Pokémon game mechanics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pokémon series of role-playing video games features many different concepts and items. Each generation of games has introduced more of these, attracting new gamers and keeping veterans entertained. Some of the general concepts were introduced elsewhere before being introduced in the games: two-on-two battles appeared in the Pokémon anime long before appearing in the games, and Pokémon abilities are similar to the Pokémon Powers introduced in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Contents |
[edit] Game goals
From the first games in the series to the latest ones, the ultimate goal of these games is to catch at least one member of each of the different species of Pokémon, thus completing the Pokédex. The number of Pokémon varies on the game generation, starting from 151 in the first series to 493 in the latest series.
The other, less difficult, main goal is to finish the game’s storyline by defeating a particular game’s Elite Four and Champion. This is accomplished after collecting eight gym badges and defeating other trainers found throughout the world. A major subplot of all the storylines is to defeat an evil organization trying to take over the world through the misuse of Pokémon. These organizations include Team Rocket, Teams Magma and Aqua, and Team Galactic.
Completing the main storyline often opens up other features in the games. This is primarily done by allowing passage into otherwise inaccessible places. In Pokémon Red and Blue, the player is granted entrance into the Cerulean Cave in order to catch Mewtwo. In Pokémon Gold and Silver, defeating the Champion allows access to the Kanto region. In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the player is given a special ticket that allows passage on the game’s ferry to the Battle Tower (Battle Frontier in Emerald). This limitation is also occasionally applied to games that are not part of the core GameBoy games, but which are playable through consoles and supplement the franchise. One example includes Pokémon Box for the GameCube: players of Pokémon Emerald are not allowed to use its storage features until they have become Pokémon League Champion.
Almost always, the player must defeat the Elite Four to complete the Pokédex.
[edit] Starter Pokémon
One of the consistent aspects of most Pokémon games—spanning from Pokémon Red and Blue on the Nintendo Game Boy to the new Nintendo DS games, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl—is the choice of three different Pokémon at the start of the player’s adventures; these three are often labeled “Starter Pokémon."
Players can choose a Water-type, a Fire-type, or a Grass-type[1] Pokémon indigenous to that particular region (though none can be captured later in the game). Afterwards, the player’s rival will always choose the remaining Pokémon whose type is “super effective” against the player’s choice. The exception to this rule is Pokémon Yellow (a remake of the original games that follows the story of the Pokémon anime), where players are given a Pikachu, an Electric-type mouse, famous for being the mascot of the Pokémon media franchise; [2] the rival trainer receives an Eevee, a Normal-type Pokémon with multiple evolutions.
[edit] Pokémon battles
Pokémon uses a turn-based battling platform. When a player either approaches another trainer for battle, or encounters a wild Pokémon in the overworld, the screen changes to a battle scene depicting the engaging Pokémon and a menu of options. The player may either choose to attack, use an item, switch the Pokémon out for another in their party, or, when battling wild Pokémon, attempt to run from battle. Each player, or the sole player and NPC, chooses an option and confirms it. If both Pokémon attack, the one who goes first is determined by Speed, although some attacks, items, and effects can override this. If a player or NPC decides to use an item or switch out a Pokémon, that action is performed before any other. Common expectations can be made depending on the type of battle a player is engaged in. When battling other trainers, the only items they have access to are restorative items like Super Potions and Full Restores. The player is given a distinct advantage with the ability to use items that can revive fainted Pokémon or cure specific status conditions. When fighting a wild Pokémon, the wild Pokémon may either use a held item or run in addition to attacking.
With the creation of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the developers introduced a new dynamic to battling — the double battle. In this format a player battles with two Pokémon simultaneously in a two-on-two confrontation. The process remains much the same, in that the player selects an action for each Pokémon, but with double battles they also must usually choose a target for each attack. Play then is ordered by speed, so if the player has both a very fast Pokémon and a very slow Pokémon, their fast Pokémon may attack first and their slow Pokémon attack fourth. The third generation games only included double battles against other trainers, but Diamond and Pearl expanded this to encounters with wild Pokémon as well. The most noticeable difference between the two types of battling is that many attacks and abilities are either changed by or completely dependent upon this feature. For example, the move Earthquake does not allow the player to choose a target, but affects all other Pokémon involved in the battle — including the other Pokémon the player controls. The Pokémon ability Plus works in tandem with the ability Minus. While both are present on the battlefield they increase their respective Pokémon’s statistics.
