If you haven't heard about Pokemon Go, you probably slept through the entire year 2016 when the game was literally impossible to avoid. Everyone was running around with their phones, trying to catch Pokemon, level them up, and be the first to catch them all. A decade later, let's see how the game holds up!
Humble beginnings
When the game originally came out, it didn't feature a lot, to be honest. You could use the map to locate Pokemon, they would appear on your screen, and you would simply flick to throw a ball and try to capture them. Some landmarks in your city were marked as PokeStops or gyms where you could collect items or engage in not-so-amusing gym battles.Massive content updates
However, it got quite boring after a month or two when you realized there was literally nothing else to do in the game. Also, finding new Pokemon was difficult and you would only see Pidgeys and Zubats everywhere you went. The game has seen steady updates since, and it provides amazing new features such as battling friends or other trainers 1-on-1, and Pokemon raids where you can catch fancier Pokemon than you can simply find in the wild. You can also trade Pokemon with your friends.The power of community
The social aspect is crucial in the game. The game doesn't even teach you advanced mechanics like how to throw a curveball properly, and that is something you learn from interacting with other players. It's great to see a group of twenty strangers gathering together for a Pokemon raid. The influence the game has on social interaction is greatly enhanced with battles and raids. However, your enjoyment will greatly depend on whether you have anyone to play with or if your town is caught up in the Pokemon frenzy!Technical hurdles
Not everything is fun and games! The game requires you to be online at all times with your GPS turned on. This can really have an impact on your battery life. Also, while massive stability improvements have been made since launch, Niantic (the game publisher) still occasionally experiences server hiccups and GPS issues which can prevent you from enjoying the game properly.
