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Pokemon Go! Review
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Posted: 19 months ago, last updated 8 weeks ago.
Author: @GeekDadGamer and Jo Robertson.
Overview
Pokémon Go is a game you play by walking outside. You play on a smartphone so it can use the GPS to locate, capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, called Pokémon, which appear as if they are in the player's real-world location.
Although this technology and game-play had existed previously in the developers games (like Ingress) Pokémon Go had huge success with families and people of all ages. By early 2019, the game had over a billion global downloads, grossing over $3 billion in revenue. The game also had over 147 million monthly active users as of May 2018.
Its unique collecting game-play combined with needing to explore your local area to find creatures was a big hit. The game converted local sites of interest, like Churches, Castles and rivers into elements in the game.
It has been followed up by Harry Potter: Wizards Unite which offers a similar experienced, themed around the popular wizard rather than Pokemon creatures.
Although this technology and game-play had existed previously in the developers games (like Ingress) Pokémon Go had huge success with families and people of all ages. By early 2019, the game had over a billion global downloads, grossing over $3 billion in revenue. The game also had over 147 million monthly active users as of May 2018.
Its unique collecting game-play combined with needing to explore your local area to find creatures was a big hit. The game converted local sites of interest, like Churches, Castles and rivers into elements in the game.
- Ingres (2013)
- Pokemon Go (2016) on iOS and Android
- Ingres Prime (2017) on iOS and Android, updated with a superhero aesthetic and story.
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (2019) on iOS and Android, with a Harry Potter theme.
It has been followed up by Harry Potter: Wizards Unite which offers a similar experienced, themed around the popular wizard rather than Pokemon creatures.
Game Details
Content Rating: PEGI 7
Release Date: 06/07/2016
Price: Free
Platforms: Android and iOS
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fighting, Open World, Physically Active and Turn-Based
Accessibility: 16 features
Developer: Niantic Labs (@NianticLabs)
Lists
View our choice of games like Pokemon Go!. This game is good if you want to:
Commitment
Duration: This game will take between 70 hours and 140 hours to complete. Because of the game's collect them all nature, it will take a very long time to complete. However, you can play as little or as often as you like in relatively short sessions.
Players: You can play with 2 players in the same room and up to 20 players online. You can battle one on one when in the same place as other people. You can also compete in “raid” battles with up to 19 other people in the same battle.
Cross-Play: Play with people across iOS and Android.
Players: You can play with 2 players in the same room and up to 20 players online. You can battle one on one when in the same place as other people. You can also compete in “raid” battles with up to 19 other people in the same battle.
Cross-Play: Play with people across iOS and Android.
Costs
Age Ratings
Content Rating
Rated PEGI 7+ for mild violence against fantasy characters. Users can engage the cartoon, fantasy characters in Gym battles, which involves two of them sending waves and elements between each other. When hit, they flinch and there is a brief flash. When defeated, they disappear and a glowing orb appears. They then evolve into their next character. Characters can be healed by buying potions.The game contains in-app purchases and users can add friends and send gifts. You also need to take care when playing outside for dangers like traffic.
Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.
Accessibility
Moving the device's camera around is required to get the full function of AR features, like feeding your Pokémon or catching Pokémon. But, this is not necessarily required to enjoy the game. AR can be turned off in the game settings; after doing so, players can complete tasks without the need to aim the camera. When catching Pokémon, for example, the AR can be turned off and players can catch Pokémon using just finger taps to select items and gestures, like swipes, to use them.
With a separate purchase of a Pokémon GO Plus or a Poke Ball Plus accessory, a player can catch Pokémon and spin PokeStops with a single button press on that device. Players cannot fully play the game using either of these devices, however.
For the most part, Pokémon GO can be played with a single finger's taps and swipes. But, two fingers are needed to zoom in and out on the map.
Our Pokemon Go! Accessibility Report documents 16 accessibility features:
With a separate purchase of a Pokémon GO Plus or a Poke Ball Plus accessory, a player can catch Pokémon and spin PokeStops with a single button press on that device. Players cannot fully play the game using either of these devices, however.
For the most part, Pokémon GO can be played with a single finger's taps and swipes. But, two fingers are needed to zoom in and out on the map.
Our Pokemon Go! Accessibility Report documents 16 accessibility features:
Games Like Pokemon Go!
Our experts have hand-picked the following similar games for you. These offer a similar way to play to Pokemon Go! or are games with a similar theme or topic. These are good alternative games to Pokemon Go!.
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