Pokemon game idea.

......
The OP mentioned Pokemon specifically, so this thread discusses Pokemon.....

And the idea of an action RPG spinoff Pokemon game would be awesome, if done right.
I'm surprised we still haven't gotten one with all the other spinoff crap (Pokemon Dash, Pokemon Channel....)

 

What would be even more awesome is if they brought back the Pokemon Trading Card game from the GBC era. It was a nice one ;(

 

Quoted For Win.

Imagine if they adapted the plot of Pokemon Special to Video Games? THAT would be a nice Action-RPG type game, especially since the manga has Pokemon attack humans and vice-versa.

 

Oh yes, that would be wonderful. But it won't happen, sadly. I'd love to see my Empoleon slice a Pikachu in half with it's wings, though...

 

So basically you want this, more or less: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gewCYNLv5J8
I think it would be an interesting spin-off, but it wouldn't work for all Pokemon due to reasons listed somewhere above.

 

Okay since Pokemon is all animal based why not just make into an action adventure game similar to Mario. The use of leveling up would then have to deal with mechanics such as Kingdom Hearts' elements in the battlefield.

I am thinking along the lines of combining gameplay from other titles that involve a rather intrecate style of play...like The Mana series, Zelda, and the rest I cannot think of besides the two already mentioned above.

 

^ Hm... Well I really can't see Pokemon using a system like that. There's just so many Pokemon and not all of them can jump or swim or run, etc.


Here's an idea I think would make for an interesting Pokemon spin-off: A PvP RTS game (I think that's what it's called) similar to games like League of Legends.

The objective is to destroy the opponent's base. You have a party of six Pokemon (possibly imported from the DS or rented from the database). You can only control one Pokemon in your party, but can switch between your Pokemon whenever, but to keep people from constantly switching, there will be a 15 second cool-down between each switch. All Pokemon start out at level 5 (in reference to starter Pokemon being obtained at level 5). Every Pokemon has a melee attack (which is the standard automatic attack), and starts out with one special move (in which you have to click the corresponding icon and the target area).

As your Pokemon battle the other Pokemon, it gains experience points for every successful hit, and coins (Poke I think it's called) for every successful kill (or faint). When it's gained enough experience points, it levels up. Leveling up unlocks new special moves, and a Pokemon can have up to four special moves at a time. You can replace old special moves when your Pokemon levels up and wants to learn a new move, similar to the main RPG games. The special move system also functions on a PP system like in the main RPG games. Pokemon do not evolve during these battles. Coins/Poke can be used to buy potions, elixirs, etc., and items for Pokemon to hold. Each Pokemon can hold one item, and each item has different effects on a Pokemon (like in the main RPGs).

When your Pokemon are low on health or PP, you will need to take them back to your base's Pokemon Center. If your Pokemon faints, you will need to switch to another Pokemon, and this Pokemon spawns in roughly the same area where the previous Pokemon fainted. Fainted Pokemon can also be revived at the Pokemon Center. If all your Pokemon faint, all your Pokemon will be revived back at the Pokemon Center after one minute (or something).

There will be two different match types, Single and Multiple. In Single Battles, you go 1 on 1 against another trainer. In Multiples, you can work with up to 5 other trainers against up to 6 other trainers, but both sides must be balanced. All Pokemon will be playable. Fish-like Pokemon will float/swim through the air rather than flop on the ground (like in Pokemon Stadium)... except for maybe Magikarp? But then again, no one's going to be using it seriously anyway.

So yeah, that's all I have about that for now.

 

^ I can.

It'll just be like street fighter - They'll probably limit the number of Pokemon you can use, especially if it's in 3D format and not just 2D sprites like mystery dungeon. The idea of trying to render 649 pokemon with their individual animations and skills is kind of impossible for a commercial game.

Imagine the amount of work Nintendo would had to do (Dude, individual renders! Imagine the amount of parts you would have to stack to make some of them. And not all is as easy as say, Ditto. And that's not taking into account decent backgrounds and interactive objects.) to make a game like that, and it may not even be a hit or make a lot of profit. Just look at Colosseum. I think they only gave you around 20% of the total pokemon available at that time? (Correct me if I'm wrong. Never played it myself)

If it ever happens, it'll have a screen selection with it, you'll get to pick Pikachu, Pichu, Togepi and all the other old-time favorites, and then you'll watch with hilarity as your Togepi pounds Zekrom into kingdom come.

