The Ultimate Pokemon GO Feature Revives the Spirit of Gen 6 and 7 in Epic Fashion!

Highlights

Pokemon GO introduces the Routes feature, allowing players to document walking routes for others to follow, enhancing community collaboration.

The addition of Zygarde and the mechanic of collecting Zygarde Cells in Pokemon GO is a tribute to the games of Gen 6 and Gen 7. Gathering Zygarde Cells as you journey along Routes in Pokemon GO brings a fresh perspective to this feature found in the main series games, revitalizing it within the mobile title.

Pokemon GO has effectively bridged the gap between the main series and spin-off titles in the Pokemon franchise. While incorporating features from the mainline games, it adds its own twist to them. Although the game's location-centric gameplay allows some main series features to translate better than others, the core concept of catching and collecting Pokemon has always been the game's focal point. However, one feature borrowed from the main series' Gen 6 and Gen 7 games seems to perfectly complement Pokemon GO.

During the Blaze New Trails event, Pokemon GO introduced the Routes feature, which enables players to document walking routes for others to follow. This introduces a new level of community collaboration within an already cooperative game. As part of this event, the game also introduced the legendary Gen 6 Pokemon, Zygarde, along with its unique Zygarde Cell collecting mechanic. This addition allows players to relive one of the most distinctive mechanics from Gen 7 that hasn't been seen in a mainline game since.

Pokemon GO's Zygarde Mechanics Are a Great Nod to the Gen 6 and Gen 7 Era

Introduced in Pokemon X and Y, Zygarde became the third legendary in the trio alongside Xerneas and Yveltal. Despite expectations of a standalone game featuring this Pokemon in Generation 6, a Pokemon Z game never materialized, leaving Zygarde and its potential unexplored. However, Generation 7's Pokemon Sun and Moon offered an opportunity to make up for this oversight. Introducing a new mechanic, players were tasked with collecting Zygarde Cells scattered throughout the Alola Region.

Early in the game, Dexio and Sina from the Kalos region provided players in Pokemon Sun and Moon with the Zygarde Cube. This item allowed them to gather Zygarde Cells as they journeyed through the region. Depending on the number of Cells collected, Zygarde could transform into three different forms: 10% Form, 50% Form, and Complete Form once all Cells were acquired. Searching for all of these Cells presented a considerable challenge in the Generation 7 games, but the effort was highly rewarding, as Zygarde Complete Form proved to be an incredibly formidable creature.

Zygarde's introduction in Pokemon Sun and Moon focused on travel and exploration to gather its Cells, making it a suitable addition to Pokemon GO's Routes feature. By using Routes in Pokemon GO, players have the opportunity to come across Zygarde Cells while traveling, mirroring how they are obtained in the Generation 7 games. The incorporation of this feature showcases how Pokemon GO effectively integrates elements from the main series, seamlessly fitting them into the mobile title despite their origin in a core entry.

Although Zygarde never had the chance to take center stage in Pokemon Z during Generation 6, its representation in subsequent games has compensated for this missed opportunity. With its emphasis on exploration and adventure, having players collect Zygarde Cells along Routes is a perfect way to maximize Pokemon GO's core identity as a game. There are few features in the main series that transition as seamlessly to Pokemon GO, making this method of gathering Zygarde Cells an excellent tribute to both the Generation 6 and Generation 7 games.

Pokemon GO is available for mobile devices.