Pokémon Champions can’t decide if it’s for newcomers or veterans

Pokémon Championsshould have been an easy victory. Take the competitive battling of your average Pokémon RPG and section it off into its own game, just like the Stadiums and Coliseums of yesterday. But judging by the free-to-play game’s early fan reception, that mission is far more complicated than it sounds. The Pokémon community is divided over absent monsters, lost items, and missing features. Depending on who you are, Champions is either a slap in the face to long-time players, a much-needed introduction to newcomers, or business as usual for the series’ competitive scene.