanced team with the 151 Pokémon available.

This game is a Pokémon game. They removed abilities, held items, breeding Pokémon, and battling wild Pokémon. But other than that. This is a Pokémon game.

They improved a lot of stuff. You don't have to hold B to run anymore. Pokémon can follow you again and they have tons of unique features. You ride some of them and others will follow you or even go off and kinda do their own thing.

It's so much more detailed than how Heart Gold and Soul Silver did it. And honestly this feature better not leave again.

Multiplayer is really fun. It's a drop in drop out system and the second player leaves during cutscenes, Uses your Pokémon, and can't do much of anything. But I got to try it out and honestly it's a really nice time. It's just fun to finally have a Pokémon adventure I can tackle with a friend.

Online has been stripped down, I'm really upset about that. Wonder trading and GTS got the axe and so did battling randos. It was the easiest way to get version exclusives and trade exclusives. Now it's gone. I know it'll be back in the next games but it does upset me.

The catching system isn't that bad. I don't mind it, while yes I prefer the old one I only have one major problem with the new system. The only way to increase your chances are with getting the ball into the ring, using stronger balls, and berries. Silver and Gold Razz Berries are very uncommon, balks are little help and neither is good timing.

There's no status afflictions or weakening Pokémon. It really just upsets me especially when I was catching the legendary bird Pokémon and just had to blindly throw balls at the birds hoping to catch them. Hell they don't even have different throws like Pokémon Go has. It's just the same throw.

One positive is you get to battle the four legendary Pokémon, so at least getting them feels very earned. The battles are easy enough but the fact that you still get to fight them and they have really cool introduction cutscenes makes each battle a treat.

Pokémon Go's connectivity is ok. Getting Meltan through the transferring is cool and it's nice that you get rewarded for two and a half years of playing the game and catching tons of Pokémon. Just send some version exclusives and rare Pokémon to the park and it's easy to catch them all.

The Pokémon Go Park is very organized and makes transferring Pokémon over very easily. I really like the area and it comes in at a point in the game that's just right. While I'm sad to see the safari zone go the entire game is basically the safari zone so I don't mind too much.

The music is fully orchestrated and thank god. One of the happiest moments of me playing is hearing all the game's songs remixed with so many more instruments. Honestly the soundtrack is godly and they even remix the Pokémon go music at one point. It's all really great.

The story actually takes a few strides to make itself different from the original game- no it doesn't. But it adds a lot of flare. For one they have a certain character from Heart Gold and Soul Silver appear that I was more than happy to see back.

Then they have Blue an active member of the story, going around and making appearances and even challenging you to a battle at one point.

The new rival is basically a rehash or Blue except he's less of a jerk and he has this really great moment with the Cubone from Lavender Town that really defines his character.

The threat of team rocket actually feels way more fleshed out in this game. While they're still some of the weakest villains in the series I like what was done with them here.

This game is not like fire red and leaf green. It does many things to make it different from Pokémon Yellow and I can really appreciate all the effort that went into the little changes. I've played the Gen 1 games and their remakes a dozen times over so I was able to notice every change and really nothing irked me other than the removal of old features, and even then I understand why.

Single joycon play is surprisingly fitting  for Pokémon games but they don't just screw over people who want to play on handheld. Instead you play with both joycon and in wild Pokémon battles you use gyro aiming and use a button to throw the Pokeball.

This is my preferred way to catch Pokémon. You always know what direction the ball is going to go in and getting off side throws is way easier.

Catching with motion controls isn't bad, they're actually super responsive and accurate, it's just sometimes a bit wonky to get the angle you want and there is a slight delay.

This game is jam packed with little details and you'll see them all over the world. Pokémon has never felt more alive. There's little cutscenes for everything and it all feels so much more modern and serious.

Customization for both you and your partner Pokémon is a really nice touch. And while it's a shame you can only use this game's version of Pokémon Amie with Eevee or Pikachu it's still very cute because of how many different things you can do with Eevee.

Honestly I really like that this game picks your starter Pokémon. It lets you actually build a bond with your starter and you have tons of cutscenes with your first Pokémon. I felt really attached to Eevee because she was always perched on my head or there was a cutscene involving her in the world. You're really going on this journey with a friend.

This game doesn't hold your hand as much as Sun and Moon. It offers you lots of options to skip backtracking, once again keeps HMs completely out of the game, and characters will tell you where to go but Kanto is the least linear region and it remains that way for the most part.

I'm aware this review has been mostly disjointed positive things but I really did like this game and there's a lot to say about it.

However it is not for everyone. I recommend it to everyone after a price drop but at its current price I only can recommend it to select groups.

This game's main story will offer about 25 hours of content. The Master Trainers are the only other substantial post game tasks but there's stuff to do all over the world after you beat the game.

Master trainers are honestly pretty tedious and I have no motivation to beat them all but it's nice that they exist.

Competitive battling has kinda been ruined because of a lot of really stupid additions alongside your starter being super O.P so I expect very little from that.

Catching them all is definitely an achievable goal this time around and I think everyone should go for it.

My consensus is if you're really into Pokémon and don't mind the dumbing down of some features and the removal of others then get this game.

If you really want a multiplayer Pokémon, are interested in catching them all, like Pokémon Go and want your Pokémon to have use outside that game, or you just want an experience that'll make you happy. Get this game.

If you want a switch this game easily has the best bundle out of all the available switch bundles so if you want an excuse to buy a switch and want this game then get the bundle.

Finally, if you want to get into Pokémon so you can jump into the next game. Then get this game. It really is the perfect game to bridge the gap.

That's all for this review, hope y'all enjoyed it! Let me know what you think of Pokémon let's go! Next month we'll talk about how Nintendo could've improved their 2018 lineup and also review smash bros ultimate. Until then, see y'all later! Bye!