Pokemon is near and dear to my heart; although mechanics have evolved over time, I’m a fan of the basic structure in games like Pokemon Platinum and earlier. In particular the capture mechanics along with the limited number of Pokemon available in the party is the basis for team-building dynamics that imbue a lot of personal investment in the adventure of the game. In particular, the limited number of pokemon means players have to balance their teams carefully, but six is also enough to enjoy a lot of diversity in team-building. Although I love making competitive and balanced teams, I know other people who just love six friend-shaped lil guys, which is fun too. The capture mechanics add to this since it’s more involved than simply selecting one’s character. If one wants a specific Pokemon on their team, they’ll have to weaken it and capture it, which not only makes the addition of any new member memorable but makes it more exciting since many of the best Pokemon take work to whittle down. This serves to inspire much adventure in the game since certain Pokemon can only be caught in certain areas, so players will have to explore to have that exciting battle for their coveted Pokemon. This harmoniously synchronizes with the adventure aesthetic as well, but that’s a conversation for another time.
