The Pokémon franchise has always fostered a desire for exploration into new and unknown worlds. But unlike other games, Pokémon had the bonus of finding hundreds of exotic and powerful creatures to collect, train and fight against others. As a result, it's built an entire fanbase that has spread from video games to trading cards, movies and shows with iconic trainers like Ash Ketchum. But one entry has stood out above the rest because it's so unique: Detective Pikachu.
Detective Pikachu follows the titular Pokémon and his friend and partner, a human named Tim Goodman. Tim's ability to understand Pikachu allowed them to better work as a team to find Harry's father and uncover a sinister plot with a drug that makes Pokémon rampage. Now, with the announcement of Detective Pikachu Returns, the story can continue while also proving how this unique franchise is the best way to understand and explore the Pokémon world.
The Pokémon Franchise Has Always Had One Primary Playstyle
Fans of Pokémon can never forget the tagline of "Gotta Catch 'em All" as it's synonymous with the franchise and the entire reason the games exist. The concept of players traveling with the hope of catching every Pokémon they could find was an exciting premise as each game made the regions more expansive. Even now, with newer titles, players can witness the behaviors of Pokémon in the wild, adding a new level of risk and realism as these creatures could turn aggressive at any moment. There was also the bonus of bonding and training with Pokémon so that a player's team could be strong enough to beat Gym Leaders, the Elite Four and their rival.
While there's no denying the basic principles of Pokémon are fun from top to bottom, it also limited itself in understanding how the Pokémon world worked. Aside from trainers, other people may lead very different lives such as scientists or farmers. Considering almost every job works in tandem with Pokémon, it also teased that there was more to this universe than collecting and fighting. Since the mainline games never explored this in-depth, Detective Pikachu perfectly fit the bill.
Detective Pikachu's World Is the Best Way To Explore the Pokémon Universe
Ryme City in Detective Pikachu may not have the sprawling fields or massive mountains of many other regions to explore, but gamers can witness the day-to-day lives of the average citizen and the Pokémon. Its narrative style forces players to play an active role in the city by talking to citizens, interacting with Pokémon and visiting various facilities. A great example of this includes sneaking into the Pokémon Comprehensive Laboratory which allowed Tim and Pikachu to learn of the drug, R, but also see what humans do with Pokémon outside catching or training them.
This change in structure from Pokémon to Detective Pikachu is a blessing to the franchise as it shows the positive impact that Pokémon have on the world. Though they're wild animals, their abilities and personalities make them perfect human companions over any other type of animal. Detective Pikachu feels believable and routine for the many denizens of Ryme City. Now with Detective Pikachu Returns on the way, players of a new generation can revisit this style of game and see the larger Pokémon world. Doing so will prove once again that this game's narrative and playstyle are the most beneficial in seeing the potential of the franchise in a new way.
Detective Pikachu Returns hits Nintendo Switch on October 6th, 2023.