Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are the first fully-fledged Pokémon games for the Nintendo Switch and perhaps the best way to explore the beloved Kanto region. Combining mechanics from the Pokémon GO mobile game with the story and design of the original games, these games are a nostalgic feast for veteran Pokémon fans and are a terrific way for newcomers to the franchise to ease into the series. There’s a lot to love in this beautiful Pokémon adventure. In fact, there’s so much going on in these new games that it’s easy to miss some fun content and winks to longtime fans of the series. Moreover, there are some interesting pieces of trivia about the games themselves that make them unlike any other entry in the series. It’s totally understandable if you didn’t catch some of this content during your playthrough, though, as these games realize the world of Pokémon better than any other and it’s easy to miss smaller details under so much flash and fanfare.
With the Pokémon Let’s Go games gaining so much mainstream attention, hopefully, subsequent Pokémon games will have just as much hidden content and be as celebrated as these most recent games. Although, any game with as much mechanical depth as previous titles and graphics of the Pokémon Let’s Go titles is sure to be a hit with the Pokémon fandom. So, with that said, here are 30 things that even some of the most veteran Pokémon fans missed in the Pokémon Let’s Go games.
30 Blaine’s Tie Is Singed
The seventh gym leader in Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! is the fiery quiz master Blaine. He uses fire-type Pokémon exclusively and, as his title suggests, is a bit of an eccentric.
A small, but fun, detail in his design in these games is that his fire print tie is actually singed towards its end. This little detail really helps further his character as an over-the-top brainiac and is perfectly fitting for a guy who makes people explore a dilapidated laboratory before they can challenge him.
29 Lt. Surge’s Autograph Is In Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
After defeating the way-into-himself army guy, Lt. Surge gives you his autograph in addition to his gym badge. While this action helps further establish his character, it’s also a reference to the Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon games.
In these previous titles, the protagonist will have the same autograph in their bedroom when they begin their adventure. It could be that the player characters of Pokémon Let’s Go are meant to be the same protagonists of the previous games, although it’s hard to say for sure.
28 Dratini And Dragonair Float
This bit of information is easier to spot if you decide to add a Dratini or Dragonair to your party, but totally missable if you don’t decide to train the dragon-type monsters. Both of these Dragon Pokémon float through the air when taken out of their Pokéball, despite neither of them having a flying type or ever possessing the Levitate ability.
They are usually only found in the water, though, and are described as creatures of legend in the games, so maybe their ability to swim through the air plays into their magical status.
27 These Are The First Remakes Of An Enhanced Pokémon Game
Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are technically remakes of Pokémon Yellow, which was an enhanced, special edition of Pokémon Red and Blue that added elements from the incredibly popular Pokémon anime.
While other games have gotten remakes, they were always remakes of the base set of games. The Pokémon Let’s Go games are the first remakes to be based on the final installment of a generation of games. Hopefully, this trend continues and we get a “Pokémon Let’s Go To Johto” based on Pokémon Crystal in the future.
26 Red And Blue Have Totally New Teams
In the Pokémon Let’s Go games, a player can battle the protagonist and rival from the first generation of Pokémon games. Named Red and Blue, respectively, it’s interesting to note that they have completely new teams from any other iteration of the characters.
This is a pretty fun change-up and, while the two are no less challenging than when they’re battled in other games, it’s unexpected that their parties would change after having basically the same pool of monsters for nearly two decades.
25 New Pokémon Locations Make Progression Easier
Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! change up when and where a player can encounter and capture certain wild Pokémon. For instance, Oddish and Bellsprout are now obtainable before reaching the first gym, where in previous games, you couldn’t find them until well after.
As grass-type moves are super effective on the first gym’s rock-type monsters, this makes getting through the first gym much easier than in the original games, and this trend of easier progression is true for the entirety of these new games.
24 The Safari Zone Is Technically Still In These Games
While the Safari Zone (an area where you can only catch and not battle wild Pokémon) is removed from the Let’s Go games, an area called the Safari Zone still exists. What was formerly a zoo in Fuchsia City in the original Pokémon games is now known as the Safari Zone.
Granted, you can’t catch any of these Pokémon, and the change in gameplay that the Safari Zone brought is missing from these latest games, but there is technically a Safari Zone in these latest titles.
23 Starter Pokémon Are Gifted And Found In The Wild
There are two ways a player can catch the original starter Pokémon, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle in the Pokémon Let’s Go games. These monsters are given away as gift Pokémon and are found in ways that mirror how Ash obtained them in the anime.
However, unlike any other game, these starter monsters are found in the wild as rare encounters. Generally, it’s a better idea to just take the gift version of these monsters as they have nearly perfect stats, but players can still hunt down the absolute best version of these creatures in the wild if they so choose.
22 Most Gym Leader Designs Are Based On FireRed And LeafGreen
While most gym leader designs in the Pokémon Let’s Go games are slightly different from any other interpretation of the characters, most of them draw heavy inspiration from their Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen designs.
Brock is wearing an almost identical outfit to the one he wore in the third generation and Sabrina’s purple-burgundy attire most closely resembles her third generation color scheme. Since FireRed and LeafGreen are also remakes of the original Pokémon games, it makes sense that the character designs would be rather similar.
