For three decades, the iconic turn-based battle system has been the heart and soul of Pokémon games. However, last year’s Pokémon Legends: Z-A dared to shake things up with real-time mechanics, prompting both excitement and controversy among fans. While this bold move might have alienated some traditionalists, Pokémon Champions offers a haven for those who cherish the classic turn-based experience. And it seems Game Freak intends for that to be the place for old-school battles as future games may continue to change things up.
Preserving the Past, Embracing the Future
In a recent video released on the studio’s YouTube channel, game designer Shigeki Morimoto and Pokémon Champions co-director Kazumasa Iwao shed light on the creation of this battle simulator. Their goal was to safeguard the traditional turn-based battles while simultaneously allowing future Pokémon games to explore new gameplay possibilities.
“One of the biggest reasons behind Pokémon Champions,” Morimoto explained, “was that the rules for competitive Pokémon battles, which we’re so familiar with throughout the Pokémon series, might gradually start changing as the series moves forward.”
He continued, “There are people who have been enjoying this style of Pokémon battles for decades, going all the way back to Red and Green, Gold and Silver, and so on. Simply saying, ‘The battles have changed, so now please go play the new version,’ didn’t really feel right.”
Iwao added, “At the same time, we obviously want the series to continue taking on new challenges. But we also didn’t want to neglect the battle system we’ve had up until now. So we thought: maybe it would be good to make one game that carries forward the existing battle system and lets people continue playing it indefinitely. I think that was really the starting point for the development of Pokémon Champions.”
What’s Next for Pokémon Battles?
While Morimoto and Iwao didn’t reveal specific details about future changes to the battle system, their comments suggest that experimentation will continue. If Legends: Z-A’s real-time battles represent the direction the series is heading, many players will be thrilled. However, it’s undeniable that some fans were disappointed by that shift when the game launched on Switch and Switch 2 last year.
Based on circulating leaks, next year’s Winds and Waves seems to maintain the original turn-based style. However, only time will tell what innovations await in future Pokémon games. One thing is certain: the evolution of the battle system will continue to be a major talking point within the passionate Pokémon community.
Source: Kotaku
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