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.

This post raises some interesting points about the balance between catering to newcomers and veterans in Pokémon Champions. It’s always a challenge to create a game that appeals to both types of players. Looking forward to seeing how this evolves!