This cover was made using canva and bitmoji, the pictures were taken directly from the game by me.
After a long wait, we finally have the first “themed booster pack” in Pokémon TCG Pocket, and while this update hasn’t brought many new changes from the first set of cards (Genetic Apex), it’s a perfect opportunity to understand how this great card game will evolve over time, especially regarding the availability of “discontinued cards,” which was obviously one of the biggest questions for all collectors.
As someone who was pretty close to completing my collection (I’m only missing 30 cards, not counting the ultra rares) I’m glad to see that Genetic Apex is still fully available, and both the points for opened boosters and the shop to acquire the missing cards individually have not been lost. Instead of being an update to the standalone game, Mythical Island works as an organic 80-card expansion that seems to satisfy the collecting cravings of the most passionate players, and, in turn, involves a couple of reformulations to the combat mode.
I personally enjoy the inclusion of several EX cards such as Mew and Celebi, although my new favorite card is the EX version of Aerodactyl, my favorite Pokémon since the days of Fire Red.
I regret that Game Freak and Creatures Inc did not take this opportunity to refine several of the weaker aspects of the game, especially how difficult it is to know which cards are missing to determine a specific collection. Pokémon TCG Pocket is still a wonderful way to kill time but I am concerned about its longevity in the long term if it does not provide more incentives to the player to stay engaged, something that could at least be partially corrected when trading is finally implemented early next year.
Magical choices are another sector of the game with potential, especially due to the influence that the friends we have added have on the cards that appear available in it, however, like any other mode within TCGP it is determined to limit our possibilities by paying with real money under the table.
My advice? Enjoy this game with calm, Mythical Island is a nice expansion that refreshes the experience a bit, but it is far from solving the fundamental problems that this mobile experience has had from the beginning.
Regarding the combat mode, I have been dedicating a little more time to it, but between its extreme simplicity and the evident imbalance when we go to the online mode, it is difficult to get hooked, especially when we compare it with more complete alternatives within the genre such as Marvel Snap or Heartsone.
Twitter/Instagram/Letterbox: Alxxssss
Regarding what you say about the longevity of the game, it is something that is true and can take its toll if they don't do something to keep the community hooked.
Personally I see this new expansion of new cards, as something normal, I do not see that it will influence much, although it is good to follow closely these new cards, it is not known how they can influence the competitive mode.
I feel that the combat mode is fine even if the card cycling sometimes feels fucking unfair. But even so the strategy that is implemented is the one that ends up predominating in the game, knowing the current deck goals and cards gives us a plus to overcome the difficult moments in the combats.
Only time will tell, the potential is there, they have to take advantage of it. Competitive play is attractive but it stagnates too much in favor of the dominant deck.
The new cards are cool tho, I already got an special inmersive celebi ex hahaha
I still have a lot of cards to collected from the Genetic Apex. It would suck if they discontinued those with this update. Thankfully, it didn't happen. I am both happy and sad. Happy because I get to have new cards easily and sad because it will now take a lot longer to get all the missing cards. xD