Pokémon X and Y

Pokémon: X and Y
Developer	Game Freak
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Nintendo 3DS
Release Date	October 12, 2013
Rating	ESRB: E

Pokémon X and Pokémon Y are two versions of a handheld monster-collecting RPG which constitute the sixth generation of the Pokémon series. They are also the first Pokémon games of the main series to be released on the Nintendo 3DS.

Story

These games are set in the region of Kalos, where a young trainer has just moved to Vaniville Town with their mother. They receive a starter Pokémon from Professor Sycamore and set off on an adventure to challenge the region's Pokémon League, a quest which consists of defeating the eight gym leaders to win their respective badges and then defeating the Elite Four. The trainer also receives a mission to look into the mysteries of Mega Evolution and end up having various clashes against a villainous group known as Team Flare throughout their journey.

Gameplay

These games follow the basic gameplay of the Pokémon games, in which the player controls a young trainer on a journey which consists of catching, training and battling Pokémon. This generation retains the option to choose the player character's gender from the past few generations, while also adding options for some of the character's features, as well as clothing and accessories that can be obtained for the player throughout the game. Some of the new gameplay changes include the addition of a new Pokémon type, the Fairy type, as well as the introduction of Mega Evolution. With this feature, some fully evolved Pokémon can use special items known as Mega Stones to temporarily evolve into a more powerful Mega Evolved forms. Some other gameplay features involve Sky Battles, which are battles for flying Pokémon held in midair with a different perspective, and Horde Encounters, in which the player's Pokémon can battle up to five wild Pokémon at the same time.

There are also some additional features utilizing the touch screen. One is Pokémon-Amie, in which players can use the touch screen to feed, pet and play with Pokémon in order to build up bonds with them, and to play mini-games to earn more treats for the Pokémon. Another is Super Training, which consists of special mini-games that can be played to raise Pokémon's effort values and earn items.

Connectivity

X and Y can connect to each other as well as to Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire through the 3DS's wireless connection or through Wi-Fi, for the purpose of trading or battling Pokémon, although Pokémon with abilities, Mega Evolutions, moves or alternate forms from the latter games cannot be used either for trade or battle with X and Y. These games bear a feature known as the Player Search System for keeping track of online players in order to easily arrange trades and battles, as well as other featues such as O-Powers (temporary stat-boosting powers that can be traded among players) and Wonder Trade, in which players can trade Pokémon at random. X and Y can also connect with Pokémon Bank and an application known as Poké Transporter, which could be used to transfer over Pokémon from Pokémon: Black and White 1 and 2.

As with previous generations, X and Y each have Pokémon that are exclusive to each version and can only be obtained through trading with the other version. Each version also features a different legendary Pokémon (Xerneas for X and Yvetla for Y) as part of the story, and has two different unique Mega Evolution Stones available (for Charizard and Mewtwo specifically).

Legacy

X and Y have ended up acting as the only generation of Pokémon that never received any extra versions or direct sequels. The only other games made connected with this generation were Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which were remakes of the third generation games.

Sequels

As mentioned above, it was followed by Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, which incorporated gameplay elements from this generation into the third generation games. The next generation would later be Sun and Moon.