Oh, and while what we all want don't necessarily have to be made, Pokemon HAS invaded a couple of different genres before. We have casual stuff like Pinball, Dash, and puzzle ones that date all the way back to GBC. And obviously there's the roguelike, mystery dungeon, The Circle Genre Pokemon ranger and goodness knows what to call those obscure PC titles aimed at really, really young fanboys.

So nothing's impossible. Only so many genres they can stab at next after all.

 

^ Like Street Fighter? So Mario + Kingdom Hearts + Legend of Zelda = Street Fighter? Nah, a Street Fighter Pokemon game would look more like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1sdeRuqjr8
I can definitely see a Pokemon fighting game with a roster of around ten to twelve Pokemon along with big Legendary Pokemon as bosses.

But yeah, the Mario idea probably is possible, but the action adventure genre in a Mario/LoZ sense doesn't suit the Pokemon universe to me. The core concept of Pokemon is collection, and I don't know how that could be implemented in that kind of gameplay, other than unlocking characters. And even then there probably won't be many characters to unlock since there are probably not too many Pokemon that would fit that certain gameplay style (roughly Pikachu size (assuming Pikachu is the main character); can run, jump, swim; not completely over powered; etc.) But that's just me.

Ooh here's another interesting idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgY7j9jqy5Y
Except make the trainers the racers, and the trainers use their Pokemon as items.

 

No new pokemon game idea that involves changing the whole gameplay is not going to work.

 

That was 151 though. It's more than quadrupled since. And a new game would demand it to be brought up to today's sparkly standards.

 

Could a strategy Pokemon game be possible? I had this unique idea based on pokemon teams deployed in a 3D or 2D field, and certain moves have different ranges (e.g. Shadow Ball), area affect (e.g. Explosion), target all (e.g. Surf), just like FFTA2... and the power type like water could be used to swim in water unhindered, and attributes could be used... well, for something useful, I suppose.

 

Mystery Dungeon does that to an extent.

 

"To an extent." Well, I see your point there. But what I'm looking for is a true strategy game, not a shared genre game. I'm also wondering if the idea were to proceed, what would be better, a human trainer leader, or a natural pokemon leader(who also fights on the battlefield)?

 

In order to keep the player enticed, the mechanics would then have to revolve around unlocking more items or "special events." The items could then be used for only specific types of Pokemon on certain days or whatever time it is. The story would then flow according to your actions based on what type of Pokemon you use or raise. I was thinking on the lines of making the plot somewhere based on rescuing some nearly extinct Pokemon and how you as the trainer are motivated to figure things out from there.

I am drawn to the concept of collection, since this is the main theme of all Pokemon games. It engages the player to collect more of what the game offers besides being able to train individual Pokemon.

This may be true, unless the developers are willing to take a chance of making both the trainer and pokemon battle at the same time (e.g. trainer against trainer and pokemon against pokemon), then that would be fun.

 

^ Could you go into a bit more detail about the actual gameplay you're thinking about? Like are you playing as the trainer, the Pokemon, or both?

I'm imagining the player running about as the trainer in the main hub (a la Super Mario 64), then releasing up to three Pokemon into a levels, the leader of which would be controlled by the player in the level. The level would include a lot of platforming (double jumping, wall jumping, ground pounding, like in the Mario games) and enemies that are unlocked for your party whenever you defeat a certain amount. Attacking has elements from Kingdom Hearts and Dark Cloud (I haven't really played Dark Cloud much), you attack in a three hit combo, which can be increased, along with gaining different moves, via level up, and each move/ability is equipped back in the main hub by the trainer (KH). However, there is a speed meter, and you can only attack as long as there is something in that meter. When that meter runs out, you have to wait for it to recharge (DC).

Well, that's how I'm starting to see it now, unless you had different gameplay ideas. Also, what is Pokemon Revolution? Is that an actual game? Or were you talking about Pokemon Battle Revolution (which I highly doubt, since PBR totally does not play like a Mario game)? Or maybe that was the name you were thinking about calling this spin-off?



