'Pokémon X' and 'Y' Are Polished But Play It Too Safe

PokÃ©mon X and PokÃ©mon Y represent huge graphical leaps forward for the PokÃ©mon RPG series, improving the things fans love and wrapping it in a shinier package. But that colorful exterior belies a rigid adherence to the same old game formula, for better or for worse.

For its first entry onto the 3DS handheld, GameFreak along with Nintendo brought the storied franchise into the world of modern graphics, with three-dimensional characters and worlds. The games â€" with slight variations between the two â€" are more beautiful and engrossing than ever because of it, with PokÃ©mon creatures seemingly jumping off the screen.

The update, thanks to the improved 3DS hardware, has brought notable changes to the game, but fans of the franchise will see just as many hallmarks they've grown to love. Though the visuals may push the envelope, the standards remain. It's like riding a bike â€" even if you haven't played PokÃ©mon in years, like me, you'll still grasp the basics quickly.

Welcome to Kalos, a Land of Mysterious Evolutions

PokÃ©mon X and Y start similarly to previous titles: You'll assume the role of a teenager who is suddenly dropped in the middle of a great adventure by a scientist who wants to research PokÃ©mon evolution. This time, a group of four friends (and rivals) joins you, and they'll accompany you through parts of your journey across the Kalos region.

The game is focused on the players researching "Mega Evolution," a state PokÃ©mon can reach during battle after their final evolved form. Players must track down the components to Mega Evolution and discover why it only happens to certain PokÃ©mon. You'll run through the same eight-gym system as in previous games in order to make your way to the final, tough PokÃ©mon trainers â€" a tried formula that could maybe use an update soon.

Along the journey, players are haunted by Team Flare, a sharply-dressed group decked in orange. Their motives and the motives of a sinister-looking man named Lysandre aren't revealed until later in the game. But as villains go, they are simple stand-ins and don't really serve to motivate the player.

PokÃ©mon X and Y's story isn't its strong suit. One could argue the slow, obvious writing is aimed at child players, but plenty of games and movies manage to attract both younger and older audiences with smart, interesting stories. But honestly, that's fine. That's not what we're here to enjoy, and PokÃ©mon X and Y have a lot going for them.

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GameFreak Caters Gameplay for Every Type of Player

What's great about PokÃ©mon games is they allow for both deep dives and casual play. You'll get just as much out of it if you want to meander about and slowly level up your PokÃ©mon as you would if you're focused on meticulously monitoring your team's stats and progression.

X and Y are no different. The games have made some tweaks on the old formula that will satisfy both groups of players.

GameFreak took into consideration how time-starved people are now. In a ninterview with Mashable, game director Junichi Masuda admitted the company knew gamers have less free time to play, so it wanted to make the game less of a grind. The combination of new elements and those from previous games allowed me to progress quick enough where I didn't feel bored at any point. Between roller skates used to zip along trails faster, an item that lets PokÃ©mon share experience after a battle, and the fact that capturing a wild PokÃ©mon now nets you experience from the fight, I was able to get a team of PokÃ©mon in fighting shape quickly. For players leery of the time they'll sink into PokÃ©mon, this is a huge boon.

Of course, the games can get terribly complex if you let them. It appears each iteration of PokÃ©mon games has added more elements to the battle, which means you'll probably have to consult the web a few times to figure out the benefits of each item you find. For example, I was constantly picking up things that didn't have an immediate purpose. PokÃ©mon X and Y switch between assuming players have no knowledge of the game to believing they have played each title in the series and understand all of the systems.

Battling is still the main reason to enjoy PokÃ©mon, and the game never stops being enjoyable whether you are fighting wild PokÃ©mon, other trainers or your friends. There are enough new twists to keep it interesting. PokÃ©mon X and Y introduced Horde battles, where the player is ambushed by five attacking PokÃ©mon at once. There are also sky-only battles, which were a neat diversion when I was presented with them.

3DS NFC Makes Battling Friends Easier Than Ever

The games present other new features as well, many of which are made possible because of the boost in power of the 3DS and its enhanced online capabilities.

The game's graphics look stunning, and the Cel-shading art style is so crisp. The 3D feature on the 3DS give battles an added pop, but it isn't available when wandering. The game also takes an over-the-shoulder camera position in some cities and caves, which is a little more disorienting than useful because how tight the shot is held on the main character.

Trading and battling friends has always been a staple of PokÃ©mon, but the 3DS NFC features have made it even easier to do so. During gameplay, the 3DS' bottom screen displays the Player Search System â€" or PSS. It shows which friends are online (connected via 3DS friend code); acquaintances (the people you've interacted with who aren't on your friends list); and passersby (players picked up on NFC that are nearby to your physical location). Tapping those people for trades or battles is simple, and they'll get a notification and a chance to save their game. I can see this feature being a big hit in places where 3DS consoles regularly convene.

Two other modes happen in the player's bottom screen, too: Super Training and PokÃ©mon-Amie. The first mode allows you to power up your PokÃ©mon's stats via a weird mini-game where you shoot a giant inflated target. The second mode lets you to pet and feed your PokÃ©mon â€" similar to Nintendogs. Although it's novel to see your little friends up close like that, it isn't interesting enough to play over and over again. PokÃ©mon-Amie also has its own mini-games, but they are very simple and aren't compelling enough to play more than once or twice.

Wild World Entertains With New and Old Creatures

You can't talk about PokÃ©mon X and Y without mentioning the PokÃ©mon creatures themselves. The Kalos region is brimming with them, and I found five to eight new creatures on each route between cities I traveled.

Old favorites are infused in the games, likely exciting GameFreak artists who wanted to bring back fan favorites so they could now give them full 3D-model treatment. This includes the three original starter PokÃ©mon: Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Charmander, which you can gain access to a couple of hours into the game.

Plenty of new faces emerge, too. Many of the new creatures brought something different to the table, whether it was a new move or a new type combination. I found myself really enjoying Fletchling, a small robin PokÃ©mon that quickly developed fire powers. The new games' starter PokÃ©mon are also quite surprising in their power, and I was happy to see my Froakie grow up in such a neat way.

The games' addition of Mega Evolutions was generally fascinating as well. These characters could have been easily overpowered in battle, taking away the challenge, but they weren't. It added some depth, but you won't automatically win all battles when you acquire the ability, especially since each PokÃ©mon doesn't "mega evolve" in the same way.

The world of Kalos itself is also really well-designed. The team has said before it is based on France, giving it it a bit of old-world charm in the cities and natural beauty in the country. The variety of terrain, from rolling fields to rivers to rocky mountain passes only traversable via a Rhydon mount, keeps every moment outdoors fresh.

Conclusion

The much-anticipated 3DS addition to the PokÃ©mon series will not disappoint fans of the franchise. 3D has been a long time coming, and I'm glad it turned out so well. While the battles are as fun as ever, I wish developers would had taken more risks with its structure and story. Still, whether you just want to casually battle friends or enter tournaments, PokÃ©mon X and Y will give you enough to chew on for many, many hours of fun.