"Walking Pokémon" Feature: Is It Still Possible?

F

Fennekin

追放されたバカ
Joined
Jan 8, 2013
Messages
334
Reaction score
1
I haven't seen a thread for this, and it's a topic that;s been on my mind, so I'll just go ahead and post this.

If you ask me, the neatest feature to ever make it into a Pokémon game is the "Walking Pokémon" feature, which allowed the first Pokémon in your party to physically follow behind you.

Though it made it's first appearance in "Pokémon Yellow" for Pikachu only, this feature wasn't fully utilized until HeartGold/SoulSilver, where any Pokémon could do so. They even went so far as to retain shininess in the sprites if they were "shiny".

ogwex.png


Sadly however, the feature was dropped in Black/White. Oddly enough though, the sprites that were used to follow used were instead implemented into Entree Forest.

132091233512.gif


If you compare the two pictures above together, you'll see the Rattata sprites are identical. Which means they brought over the overworld sprites from HG/SS to B/W. Not to mention in Black 2/White 2, they created overworld sprites for the Unova Pokémon too.

dwow.png


Also in Black 2/White 2, a Socialite in Humilau City asks you to walk her Mienfoo, and it'll physically follow you all around the house. Could this be a hint that Nintendo hasn't forgotten this feature yet?

mienfoo.png


So far, none of the trailers for X/Y have hinted at this feature returning, bit remember one thing. All the trailers have said "Game footage not final", meaning there is still time for it to come back.
 
If they planned to include the feature I think we would have known about it already. We went through the same thing before BW and then BW2, and we all know how that turned out. Then again, they said the same thing about a new type (remember when we thought Reshiram was Light? etc.) so who knows. I do think Game Freak knows how beloved the feature was (extremely vocal killjoys blind to the fact that the feature had an off switch called a "Bicycle" notwitstanding) so I suppose there's the possibility they're saving it for a surprise.

I still don't think it's very likely though. It was just one of those unique features that were meant for one game (or two, in this case) and we'll probably never see again. I definitely don't agree with Game Freak's policy of "one step forward, two steps back"; it's one thing to remove features only to have them return in the next game (which is a clever if cruel marketing strategy), but removing features forever is fucking stupid to be completely honest. Especially now that we're on the 3DS with a lot more space on the cart for content; there is absolutely no rational excuse for omitting old features anymore other than laziness.
 
This topic has pretty much been discussed to death already in other threads.

Anyway, I only see one problem with this entire thing and one problem alone: large Pokemon. It simply will not work. Scaling them down would look bad (not to mention inaccurate) and only allowing Pokemon of a certain size to walk with you would be unfair. So no, I don't see this feature coming back.
 
Ange said:
This topic has pretty much been discussed to death already in other threads.

Anyway, I only see one problem with this entire thing and one problem alone: large Pokemon. It simply will not work. Scaling them down would look bad (not to mention inaccurate) and only allowing Pokemon of a certain size to walk with you would be unfair. So no, I don't see this feature coming back.
Click to expand...

But they scaled down large Pokemon in HG & SS? I see no reason for them to do it again, unless it comes out so hideous words can't describe it.

I don't see why they wouldn't bring this back, and if they were to make RSE, or even DPPt remakes, I could see them implementing the feature there, much like they did with Gold & Silver.
 
Yes, it should be there, it should also be optional with all of your party, so you can have one, two, all, some, or none follow you.
 
I feel like if they were going to do this, we would have seen it or known it already. So I don't see it coming back this time around. Maybe they'll have something like Amity Square where they follow you in a certain area, but I don't see it permanently in the game.

I'm one of "those guys" who doesn't really care one way of the other for the feature. But, I mean, we've got Pokemon-amie, now. We can literally play with our Pokemon. I personally prefer that feature over Walking Pokemon, but that's for another thread....
 
The issue is we've gone from sprites to 3D.

You can't really scale down a Wailord 3D model and expect it to look as good as a scaled-down Wailord sprite did. Detailed Pokemon like Gyarados will look cramped and blurry in scaled-down 3D. Large Pokemon, not scaled down, would take large amounts of the screen up, and prove rather distracting. Also, rendering models of ALL the Pokemon with their in-battle models AND their overworld models would take a large amount of memory.
 
As much as I liked walking Pokemon, I also worry about how the larger Pokémon's 3D models would turn out. I'm already wondering how Wailord's battle model will look. I don't see this feature coming back.
 
Here's an easy way for GF to bring back walking pokemon, just have Starter pokemon and their evolutions walkable.
 
Like they did in Platinum? That is certainly much less actual work than trying to make lower-resolution overworld models for all 777+ as-of-G6 species.
 
I'd rather the feature to remain gone then to come back and only allow a select few Pokemon.
 
I really wish they had kept this feature in games past HG/SS, it was one of my favorite things in the games. Even making it optional would have been better than getting rid of it all together :(

I think Pokemon Amie might be looked at as the substitute for having your pokemon walk behind you, though. Especially since the games are dealing with 3D now rather than sprites.
 
I hated the feature. BUT, I do understand a lot of people liked it, so I am not 100% against it ONLY IF they make it optional.

If it appears in any game, it will likely be hypothetical RSE remakes.
 
Considering the overworld models are made somewhat to scale now and thus taking up more space, I doubt it unless it's for a small selection of Pokemon.
 
Last edited:
Yes. As seeing Chespin, Fennekin and Froakie are outside Poké Balls in a screenshot, and riding on a Pokémon is available in X and Y, I think Walking Pokémon could be possible. If they implented this in X and Y, the riding Pokémon could also follow the player instead of just restricting the player to ride on a riding Pokémon.
 
sonic10158 said:
I hated the feature. BUT, I do understand a lot of people liked it, so I am not 100% against it ONLY IF they make it optional.

If it appears in any game, it will likely be hypothetical RSE remakes.
Click to expand...

No, not likely in RSE remakes. Hoenn has too many places that can't have a pokemon following you in the overworld. Half the routes require Surf; there's also routes only accessible by Diving; there are dungeons and mazes that require you to ride a bike to get through (cracks on the floor/ground, sandslides, jump-racks); etc.

You're more likely forced to keep your pokemons in their pokeballs than you can let them walk with you.
 
Spectrum Achromatic said:
sonic10158 said:
I hated the feature. BUT, I do understand a lot of people liked it, so I am not 100% against it ONLY IF they make it optional.

If it appears in any game, it will likely be hypothetical RSE remakes.
Click to expand...

No, not likely in RSE remakes. Hoenn has too many places that can't have a pokemon following you in the overworld. Half the routes require Surf; there's also routes only accessible by Diving; there are dungeons and mazes that require you to ride a bike to get through (cracks on the floor/ground, sandslides, jump-racks); etc.

You're more likely forced to keep your pokemons in their pokeballs than you can let them walk with you.
Click to expand...

But I also hope for walking Pokémon feature in RSE remakes too, even there's lesser areas accessible for walking Pokémon. Walking Pokémon could also overcome problems bikes can't do.

Lugiafanatic said:
S.S. Shadow Minun said:
Chespin, Fennekin and Froakie are outside Poké Balls in a screenshot.
Click to expand...
They are?
Click to expand...

Are you talking that they are walking Pokémon? I think so.
 
Please note: The thread is from 13 years ago.
Please take the age of this thread into consideration in writing your reply. Depending on what exactly you wanted to say, you may want to consider if it would be better to post a new thread instead.
Back
Top Bottom