Anyway, expounding more on this idea:

So yeah, basically the same type of gameplay as your typical kart racer (Mario Kart, Crash Team Racing, Sega All-Star Racing). Each trainer/racer brings their own party of up to six Pokemon. This means that each racer has up to six different attack/defense/boost moves to use in a race. Each Pokemon can only use one of it's two different moves in a race, and a Pokemon can only use a move after collecting an item box or passing a checkpoint.

For example, Red decides to race with Pikachu and Poliwrath. He currently has Pikachu out on the back of his kart when he collects an item box (don't know what else to call it right now). He can now use a Pokemon. Now say his Pikachu knows Thunder (offensive: attacks an opponent in range) for this race, but right now he wants to go faster (speed boost), and he had previously chosen Hydro Pump (boost: the Pokemon shoots water backwards to increase speed, like a turbo boost) for his Poliwrath. He can then shift his Pokemon from Pikachu to Poliwrath and use that item box. If he doesn't want to use any of his Pokemon at the moment, he can save this use, but he can also gain more uses (up to 3) by collecting more item boxes. Also, the type of Pokemon you have out also affects your racing. If Red used his Pikachu to attack another racer who has out an Onix, the racer would not be affected much (would only spin out a few times and speed would slow a bit, but overall would not be affected too much). However, if he used a Pikachu to attack a racer who has out a Psyduck, then the racer would be drastically affected (would lose control of the car and flip over a few times, slow down quite a bit). So when racing, trainers/racers would be constantly switching which Pokemon they have out to decisively attack or defend from other trainers, along with avoiding the natural obstacles of the track. Yup, gameplay would be frantic fun.

Anyways, for Grand Prix mode. The different cups are divided by region: Kanto Cup, Johto Cup, Hoenn Cup, Sinnoh Cup, Isshu Cup. There are ten sets of four races, each set of races representing a Gym (first eight are gyms). In each Gym set, a trainer would have to make at least fourth place in the first three races to qualify to race in the last race (or use the point system like in Mario Kart). In the final race, the top four trainers/racers race each other along with the Gym leader, and to win the badge, the player would have to finish first. The tracks would be themed based on the Gym's theme (in a rock-themed gym, tracks would take place in a cave-like area with rocks constantly falling from the ceiling). Once you defeat the first 8 Gyms/sets of races, all of which can be done in any order, you unlock that Cup's/region's Elite Four, in which you race each one one-on-one in each of the four tracks. After defeating them, you unlock the final race of that Cup, against the Cup's Champion.

As for the characters you race as, you start out with 10 characters: the main playable characters of the main RPG games. As you race, you can unlock other trainers like gym leaders, rival characters, anime characters, and manga characters. There could also be a character creation mode like in PBR. Only the ten original characters and the created characters (and possibly unlocked rival trainers) have completely customizable parties. The unlockable trainers (like gym leaders, Elite Four members, random trainers) only have one or two different sets of six Pokemon to choose from, meaning they have limited party selection.

Pokemon are also unlocked with other trainers. In the beginning of the game, the only Pokemon you have are the starters of each region and a select few more (like Pikachu) for a little more variety. As you defeat and unlock other trainer characters, you unlock their Pokemon to use. Also, Pokemon evolve the more you use them in races. At the end of the game, almost all of the Pokemon should be acquired, except for legendaries. Legendaries can be caught after completing certain tasks, then race battling the Pokemon into submission. For example, to get a chance to unlock Mewtwo, you must defeat the Kanto cup’s Elite Four in a certain amount of time. After completing this task, Mewtwo appears, and you chase after him around the track (he won’t be in a kart, and he gets a slight head start). You must then defeat him in the race to unlock him.


... Wow. Coming up with these game ideas is actually pretty fun.

 

tl;dr version: BEST FUCKING IDEA EVER!!!!!

 

You guys can come up with ideas, but know this, there is no need to change what doesn't need to be changed. It's a near perfect style of gameplay.

 

^ Of course, we all know that. But spin-off games don't really affect the main series gameplay. Games like Pokemon Snap (rail shooting FPS), Mystery Dungeon (rougelike RPG), Pokemon Pinball (arcade pinball), and Pokemon Dash (racing) have not affected the core gameplay of Pokemon Emerald or Pokemon Platinum at all (as far as I know). It's not like we're wishing that the main RPG games would suddenly be changed to something like God of War. These are simply spin-off ideas.

Anyway, I edited my previous post with a few more ideas.