ThePokémonvideo games tend to rely heavily on gimmicks introduced years ago. Some of these gimmicks have become mainstays for a reason, their intricacies helping to keep battles, exploration, or even sometimes narratives feeling fresh and complex enough to warrant returning for each new entry. However, others, as enjoyable as they may have been when they were first introduced, tend to get a little stale over time.
Many of these mechanics and ideas are what have contributed toPokémonfeeling outdated, a series of games so dogmatically devoted to the past that they’ve struggled to keep up with the many innovations happening not just in the triple-A space, but the indie one, too.One such mechanic has stuck around for 12 years and still persiststo this very day. As much as it has served the series well, it feels like it is time for it to go.
Mega Evolution Was Introduced In 2013 With Gen 6 Games
It Has Become A Mainstay Ever Since
Mega Evolutions were introduced in 2013 withPokémon X & Yand felt like a novel addition to the series at the time. The concept of form changes wasn’t entirely new, butMega Evolutions helped to bring new life to a lot of familiar Pokémon through impressive redesigns. The concept went away for a time and is set toreappear inPokémon Legends Z-Athrough the use of Key Stones. It may seem like a fun return for those who haven’t played everyPokémongame since, but in reality, it’s becoming a problem.
TheMega Evolution problemstems from the fact that it feels somewhat lazy, at least to me. It undoubtedly helps to make older Pokémon feel fresh again, but it also takes away from designing new Pokémon. Mega Evolutions have become a tool through which to simply reuse familiar faces and offer a way of getting out of difficult fights.They madePokémoneven easier than it already was, something that was further exacerbated by its later incarnations.
Later Gimmicks Like Dynamax All Feel Similar To Mega Evolution
The Idea Has Never Really Evolved
Mega Evolutions were replaced by Dynamax Pokémon inSword and Shieldand later by Terastalized Pokémon inScarlet and Violet.These new form types more or less just expanded upon the idea of Mega Evolutions, especially Terastalized Pokémon, while making battles significantly easier in the process. It isn’t nearly as interesting a mechanic 12 years later as Game Freak perhaps thinks it is, especially as it’s rarely used to great effect.
The idea of temporarily transforming your Pokémon is an interesting one, butGame Freak, at least in my opinion, has never found a way to make it not just feel like a cheat code. Terastalization, for example, has no disadvantages to it, with players able to win most battles regardless of what types they bring into the fight in the first place. Of course, in a competitive scene, these mechanics become a little more complex, but for the majority of players, they’re just cop-outs.
Pokémon Legends Z-Abringing Mega Evolutions back feels like a step back, rather than a novel inclusion. It is rehashing old ideas instead of bringing new ones into the fray, and that’s a shame considering how innovative the rest of it feels. I sincerely hopeMega Evolutions are killed, alongside all of their various spin-offs, in later entries and replaced with more nuanced mechanics that bring a new dimension toPokémon’soutdated combat model.
