The first Pokemon game for smartphones is not what was expected
It’s still early in the app’s development but Pokemon Go for smartphones is already showing some weaknesses, not the least of which is the absence of any oomph in the battles
Pokemon Go has a killer concept: to bring the “catch ’em all” experience from the Pokemon games into the real world.
In practice, the app – one of a handful that Nintendo has agreed to put out as part of a push on mobile devices – lives up to some of the hype, although changes from the traditional video games might take the shine off for some fans.
Released this month, the basic idea is to combine augmented reality with your smartphone as the game uses real locations to anchor its digital world.
There are certain special markers, called Pokestops, scattered throughout that world that can offer various kinds of loot in the game. Other spots, designated as gyms, act as control points where you can battle other players for dominance.
Right off the bat, I was disappointed to find that the battles in this early test are very different from the traditional games.When catching a new Pokemon, for example, it’s just you and some Pokeballs against a wild Pokemon – no battle necessary.