21 Kangaskhan Spawns In the Rock Tunnel
Previously, the rare monster Kangaskhan could only appear in the Safari Zone in the first generation of Pokémon games. However, since this area doesn’t let players capture Pokémon in Pokémon Let’s Go, the powerful normal-type monster appears in the dimly lit Rock Tunnel instead.
Unfortunately, she only has a one percent chance of spawning, so players will need to commit a good deal of time to catching this monster. Longtime fans of the series will also notice that this is where Kangaskhan appeared in the second generation of games.
20 You Don’t Battle The Pokémon Tower Marowak
This item is a bit more overt than some of the others on this list, but it’s a change that only players of the original games will notice. Instead of battling the ghost of Marowak at the top of Pokémon Tower, the monster simply departs after the Silph Scope reveals her true form.
All in all, it’s probably more thematically appropriate that Marowak departs after saying one last goodbye to her son than losing a battle against the player.
19 Porygon Can Be A Wild Encounter
In the original games, the virtual Pokémon Porygon could only be caught by winning enough coins in the Celadon Game Corner. However, since anything even close to wagering is no longer present in the Pokémon Let’s Go games, the man-made monster is instead given to the player after chasing Team Rocket out of the Silph Co. building.
While this version of the monster will have nearly perfect stats, those who want the perfect Porygon can also find the monster as a rare spawn on Route 7.
18 You Can Get The Version Exclusive Persian Or Arcanine
In Vermilion City, there is a man who will ask you to catch five Meowth or Growlithe depending on whether you’re playing Let’s Go, Eevee! or Let’s Go, Pikachu!, respectively. After completing this challenge, he will reward the player with the fully evolved form of the opposite Pokémon.
This is the only way a player can get a Persian in Let’s Go, Pikachu! without trading, and likewise, the only way a player can get an Arcanine in Let’s Go, Eevee! without transferring monsters.
17 Bill Fuses With A Nidorino Instead Of A Clefairy
In the events of the games that start in the Kanto region, the genius Bill accidentally fuses with a Pokémon and gives the player an S.S. Anne ticket when they help the inventor defuse.
In the original games, it’s implied that he accidentally merged with a Clefairy, while in the Let’s Go titles, he explicitly combines with a Nidorino. Maybe, this change happened because it’s easier to depict a Nidorino with more human-like features, but either way, this is still an unsettling event in these children’s games.
16 You Can Catch Grimer In The Power Plant, Like In The Anime
In the Pokémon anime, Ash catches his very affectionate Muk in a power plant. In Pokémon Yellow and Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu!, a player can catch Muk and its pre-evolution Grimer in the hidden Power Plant.
This was a fun reference in Pokémon Yellow and is still a nice wink to the player all these years later. Sadly though, Muk is a version exclusive monster and Let’s Go, Eevee! will not find this big sludge monster naturally in their playthrough.
15 There’s Much More Freedom Than In The Original Games
While all Pokémon games have some degree of openness, the Let’s Go titles let a player do the fifth, sixth, and seventh gyms in any order they want. A player can take on the ninja Koga, psychic Sabrina, or quiz master Blaine in whichever order they choose.
This level of freedom is largely due to gym badges no longer affecting a player’s ability to traverse water. Even if this section of the game might appear as linear as past portions, this hidden openness is definitely a nice touch.
14 You Can Add Spin To Throws Like In Pokémon GO
Just like in the Pokémon GO mobile game, a player can add spin to their Pokéballs when throwing them at wild monsters. This feature isn’t super well telegraphed by the game, but it is present in the console titles and has the same effect as its mobile counterpart.
While curving a toss does make it more difficult to have a ball connect with a monster, it also increases the chances of actually capturing a creature. This added level of challenge is definitely appreciated as catching wild monsters can get a bit repetitive.
13 Legendary Pokémon Can Block Pokéballs
Unlike other wild encounters in the Pokémon Let’s Go games, a player needs to defeat legendary monsters in battle before they can attempt to catch them. However, catching the legendary birds and Mewtwo will prove even more difficult than usual as they have passive abilities that block thrown balls automatically.
If you notice a kind of aura around any legendary monster when you’re trying to catch it, either hold off on throwing a ball or give the Pokémon a calming Nanab Berry to settle them and prevent you from burning through your cache of Pokéballs.
12 You Can Catch Cubone In The Pokémon Tower
In a slightly morbid change from the original games, Gastly and Haunter aren’t the only wild Pokémon present in the spooky Pokémon Tower. There’s now a 10 percent chance for Cubone to spawn on any floor where wild monsters appear.
Considering the events of the game, where a Cubone says goodbye to its mother in the Pokémon Tower, the monster’s presence here is a bit dark, so it makes it a bit easier to catch the solid, ground-type monster with some unique attacks.
11 Potions Have Their Generation VII Healing Values
Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are a part of the seventh generation of Pokémon games, like Pokémon Sun, Moon, and their enhanced versions. So, while the games loosely follow the events of the originals, other elements are in line with the latest titles.
For instance, the amount of HP that potions recover corresponds to the amount healed in Pokémon Sun and Moon, instead of the original games. So, while Super Potions heal for the improved 60 HP, Hyper Potions sadly only restore 120 health.
