Taylor Smith
Taysmith@lc.edu
On March 5th of this year, the newest installment of the Pokémon franchise was released, and according to sources such as IGN it is the highest rated game that the franchise has ever released. With a score of 9/10, this game has been surging through popularity rankings, and it is easy to see why. I purchased this game on the day it was released and have been playing it practically non-stop since it came out. This game is fun, adorable, and incredibly addictive.
What is Pokopia?
Pokémon Pokopia, is the newest installment of the Pokémon video game series. You play as a Ditto who has found itself in a post-apocalyptic landscape. You then find what used to be your own trainers Pokédex, which also has a photo of them to remind you of what they looked like. You then transform into the form of your old trainer and venture into the world to start rebuilding the world you have found yourself in.
Pokopia is best described as the perfect combination of 3 of the most popular video games in existence. Pokémon brings in a variety of characters, as well as hidden gems and secrets that connect this world to the main storyline. You will also find enjoyment in watching the Pokémon you find interacting with one another.
Minecraft is where the game gets inspiration for its main building and landscaping mechanics. As you travel through the vast landscapes, you will be given a variety of abilities that allow you to carve out the land as you please and collect the materials necessary to rebuild the world as you once knew it.
Animal Crossing is where I believe that the game gets inspiration from when it comes to mechanics such as character designs, and interactions you may have with other characters and players. Just like in the Animal crossing games, the nicer you make the surrounding areas, the higher your environment scores will be. The higher the score, the more content you will be able to access.
What Characters Can We Meet?
Pokopia has many different characters; however, there are a few that stand out specifically above the rest.
Professor Tangrowth is the first of the characters that you meet. A towering bundle of blue vines adorned with a mass of white vines around his face that also seem to have what looks like a CD and a pair of glasses tangled within them. He is incredibly knowledgeable and essentially serves as your guide throughout the game. If you have any trouble or questions, Professor Tangrowth is there and happy to help.
Chef Dente is a Greedent (a large squirrel like Pokémon) who happily claims to be the best chef in the world. Although it seems like she’s the only one, her cooking skills seem to be pretty good. She is hard to miss when you see her walking around as she adorns herself in a variety of cooking utensils that help her stand out from the crowd. She teaches your character how to cook a variety of dishes, which you can use to give extra power to your characters’ specific abilities.
Peakychu is a pale colored Pikachu with floppy ears and a smaller tail than the average Pikachu. She’s lost the ability to generate electricity on her own, however she can charge herself with electricity from outside sources. She has a shy and sweet demeanor and is always willing to help her friends any way that she can.
There are many more characters for players to meet aside from these three, such as a DJ, an artist, and a construction specialist to name just a few.
Is the Game Worth it?
Since I purchased the game on the day of its release, I have had trouble putting it down. This game has completely sucked me in, and I find myself getting excited over the smallest things. This game is completely addictive and that is quite possibly the only bad thing about it. If you are someone who struggles with staying on important tasks such as course work, I suggest waiting until the end of the semester before you purchase this game. However, if you are someone who can easily transition between tasks and get important work done without worries, then I highly suggest that you get this game as soon as you are able to.