[edit] Items
- See also: List of Pokémon items
Throughout the player’s journey in the Pokémon world, he or she will collect many different types of items. Some, like the Pokédex and Pokégear, are accessible from the menu and are more like features than individual usable items; the vast majority are placed in the Bag, or inventory.
[edit] Holding items
Held items were introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver. Each Pokémon is able to hold any one item except for Hidden Machines ("HMs") and Key Items, but the majority of held items, like Potions and Poké Balls, have no effect.
Items designed to be held can do many different things: some, like Berries, imitate the effects of restorative items, and others give the Pokémon an offensive or defensive advantage during battle. Certain Pokémon will also evolve if traded to another player while they are holding a certain item; for example, when Onix is traded to another game while it holds a Metal Coat, the Coat disappears and Onix evolves into Steelix.
[edit] Stats
All Pokémon have six statistics (colloquially called “stats”) which affect their performance in battle. These are HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.
- HP (short for Hit Points): A Pokémon faints when its HP reaches zero and cannot be used in battle until it is revived at a Pokémon Center or with a special item. In the Pokémon universe, Pokémon never die as a result of battling.
- Attack: Determines the power of a Pokémon’s physical attacks. The definition of what constitutes a physical attack has changed throughout the game’s history. Up until Diamond and Pearl, physical attacks are of those types logically associated with physical damage. These include Normal, Fighting, Ground, Steel, and others. However, in Diamond and Pearl this has been changed to be in reference to attacks that cause their damage by “physical means.”[citation needed] This means that certain moves like the Dark-type move Crunch which previously were only affected by the Special Attack statistic, are now affected by the Attack statistic.
- Defense: Determines the Pokémon’s defensive power against physical attacks.
- Special Attack: Similar to Attack, determines the power of a Pokémon’s special attacks. Likewise, prior to Diamond and Pearl this refers to types; they are typically elemental in nature like Fire, Water, Grass, and Psychic. With the debut of Diamond and Pearl, the Special Attack stat could now also influence the strength of projectile attacks such as Hyper Beam, a Normal-type attack.
- Special Defense: Determines the Pokémon’s defensive power against special attacks. In the first generation games, Special Attack and Special Defense were combined into one statistic called Special.
- Speed: After the player(s) enter their battle commands, the Speed statistics of the participating Pokémon are compared. With some exceptions, the Pokémon make their moves in order of fastest to slowest.
Not only do these statistics affect the battle, but the battle can affect the statistics. Several attacks and items exist which can temporarily, or even permanently, raise and lower each one.
When Pokémon level up, their statistics increase, as determined by the Pokémon’s base stat values, individual values, effort values, and Pokémon nature. These variables working in tandem is what provides an individual Pokémon with its own unique stats.
[edit] Base stat values
Base stat values determine the natural statistical strengths of the various Pokémon species. While these values may greatly vary between species, they are the same for each member of that species. It is the difference among species which explains why all Aerodactyl will have a higher Speed than any Snorlax of the same level; however, it is the combination of other factors that causes some Snorlax to be faster than others.
[edit] Effort values
"Effort values" (EVs) or "Effort points" are hidden values that affect the strengths of a Pokémon in particular statistical areas. Differing effort value levels between two Pokémon can create a significant difference in the two Pokémon’s statistical strengths.
When Pokémon battle and defeat an opponent, they not only gain experience points, but also receive a number and type(s) of EVs according to the defeated Pokémon's species. Every defeated Pokémon gives at least one EV to each of the Pokémon that fought it.
