Among Nintendo’s main unveilings, there was one game -or two, technically- that was much more secretive in its release than the rest. That was Pokemon: Let’s Go in both Pikachu and Eevee editions! The beautifully rendered new addition to the Pokemon franchise brings together your Pokemon Go experience as well as the nostalgia of the first Pokemon games. We got to demo Let’s Go, Pikachu! behind closed doors, and here’s the scoop!

If you’re still playing Pokemon Go and own a Nintendo Switch, let us tell you, you will have an edge over any other players of the upcoming Pokemon: Let’s Go! Games. The exciting new installment implements your Pokemon Go data into the game, putting all your hard work to good use, as well as implements some fun new mechanics from the mobile game.

The Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! Demo was only of a chunk of a map so we could experience the game mechanics and its basic attributes, so there will be a LOT more to this game than what we saw. The first thing to mention is that we got hand-on experience with the PokeBall Plus, which is a special controller for the game in the shape of a Pokeball, of course. The front Pokeball button is the joystick and the B button is just where your middle finger sits, facing the screen.

The play area is just like the original games’ layout with patches of grass hiding wild pokemon and paths going through in different directions, other pokemon trainers just waiting to challenge you with their trusty Rattata or Caterpie. Except everything is smooth and bright colored and you can see the wild pokemon in the grass! Which makes it easier to avoid running into the 15th Pidgey in 30 minutes.

When you do run into a wild pokemon, you can attempt to catch it, very much like in Pokemon Go! Though when you have the PokeBall Plus, it’s even more fun! Like in Go!, you can see your chances of catching a pokemon by watching what color and size the aiming circle around it is and you can make them like you -and easier to catch- by offering them berries. Once they’re loving up on you, you can choose a pokeball (we had regular and Master Balls for the demo) and catch it by motioning as if you were throwing the pokeball. If you aim right, (B facing forward, we learned) you’ll catch your new buddy! Once you catch it, the pokeball controller flashes yellow (like in the anime) and even makes the little sound effect! Once the pokemon is secured in the ball, you hear its respective cry. Yatta!

Another notable aspect of the game is that the titular character, Pikachu in our case, is always following you around and not in its pokeball! We also had a sweet charmander following us around for some reason, but we’re not sure why… It felt like a gorgeous remake of Pokemon Yellow with a bit of AR involved. Much like Pokemon Go, Let’s Go, Pikachu! makes the player feel like they are Ash! (Or Red, or whichever character is your favorite), and the interaction between Let’s Go! And Go! Doesn’t end there.

The PokeBall Plus controller also serves to level up your pokemon when you’re out on the town IRL. You can choose to put a pokemon in the ball and wear the PokeBall Plus to give your pal a level boost as you walk around town! Besides that, you can transfer your Pokemon Go! Pokemon to Let’s Go! And use them to battle, level up and just be the very best that no one ever was!

The rest of the mechanics are a combination of what we’ve already seen so far in pokemon games, but the interaction with the characters, pokemon and surroundings was super immersive. The size of pokemon is signaled by different color swirls around them, and if they’re shiny, you’ll be able to tell that too. No more guessing! You can easily spot or avoid specific pokemon in your adventure! And if you have some sweet, rare pokemon from Pokemon Go! You’ll be set!

On top of all that, you can play co-op too! Locally or online, you can have a friend go for a stroll with you in Kanto and help you catch and battle pokemon.

While the demo was still mostly hush-hush about details, this is all we have to go on, but it looks as though the Pokemon craze has reached yet another revival and we can’t wait to get involved!

Oh, and did we mention that the PokeBall Plus comes with a Mew!? So if you don’t already have one, this is a great chance to change that!

How excited are you for Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!? Or Eevee? Which one would you get?? Let us know in the comments!