Pokémon GO is an augmented reality game made in collaboration between Nintendo and Niantic. The game is based on geolocation, meaning that where the player's avatar appears in the game depends on where the player is standing in real life. As the player walks, he or she can interact with different landmarks and collect items in specific locations around the world. The game's primary genre is augmented reality (AR), though it can be classified under adventure or fitness due to the app's encouragement of players to get outside and move around. There is no primary audience for Pokémon GO — just anyone who wants to get outside and have a good time catching all kinds of Pokémon! Anyone can play, as long as they are able to traverse around cities or suburbs where Pokémon hubs are located and where items/creatures can be found.
The app is currently on version 0.251.0, and it is frequently being updated with new content and bug fixes. Pokémon from different eras are represented, and the Niantic team does its best to keep adding new ones and special events. The game runs on iOS, Android, and iPadOS. Best of all, the app is totally free! There are in-app purchases that allow players to hoard more items. This increases their ease and ability to succeed and catch more Pokémon; however, it does not prevent free players from having just as great of a time.
Pokémon GO is great because it balances relaxing gameplay with physical activity and socialization. The whole point of Pokémon GO is to GO outside and get some fresh air. Unless a person lives directly above a hotspot where Pokémon creatures spawn and items drop, it is impossible to play the game without moving. This directly combats the sedentary lifestyles video games are known for inducing in players.
The game has no story, so there are very few attitudes in writing and storytelling that new players should be aware of. If anything, the attitudes presented by the app are the importance of being physically active and taking care of the Earth.
Pokémon GO encourages teamwork in addition to healthy rivalry. Players join teams that are regularly pitted against one another to take over vantage points through Pokémon battles. This means players must get to know their fellow team members and work together in order to win. This encourages players to see the dignity of the human person inherently present in his/her teammates. This dignity is often overlooked in other games' lobbies, where people shout cuss words at each other if a match is lost or for no reason at all.
In this game, the Pokémon creatures themselves are the player's buddies. They can walk around with the player and work together to win battles. This aspect of the Pokémon franchise has been under attack historically by individuals who think Pokémon encourages animal fighting. This is not the case because Pokémon love their trainers and cooperate willingly with them. Trainers can give their Pokémon berries as treats, which nourish them and make them happy. The Pokémon also help the trainers to rescue Pokémon that have been enslaved by non-playable characters in the game. The truth is there: Pokémon are friends who fight against animal cruelty. This teaches young players to love their Pokémon, extending to loving their real-life pets.
The game is inspiring because it truly does make a person want to go outside. The whole world being filled with mysterious, powerful Pokémon is enough to get me off of my feet. We can see just how inspiring Pokémon GO is based on the millions of people who swarmed the outdoors on the app's launch day.
Creating AR games, let alone good ones, is not an easy feat. Niantic did a great job at skillfully developing a game that plays well, functions as it should, and makes physical activity addictingly fun. The amount of new content being added is always overwhelming; heck, even the amount of Pokémon there are in the game right now is stunning. How can I ever catch 'em all?!
I personally love Pokémon GO because it shows that the developers know a lot about human psychology. This app is the perfect tool to get our media-consumed generation outdoors and interacting. The app was clearly motivated by human experience. The developers probably asked themselves what it would take to get them off of their couches, and that was where Pokémon GO was born. The thrill of catching a rare Pokémon and showing it to one's friends is inexpressible in words. Special events, too, are tailored toward scratching players' itches for catching as many special, rare Pokémon as possible in a short timeframe. The developers know exactly what the fans want!
While I understand that some people can get overly absorbed with this game (looking down at their phones all the time and putting themselves in danger by playing while driving), I feel that this app is face-value more beneficial than others. If we're comparing apps, I would rather have someone playing Pokémon GO outside and walking around (more or less) than have someone playing Candy Crush inside. At least there is somewhat of an integral social aspect to the game, though it can be overlooked by those who are crafty enough and who really don't want to talk to people. As for driving while playing, the game does have a speed monitor that shuts you out if you are going too fast, meaning that if someone is driving while playing, the app will shut them out. This is to deter people from playing the game while driving, exposing themselves and others to dangerous situations.
I give Pokémon GO a 5/5-star rating because it encourages social activity and exercise, and it is fun to play for all ages.
