The Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! And Eevee! Post-Game Is About Challenging Yourself

Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee! is a callback to Pokemon Yellow, which means it is a substantial game that can take you hours to play, but doesn’t just end. Once the game is over, you still have a lot of things you can do in Kanto. There are still battles to chase, Pokemon to get, and honors to achieve. In every situation, it is about continuing to prove how adept you are.

Naturally, there are still trainers to face. You can fight the Elite Four again in Pokemon: Let’s Go. But in this case, you don’t want to immediately fight them again after beating the game. In a subsequent run, the Elite Four and your rival will be stronger than they were before. This means you can’t just save and immediately head back again. Everyone’s Pokemon are 10 levels higher, taking them above level 60, and you have to account for new Alolan Pokemon and movesets. So Lorelai will have an Alolan Sandslash with her, Bruno gets an Alolan Golem, Agatha brings an Alolan Marowak, and Lance’s new teammates are an Alolan Exeggcutor and a Charizard with Charizardite X that lets it become Charizard X. It really makes you think more about your decisions and fight.

The same happens with other gym leaders in Pokemon: Let’s Go. Everyone will be willing to fight you again once per day, each person will have Pokemon between levels 56 and 57, and there are all new lineups. When you go back to visit Brock, he’ll have Aerodactyl, Golem, Kabutops, Omastar, and Onix. Misty’s new team is Dewgong, Golduck, Gyarados, Starmie, and Vaporeon. Lt. Surge will send out Electabuzz, Electrode, Jolteon, Magneton, and Raichu. Erika’s party has Exeggutor, Parasect, Tangela, Victreebel, and Vileplume. Sabrina takes Alakazam, Hypno, Jynx, Mr. Mime, and Slowbro into fights with her. Koga has trained Golbat, Muk, Tentacruel, Venomoth, and Weezing. Blaine’s battle-ready party features Arcanine, Flareon, Magmar, Ninetails, and Rapidash. Finally, Giovanni has been relaced with Blue, who is the most powerful of all. He has a team of six Pokemon, with his Aerodactyl, Alakazam, Exeggcutor, Gyarados, and Tauros all at level 66. His Charizard is most dangerous, as it is at level 68 and has a Charizardite Y that lets it become Mega Charizard Y. All of these gym leaders are far stronger and better than before, and you have to think more before you fight them and prepare accordingly. You can’t just sweep them with one or two super effective Pokemon, like you might have earlier in the game.

Blue is something of a precursor. We all know there are Pokemon Master Trainers in Pokemon: Let’s Go. These are trainers who specialize in that one creature, won’t let you use items in the fight, and reward you with a title for beating them. These people have Pokemon that can start at level 65, if you face someone with an unevolved character, like the Charmander Master Trainer in Celadon City. The Porygon Master Trainer, who is lurking at Celadon’s Game Corner, has one at level 70. When I headed back to the the Saffron City dojo, the Hitmonchan Master Trainer’s was at level 75. But, there are also Red and Green to contend with. Green is relatively easy to find, as she is also looking for Mewtwo. After you catch that legendary in the cave just outside of Cerulean City, she will appear in there. If you go inside to where he was, you can find and fight her for experience, honor, and Mewtwo’s Mega Stones. She has five level 66 Pokemon, which are Clefable, Gengar, Kangaskhan, Ninetails, and Victreebel. Her sixth Pokemon is a level 68 Blastoise that can Mega Evolve. (She then stays around Cerulean City proper.) Red is the most challenging of all the trainers, appearing only after beating six Master Trainers. All of his Pokemon are at level 85, and he has an Arcanine, Lapras, Machamp, Pikachu, Snorlax, and Venusaur (that will mega evolve).

Then, there are the various extras you can earn by showing your proficiency. Becoming best friends with Eevee or Pikachu will mean more outfits based on their evolved forms for free from Vermillion City’s Pokemon Fan Club. Getting 50 different kinds of Pokemon, then visiting the second floor of the guard station to the right of Fuchsia City will get you an Assistant outfit from Professor Oak’s aide. If you manage to catch all 150 Pokemon, check in with Professor Oak in Pallet Town, then visit the Game Freak office in Celadon City, you can get the Shiny Charm. Having this while getting and maintaining a catch combo makes it easier to possibly encounter shiny Pokemon in the world. Again, each of these things involves proving something.

If someone wants to, they can be done after defeating the Elite Four in Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!. Which is fine. There is something comforting in ending your journey knowing you are the very best. But for people who might want to do a little bit more, there is that here. These games do give you more people to challenge, allowing you to go after Master Trainers. It lets you face the original Red, Blue, and Green, should you want to test yourself against the classic characters. You can go around collecting Pokemon, so you can gather more clothing and the Shiny Charm. There are also legendaries to gather and gym leaders to revisit. Like past games, it is about going back and enjoying time with your favorite characters again.

Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee! is available for the Nintendo Switch.