Pokémon is one of the few gems that doesn’t need a completely revamped storyline to make a great game even better—a good ol’ fashioned spit and shine usually does the trick. After much anticipation, “Pokémon X and Y” has finally hit the shelves, sending many video game fans flocking to the nearest retail store to buy their copy.   

While its true the franchise has had the same plot since “Pokémon Red and Blue” of the late 1990s, developer Game Freak has continued to surprise fans with a little extra oomph with each series. “Pokémon X and Y” is no exception as the most revolutionary installment to date. Underneath the new 3D graphics, improved battle sequences and a whole slew of shiny new features, “X&Y” is still able to transport players to that all too familiar Pokémon journey.

The storyline of “X&Y” is the same as all the other Pokémon RPGs: set in the Kalos region, the player must leave his/her small town to go off on an adventure. The player collects, trades and battles Pokémon while aiming to become the Pokémon Champion. However, during the adventure, he/she will have to defeat an evil organization (very much like Team Rocket from “Red and Blue” or more recently, Team Plasma from “Black and White”) called Team Flare, whose goal is to make Kalos a “beautiful place” through acts of violence.

Quick and informative, the introduction launches players straight to the action, catering to both veterans and new trainers by allowing them to pick their starter Pokémon sooner.

What sets “Pokémon X&Y” apart from its predecessors is the innovative leap utilizing the 3DS’ capabilities to create stunning graphics. Battles have been completely redesigned with beautiful 3D renderings of the now animated Pocket Monsters. Cameras are also able to zoom in and out and move at different angles, highlighting attacks and allowing players to immerse themselves in the battle.

However, all that glitters is not gold. Although “X&Y” was launched for the 3DS, there are limited portions that can actually be viewed in 3D. And what is viewable is lacking: frame rates drop significantly during a battle in 3D, which disappoints since the 3DS’ biggest feature is obviously its 3D mode.

Despite the visual flaws, the games do provide interesting new features, including the ability to “Mega Evolve” Pokémon. In order to Mega Evolve, the Pokémon must be holding a Mega Stone. The player must have the Key Stone, which is given during their quest in the form of a bracelet called a Mega Ring.

Not every Pokémon can Mega Evolve, however. Those that can undergo a powerful temporary transformation that can only be activated during the battle. For instance, Charizard becomes Fire/Flying type to a Fire/Dragon type. Not only does this eliminate his weakness to Water types, he also gains the coveted and powerful Dragon typing. Mega Evolution has become a staple for “X&Y”—a much-needed breath of fresh air considering the predictable arc of Pokémon.

The franchise hasn’t introduced a new Pokémon type since “Gold and Silver” showcased the Dark and Steel types. Game Freak has introduced the new Fairy type in “X&Y” and has even gone as far as to change some of the past Pokémon’s typing to Fairy. What’s more, Fairy types have an advantage over what was considered one of strongest Pokémon typing—Dragon types.

Many fans cry foul that Fairy is now dominant over Dragon types since it now forces players to reconfigure teams.

“I’m also a very avid user of Dragon types, which their biggest weakness are Fairies. It took a lot of patience to find their weakness, which I only have one Pokémon in my team that can take them on,” said UNC Wilmington junior Joseph Maldonado.

Other players, however, welcomed the new typing.

“I’m just glad the Dragon type no longer reigns supreme. This helps to provide some competitive balance,” said UNCW junior Robert Noel.

Game Freak has also updated the Player Search System, which made its debut in “Pokémon Black and White.” The PSS is a tool to quickly locate players to trade or battle and has really made playing with friends an enjoyable experience.

Along with the PSS, Game Freak has added Pokémon Amie. Amie is best described as a series of mini-games that can be played using the player’s Poké-pal. By doing so, players can reap a number of benefits including access to new evolutions, 20 percent XP increase, 10 percent evasiveness increase in battle and a higher critical hit ratio. Over the years, the franchise has stressed that creating bonds with Pokémon can lead to amazing feats, so it’s refreshing to be able to finally see those results.

Character customization is also one of the new features to make its way to “X&Y.” The player has the ability to pick and choose your character’s clothes, hair color and style, and skin color, which have never been possible before. The option to customize the character allows players to immerse themselves in the game even further.

All in all, “Pokémon X and Y” is a big step up from its predecessors. “X&Y” delivers beautiful graphics and amazing new features such as Mega Evolution and Pokémon Amie that make the predictable storyline fresh and exciting. Despite the technical flaws during 3D mode and the lack of 3D images, “Pokémon X and Y” is definitely a must-have game of the year.