“Pokémon Champions” was released for the Nintendo Switch 2 on April 8. The game, which was announced last year on Pokémon Day, (February 27, the anniversary of the first Pokémon games’ release), would be the first official project since 2006’s “Pokémon Battle Revolution” to be a dedicated 3D battle simulator. Without the restrictions of considering narrative gameplay and with the expectation that “Champions” would host official competitive tournaments, fans were ecstatic. Many had hoped it would revive now-obsolete mechanics that have graced previous Pokémon games like Mega Evolution and Z-Moves. But did it deliver on the built hype?
The Good:
Pokémon Champions offers a variety of tutorials for several key aspects of Pokémon battling that help keep newer players informed. Move and ability descriptions are more in-depth than their mainline counterparts, demystifying several hidden mechanics that give players a greater understanding of the moving parts in play. Move animations, like Hyper Beam, are fantastic. The UI is fluid and easy for users to navigate. The game is also free-to-start, allowing players to take it for a spin with no commitment.
The Bad:
The “Pokémon Champions” roster is very limited, only featuring 168 Pokémon out of the 1,025 currently known. It is lacking in terms of competitive staple items like the Choice Band and Safety Goggles, which severely impacts the viability of certain fan-favorite Pokémon and strategies. Players are only given 30 roster slots in “Champions,” which will very easily fill out if they’re not careful. The only way to increase the slot amounts is to either play ranked or buy the starter pack. Perhaps most annoyingly, the game offers a battle pass, a seasonal rewards system with a paid tier that locks certain items or Pokémon, like Emboar or Feraligatr (alongside the items required to Mega Evolve them) behind a paywall.
Overall, I think that “Champions” is a mediocre battle simulator with a lot of potential. It needs more time to forge a unique identity against fan-made competitors like “Pokémon Showdown,” and new items and Pokémon to restore long-term fans’ expectations. As of right now, it is a 6/10 if you are familiar with Pokémon and an 8/10 for individuals starting out.
