Pokémon Unite (PU) is now available and free-to-start on Switch. It is described as a strategic battle game and will soon come to mobile devices where it will be cross-platform. In the game, players will battle each other in 5 vs. 5 teams. During these battles, players cooperate with teammates to catch wild Pokémon, level up and evolve Pokémon, all while also battling opponents’ Pokémon and earning more points than the opposing team during a time limit.
This is the first time a Pokémon game has used this type of strategic team gameplay in a game. As a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, like League of Legends (LoL), it may bring new players to Pokémon or ignite MOBA interest in Pokémon fans.
Yet not all fans are excited for the game. For one, PU received a lot of promotion, making fans feel that it was over-hyped. The game was revealed in an 11-minute long promotion that was framed as a “big reveal.” Additionally, Nintendo is reportedly taking a “step back” from mobile gaming due to mixed results from app games as of last year. Though PU isn’t just a mobile game and is coming to Switch first, a mobile version is coming this September. Its free-to-play nature makes it accessible, but the micro-transactions have been criticized as “play-to-win” and are upsetting some players.
That isn’t to say the game is bad. It has still been receiving somewhat favorable reviews. Have you tried out Pokémon Unite? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!
Source: Pokémon Unite Website