Top 10 New Additions in Pokemon X & Y

Innovation between generations for the Pokemon Series has always been a major element, so with the first pair of games in each new generation loyal fans expect to find a variety of new features, elements, and destinations -- not to mention new Pokemon -- to be impressed by.

The release of Pokemon X & Y has proven that fans had nothing to be worried about and little to be disappointed by! In fact while there are way more than ten new focus features in the games, there happen to be 10 that stand out as the 10 best!

(01) Mega Evolutions

While the complete list of Pokemon who have Mega Evolutions may not be out yet, we do know that the following classic Pokemon do have new Mega Evolution Forms: Mega Absol, Mega Abomasnow, Mega Alakazam, Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Aggron, Mega Ampharos, Mega Banette, Mega Blastoise, Mega Blaziken, Mega Charizard (an X and Y version), Mega Garchomp, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Gengar, Mega Gyrados, Mega Heracross, Mega Houndoom, Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Lucario, Mega Mawile, Mega Medicham, Mega Manectric, Mega Mewtwo (am X and Y version), Mega Pinsir, Mega Scizor, Mega Tyranitor, and Mega Venusaur.

As you can see the list of Megas is long -- and they include what are bound to be a selection of your favorites from generations past, and how cool is that?

(02) New Era Super-Modern Pokemon Training

That probably sounds like hyperbole, but it is not! The life of the serious Pokemon Trainer has just gotten a LOT easier and better, because the art of Spec-Training of Pokemon has just evolved after decades of getting no attention whatsoever! What are we talking about? Read on!

Old Abilities, EV's and Stats? No problem! A new item has been introduced into the game so that Trainers with favored Pokemon from previous generations need not be forced to abandon them simply because their training is inferior in the new generation of the games.

The smart Trainer can simply apply a “Reset Bag” to their old Pokemon and wipe its EV's stats and other hidden numbers, so that they can start literally retraining it from scratch!

Now granted the Pokemon Transporter is not yet available so you will not have an army of old Pokemon who need that service... Yet. But when you do, all it will take is a few punches on the Reset Bag and voila! Your old Pokemon will be new again!

But that is just a scratch on the surface of the Training improvements that the games have received. How about a Training Radar that helps you track the EV's and evaluate how your Pokemon is progressing? It is in there.

Hate the idea that you will once again have to seek out specific Pokemon over and over so your Training Pokemon can get just the right gains? That is a chore of the past my fine Pokefriends!

Modern Trainers don't use such outdated and barbaric tactics when all that they need to do is make use of the Training Minigames available for EV Training. Called “Super Training,” it is the wave of the future! Really!

(03) Bragging Rights for Serious Trainers

One of the most annoying facts in the life of a Pokemon Trainer in previous generations was the limits on bragging rights. The only way you could show off your successes in Training and your skills was during the few seconds after a battle when your uber-trained Pokepal stands victorious!

Of course your opponent doesn't really appreciate that -- they just lost and their Pokepal is wounded and unconscious in its Pokeball! Wouldn't it be great though if you could somehow show off your brilliant training methods and success BEFORE you fought? Give the competition something to worry about and boose your game-psych skills to the next level?

Well you can! The new generation of games has a video capture utility that allows you to shoot short (12 second) Trainer PR Videos and then upload them to the net! Yep, you can shoot a vid of you and your training success and then send the URL to your opponent before the battle to get inside their head by giving them a taste of things to come. Very spiffy!

(04) Wonder Trades

The problem with playing Russian Roulette is that eventually the numbers catch up to you and the gun goes BANG! That did not stop the Pokemon World Conference from introducing a Pokemon version of Roulette in the form of Wonder Trades!

What are Wonder Trades? Simple really -- a trading system in which you put a Pokemon up for trade and have no freaking clue or idea what Pokemon you will get traded to you! Could be good, could be bad, you will never know if you don't try!

(05) The New and Improved Global Trading System

One of the things that most Trainers disliked the most was the limited options and effectiveness of the old Global Trade System and Network. It seemed like the trades were either imbalanced or unrealistic, and that most were really setups to move Pokemon between games, and not legitimate trades.

Well the new and improved Global Trade System has addressed much of those issues, and not only that but the system now allows you to enter the name of the Pokemon you WANT in trade -- a much requested feature that is now there!

(06) Pokemon Ami/Amie

Yes that reads “Friend” and guess what? This new system in the game is about making friends with your Pokemon in a way you have never been able to manage before!

With Pokemon Amie you are transported to a private place where you can be with your Pokemon, play with them, pet them, and build an emotional relationship that is based on trust and affection! That also means that Pokemon who have high Like requirements will no longer be a grain on your budget since you will not have to purchase items to boost that stat!

You can play with them -- as in play minigames -- or you can just chill. It is your call!

(07) Avatar Options

In the past generations your Avatar was basically this never-changing presence. Your character had a specific style of dress, hair, and tude, and that was that! Well in the new generation of the games your Avatar is getting some TLC in the form of a plethora (that is an expensive word that means a Boatload) of new shops where you can buy new fashion and customize your Avatar to your heart's content. Very cool indeed.

(08) 6x6 Random Challenge Battles

While you could find strangers to battle with in the previous generations you could not engage them in full-on, full-team, massive to the pain battles. But you can now!

Pokemon X & Y have added a new Random Challenge System that allows players to seek out strangers via the Player Search System and challenge them to a full-on-team battle! Soon you will be showing your stuff to Trainers all over the world and the only thing you will be thinking? Finally!

(09) Friend Safaris

You know you want to find the rare and special Pokemon -- Pokemon with top-shelf abilities or moves -- and it has always been something of a challenge and nearly impossible for casual players. Well no longer!

In the new generation your persistence in building social relationships with other Trainers now pays off -- because each Friend Code you register on your console contributes to adding special events called Friend Safaris, during which you -- and your friends -- can find those special Pokemon!

Yes, you will no longer have to put your Pokepal to sleep and upload them to a browser-based game where you have no control over what happens -- instead you can go on Safari!

(10) Snorlax

You are probably scratching your head and thinking - wait - I get to the Number 10 slot, which should be a fairly significant feature, and they give me Snorlax?!

Yes indeed -- because after a two-decade-long nap, that lovable massive and furry Hagrid of the Pokemon World has finally woken up! For the first time pretty much ever we not only have an active and potentially dangerous Snorlax in the world, but it is a Snorlax standing on its own two feet!

Conclusions

There is more -- much more -- that the game has to offer in terms of new features, new content, new capabilities, and new actions. We barely scratched the surface here, but then the point was to highlight for you the 10 Best New Features in the game -- which we did. Now we will see your Pikachu and raise you a Charizard!

Posted: 30th Oct 2013 by CMBF
Tags: Pokemon Y, 3DS,