To say that the Pokémon 'Let's Go' games are catering to the casual audience more than the core audience would be understating the matter. The game has only the original 151 Pokémon, removes wild battles, and now Serebii has determined yet another change in the formula for Let's Go.

After playing the game earlier today, Serebii has determined that both abilities and held items are absent. This is yet another change that may upset the more dedicated fans. Interestingly, Serebii has confirmed that IVs and EVs are still present in some form, despite being a far more complicated mechanic.

Source

 

[Enryx25]

The only differences between this and Yellow are the wild encounters and Pokeride instead of HMs. I see both as improvements.

 

[Xzi]

Fair enough, there are other additions, but I meant in terms of features that had been replaced.

 

[dimmidice]

I get simplifying them a bit to attract a younger audience. But they seem to be taking it a bit too far. Removing skills serves no purpose other than making it easier on the devs. I used to play pokémon games as a kid and i didnt even know what abilities did most of the time. Still managed to beat them just fine.
Also no wild battles sounds like it'd get very boring fast.

Edit: Does pokemon go have abilities?

 

[Nomelas]

What the hell, is this game targeted at 3-years old?

I thought that was pretty apparent when they announced it... I'm personally happy about this dumbed down version of pokemon. I will enjoy it even more playing it with my 4 year old.

 

[CathyRina]

I get simplifying them a bit to attract a younger audience. But they seem to be taking it a bit too far. Removing skills serves no purpose other than making it easier on the devs. I used to play pokémon games as a kid and i didnt even know what abilities did most of the time. Still managed to beat them just fine.

I was beating Gen 4 and 5 games in Japanese before they came out in the west and before any guides were available online. I literally couldn't read and still beat them just fine. It's really not that hard.

 

[dimmidice]

I thought that was pretty apparent when they announced it... I'm personally happy about this dumbed down version of pokemon. I will enjoy it even more playing it with my 4 year old.

The thing is though a 4 year old would be able to play it as well with abilities and wild battles too.

 

[ssssss13]

how do you battle without abilities?

 

[DKB]

This is going to be panned.

 

[CathyRina]

how do you battle without abilities?

it refers to passive abilities, not moves.

 

[Arecaidian Fox]

I've always felt that past Gen 3 and 4, the games have had a lot of unnecessary layers and fluff added. I don't need a park or dreamland full of weird online features, or a billion different ways to fight more trainers after the main game (A subway car full of multibattles, really?). Hell, I don't even need dozens of new Pokemon every major release. I'd rather see something like 10 or 20 really well thought-out creatures to introduce to the meta instead every time. A fun region to explore with interesting landscapes and neat secrets is what hooks me, every time.
Going back to the drawing board is what Pokémon needs. But this isn't really what I'm looking for in a Pokémon game, either.

 

[Plstic]

I understood held items and abilities when I got ruby when i was nine though. You have to be brain dead to not understand a simple concepts like these.

 

[Deleted User]

They probably kept EVs and IVs, as they're mechanics that aren't typically mentioned in-game or readily apparent to the player, whereas items and abilities are and are referred to by name. Ironic that a game banking on nostalgia got rid of a gameplay mechanic that's been around since Gen II, the Gen everyone and their mother likes and has some level of nostalgia for.

Also, it's a shame that the game had to go the whole original 151 route. While I guess it makes sense, considering the game is restricted to Kanto, and most development resources are probably being put into the actual flagship Pokemon game, it's sad to think what could have been a full-fledged Gen I remake is nothing more than a mildly rushed side attraction to tide Switch owners over until the "real" Pokemon pair of games comes out.

 

[Xzi]

I understood held items and abilities when I got ruby when i was nine though. You have to be brain dead to not understand a simple concepts like these.

As someone who started with Pokemon Red, I feel like held items and abilities don't really add anything to a story play through. Seemingly they got added to create more complex and complicated strategies for online/PvP battling, and I can definitely see that creating an artificial barrier to online play for the more casual crowd.

 

[Foxi4]

It's almost as if it was supposed to be a fun adventure in the world of Pokemon instead of a date with your calculator. Good, axe the EV/IV nonsense next.

 

[pustal]

Because trailers and previews have no purpose for that, is that what you're saying?

Yes. That's why so many people pre-order and then get disappointed. Goes both ways. Might suck, might not. You'll only know when it gets out.

 

[CathyRina]

As someone who started with Pokemon Red, I feel like held items and abilities don't really add anything to a story play through. Seemingly they got added to create more complex and complicated strategies for online/PvP battling, and I can definitely see that creating an artificial barrier to online play for the more casual crowd.

Passive Abilities and Held Items were the smallest "artificial barrier" when it comes to online Play. IV's, EV's and breedable moves are huge ones and from the sounds of it they're only getting rid of breeding.

 

[Xzi]

Passive Abilities and Held Items were the smallest "artificial barrier" when it comes to online Play. IV's, EV's and breedable moves are huge ones and from the sounds of it they're only getting rid of breeding.

In Pokemon Go there's an option to have your Pokemon assessed and they basically tell you how good its IVs/EVs are without using numbers. I'd definitely count on something similar being included in Let's Go.

 

[CathyRina]

In Pokemon Go there's an option to have your Pokemon assessed and they basically tell you how good its IVs/EVs are without using numbers. I'd definitely count on something similar being included in Let's Go.

That's not the Problem with IV's and EV's ...

 

[Xzi]

That's not the Problem with IV's and EV's ...

Hmm? I thought the biggest problem with IVs/EVs was that they were always kind of invisible and obscure for casual players. Explaining it with plain English, IE "your Pokemon is really good in battles," seems to solve both these problems.

 

[osaka35]

You can't battle wild Pokemon.

Yeah, sorry, my brain shut off and decided "battle" meant encounter. I need more sleep, i swear.