Consuming vitamins will also give Pokémon EVs; however, Pokémon will refuse vitamins after reaching a certain value threshold. There also exist certain Berries which may be used on a Pokémon to reduce EVs. They are the opposite of vitamins, one type of berry for each statistic.
When a Pokémon holds the Macho Brace, that Pokémon will receive twice the EVs from battles. If a Pokémon has the Pokérus condition, it will also gain double the EVs from battling. If a Pokémon is holding the Macho Brace and has Pokérus, it will obtain EVs at quadruple the normal rate.
[edit] Pokémon natures
Pokémon natures were first introduced in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the third generation of games. Each Pokémon has a nature, randomly assigned when it is generated, which cannot be changed. A Pokémon’s nature affects the rate at which some of its stats increase, either positively or negatively. They also determine which flavor of PokéBlocks that Pokémon likes and dislikes. Out of the 25 possible natures, there are only 5 that have no effect on a Pokémon’s stat growth, and every other nature will increase one stat’s growth rate but decrease another’s.
[edit] Individual values
Individual values (IVs) are essentially a range in power for each statistic, which determine a Pokémon's maximum potential. These values are randomly generated along with each Pokémon when it is encountered, and set in stone for the rest of the game. These hidden values are why even Pokémon that seem identical and have been raised the same way still may have different stats.
[edit] Pokémon types
There are seventeen different Pokémon types, two of them (Steel and Dark) existing only since Pokémon Gold and Silver. Each type is a special attribute determining the strengths and weaknesses of each species, offsetting each other in a complicated series of rock-paper-scissors relationships. Every single Pokémon is at least one of the different types, with some, known as dual-types, belonging to two. No Pokémon belongs to more than two types. Every single Pokémon move is also of one of these types (except for Curse, which has a mechanic of its own). The rock-paper-scissors mechanic and Pokémon move type determine the effect of a Pokémon move in battle.
[edit] Moves and attacks
Like the characters in many RPGs, Pokémon are able to learn a wide variety of moves. These moves may inflict damage, induce status problems, restore health, or perform actions that in some way affect the overall battle. All moves have a Power, Accuracy, Type, and Description. The types of moves that a Pokémon may learn are completely dependent on the species of Pokémon. Even those that evolve from others do not necessarily learn all the same moves that their predecessors learn. For example the lizard Pokémon Charmander cannot learn the move Fly, even though Charizard can, as it gains wings in this final stage.
[edit] Catching Pokémon
Because each player begins the game with only one starter Pokémon, capturing is one of the most fundamental aspects of Pokémon, and the primary method of recruiting new Pokémon to the player’s party.
In a battle against a wild Pokémon, the player may, instead of defeating it, choose to capture it by using (“throwing”) one of many different types of Poké Balls. The odds of success vary, but are increased if the target Pokémon’s HP is low, if the target is affected by a status-altering effect like sleep or paralysis, and if a stronger or specially-suited Poké Ball is used.
If the capture is successful, the captured Pokémon’s data is added to the Pokédex, the player may give the Pokémon a nickname, and the Pokémon is added to the player’s party. However, if the player’s party is filled to its maximum of six Pokémon, the captured Pokémon is instead sent to one of many boxes accessible via PC. In Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal, if the current PC box is full, the player will be unable to capture any new Pokémon until he or she accesses a PC and switches to a different box. In all other versions, new Pokémon are transferred to the next available box.
[edit] Pokémon evolution
Evolution is a sudden change in form of a Pokémon, usually accompanied by an increase in stat values. Evolution can be triggered in a variety of ways, but most often it occurs when a Pokémon has reached a certain level. Other methods include being exposed to an evolution stone, being traded to another game, or through attaining a certain amount of happiness and leveling up.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game introduced the idea of numerical stages for referring to different points in a Pokémon’s evolution. This has translated into colloquial usage among fans of the games. All Pokémon can be placed at one of four evolutionary stages (though no existing Pokémon line includes more than three out of the four stages): Basic Pokémon, Stage 1 Pokémon which evolve from Basic Pokémon, Stage 2 Pokémon which evolve from Stage 1 Pokémon, and Baby Pokémon (in many ways, the same as Basics) which are acquired by breeding certain Basic or Stage 1 Pokémon and hatching their eggs.
