Pokemon X and Y Reviews

Pokemon X and Y is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.5 / 10.0
Oct 21, 2013

It's the same old Pokemon that you know and love, but shinier than ever thanks to the graphics. X and Y doesn't shake the age-old formula up when you examine it closely, but it really doesn't need to as it shifts the franchise into a more modern age.

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Impulsegamer
Top Critic
4.2 / 5.0
Nov 1, 2013

Rather than being weighed down by it’s own lengthy history, the game is uplifted by it. Pokémon X/Y is part monster-hunting RPG, part social networking tool, and the two mesh nicely together. Not a revolution for the series, but enough of an improvement that even the most jaded fan might regain that old twinkle in the eye.

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EGM
Top Critic
8.3 / 10.0
Oct 18, 2013

It’s freakn Pokemon. On the 3DS. Hell yes.

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82 / 100
Oct 4, 2013

Pokémon X and Y might mark a big visual jump for the series, but the structure remains steadfast in its dedication to tradition. These are still fun games that offer the potential for hundreds of hours of entertainment, and some of the new additions, like the Fairy-type, are certainly welcome. But X and Y don’t really stand out from their predecessors, and I really am starting to wonder how much longer Nintendo can repackage what is essentially the same game.

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Oct 24, 2013

If you get hooked--and you'll likely get hooked--you're going to find a few hundred hours of Pokemon battles to look forward to, even if the game falls back on some old tropes a bit too much.

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8 / 10
Oct 4, 2013

Pokemon X and Y benefit greatly from their leap to a fully 3D world, and have plenty to offer both veterans and novices alike.

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Oct 4, 2013

Like a faint Pikachu attempting to escape a rare Poke Ball, Pokemon X shouldn't fail to draw you in and hold on tight, even though it's not quite the mega evolution we were expecting.

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4 / 5.0
Nov 9, 2013

Pokémon X and Y makes the classic series feel brand new.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 21, 2013

Outside of the new social features Pokemon Y and its counterpart do largely stick to the traditional JRPG formula and mechanics that have made the series the global phenomenon it has become. Hardcore Poke fans will still find a lot to like in this instalment and even players who may have lost their way with the series might find the new features and major visual upgrades worth jumping back on the wagon for. It may be iterative and lacking in radical innovations but Pokemon Y is still immensely fun, even if catching them all from a fresh start does feel more than a little daunting.

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Oct 18, 2013

Pokemon X and Y set a brave new standard for the series on its new platform, delivering a host of new features, expressive 3D visuals and sensational online functionality for future games to build on.

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Oct 29, 2013

I also spent far too much time with character customization after I beat the game, pouring thousands of dollars into a better wardrobe. Overall, though, this generation didn’t quite live up to my, perhaps high, expectations. Yes it was very fun and enjoyable, and will undoubtedly be a great time sink as I strive to complete my Pokédex. But it also had its share of small problems that could have been fixed. If nothing else, however, Pokémon Y should serve as a wonderful new starting point for the series. It may not have been the definitive experience I was hoping for, but it did a lot of work modernizing the series for future generations. That makes Pokémon Y a must-buy game for any Pokémon fan. Now, to finish Super Training my Gourgeist!

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Oct 4, 2013

Despite the nagging feeling that something's missing, Pokémon X and Y make some huge leaps forward for both the competitive and casual crowds. I just wish these games felt as complete as their predecessors.

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7 / 10.0
Oct 17, 2013

Nearly 15 years after the first Pokémon games were released, we're still trying to catch 'em all. But with Pokémon X and Y, we do so begrudgingly.

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Jan 26, 2017

"3D models are welcome."

Review in Finnish | Read full review

62%
Sep 19, 2015

Pokemon X could have been a much better game. The game lacks content and has very bland characters.

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Yes
Oct 12, 2013

It's a charming adventure that lets you collect the coolest creatures for battle and friendship.

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Unscored
Oct 17, 2013

The core Pokémon franchise has largely remained unchanged, both graphically and mechanically, since its inception with Pokémon Red and Blue. While Game Freak has kept adding on various elements to keep the games fresh, each new title didn’t really present a whole lot in terms of variety. I also admit that both Pokémon Black and White 1 and 2 completely lost my interest. I never even got past the second gym. It was Pokémon fatigue at its worst. Pokémon X and Y changed all of that. I was a fan again. I couldn’t stop playing. I couldn’t stop catching and collecting.

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No Recommendation / Blank
Oct 4, 2013

Pokémon X & Y is the finest expression of Satoshi Tajiri's obsessive vision yet.

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Guardian
Top Critic
Unscored
Oct 19, 2013

Just when he thought he had kicked the habit, Matt Kamen finds himself captured by the new improved Pokémon adventures

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Drew Leachman
Top Critic
Unscored
Oct 23, 2013

It’s all here. Fans of Pokémon will be in familiar territory while newcomers will have a great time learning the ropes. It never deviates from the norm too much, but what X and Y does and does brilliantly, is the improvements to connectivity and game progression. Sure, it may feel the same, but it is so refined, that hardcore players will see past it. With more monsters than I can count, and an improved online and overall experience, Nintendo has proven that Pokémon is still alive and well, and with X and Y, anyone with a 3DS should play it. It really is the best Pokémon game I have ever played.

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