The NXT Generation of Pokémon?

Anyone who knows me could tell you that I’m the definition of a pokémaniac. I’ve got all the games, I’ve completed my pokédex several times over, and if GAME are doing a handout event, you can guarantee I’ll be there. So when I heard about a new fan-made game, Pokémon NXT , I was itching to check it out. 

The premise is simple – take Pokémon  online, into a 3-D environment with real-time battles. It reminded me of Pokémon 3D, which was essentially the original Pokémon series made three-dimensional. NXT  seemed to be taking a different approach to the game however, so I booted up my web browser and started playing.

You begin in a wide, open field, with wild pidgey and rattata wandering around, waiting to be fought. You can send out any one of your three Pokémon to battle wild enemies – bulbasaur, charmander or squirtle. At first glance, the game is visually impressive, with minecraft-esque scenery, including waterfalls and rivers. However, NXT  would definitely benefit from a tutorial of sorts. Luckily, a member of the community has posted a controls guide for new players, but it would be nice to see this in-game.

Unfortunately, gameplay is lacklustre at best. On the title screen, players are told that the game should be played in ‘NXT  Action’ mode (that is, real-time battles with enemy pokémon visible on the field) but the interface leaves a lot to be desired. For starters, the enemy pokémon don’t seem to do much to fight back. They do attempt to run away, but this makes for more of an annoyance than a challenge. Your starter pokémon also run out of PP (power points – the points that allow you to use a certain attack) very quickly, meaning that often it takes more than one pokémon just to bring down a rattata. Another disappointing note is that pidgeys on the field in the first area have a pidgeotto sprite. It’s a small detail, but it’s something that will catch experienced players off-guard.

Of course, it’s important to remember that NXT is still in its alpha stage, and reviewing it as though it is a complete game would be unfair. The game does have bags of potential, and with the community consistently reporting bugs and giving suggestions, the only way is up for NXT . Problems like fast PP depletion and incorrect sprites can be easily fixed, and with those issues ironed out, I’m sure we’ll see a game that gives us a fresh take on traditional Pokémon  gameplay. One issue that I can see harming the development of the game is the use of copyrighted Nintendo material. There have been many cases of Nintendo shutting down attempts at online Pokémon games, and sadly, that will probably hit NXT  at some point as well.

Although the gameplay is currently lacking, Pokémon NXT  is an amazing idea, and the forums show that new features like capturing Pokémon and multiplayer gameplay are on the horizon for the future. I’m sure that once more features have been added, the game will be more engaging. But for now, I’ll still be turning to the DS for my Pokémon  fix. [divider]

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Do you believe 3D is the future of Pokemon? Tweet @BoarGames with your thoughts