Has the Pokémon scene ever felt this rich and exciting? When Pokémon Red came out, it changed everything, and I've always said that the early handheld Pokémon titles are the best of the bunch. But as the games got more modern, I think we lost a lot of the magic that made the DMG, GBC, and GBA titles so special. When I look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A, I don't get anywhere near the same feeling as I did travelling around Johto on my bike in Pokémon Gold!
Pokémon Extreme Epsilon is one of many new fan games that I've covered of late, games made by Pokémon lovers like me that capture that early Game Boy Pokémon style with a brand-new region, storyline, and tonnes of other new features, including Pokémon from all 9 generations.
Some of you might have played 2020's Pokémon Epsilon fan game. Extreme Epsilon is a continuation in the same vein as Pokémon Sun/Moon & Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon. It's designed to provide more of a challenge than the regular Pokémon games in normal mode, but it does also have a hard mode that those who breeze through the main series Pokémon games might find intriguing.
The main story is set in the new region of Rhizo. There are Pokémon from all 9 generations to catch from caves, volcanoes, deserts, and even a haunted mansion. I wonder if Luigi is going to make a visit there?
Extreme Epsilon has Nuzlocke modes and a built-in customisable randomiser. There are also Totem Pokémon to beat in a bid to prove your skills, making you worthy of taking on the next gym you come across. Think of them as a chance to see whether there's any point going to the gym or not, or whether you need to do some EXP mining through random battles.
With familiar characters (not all so friendly), Mega Evolutions, a post-game series, a Pokémon World Tournament, and animated sprites in the style of the Gen 5 critters giving the game a DS vibe, Pokémon Extreme Epsilon is a fantastic game that you should definitely give a try if you're disillusioned with the newer titles. Head to PokéCommunity for more information!
