Back in November 2018, Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu! and Let's Go Eevee! released to quite a divided fanbase, where on one hand, some were not thrilled about experiencing another remake of the 1st generation Kanto games, and expected more from the first mainline Pokemon games on the Switch. On the other hand, some jumped at the chance to return to Kanto again, and those new to the series who had just been introduced to it via Pokemon GO felt right at home with the familiar catch mechanics and original 151 Pokemon.
While the Pokemon Let's Go games were criticized for simply not living up to some fans' expectations for what a Pokemon game on the Nintendo Switch should be like, some aspects like the games' lack of difficulty or cut content from the source material were also scrutinized. And although over two years have passed since these games released, it seems leaked information on some cut content has come to light.
This isn't the first time the Pokemon Let's Go games have experienced leaks, but new information from Twitter user Lewchube have revealed that several things in the games seemed to be cut almost just before they released. While some of these scrapped ideas were rather minor, such as including Nintendo Switch Pro Controller support and different music tracks, some other cut content seems to have been fairly significant.
Notably, Lewchube found that an entire in-game event was cut, involving the chase for Pokemon Fossils in Mt. Moon after meeting Red and Blue. These leaks also found that just before the game's release, some in-game opponents like Giovanni and Lance originally had more Pokemon and even higher leveled Pokemon, but were changed to be much less difficult upon the game's official release. Additionally, the leaker notes that instead of just Fuchsia City's GO Park, a full-fledged Safari Zone was planned for the games but was cut, in addition to scrapped breeding mechanics.
While these leaks seem to confirm the suspicions of many fans who thought the Pokemon Let's Go games were made significantly easier or lacked content, it's interesting to consider whether adding these features would have changed fan reception. Regardless, these games still served as an entry point to the series for many newcomers, and managed to sell over 12 million copies.
With Pokemon's 25th anniversary right around the corner, many are eager to see what 2021 holds in store for the franchise. Whether Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remakes or the rumored Pokemon Let's Go sequels featuring Johto are released, next year is already shaping up to be a good one for Pokemon.
Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu! and Let's Go Eevee! are available now, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.