Pokemon Unite Review: Born to Be a Winner

It's honestly a little surprising that Pokemon Unite ends up being pretty damn good. It was widely criticized and the idea of a mobile-focused MOBA for Asian and Chinese markets wasn't something the Pokemonfanbase liked. It didn't help that it looked cheap and low-budget in its first showings. Or that it was difficult to see what a Pokémon MOBA would bring to the table in an already crowded genre with also rans who have struggled to make a case for their existence in the past decade.

It's now out, and we are here. Pokemon Unites is a good game. It's not great. There are far too many mistakes to call it the "Pokemon Unite" and much work needed to make this game a viable entry to the genre. It's still a good game. And, almost as important, it clearly states what it brings to the table.

You see, Pokemon Unite is much simpler than the complex, multi-layered, complicated systems and mechanics of League of Legends and DOTA 2. It's easy to pick up and play. League of Legends, DOTA have a reputation for being overwhelming for newcomers. They also make it difficult to get started with the game. This, along with their notoriously toxic communities, makes them very unattractive. Although it is difficult to predict the Pokémon Unite community's future, it is simple to understand and easy to use. This is due to how effective the tutorials are and the ease of boarding.

" Pokemon Unites is a good game. It's not great, but it does make a lot of mistakes that can be avoided. This game needs to continue to thrive as a viable entry to the genre. It's still a good game, and, almost as important, it clearly states what it brings to the table.

For those who are familiar with the game, the setup is simple: you take one of the many routes (or "lanes") that the map offers to reach the objective. Pokemon Unify makes all these abstracts real by making each game a fusion of basketball, Pokemon Battles, and Pokemon Trading. You earn points by playing against wild Pokemon, as well earning points for your team. The "goals" are the objectives placed on each map. It's easy to explain the purpose of the game to both new players and younger players, even if they don't know much about MOBAs. You're aware that you need to earn points by completing goals.

It helps that Pokemon is a well-suited concept for the MOBA format. It's easy to pick up the MOBA-ey concepts Unite has to offer if you are familiar with Pokemon. Your Pokemon starts at Level 1 when you enter a battle. You also know that you can unlock new attacks and evolve your Pokemon by fighting in battles. This is a good example of how MOBAs work. It also helps to ensure that Unify, despite its simplicity, retains depth, nuance, and engages longer-term players.

This makes the game incredibly fun, engaging and well-played. The game quickly puts you in the action, helping to get to the Pokemon that you love the most. There are a variety of rewards, such as battle passes, currency, reward systems and other bonuses. You also gradually unlock different types of games (ranked matches). Matchmaking is quick and easy, just like the games. Unity allows you to play quickly, perhaps while you're taking a break from other things.

It also displays many of the characteristics of Nintendo multiplayer games, such as an emphasis on comeback mechanics and a disregard for balance. It is clear that the balance of the game has been skewed. The "Golden Snitch” style Zapdos mechanic, which sees a high-value Zapdos spawn at the end of a match and the potential for a team to score hundreds of points in one go, definitely informs winning strategies.

The monetization is the elephant in the room when Pokemon Unify is being played. Although the game is free to download, it has some aggressive monetization.

Balance issues can lead to players being evicted in the long-term, but they aren't the only problem the game faces. The monetization is the real problem with Pokémon Unite. Although the game is free to download, it has some aggressive monetization. These currencies can be used to buy cosmetics, unlock new Pokemon or level up your held items. You can also put these currency on your Pokemon to gain permanent buffs. A free-to-play game must tread a fine line between offering enough compelling perks that players feel compelled, but not giving players who pay an advantage. Pokemon Unites doesn't pay to play, but it is dangerously close.

It will take some time to unlock all Pokemon, but it is possible to pay to skip the wait. However, I find the time it takes for new monsters to become available to me to be fine. Although it would be nice if it was faster, the rate at which new monsters are unlocked isn't too bad. In a non-F2P game, character unlocks could take a lot longer. (Like I said, it could be faster, so some criticisms could still be made). Cosmetics are also not important - although they can be expensive, you unlock and earn new ones at an extremely steady pace. Also, with the login bonuses, challenges and daily and weekly missions as well as battle pass, you won't have to spend a lot on cosmetics.

However, paying to upgrade your items does have an immediate and tangible effect on the game balance. You can make a significant difference in your Pokemon's performance during a match by changing the items they have. While leveling up these items can take a while, if everyone was on the same page, it would be at best a problem with annoying game balance. The problem is, right now, you can spend actual money to get an instant maxed item where otherwise even a dozen hours spent grinding out one might not be enough.

"Pokemon Unites is able to solve many of its problems in the present and now."

Does the game balance get affected by these maxed-out held items? The answer is unambiguous: yes. While a fully maxed out item won't guarantee you win matches, it can make your life easier by providing a buffer to any errors you may make. Although it isn't pay-to-win, a well-skilled player will still be able to beat a less skilled player who has a fully maxed item. It is surprising, however, that such monetization is possible in a Nintendo game.

Other issues are also present. There is a noticeable lag in the game's UI. This is something that I found to be typical of Nintendo's mobile hame efforts. It is likely because a lot is being rendered in a bespoke browser. It isn't an issue but it is noticeable.

It is difficult to determine if these problems will continue to grow over time. Many of these problems can be fixed and we may see future updates to balance and monetization. It's possible that we won't, or that changes might make things worse. It's difficult to predict what will happen in the future. Pokémon Unite is able to overcome many of its issues in the present. It is best to treat it as a quickie in between long sessions of other games. It is a simple, fun, and engaging multiplayer game with low barriers to entry. Pokémon Unite delivers on its promises and is a compelling game. You can play it for free if you are even remotely interested in Pokemon or MOBAs or multiplayer games in general. It's a good idea to check out Unite and see if it sticks for you.

Nintendo Switch reviewed this game.

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By: Pramath
Title: Pokemon Unite Review – Born to be a Winner
Sourced From: gamingbolt.com/pokemon-unite-review-born-to-be-a-winner
Published Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2021 09:21:14 +0000

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