Summary
Pokemon GOthrives on being aPokemongame that players can play while traveling, but one region-based mechanic is best left in the past. There are a lot of things that makePokemon GOfun, from its easy-to-learn gameplay to the wonder of catching new Pokemon. Even with such a good idea, it’s important to put in work to keep the game fun for players. With that in mind, there is one feature that could act as a roadblock for players in that sense, and it may be best ifPokemon GOmakes a gameplay change to address it.
The fact thatPokemon GOis still expandingafter nearly eight years should be seen as proof of the game’s longevity. The game launched with the idea of being a new kind ofPokemongame, and in that sense it succeeded. With a gameplay loop based around walking around, catching Pokemon, and finding Pokestops and gyms in real-world locations, it rewarded players for getting out of the house. The game has garnered a significant following, supplementing its large player base with regular events to increase interest. Out of all of Nintendo’s mobile gaming excursions,Pokemon GOhas proven to have the biggest impact.
Pokemon GO Locking Certain Pokemon to Specific Regions is an Unnecessary Feature
Pokemon GO’s Region Locking Blocks Off Certain Pokemon Outside of Certain Regions
Unfortunately,Pokemon GOhas one troublesome quirk. One of the mostdifficult aspects ofPokemon GOis the fact that some Pokemon are locked to certain regions and cannot be encountered otherwise. Out of the 50 Pokemon affected, 42 can only be found in certain parts of the world, while 8 have variants that can only be found in certain parts of the world. Some particularly egregious examples of this include:
Region-Locking Pokemon is One of Pokemon GO’s More Disappointing Mechanics
The problem with these region-locked Pokemon should be obvious from the outset. Part of the fun ofcatching Pokemon inPokemon GOcan fade away if some Pokemon simply cannot be found. It’s fully possible that a player’s favorite Pokemon could be made unavailable to them simply because it’s not available in their region. The vast majority of players do not have the capability to travel the world, meaning that a significant amount of Pokemon will be unavailable to them no matter what. No matter what the reasoning is, it’s a restriction on the game that is simply unfair for a lot of players.
Pokemon GO Does Not Need to Region-Lock Several Species of Pokemon
What makes this particularly baffling is that region-locking is a mechanic thatPokemon GOdoes not need at all.Future seasons ofPokemon GOwould be improved by simply making these Pokemon available to all players rather than certain regions. Regions don’t have to stop having any role, either, as Pokemon in question could still be more common in their home region, or rarer outside of them. However it’s done, making every Pokemon more accessible to their fans would be a major positive change all around. Releasing region locks could be one of the most user-friendly moves thatPokemon GOcould make.
While it’s not clear if anything will be done about region-locked Pokemon inPokemon GO, it stands out as one of the game’s most frustrating mechanics. Withnew features to come inPokemon GO, it might also be time to reevaluate some older parts of the game. Region-locked Pokemon are not a fun mechanic, nor does it add anything to the game. All it does is keep certain Pokemon unavailable to large swathes of the player base. Changing the region-lock restrictions inPokemon GOwould be a net gain for the game as a whole.
WHERE TO PLAY
Now you can battle other Pokémon GO trainers online! Try the GO Battle League today. Join Trainers across the globe who are discovering Pokémon as they explore the world around them. Pokémon GO is the global gaming sensation that has been downloaded over 1 billion times and named “Best Mobile Game” by the Game Developers Choice Awards and “Best App of the Year” by TechCrunch
UNCOVER THE WORLD OF POKÉMON: Explore and discover Pokémon wherever you are! CATCH more Pokémon to complete your Pokédex! JOURNEY alongside your Buddy Pokémon to help make your Pokémon stronger and earn rewards! COMPETE in epic Gym battles and… TEAM UP and UNITE with other Trainers to catch powerful Pokémon during Raid Battles!It’s time to get moving—your real-life adventures await! Let’s GO