A Pokémon higher up on this evolutionary scale is called an evolved form of the previous stages; a Pokémon lower down on the scale is said to be a pre-evolved form of later Pokémon in the chain.
[edit] Loyalty
Loyalty, sometimes referred to as "Happiness," is an attribute that can rise or fall based upon several conditions and events. This aspect, introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver, is a means to evolve several Pokémon with the focus on taking care of the Pokémon, rather than merely worrying about it leveling up. When a Pokémon like Chansey or Eevee has a very high Loyalty, it will evolve after the next time it levels up. To further exploit this mechanic, the two moves Return and Frustration base their Power upon the amount the Pokémon either likes or dislikes their trainer. In addition there are several cheap restorative items that "have a bitter taste" and will lower the Pokémon's Loyalty.
[edit] Pokédex
The Pokédex is a fictional electronic device that serves as a database of Pokémon. In the games, whenever a Pokémon is first captured, its data will be added to a player’s Pokédex, but in the anime or manga, the Pokédex is a comprehensive electronic reference encyclopedia, usually referred to in order to deliver exposition of the Pokémon world. In the video games, a Pokémon Trainer is issued a blank Pokédex at the start of their journey. A trainer must then attempt to fill the Pokédex by encountering and at least briefly obtaining (by capture, trading, or evolution) a member of each of the different species of Pokémon. The first time a player encounters a Pokémon, its name, image and common location are added to the Pokédex. More detailed information is available after the player obtains a member of the species. This information includes height, weight, species type, and a short description of the Pokémon. "Pokédex" is also used to refer to a list of Pokémon, initially a list of Pokémon by number, but other listings are available in later generations of games.
[edit] Pokémon trades
Trading is an important aspect to the Pokémon games, being the crux upon which much of franchise is based. This is because the slogan, and consequently the goal, “Gotta Catch ‘Em All,” is logistically impossible without trading. Each game released in a series (first generation, second generation, etc.) has certain Pokémon that are exclusive to that version. For example, in Pokémon Red players can find the Pokémon Arbok on certain routes, while it is completely absent in both Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Yellow. Other Pokémon are only available when offered up as a choice. The most obvious example the choice between three starter Pokémon at the beginning of the game. The only way to get the other two is by trading. The other way that trading is made instrumental in gameplay is that many Pokémon cannot evolve into their final forms without being traded. Gengar, Alakazam, Golem, and Machamp were the first Pokémon to ever be given this requirement. Later generations built upon this idea with the advent of holding items. Some Pokémon only evolve when given certain items to be held and then trading them. Pokémon that previously did not evolve could now become more powerful, like the Pokémon Onix, which starting from the second generation games evolves into Steelix by holding the Metal Coat and being traded. Another aspect of trading, in-game trades with NPCs, allow players to acquire Pokémon otherwise unavailable. For example, the only way to get a Jynx, Farfetch’d, Lickitung, or Mr. Mime in Pokémon Red and Blue (other than trading with a friend who already had one) was through an in-game trade.
Before the concept of breeding was introduced, players would sometimes have to settle for merely trading Pokémon back and forth between cartridges. This was because certain Pokémon a player owned (e.g. the starters) were often the only one they had. The game’s Pokédex did not (and still does not) monitor whether a player still owned a specific Pokémon, only whether they had ever owned it. This allowed for an incomplete way of “catching ‘em all.”
Trading between games is accomplished through a Game Link cable that attaches to ports found on all Game Boy incarnations. The size of the ports varies between consoles, so several hybrid cables have been created that allow linking between the original Game Boy and its counterpart, Game Boy Color, for example.
