A Fan's Dream Come True
For many Pokémon fans, like myself, the series has been a part of our lives since childhood. And even as we grow older, our passion for all things Pokémon continues. My house is filled with plushies, artwork, and Pokémon-themed clothing. And of course, there are the countless Pokémon games. So when the announcement for Detective Pikachu Returns came out of the blue, I couldn't contain my excitement. Finally, a chance to dive back into the world of the special, sherlockian, electric mouse.
The Power of Teamwork
The big change in Detective Pikachu Returns is that Pikachu now relies on the help of his fellow Pokémon to solve cases. This means engaging in conversations with Pokémon, discovering their unique abilities, and calling on them for assistance. It's a beautiful way to showcase the unique skills of each Pokémon, and the world is filled with dozens of them to find. These Pokémon are brought to life through stunning animations, allowing players to truly get to know their personalities.
A Game of Two Halves
While the Pokémon interactions and animations are a delight, the same cannot be said for the human characters. Human interactions feel stiff and stilted, and the game's animations lack polish, giving it an unfinished feel. This stilted style carries over into the gameplay as well. The pacing is slow, with plenty of reading and long cutscenes. Unfortunately, the game doesn't allow for much exploration, as many areas are gated off. Additionally, there is no way to speed up a case, even if you already know the solution. Pikachu's partner, Tim, must have all the clues written down before progressing the plot.
Too Much Hand-Holding
While Detective Pikachu Returns is aimed at children, it takes hand-holding to the extreme. Pikachu is always ready to provide hints, leaving little room for independent exploration and deduction. Compared to other games where players can ask for hints or let a character take over, Detective Pikachu Returns feels heavily guided. More levels of independence would have greatly improved the pacing and overall enjoyment of the game.
Missing the Mark
There are also stealth sections and quick-time events that don't quite fit in with the detective theme and further slow down gameplay. The game offers side quests in each chapter, providing additional information about Pokémon, but these quests are mostly simple fetch quests with no meaningful rewards. It would have been nice to see these characters and Pokémon reappear in later parts of the story.
A Story-Driven Adventure
Unlike other Pokémon games, Detective Pikachu is all about the story. While the story here is decent, with a bombastic conclusion, the characters lack depth, and there isn't a strong hook to draw players in. The light-hearted animation and story will likely appeal to many, especially younger children. However, for older players, the simplicity of Detective Pikachu Returns may not hold their interest compared to the more complex mainline series.
Coming Soon
Get ready to join Pikachu on his detective adventures when Detective Pikachu Returns launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2023.
