Pokémon Masters EX

Pokémon Masters
Developer	DeNA
Publisher	DeNA
System	iOS, Android
Release Date	August 28, 2019
Rating	E10+

Pokémon Masters (redubbed Pokémon Masters EX on its first anniversary) is a mobile RPG spin-off of the Pokémon series that went live in August 2019. This game is focused on Pokémon battling and also features characters from throughout the main Pokémon games. Like most mobile games, it is free-to-start, with the option of players using real-world currency to acquire gems for use in unlocking content within the game.

Story

The game is set on Pasio, an artificial island that was constructed by a young prince named Lear. A new type of competition is being held there known as the Pokémon Masters League, which involves a different style of battling in which trainers battle in teams of three and each only use one Pokémon as their sync partner. Trainers from across the world have been invited to compete. This includes the protagonist, a young trainer named Scottie/Bettie. Scottie/Bettie quickly begins forming a team to challenge the league. Along the way, they have to contend with the mysterious Team Break, deal with obstacles posed by the arrogant Lear, solve the mysteries of the island and also compete with some of the world's strongest Pokémon trainers.

Gameplay

The gameplay is focused around the idea of sync pairs, with a sync pair being a trainer and one single Pokémon. Battles in the game consist of three on three battles between two teams of three sync pairs, and they take place in real time rather than being turn-based. Sync pairs are divided by specialty into strike sync pairs (focused on attacking), support sync pairs (focused on defending and healing) and technical sync pairs (focuses on different strategies). Sync pairs can be recruited through several methods: by completing chapters of the Main Story, through limited run events or through the Sync Pair Scout. The Sync Pair Scout is the game's gacha system, through which a character is recruited at random. Coins are used as the main currency within the game, while gems are the premium currency.

Pasio's Pokémon Center acts as the central lobby from the game, from which the player can access the Explore menu as well as the shop and cafe where teams can be managed. The game has a Main Story in which players progress through chapters of the game's storyline which involves the Pokémon Masters League tournament, and there are also several different types of events. Story Events and Legendary Events have stories of a more self-contained nature which often come with special sync pairs, with the latter specifically being a chance to obtain Legendary Pokémon as sync partners. There are also training events and solo events for building up experience and practicing solo battles, respectively. As sync pairs are unlocked, players can access their Sync Pair Stories. Several trainers start off with unevolved Pokémon, and they can only be evolved through special Sync Pair Stories in which the trainer must defeat an opponent in a one-on-one battle, and evolution material must be used to complete those stories.

There have also been additional modes for battling added over time time, including co-op play, a training area, the Battle Villa, the Legendary Arena (where Legendary Pokémon can be faced as bosses) and the Champion Stadium (in which the player has to battle the Elite Four and champion of a region).

As a mobile game, it is ongoing. New chapters of the Main Story and other events are added periodically.

Continuity Notes

This game follows and references the Pokémon canon, although it is unclear if it is actually canon to the main Pokémon games in turn.

• Generally, characters from the first seven generations appear and make references to the events of their respective games.
• Although the events of the Pokémon games are referenced, most of the champion characters (Lance, Steven Stone, Cynthia and Iris) are referred to as still being champions of their respective regions, despite being defeated by the protagonists of their respective games. The only protagonist known to be a champion in this game is Red.
• This game features multiple potential protagonists from each generation (such as Ethan, Kris and Lyra), while establishing one from each generation as canonically having filled the protagonist role within this game's continuity. Thus far, the characters established as canon protagonists have been Red (I), Ethan (II), Brendan (III), Dawn (IV) and Hilbert (V-1).
• For the fourth generation, this game references the Platinum version of events, as Cynthia refers to Cyrus disappearing into the Distortion Zone. Cyrus himself only remembers summoning Dialga and Palkia before being pulled to Pasio, implying that he was pulled from a different time and/or space, and also that he may be the same version of Cyrus from the Team Rainbow Rocket scenario of Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon.
• Giovanni appears and is implied to be the same version of Giovanni from the Team Rainbow Rocket scenario of Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon.
• Jessie, James and their Meowth of Team Rocket are the only characters from outside game continuity to appear in the game. Although the characters had been featured in Yellow and theLet's Go! games, this appearance specifically references the anime incarnations, as Pokémon anime film Coco is referenced. Additionally, the version of Jessie and James in game continuity have a normal Meowth rather than the talking one from the anime featured here.