An overview of a new strategy game about Pokemon that has nothing to do with Pokemon GO.
Everyone remembers the history of the game Pokemon GO – everyone talked about it, but they very quickly forgot. Although this did not stop it from becoming the most popular game of 2016 for mobile platforms (according to App Annie). The success of the game is easy to explain: simple and straightforward gameplay, free-to-play distribution scheme and familiar to many monsters – Pokémon. Plus, the media played a significant role in this: not every game is told on federal channels. However, after a month of release, the noise died down.
I never got to know Pokemon GO, as I played in its ideological predecessor – Ingress. So the whole Pokemon story passed me by. But three days ago a new game in this universe was released – Pokemon Duel. It has nothing to do with Pokemon GO, except for the Pokemon themselves – a different gameplay, developer, publisher and, most importantly, its launch went quietly, without a stir.
Gameplay
Pokemon Duel resembles a board game, especially chess. There is a standard playing field and two players move Pokemon figures on it. The main condition for victory is to move any of your pieces to the enemy's main platform. You can play with a computer or a user from the Internet.
The game is turn-based, the right to the first step is chosen randomly – a kind of drum from the 'Field of Miracles'. Only one action can be taken in one step – move a figure or strike an enemy figure. The outcome of the battle between two Pokémon depends on the characteristics of the figure and a little on luck. During the battle, two reels are launched at once with different segments – miss, defense, impact at full or partial strength. By the way, each figure has characteristics: level, impact power and the number of steps that can be taken at a time. You can improve your Pokémon and change the composition of the team.
To win, you need to choose the right strategy. Swiftly attack the enemy base; distract from one flank and go around with another figure from the opposite side; take up the defensive and so on. The battle tactics are limited only by your imagination and experience. There are two ways to remove an enemy figure from the field: in a one-on-one battle or surround the enemy with your Pokémon from both sides. At the same time, you cannot get hung up on one piece and follow the entire playing field, otherwise the enemy may take you by surprise.
As with any shareware game, Pokemon Duel has various bonuses, chests that open over time, and built-in currency.
Problems
The game is new and has a lot of technical flaws. The first problem is long downloads. One game session lasts on average 2-5 minutes, but due to slow loading, the time spent in the application increases by 2-3 minutes. There are also problems with the servers, which makes it impossible to play. And perhaps the main problem is that few people play Pokemon Duel. Finding an online rival can take 5, 10 or even 20 minutes.
You will see the 'Connecting …' sign very often
Outcome
The gameplay of Pokemon Duel is interesting and challenging. But it would be better to integrate this game into Pokemon Go so that users can fight with the Pokémon they just caught. The game is great for passing 5 minutes of waiting. But the whole impression is spoiled by the technical implementation – the application takes a long time to load, problems with connection, a long search for rivals. Outwardly, the game is well done, but the music is typical of old Japanese games, which not everyone will like. The game is only in English and Japanese, but almost everything is clear and without translation.
I recommend to fans of board games.
