Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! offers a colourful and approachable return to the Kanto region, combining familiar locations and characters with a much simpler style of gameplay. Its charming presentation and relaxed structure make it easy for newcomers to enjoy, while longtime fans may appreciate the nostalgia of revisiting the first generation of Pokémon.
However, the experience feels noticeably stripped back compared to the mainline games. Many of the deeper mechanics have been simplified or removed, leaving the adventure feeling more basic than expected. While it remains enjoyable in short sessions, the lack of depth prevents Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! from becoming anything more than an average Pokémon experience.
Graphics 7.2
The environments in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! leave a lot to be desired. While the game uses bright colours and a clean visual style, many areas feel plain and lack the detail needed to make the Kanto region feel truly alive.
The Pokémon and character models are also fairly basic. They are recognizable and colourful, but their designs and animations often feel simple compared to what the Nintendo Switch is capable of producing. Overall, the graphics are pleasant enough, but they rarely feel impressive or memorable.
Gameplay 7.5
The gameplay in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! is enjoyable overall, offering a familiar journey through different towns, routes, and Pokémon Gyms. There are plenty of Pokémon to encounter and trainers to battle, giving the adventure a steady sense of progression.
The story is engaging and does a good job of carrying the experience forward. However, the actual battles feel more basic than they should. The simplified mechanics make the game accessible to newcomers, but longtime Pokémon fans may find that the combat lacks strategy and depth.
Overall, the gameplay is not bad, but the limited battle system prevents it from reaching the level of the stronger games in the series.
Audio 7.1
The audio in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! is perfectly acceptable, but it does little to stand out. The soundtrack and sound effects fit the lighthearted tone of the game, and familiar themes will likely bring back some nostalgia for longtime fans.
However, there is nothing particularly memorable or impressive about the overall sound design. It is not bad by any means, but it never reaches the level of being truly spectacular either.
Value 8.9
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! offers strong value in terms of its overall playtime. Completing the main story takes approximately 25 hours, giving players a reasonably lengthy adventure even when focusing primarily on the main objectives.
Exploring the optional content can increase the experience to around 33 hours, while players aiming for full completion may spend approximately 54.5 hours collecting Pokémon, completing additional activities, and discovering everything the game has to offer.
Although the gameplay may lack the depth of other Pokémon titles, there is still a substantial amount of content available. Players who enjoy collecting Pokémon and completing every objective should find plenty to keep them occupied.
Pros
- Strong overall value with a respectable amount of content.
- A decent main story that provides approximately 25 hours of gameplay.
- Plenty of optional activities for players who want to continue exploring.
- Completing everything can provide more than 50 hours of gameplay.
- A good choice for players who enjoy collecting Pokémon and working toward 100% completion.
Cons
- The graphics are plain and leave a lot to be desired.
- Many environments lack the detail needed to make the world feel more alive.
- The audio is serviceable but rarely memorable or impressive.
- The gameplay mechanics are overly basic compared to other Pokémon games.
- The simplified battles reduce the strategy and depth longtime fans may expect.
Verdict
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! is an average experience that offers plenty of content but lacks the depth expected from a modern Pokémon game. The main story is enjoyable, and players aiming for full completion can spend more than 50 hours catching Pokémon, battling trainers, and exploring Kanto.
Unfortunately, the basic gameplay mechanics, simple battles, plain environments, and forgettable audio prevent the game from becoming something truly memorable. It is accessible and charming enough for younger players or newcomers, but longtime fans may find the experience too limited.
Overall, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! provides good value and a decent adventure, but its lack of depth keeps it from reaching the quality of the stronger games in the series.
7.6
GOOD