Detective Pikachu is an amazing game that shows the players a new side of the Pokemon world. While not as crazy as it could be, Detective Pikachu is certainly a game worth playing. Detective Pikachu tells an amazing story of a young man named Tim and his new friend, a talking pikachu, and their adventures in crime solving. It is definitely interesting playing a game where Pikachu talks to the main character. Detective Pikachu is a charming tale of a boy and his friend like all Pokemon games before it.
Detective Pikachu is a visual novel game and the first for Pokemon. Visual novels are great because they tell a full story, and often can be far more in-depth than books. It is interesting that this game took on that style as it differs from the norm, but that’s a good thing. It shows us a world that is filled with crime and evil, but with due process at its forefront. Pikachu might be a Detective but the police do work, and it is nice to such see realism. In most Pokemon games there really only appears to be Office Jenny to help solve problems, or in Pokemon Sun we do have Nanu. This game takes a snapshot of the Pokemon world and shows us how filled the world really is.
Detective Pikachu is similar in some ways to the Ace Attorney Series in that you investigate crime scenes and talk to wacky characters. Pikachu and Tim work together, with Tim communicating with people and Pikachu talking to the pokemon. At first, Pikachu helps Tim out and gives a lot of great advice, but as the game progresses Tim evolves much to Pikachu’s chagrin, as he of course is the lead detective in his eyes.
It is refreshing seeing a main character in a Pokemon game develop, as usually, the main character is the player character. Tim Goodman is a solid hero who is searching for his father. Having gone missing before the game begins, Tim knows something bad happened and will do anything to help. After finding Pikachu the pair soon become a duo and solve crime after crime. As the pair continues to grow closer, they meet plucky reporter Emilia and find out more about Tim’s father’s disappearance.
There are quick time events which the player must navigate but they really aren’t anything to worry about. It just adds an extra layer of tension as the player is quickly forced to press A at a certain time. When the player fails, there is always a chance to try again, so it isn’t a big deal. This is obviously so younger players can also enjoy this stellar game. In that same line of thinking, the player can also play on easy mode and get even more help from Pikachu. This game is such a fun story, that really anyone who wants to play it will be able to play it.
Detective Pikachu’s investigations are where the true fun lies. The player gets to meet around 100 different Pokemon with a quirky intro for every single Pokemon. It’s interesting seeing how the emotions of the pokemon play the game. The player and the duo solve little cases as they build their way to solving the case. It may seem tedious but by the end, there is a sense of accomplishment. The criminals are also rather shocking in some cases, and it is fun to try to figure out who the culprit is. Of course, there are ruses that throw the player off the scent, which may stump anyone who might not be paying enough attention.
Detective Pikachu is at its core an amazing Pokemon story with a great Detective through-line. Detective Pikachu really is a stellar hero and Tim, his best friend, grows before the player’s eyes. It will be interesting to see if there is a sequel to this game or if DLC is in the cards. Detective Pikachu is a game that any Pokemon fan should pick up. If the player has never played a visual novel, this would also be a good start in the right direction. If there is any inclination to solve a mystery with a pikachu, then follow the clues and pick up this amazing game!