Pokemon Unite is a new spinoff game released by Nintendo on their Switch console and eventually mobile devices. The game takes the form of a MOBA, where players take control of a Pokemon and battle against opponents to get points and score goals. Players can take control of a number of Pokemon from across the generations appealing to new and old fans alike.
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Pokemon Unite is a fresh new take on the world of Pokemon and does its best to make the game approachable to younger fans while also keeping a strong competitive spirit for the more hardcore gamers. The game still has a little bit of a way to go before it truly finds its legs, but it does have some very enjoyable aspects.
Didn't Love: The Limited Control Scheme
Pokemon Unite was a game developed with both younger players and mobile gamers in mind since the game is coming to mobile devices soon. As such, TiMi Studio Group didn't include the usual convoluted controls found in the typical MOBA type of game.
This can be annoying at first as targeting can be difficult occasionally. The developers did however include multiple settings to allow players greater control over their character. For example, a second attack button for a distinction between wild and enemy Pokemon, as well as an enemy targeting setting that can target enemies based on certain criteria – such as lowest HP.
Loved: The Diverse Roster Of Pokemon
Pokemon Unite boasts a fairly diverse roster of Pokemon from every generation. The Pokemon that appear include fan favorites, like Pikachu, and some odd choices that fans wouldn't expect, like Cramorant.
The developers have plans to bring in many more Pokemon on a regular basis, with both Gardevoir and Blissey being added since release, and Blastoise due to be added soon. There are also a few characters that have been announced and even more that have been rumored, as well as numerous fan favorites which haven't made an appearance yet.
Didn't Love: The Absence Of Some Pokemon
The list of playable characters in Pokemon Unite does a good job at including Pokemon from every generation with enough variation to make each of them feel different. However, the team developing the game made a few strange omissions to the roster.
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Some Pokemon evolve during the course of a match, such as Charizard, who starts out as Charmander. Strangely, not every Pokemon follows its evolutionary line, with Snorlax being themselves without evolving from Munchlax. In addition, Pikachu doesn't evolve from Pichu yet also doesn't evolve into Raichu.
Loved: The New Spin On Classic The MOBA Genre
Pokemon Unite isn't like the typical MOBA that many fans may be used to. The game instead harkens back to the usual Pokemon games, meaning players must defeat wild Pokemon to gain EXP and points. Players then score these points into the opposing team's goals. Once a number of points equal to or greater than the goal's capacity, the goal gets destroyed and players can move onto the next goal.
There are still many details that will keep the game familiar to fans of the MOBA genre, such as 'classes' and lanes. Items also appear, but are instead unlocked by overall player level, and upgraded and equipped before the start of a match, meaning gold isn't something to worry about in a game.
Didn't Love: The Battle Types
Often in a MOBA, characters within the same class will all share similarities. That is almost the case in Pokemon Unite, for example, all Attackers are ranged, however, some of them use Attack, while some use Special Attack stats, instead of being consistent across the class.
The inverse is true of Supporters, where they all use Special Sttack, but half are ranged while half are melee. As well as this, all but one of the Defenders are melee, suggesting there is no reason a melee Attacker or ranged Speedster couldn't be added to the game to fill in some of the roles.
Loved: The Different Modes
While Pokemon Unite has a fun and unique 5v5 mode with a competitive mode to go along with it, it also has variant matches that players can participate in. These matches involve smaller teams of either 3 or 4 and have different wild Pokemon and maps, meaning each mode has its own unique strategies.
These modes freshen up the game for those who need a quick break from the standard 5v5 mode, or anyone who wants to have a little bit of fun trying out different Pokemon. These modes can also be good for groups that don't have 5 players and want a smaller game to play together.
Didn't Love: The Grind For New Pokemon
As with many games released in this day and age, Pokemon Unite has a slight pay-to-win aspect, in that it has a premium currency called Aeos Gems that players can purchase for real money and use to buy things in the game.
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For players not wanting to spend money on the game, that means they'll have to embrace the grind for Aeos Coins. Pokemon does give ample quests that can give out coins, but it can take a while to earn enough to purchase a new character.
Loved: The Wild Pokemon
The jungle, as it is known in most MOBAs, is the area that separates two lanes and is typically full of monsters that provide some kind of buff to a player or the team. In Pokemon Unite this jungle forms the entire middle of the map since there are only two lanes and since the aim of the game is to defeat the Pokemon within that area, it would be unfair for them to each give buffs upon their defeat.
However, the developers did a good job of adding some unique Pokemon that do provide interesting buffs. Ludicolo gives the player a buff that deals extra damage to wild Pokemon on low health, while Bouffilant gives a buff that slows opponents when hit by an attack.
Didn't Love: The Lack Of Communication
Pokemon Unite suffers from a problem common with many console games – communication. Due to the lack of keyboard, it is impossible to quickly type a message to teammates. The game makes up for this with a quick wheel that players can flick through and select options from.
This can be rather useless at times because of the lack of descriptions it can give. Some call-outs are useful, like Retreat for example as well as the fact the mini-map can be used to ping an area. However, both of these require a player to stop targeting enemies for a short while, which can often lead to some serious regret.
Loved: The Final Two Minutes
Unlike other MOBAs, Pokemon Unite runs on a 10-minute time limit, which is good because it means games don't sometimes take forever. This can lead to one team getting an advantage at the start and then using that to dominate the rest of the game.
Fortunately, the developers compensated by that by adding a rule in which goals scored after the timer drops below 2 minutes are worth double points. This can be used to turn the tide of a match in seconds. For example, a losing team might drop everything to defend Zapdos and try to get the kill on it, dropping 110 points among the whole team, for a total of 220 in the last two minutes.
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