It’s no secret thatPokemon GOis an entirely different experience from a classicalPokemongame. The franchise’s roots like in turn-based RPGs where players visit a fictional setting and collect the monsters there.Pokemon GO, in contrast, fills the real world with Pokemon for players to collect and use in simple, frantic battles where players spam attacks to defeat other trainers, Team Rocket members, and so on as quickly as they can. Still, there are a few ways in whichPokemon GObreaks with its source material that are surprising, such as its stance on the Mega Evolution mechanic.
Fans ofPokemon XandYknow Mega Evolution well: players could equip certain Pokemon with a special stone that allowed them to temporarily evolve beyond their final stage, gaining increased power in battle for a while. Although Mega Evolution was a clever idea, it has since faded into the background, and its role in thePokemonseries remains uncertain. InPokemon GO, however, Mega Evolution is implemented and celebrated. Niantic makes extensive use of Mega Evolution in ways that the corePokemongames never thought to do. If Game Freak ever wants to give Mega Evolution another change, then it should study some of Niantic’s ideas.
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Pokemon GO’s Approach to Mega Evolution
The corePokemonfranchise has done away with Mega Evolution while making attempts to replace it. Instead of focusing on new Mega Evolutions, new generations afterPokemon XandYintroduced gimmicks of their own like Z-Moves and Dynamax in order to fill Mega Evolution’s shoes. Meanwhile,Pokemon GOhas nothing quite like Dynamaxing or Z-Moves, but it uses Mega Evolution liberally.Lots ofPokemon GOeventsinclude limited-time opportunities to battle Mega Evolved Pokemon in Raids, regardless of the event’s theme. Even as Niantic adds new Pokemon and spotlights other established Pokemon, Mega Evolution gets plenty of attention.
It’s worth noting thatPokemon GOhasa very different approach to Mega Evolution, and as a result, the mechanic may have found more life in the mobile game than in the core games. Rather than giving their Pokemon an item,Pokemon GOplayers use Mega Evolution by spending Mega Evolution Energy of a specific type on their ally. Once they’re Mega Evolved, they’ll stay that way for several hours and provide a buff to friendly Pokemon in Gyms and Raids. This teamwork-centric, resource-intensive version of Mega Evolution is entirely different from the original version, but it keeps the mechanic in check in a clever way.
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Keeping Mega Evolution Alive
ThePokemonfranchise might want to borrow ideas from Niantic if it ever wants to take another pass at Mega Evolution. Rather than simply evolving a Pokemon on command once per battle, each Pokemon might need to store up Mega Evolution Energy by battling, meaning each Pokemon might only be able to Mega Evolve once every few battles. Additionally, spreading out a Mega Evolved Pokemon’s power acrossan entire team of Pokemonmight level out their overall strength in a good way.Pokemon GO’s system of limitations and benefits is clever, and it could very well be implemented into anotherPokemongame.
For the moment, Mega Evolution may not have a future in the corePokemonfranchise. There’s no sign thatPokemon ScarletandVioletwill bring the mechanic back just yet, and recent precedent fromPokemon SwordandShieldas well asPokemon Legends: Arceussuggest that Mega Evolution has largely been laid to rest. In the meantime, though, the mechanic’s fans can enjoy it inPokemon GO, where it continues to flourish. Major updates to Mega Evolution are on the way toPokemon GOproving that Niantic is dedicated to the mechanic even while Game Freak has given up on it. Niantic’s relationship with Mega Evolution shows how spinoffs can contrast their ancestors in all kinds of interesting ways.
Pokemon GOis available now for Android and iOS devices.
