By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

In the realm of Pokémon gaming, there has been a shift in how we interact with these beloved creatures. Pokémon GO took the world by storm a few years ago, however, amidst the frenzy of augmented reality and exploration, there’s a quiet contender that holds a special place in the hearts of semi-older trainers like me: the Pokéwalker. Pokémon GO‘s far better predecessor.

For those who may not remember, the Pokéwalker was a wearable device sold with Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver for the Nintendo DS. At first glance, it seemed like a simple pedometer, but it was so much more. It allowed players to transfer one of their Pokémon from the game, specifically from your Pokébank, onto the Pokéwalker device, where said Pokémon would accompany you on a real-world adventure.

With each step taken, players could earn points, find items, and even battle/capture a few Pokémon, mirroring the training journey of the main game but without the need to constantly run your game to do so or feed/water your Pokémon, making it great for taking to school or even work. So, sort of like a Tamagotchi, but much more casual.

However, what I believe really sets the Pokéwalker apart from its flashier successor, Pokémon GO, is the singular connection you get to have and build with your Pokémon. In Pokémon GO, the Pokémon you encounter are fleeting, easily caught, and just as easily replaced as a companion. There are micro transactions to gain more space or Poké balls and outfits, things that were never really big parts of the older games. Moreover, there’s a lack of depth and personal attachment to these creatures as they rotate in and out of your collection for Pokémon GO. It’s a constant hunt for the next rare find, for events and achievements, but rewards players very little in terms of emotional investment toward any one Pokémon.

Contrast this with the Pokéwalker experience where you choose one Pokémon to accompany you on your journey at a time, and—if you play with that Pokémon consistently—start to build a bond with it.

If you check in with your Pokémon on the Pokéwalker device frequently, you get little notifications about when your Pokémon companion is having fun, sleepy, or bored. It encourages a more intimate connection with your chosen companion, and allows for a more immersive training experience as you are given a sense of your Poké-pet’s personality over time.

Moreover, as you walk, your Pokémon gains experience points and can potentially level up, even finding items, like rare berries, while walking around so long as you have space on the device. It makes your walks with the Pokémon, at least in my experience, more rewarding and meaningful while fostering a sense of loyalty to the progress made that is hard to replicate. Also, because it is not tracking your specific location at all times and not forcing you to constantly keep the app open or in review for more Pokémon, the device is safer to use in a public settings.

In contrast, Pokémon GO‘s mechanics can feel detached and distracting, with Pokémon catching being the primary purpose of taking walk rather than actual training, reducing the experience to getting from location A to B all to flick a virtual ball on a screen. Even if you invest in getting accessories that autospin/catch, for example, the Pokemon GO Plus+, it still requires the app to run constantly and will sometimes shut off at random or require frequent check-ins to work. The noise and flashing lights, while great for kids, is also problematic for school or work, which is a big turn-off for me (not to mention the price).

In Pokémon GO, Pokémon are reduced to data points, with little to distinguish one from another beyond their color or stat variation. However, in the Pokéwalker, your Pokémon feels like a true companion, with unique characteristics and quirks that emerge over time.

The Pokéwalker may be a relic of the past, but I find it to have a much more enduring charm since it is built on the idea of bonding with our Pokémon on a personal level to make the game more fun and meaningful. Pokémon GO just can’t beat it. I wish that they would bring this beloved device and feature back into future games as well since it would make things a lot more fun.

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Copyedited by: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow and Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee