Summary
Highlights
The video opens with a critical take on the current state of being a Pokémon fan, introducing Pokémon Champions as Nintendo's latest disappointing release. A major bug is discussed where the game deletes Pokémon from the 'Pokemon Home' app, a significant issue given the time and effort players invest in their Pokémon. Nintendo's inadequate response to this bug is also highlighted.
Despite being 'free-to-play,' Champions is heavily criticized for its monetization. Players can only capture one Pokémon per day for free, and these are 'rented' until in-game points are spent to make them permanent. The game features a paid battle pass and a starter bundle. Crucially, the base game only provides 30 Pokémon slots, which can be expanded to 80 with the starter pack, or 1000 with a monthly/yearly membership, giving paid users a significant advantage and making it 'pay to win' in certain aspects.
Pokemon Champions is described as an 'always online' live service game with no single-player content. A significant omission is the absence of the standard 6v6 Pokémon battles, with 3v3 being the norm. The game also lacks many competitive items, rental teams are not ideal, and there's no in-game access to the Nintendo Switch friends list. Performance issues, slow UI, and poor animations are also noted. The video draws a comparison to Pokemon Stadium 2 from 2000, which offered more features including offline and local multiplayer.
Forbes reported that Champions quickly undermined the goodwill generated by the successful launch of another Pokémon game, 'Pikopia,' causing Nintendo's stock to drop. Kotaku also heavily criticized Champions for being a 'failed experiment' due to its limitations. Joe Merrick, founder of Serebii.net, a prominent Pokémon database, suggested competitive play should remain on 'Scarlet and Violet' until 'Champions' improves.
Out of over a thousand Pokémon, Champions launched with only 186. Many newer Pokémon are missing, and bizarrely, many available Pokémon are evolved forms. The video points out false advertising, citing Mega Raichu being shown in trailers but not being able to Mega Evolve in the game despite its Mega Evolution being part of a paid expansion in another Pokémon title. Similarly, battle items shown in trailers are not all available at launch, leading to player disadvantage.
The video presents several viral clips demonstrating critical bugs that affect gameplay integrity. One clip shows a Dragapult using the 'Focus Sash' effect without having the item equipped and with full HP, suggesting inconsistencies with item registration by Nintendo's servers. Another clip shows a Melodic being hit, reduced to 1 HP, then using 'Haze' (a move that doesn't heal), yet inexplicably returning to full HP and making the opponent's attack not count. These bugs are particularly concerning as Champions is intended to be the official platform for Pokémon Championships.
The creator argues that Nintendo's continued release of unfinished games like Champions and Scarlet/Violet (which had numerous glitches but sold well) shows a lack of care and complacency. He contends that Pokémon, as the world's largest media franchise, has vast resources and a dedicated fanbase, yet Nintendo prioritizes monetization and engagement metrics over innovative and functional gameplay. This trend suggests a loss of the series' 'creative soul' through a series of compromises rather than bold decisions. The video concludes by wishing Pokémon received the same attention to detail and polish as other Nintendo titles like Zelda or Mario.