Pokémon Go Tour: Hoenn

As with last year's edition of Pokémon Go Tour (see below), my write-up, review, and discussion of it is delayed because of all the other things that go on around that time. Still, it has to be done if not for the sake of posterity and content, as well as to find out how any differences are reflected in what actually went on during the progression of the event. And there is much that has gone on, and much yet has to be covered - at least until this post comes along.

So, like last year, the event takes on and continues with the next region in line, which would be Hoenn. This time, however, as previewed, there was a Live edition that actually took place nearly two weeks ago in Las Vegas. There, the attendees could opt to play on either Saturday or Sunday, though they could also opt for bonuses on the other day for a greater experience. Some of the "bones" from the Live edition would go on to be available in the Global edition, which took place the very next week, also on Saturday and Sunday.

For that, the rest of the world on both days got to experience rotating habitats and Collection Challenges as with the past two years, from 10 AM to 6 PM on both days. The big difference this time is that they were somewhat simplified or abstracted; the habitats (Blistering Sands, Eerie Mists, Verdant Earth, and Ancient Shores - thematic rather than geographical) cycled hourly in two periods on each day and still featured the Pokémon of each region, some depending on the chosen version, Ruby or Sapphire. Each habitat still had a Collection Challenge, but only for four representative Pokémon; there were no "all-encompassing" ones like past editions and no pressure to catch everything, something that was decidedly burdensome in past years - an improvement, though it might be a bit too simple for some.

In the area of Research, things had some variety as well. Field Research had Mega Energy rewards for the three starters (if one didn't raid or still need them from last season's Mega Raid Day), "Primal Surge" tasks with Pokémon and item rewards, and "Spooky Cipher" tasks that rewarded the region's Ghost Pokémon - the last of these in cryptic form, with the task partially obfuscated, an interesting approach. Timed Research had only one set, a "photo safari" set that demanded taking a photo of either Eon Pokémon in the wild - depending on version - to be able to encounter them again for certain capture. The main Special Research set meanwhile decided a Pokémon preference for Shiny forms and mostly dealt with the main hallmark of this edition's major struggle with the "box Legendaries". Not to forget, there was also the customary "Masterwork Research" set, though this was gotten early on and in the case of payment, something to explain shortly.

Back to that main struggle, that would be the Primal forms of Kyogre and Groudon, which appeared in six-star Primal Raids and rewarded Primal Energy for both, allowing those forms to be present for the first time in Pokémon Go. The rest of the raids were of the starters (one star) and Deoxys forms (five star), which obviously became paler in popularity to the "box Legendaries" for the interest of their Primal Energy. Interestingly, the "titans" are absent, having just been in regular raids in previous weeks - though they could also be had in Timed Research gotten through a code from the Live edition; so too was Rayquaza, who was present in the accompanying Primal Rumblings event instead. It was clear that the big ones had their big time.

Like past years, other niceties were also present. They involved Eggs containing a selection of Pokémon from the region as well as the real-world "regional exclusives", in this case being in 10 km Eggs, unlike in raids in past years. Kecleon, the "special Pokémon" of the region, appeared on PokéStops more often and had to be knocked down from them (by tapping them) to be captured; the mechanism for this was introduced in January after its primary Community Day edition and now comes into its own, as it could be Shiny as well. Unown of the region's letters also occasionally appeared through Incense, as did Pikachu wearing Brendan's cap and May's band, appropriate to each gender. Then there were new fashion items, new stickers, unique music, and increased bag and storage to round out things. Most things that did not involve the shop were gotten for free, and that too is a crucial thing.

Most likely because of concerns in past years and that the Live edition is fully paid for, the Global edition was practically free for anyone to partake in, provided that they finished the Primal Rumblings Special Research that contains the "ticket gateway". Supplementary items like raid passes and increased inventory, plus the Masterwork Research, still needed payment and/or coins, but most of the features above were otherwise conveniently accessible. This is a big break from tradition, but given its legacy as a paid event (and it still was, for the Live edition), it's a welcome break for everyone and it's still a prompt for my own special coverage of it.

This time as well, my personal experience returned to a more festive one similar to two years ago. I spent both days - actually the first day and half the second day - in the current standard meeting place for Community Day, where I met many friends, including some from other places. This made for a lively environment for raids, very important this time, and all the capturing that needed to happen. All the Research sets and Collection Challenges were completed in time, and the Shiny forms I obtained (including that of a wild Latias, as I chose Sapphire) were welcome, even though they weren't as many as what others caught. I also obtained a good deal of Primal Energy for the two Pokémon of concern. In all, it was a good and celebratory haul, helped by the decreased pressure compared to last year.

With the event - at least the Global edition - having turned into a mostly free affair, any haul became worth it, if my experience is of any indication. I could technically have opted for a few less Primal Raids, but the ones I took part in were just as sufficient as any. I also still opted to pay for the Masterwork Research, which has been a key part of past editions, as it was too good to pass up and if anything served as a commemoration of the event. Yet it seems it wouldn't be a Pokémon Go major event without glitches... but now those are mostly directed at the Live edition and not the Global edition; the former seemed to have almost become a "train wreck" according to different reckonings. Things may or may not have improved in some ways, it seems, even if they have.

Overall, lots of things continue to be a hallmark for Pokémon Go Tour for its third year, mostly good but still with some oddities here and there. Perhaps the most important one of all would be the "festive" quality, and that was found again in a way this time, even with separate paid Live and mostly free Global editions. The continuance of the event is practically assured at this point; now it's just a matter of making things work in the times ahead, and the "festive" quality might just follow along easily.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Tour: Johto

Two years ago: Make It Make...: Pokémon Presents, 2/26/2021

Three years ago: Making Game Journeys... Literally

Four years ago: Winds of Changing Teams

Five years ago: Pikachu Cable Holder

Six years ago: Love My Life - Pokémon Too