Though I usually review visual novels, I’ve been playing this on my Nintendo Switch and felt like I had something to say.

Being a Pokémon fan since I was a child, I’ve watched the fanbase come and go in waves of what they want out of Pokémon games. I began with Pokémon Yellow, and continued on to every new main entry, and many of the spinoffs, after that. At the same time, I was beginning to grow annoyed at the seeming fetishization of Generation 1 of the Pokémon series. There’s always the people who are constantly going on about how the first generation of Pokémon is the best, and refuse to give the later games a try. This game in particular seemed aimed at both new fans as well as the so-called “genwunners.” So, I thought I was going to inevitably give Pokémon Let’s Go a pass.

However, my friends got the game, and seeing their charming Twitter posts and screenshots about the game made me want it more day by day. Then, Christmas happened, and there it was under our little tree for me. I began playing the game immediately and was blown away by how absolutely precious this game is. By looking at other reviews on gaming websites, you will probably hear about how this game is incredibly easy and doesn’t require any challenge at all. Personally, that doesn’t bother me, because Pokémon has absolutely been easy for a long time.

What I like about this game is the fact that they brought back one of the most desired features from Soul Silver and Heart Gold: Follower Pokémon. Not only can you take ANY of your Pokémon outside of their Pokéballs, you can also ride several of them. Seeing the former pixels brought to life in 3D, to scale, is a magical experience I am continuously captivated by.

I knew he was going to be big, but I’m still majorly in love with this gigantic dinosaur.

The peak moment of the game, honestly.

Another major thing I love about this game is all the little details. You may notice when a Pokémon’s HP is lowered to the red, they begin to move slower, as they are low on energy. All of the Pokémon have different running styles as well. Krabby moves next to you as he walks sideways, Venasaur hops like a frog, and Pikachu speeds ahead of you. You can encounter Pokémon of different sizes, as you catalogue the range of sizes in your Pokédex. And another detail I noticed recently, as I was catching other Eevee, is that your own Eevee is both larger and colored differently to the regular ones!

I’m currently about halfway through the main story, but so far, this game has been much more than just a simple nostalgia trip. Wandering around the familiar region is truly a joy when you see the critters running around in the grass, in towns, and in the sea. Though it does have flaws, Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee has been a delightful journey in the Pokémon world that actually feels like a living, breathing rendition of it.