[edit] Pokémon gyms
Pokémon gyms are buildings, usually containing relatively simple puzzles, situated throughout the Pokémon world, where Pokémon trainers can battle the manager of the gym, referred to as the gym leader. Each region has eight Pokémon gyms, and defeating the eight leaders qualifies a trainer for Pokémon League competitions, allowing them to battle the Elite Four. When a gym leader is defeated, the challenger wins a badge, which serves as proof of a trainer’s victory; is given a Technical Machine ("TM"); is given either a small bonus to their Pokémon’s stats, or the ability to control higher-level traded Pokémon; and is usually allowed the use of a specific HM outside of battle. Defeating gym leaders is often necessary to expand the player's access to the overworld, usually through the ability to use previously disallowed HM moves outside of battle.
[edit] Pokémon breeding
Pokémon breeding was introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver. If the player leaves two Pokémon at an in-game facility called the Daycare, they may breed and produce an egg. Breeding compatibility is restricted by gender (one male and one female) and Egg Group (only Pokémon sharing at least one Egg Group can breed). The exception to this rule is Ditto, which can breed with any Pokémon capable of breeding, including Pokémon of an all-male species and genderless Pokémon. However, some Pokémon, including all Baby Pokémon, cannot breed at all.
If the Pokémon are compatible and produce an egg, the player can obtain it free of charge if there is at least one empty slot in his or her party. Then, after the player walks a certain number of steps, the egg will hatch. The resulting Pokémon is a level 5 (level 1, starting from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl) member of the lowest stage in the mother’s or non-Ditto Pokémon’s evolutionary line, and may have learned Egg Moves or inherited moves from the father (or non-Ditto Pokémon).
[edit] Pokémon abilities
Pokémon abilities are special attributes which were introduced in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Each Pokémon has one of up to two possible abilities according to its species.
Most Pokémon use their abilities in battle. Abilities can strengthen a Pokémon’s own statistics or weaken a foe’s, or inflict conditions such as paralysis or poisoning. For instance, a Bulbasaur may use its Overgrow ability to power up its Grass-type attacks when it is weak, and when Arbok is sent into battle, it will use its Intimidate ability to lower the opposing Pokémon’s Attack statistic. Other abilities render some Pokémon invincible against certain types of attacks. A Lunatone’s ability to Levitate will prevent Ground-type attacks from striking it, and Spinda’s Own Tempo ability prevents it from being affected by the Confuse status effect. A Pokémon with the Lightningrod ability, such as Marowak, will keep its partner safe from Electric-type attacks in a double battle by drawing the electricity away from it. Not all abilities are helpful. Slaking has the Truant ability, which allows it to attack only every other turn. This is intended as a countermeasure to Slaking’s very high base statistics. Another example is Regigigas's Slow Start ability, halving its Speed and Attack for the first few rounds of a battle.
Some abilities come into effect outside of Pokémon battles. For example, Pokémon with the Pickup ability, like Meowth, will sometimes retrieve rare items off of the ground. Also, starting from Pokémon Emerald, a handful of abilities that were once only used in battle have effects outside of battle as well. Any Pokémon with the Lightningrod ability will cause the player character to receive more phone calls, and a Pokémon with the ability to Intimidate will cause the player to encounter lower-level Pokémon less often.
[edit] References
- ^ Pokémon Ruby review (page 1) Gamespy.com. URL Accessed May 30, 2006.
- ^ Pokémon Yellow Critical Review Ign.com. URL accessed on March 27, 2006.
- Nintendo Power, Pokémon Emerald Version: the official strategy guide from Nintendo Power, Nintendo Power, 2006-08-24.
- Buchanan, B, Pokémon Emerald: Official Strategy Guide, Prima Games, 2006-08-24.
- Abilities on Serebii.net. Retrieved on August 24, 2006.
- Pokémon Emerald - Ability Additions on Serebii.net. Retrieved on August 24, 2006.
- Pokémon Diamant et Perle Nouvelles capacités spéciales (French). Retrieved on August 30, 2006.
[edit] External links
- List of game mechanics: Serebii.net.
