If you pay any attention to any kind of news, you know that there’s a hot new app called Pokémon Go. And if you’ve read some of my app reviews, you know that I’m a huge fan of Pokémon. Do you see where I’m going with this? No? Well, I’m reviewing the new phenomena on Android devices today.
The Basics
So you may not know the concept of Pokémon Go quite yet. Or you do and you just want to continue reading more of my wonderful words. Well, I appreciate that. I’ll get more into it later, but you basically use your map and camera to catch monsters called Pokémon. You still with me? Good. Let’s talk about the graphics for the game. It’s kind of a 3D game mixed with your maps app mixed with a 3D camera game. So it mixes the real and virtual worlds. Still with me? No? Regardless, I enjoyed the clean 3D graphics of not only the map overview, but the Pokémon themselves when you see them in your camera. Just look at them. They’re adorable.
The Gameplay
Pokémon Go’s gameplay is a bit difficult to understand if you’ve never played the Pokémon games before. Well, what say I give it a shot? As I’ve said, the game combines your map’s GPS with a 3D overworld, making you feel more of a connection with the game. As you walk, you will see where nearby creatures are hiding, where to get more items, and where to battle other creatures. For anyone that didn’t grow up with Pokémon, that must sound very odd.
Is It Fun?
I’m not just saying this as a fan of the franchise, but Pokémon Go is by far the most interesting game I’ve played on a mobile device. The app gives you an incredible sense of immersion, allowing you to feel like you’re really a part of this world of sometimes cute, sometimes cuddly, sometimes terrifying monsters. Just make sure you look up from your phone while you’re walking. Trust me.
The Bottom Line
There’s definitely a reason that everyone’s talking about Pokémon Go so much. The game is truly revolutionary. It’s almost like experiencing virtual reality in the palm of your hand. However, perhaps the greatest achievement by this game is it got me out of the house. And outside of hearing an ice cream truck, there’s not many things that easily get me up and outside like that.