By the time Pokémon Go had landed over here in the UK, it was already a global success, and if anything the hype train behind the new Nintendo app is only just beginning to get rolling. It’s already managed to get banned from war memorials in the US, get a special invite from churches in the UK, resulted in millions of kids to get up and out of the house while still playing computer games and sent Nintendo’s stock value skyrocketing.
One of the big reasons the game is getting so much attention is that it represents Nintendo’s first big step into mobile gaming, taking the Japanese gaming giants from the locked-down framework of only producing content for their own devices. While we’re pretty sure you won’t be seeing Mario on a PS4 or Xbox ONE any time in the future, it’s pretty clear that mobile gaming is a big part of the big N’s plans going forward.
While it kicked off back in March 2016 with the arrival of Nintendo’s first app launch, the communication concept that is Miitomo, it’s only now that it’s finally arrived in the gaming space with Pokémon Go. There’s already both Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing mobile title in the wings, so we’re expecting the new augmented reality Pokémon game to be the first spark of mobile brilliance from Nintendo. The servers have taken a beating from all of the interest worldwide, and admittedly they have fallen over a few times, but it’s only a matter of time before Nintendo get them stabilised.
Release and in-app purchase costs
If you’ve missed the craze, don’t worry too much because the app was only released on the 14th July 2016 in the UK, so there’s plenty of time to get onto the augmented reality train. It’s free to play, so it doesn’t cost anything to add the game to your smartphone, but there are in-app purchases available, which equate to Pokécoins. In the UK, 100 Pokécoins will cost you £0.79, 550 cost £3.99, 1,200 cost £7.99, 2,500 cost £14.99, 5,200 cost £29.99 and remarkably 14,500 will set you back £79.99, so it could work out pretty pricey if you end up being a bit of a spender.
How does Pokémon Go work?
The idea behind the game is pretty simple; essentially, Pokémon characters are running free around the world and it’s up to you to head out and about to find them – and by out and about, we literally mean out and about. The app uses GPS and mapping functionality to show your location in the world and where you might be able to find Pokémon. With the help of Professor Willow, the game’s wildlife guru, you’ll run through a quick tutorial to learn the ropes.
When you do find yourself face to face with one of the little fellows, you’ll need to catch them with your Poké Ball , which you flick in their direction, to add them to your collection. The cool part of this is that Pokémon Go links up with the camera on your smartphone to show the Pokémon in real life (check out the pic above), so they could be sat on the grass in a park, on the top deck of a cross channel ferry, hiding out in your back garden, or even in the confines of the Natural History Museum.
In addition to finding Pokémon, you’ll also be able to train them and enter battles with them within the augmented reality of the app. To train them, you use the candies and stardust that you’re awarded for collecting the little guys to increase their combat power (CP). To battle it out at one of the gyms, you’ll need to be at least level 5 to even get in on the action and then it’ll come down to how powerful your Pokémon are compared to the opposition.
You can take up to six into battle and the aim is to bring down the prestige of the gym to zero, which you’ll do by repeatedly beating the Pokémon the incumbent trainer has left behind. When in battle, it’s all about getting the attacks in as swiftly as possible by tapping the screen where your opponent stands and dodging any incoming attacks by swiping left or right. When you land enough hits, and your special attack bar reaches full you’ll be able to unleash this on them with devastating impact by pressing and holding the screen. If you get all of this right then you’ll be able to take over the gym and leave one of your own Pokémon behind to guard it.
The dangers of Pokémon Go
The downside to it all is that it can lead you into some pretty tricky situations. Some teens have already gotten themselves stuck in a cave 100ft underground as a result of playing Pokémon Go, so you might want to think twice before you head off on your next hunt. Either you’ve got your spelunking kit with you, or you need to head back home for a nice cup of tea and a sit down.
Equally, the distraction of constantly looking at your smartphone screen means that you’ll have to be careful when you take to the streets. Remember your green cross code and stay away from any steep hills or long drops while you’re on the hunt for a rare Pokémon. It’s a scary world out there, so be careful!
The only other danger to factor into the equation is the weather. A bit of rain won’t be that much of a big deal for the weather and waterproof smartphones on the market, but for the rest, it’s probably not advisable to have a Pokémon Go binge in the middle of a thunder storm, cyclone or at the local water park.
Hints and tips:
- How to level-up fast on Pokémon Go – if you’ve been struggling to catch up with the keeno hunters out there, here’s our handy guide on some simple, and a few more advanced quick level-up tactics
- How to get your Pokémon into a gym – you’ll need a fair few tactics up your sleeve in order to get one of your Pokémon into a gym in order to earn the valuable Poké coins, so our guide will help you master the easy approaches and the more hard fought battling techniques to gym supremacy
