Summary
- Pokemon X and Y introduced players to a new 3D world and mechanics that hadn't been possible in earlier games, such as riding Pokemon and character customization options.
- While these games were exciting at the time, some of the new features introduced didn't reach their full potential and were never expanded upon in future generations.
- One of the standout features of Pokemon X and Y was the Mega Evolution mechanic, which is still remembered fondly by fans, and many hope to see it return in future games.
The Pokemon series has evolved a lot over the past 10 years, moving from traditional pixel art graphics into full 3D-rendered models for its characters and critters and introducing a handful of new mechanics that have shaped the way players interact with the games' world. While each generation has iterated upon its predecessors, Pokemon X and Y can be seen as an important point in the series as they formed the foundation of what modern games in the franchise would become. However, even 10 years after their release, Pokemon X and Y still feel like odd outliers in the greater franchise.
These games released on October 12, 2013, and were notable for being the first mainline titles in the franchise to have a simultaneous worldwide release. Gen 6 introduced players to the brand-new Kalos Region based on real-world France, along with 72 new species of critters for players to encounter, although at the time this was the lowest number of new mons added in a generation to date. Despite the excitement of finally having a mainline Pokemon game in 3D on the Nintendo 3DS, Pokemon X and Y became somewhat controversial entries in the series, and the lack of follow-up on the new ideas these games' introduced haven't helped improve their image.
The Pokemon Series’ Jump to 3D Opened the Door for New Gameplay Opportunities
Following the end of DS era of Pokemon games, many fans were excited to see the series finally make the transition to 3D despite the Nintendo 3DS being out for two years at that point. With the release of Pokemon X and Y, players finally were able to see their favorite mons rendered as 3D models in a mainline game and had the freedom of eight-directional movement that this jump to 3D brought. As a result of the change to 3D, these games featured new mechanics that hadn't previously been possible on prior systems.
To the joy of many fans, Pokemon X and Y introduced the ability to ride on certain mons, like Gogoat in Lumiose City or Rhyhorn on Route 9. Other new features included things like Super Training to help streamline EV training for competitive battles, new battle types like Horde Battles and Sky Battles, and, for the first time in the series, character customization options beyond selecting one of two genders. Even a small feature like Pokemon Amie helped players interact with the world of Pokemon like never before.
However, some of the features introduced in Pokemon X and Y never saw their full potential realized beyond their existence in the Gen 6 games. While things like ridable Pokemon and Pokemon Amie evolved into mechanics like picnics and the ability to ride Koraidon and Miraidon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, others never returned in future generations. Horde Battles and Sky Battles were interesting mechanics in concept, but were never utilized as well as they could have been before disappearing from the series entirely after Gen 6.
Pokemon X an Y's Story Never Quite Stuck the Landing
The technological advancements of Pokemon X and Y on the 3DS also allowed the games' story to be told in a way that wasn't possible before. While previous titles were limited in what could be shown through cutscenes, the 3DS allowed Pokemon X and Y to showcase cinematic events using 3D-rendered visuals. This set the games up to have epic story-telling potential, but some narrative choices ended up being controversial among players, and other plot threads seemed to be left hanging by the end of the game.
The main focus of the story is on the player and their group of friends setting out on their Pokemon journeys together with guidance from Professor Sycamore. Along the way, they uncover a plot by the evil Team Flare to use an ancient weapon used in a war 3,000 years ago to rid the world of all its imperfections and shape a new one to the liking of their leader, Lysandre. The player is able to thwart this plot and free the Legendary Xerneas or Yveltal from Team Flare's control and go on to become the Pokemon League Champion.
While in theory this plot sounds like an above average Pokemon adventure, many players took issue with some characters like Trevor, Tierno, and Shauna, the player's friends who seem to add little to the story and only serve to hold the player's hand throughout the game. Another controversial plot element is the existence of AZ, the former king of Kalos and creator of the ultimate weapon 3,000 years ago. Although AZ holds an important place in the lore of the Kalos Region, his story is only vaguely told in Pokemon X and Y, and he has yet to appear in another game since.
Ten Years Later, Pokemon Fans Still Want to See Mega Evolution Return
Possibly the most memorable aspect of the Gen 6 games was the introduction of the Mega Evolution mechanic. Mega Evolution took the iconic series mechanic of evolution to the next level by allowing some mons to evolve further beyond what they were already capable of but only for the duration of the battle. While this mechanic was controversial at the time due to only a few mons receiving this ability and others becoming quite overpowered because of it, Mega Evolution is now fondly remembered by fans even 10 years after it was introduced.
Unfortunately for many fans, Mega Evolution was not meant to last and had a greatly diminished role in the Gen 7 games before being cut entirely from Gen 8 onward. However, the introduction of Mega Evolution in Gen 6 paved the way for the current trend of a new generational gimmick with each new generation of games. Even with each generation gaining a new battle gimmick, Mega Evolution remains the most memorable, and many fans hope to see it reintroduced to the series one day.
Pokemon Z is the Necessary Game that Never Was
Pokemon X and Y remain an outlier for the series in that they never received a third, definitive version like prior generations had gotten. While it was rumored a Pokemon Z version was in the works, that game never came to fruition, and after Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the series moved on to Gen 7. This lack of a Pokemon Z left a hole in the Kalos Region that the series has tried to fill since with mixed results.
Aside from plot elements like digging into AZ's history and fleshing out the ultimate weapon's role in the existence of Mega Evolution, a Pokemon Z was necessary to give the Legendary Zygarde its time to shine. Zygarde was supposed to be the third mascot mon to exist alongside Xerneas and Yveltal, but without a Pokemon Z its lore was shoehorned into the Gen 7 games instead. This felt like a disservice to an otherwise fascinating creature who likely won't get its due until a remake of Pokemon X and Y or a Pokemon Legends Kalos game.
Pokemon X and Y are available on Nintendo 3DS.