I got a buddy who swears by this as being one of the best pokemon games, and while that is all almost assuredly nostalgia, it’s pretty solid! It’s short enough to where it doesn’t get tedious, playing as pikachu feels pretty good (it takes awhile to get used to 3D movement on the D-Pad), the dialogue is all cute, and the minigames are all great! I enjoyed myself. It’s just nothing spectacular you know? It’s certainly a step-up from its predecessors, or what I deem as its predecessors, Pokemon Channel and Hey You Pikachu. The Baby Pokemon games. So yeah, pretty solid!
This game is just a simple, good time for pokemon fans, especially those that played it as a kid. It was fun to revisit. The gameplay is dead simple and the movement feels awful to control; however, there is just this lovely charming atmosphere to the whole game. The modeling is really good for the era, the music is atmospheric, and the world just ends up feeling so lived in. As a 20 year old adult in 2024, I can confidently say I had a good time playing this game. I am surely influenced by nostalgia, but I would not have it any other way.