So many people actively complain Pokemon isn’t hard enough, isn’t different enough, etc. However, what most people don’t know is that the franchise did get an RPG-type game at one point. It’s just that it had a 15-minutes of fame kind of release.
Released in 2012, Pokemon Conquest combined the typical aspects of a battle strategy title with the turn-based mechanics of Pokemon games. Players trekked through the Ransei region with an Eevee by their side in an era that seemed reminiscent of feudal Japan. Here are some more facts more about this interesting crossover game.
10 Pokemon Had Limited Moves
The idea of a Pokemon only having one move to start can sound tricky, but it’s important to remember that this game wasn’t about competitive battling like a traditional core game. Instead, it was all about strategy and with how many Pokemon you were allowed to use at once, one move most likely wouldn’t have been an issue.
Also, your starter Eevee can evolve here. Similar to the mechanics of Pokemon Cafe Mix and the Mystery Dungeon series, every Pokemon had abilities and skills that served a useful purpose in the battle, be it support or offense.
9 It Gave Arceus His Biggest Story Role
Arceus is considered God in the world of Pokemon, but he doesn’t actually appear in stories all that often for a legendary who is considered so authoritative.
In this game, however, he is the legend who appears after the protagonist conquers all of the kingdoms in the Ransei region and even fuses with him or her in order to complete the final battle. At one point in the post-game content, he fuses with the player as a partner permanently.
8 Players Trained Characters
Similar to the mechanics of Pokemon Masters, it wasn’t just Pokemon that the protagonist leveled up; the Conquerors who joined you on your mission had the ability to grow along with their Pokemon partner and even dress in outfits matching the color scheme to match them.
There are also characters you meet later on in the game that come with their own default signature Pokemon.
7 The Story Was A Crossover
This game is a crossover of a popular battle strategy series called Nobunaga’s Ambition. Most Westerners have not likely heard about it since its popularity is concentrated mostly in other parts of the world, but it is one of the oldest battle strategy series to date.
In fact, it was one of the first games in the genre to launch. To this day, its developer Koei still makes titles in the franchise, having released Nobunaga’s Ambition: Taishi in 2017.
6 It Features People From History
When the other warlords join your cause, you can assign them Pokemon that they will use in battle but it’s not as easy as it sounds. Each one has a type of Pokemon they like to use that fits their powers and they’ll be at their strongest if matched with one of these.
Like regular trainers, they prefer water types, poison types or electric types, etc. However, it may be a while before you get a Pokemon that matches them so you’ll need to make do with the ones you have.
5 There’s A Different Way Of Catching Pokemon
That’s right, there’s no catching using Pokeballs in this game. But before becoming a keyboard warrior, do consider reading on. Instead of the traditional capture method, you catch them through a rather fun-looking mini-game.
Remember this doesn’t take place in the world of Pokemon, think of it as a place in history where just Pokemon themselves exist, but nothing else about that world is here.
4 Morals About Pokemon Use Are Addressed
Something that Pokemon used to touch upon that they don’t really too much anymore is the idea that Pokemon themselves should not be used as tools for fighting. In Conquest, it’s the central plot in the initial story and the driving force behind what Nobunaga is doing.
In this setting, it’s not so much about building a team but rather having one special bond with one Pokemon.
3 There’s A Huge Amount Of Post-Game Content
The one thing Pokemon fans can agree on is that we wished the games had more post-game content and anecdotes. Well, Conquest answers that! After completing the initial story, you go on to complete an entirely different arc involving over thirty stories featuring different warlords.
Besides that, there is a life sim aspect to the game because players have to take care of their kingdoms after they conquer them or they can be taken over by other warlords. Conquerors can also contract illnesses and both Pokemon and characters can be sent to work in mines to collect currency.
2 There’s Inspiration From Nobunga’s Family Life
Since this game has a historical fiction aspect, all of the conquerors’ players meet are based on real people from Japanese history, including one of the most famous of course, Oda Nobunaga.
Also included is his sister who seems to reflect the real sibling Nobunaga had. In this setting, she has left her brother’s kingdom in fear of him. Her name here is Oichi and she stays with the player for their entire journey, cheering them on when they need it most.
1 It Got Kicked To The Curb Quick
For a fanbase that tends to moan about lack of “originality” in Pokemon games, they sure do forget about the spin-off games very quickly. Despite how neat Conquest was, it was overshadowed by the release of the Pokemon Black and White 2 games.
Unfortunately, it was also released at a time when the DS was starting to fade in popularity as a console. Hopefully, if the upcoming Pokemon Legends Arceus does well, people could possibly see Conquest ported to the Switch.
NEXT: 10 Pokemon That Never Saw The Light Of Day
