It was mid-2023 when my colleague, Wardi, joined the Borneo Bulletin team, working alongside me as a Feature Writer.
When you spend your workdays with someone, it’s natural to pick up on their quirks. I quickly noticed that during our lunch breaks, Wardi would often have his phone in hand, focused intently on a game – always the same one.
Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked him about it. He revealed that it was Pokémon Go – or PoGo, and suddenly, a wave of nostalgia hit me. Memories of the game’s early days came rushing back.
Initially, I tried to resist diving back into that bandwagon, but eventually, I surrendered. Now, I’m back in the game.
A WILD GAME REAPPEARS
In the latter half of 2016, nearly two decades after the Pokémon anime first captured our imaginations with the adventures of Ash Ketchum and Pikachu, Pokémon Go burst onto the scene, quickly becoming a worldwide phenomenon.
This mobile game brought the beloved creatures into our everyday lives, merging nostalgia with cutting-edge augmented reality.
I vividly recall how it became a global sensation, with people of all ages wandering their neighbourhoods, smartphones in hand, eagerly searching for Pikachu, Charmander, and the other original 149 beloved Pokémon from the Kanto region.
The obsession with catching every available Pokémon reached such heights that some players resorted to using a “modded” version of the game, allowing them to virtually travel across countries without ever leaving their rooms.
Like many games, the initial hype gradually faded in Brunei. The last time I played was back in the earlier part of 2017 right before they began introducing Shiny Pokémon.
After watching Wardi, I gave it another shot in 2023, but it wasn’t until recently that I fully dived back in – and I was surprised by just how many changes had taken place.
One of the most exciting changes, as I mentioned earlier, was the introduction of Shiny Pokémon in late March 2017, debuting during the Special Water Festival event.
These rare finds are a visual treat, showcasing Pokémon in unique, alternate colours and always accompanied by a shimmer of sparkly stars, making each encounter feel like stumbling upon hidden treasure.
There’s a thrill that never fades when I come across a Shiny Pokémon, and so far, I’ve managed to collect seven. Five of them were lucky finds in the wild, one hatched from an egg, and the last came through a well-timed trade – with Wardi of course.
The original Pokédex may have started with just 151 Pokémon, but today, that number has soared to 1,025.
With new additions from recent generations, trainers can now explore and catch Pokémon from regions like Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar, Hisui, Paldea, and even a mysterious Unknown region category.
Since I restarted playing, I’ve managed to catch 2,392 Pokémon, but I’ve only filled up 359 Pokémon types in my Pokédex so far.
One of the more significant additions to the game, in my opinion, is the Friends feature.
This allows players to connect with others, exchange gifts, and build friendships within the Pokémon Go community, which is a huge plus, especially when you’ve run out of Pokéballs.
CATCHIN’ EM ALL
Of course, a Pokémon GO review wouldn’t be complete without words from the Pokémon GO enthusiast himself.
“I started playing Pokémon GO back at launch in 2016, and I still remember the hype from that first trailer – Pokémon roaming and battling in real-world cities.
“Like most people, I got swept up in the zeitgeist, joining the crowds swarming the capital just to catch one of the original 151 Pokémon,” said Wardi.
His enthusiasm lasted about a year, but he quickly realised that the mapping wasn’t quite up to scratch, leaving Brunei lacking in PokéStops and Gyms.
“Fast forward to 2019, just before the pandemic hit, and I was starting my fitness journey,” he explained. “I needed something to keep me moving as I pushed myself to hit my step goals, and Pokémon GO came to the rescue!”
By then, the game had caught up with the mainline series, which was already in its eighth generation.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how up-to-date the game was – not only adding new Pokémon from each generation but also introducing features like Mega Evolution from Gen VI, which really keeps things feeling fresh,” he adds.
Now, in 2024, Wardi is thrilled about the introduction of Dynamax and Gigantamax mechanics, allowing Pokémon to transform into colossal, kaiju-like beasts.
“Who doesn’t want to see a Blastoise the size of a building?” he chuckled.
It’s this continuous reinvention of features from the main games, reimagined through a fitness app, which maintains the fun.
“Every few months, we get new Pokémon, new mechanics, and – my personal favourite – new shinies.
“They don’t offer any extra abilities; they just look cool,” he noted.
While shiny odds in the main games have always been notoriously low, Wardi finds Pokémon GO a bit more forgiving.
“With events like Community Days, Raid Days, and Spotlight Hours, there are countless opportunities to boost your chances of catching a shiny. It’s not all about luck – but a little luck never hurts!”
Whether you’re chasing a rare Shiny or simply enjoying the camaraderie of fellow trainers, the thrill of exploration never wanes.
So, if you’ve ever played the game when it first came into the world and have thoughts of rejoining it, know that it’s an ever-changing landscape and there’s always a new adventure waiting just around the corner! – Izah Azahari
