Home Gaming Pokémon GO Plus review round up

Pokémon GO Plus review round up

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Pokemon GO Plus SlashGear

The Plus accessory finally launched last Friday – weeks after the release of Pokémon GO. Is it not too late? Is the little piece of wrist hardware still worth buying? Let’s see what the critics think:

Nintendo Life

With a reasonably low price tag and some genuinely useful functionality, the GO Plus is sure to sell briskly – although perhaps not quite as briskly as it would have done when the game launched a few months ago. It’s certainly shouldn’t be considered as essential to your enjoyment of Pokémon GO and has some glaring shortcomings, but it’s nevertheless a useful tool for dedicated players, and after a week of testing we’re not sure we’ll be able to leave the house again without it.

Pokemon GO Plus NL

TechRadar

One of the biggest problems with Pokémon Go at the moment is the grind. You have to catch dozens and dozens of Pokémon in order to acquire enough candies to evolve them into something new. The Pokémon Go Plus works fantastically at reducing this grind. You can put it on before going for a walk and pay it minimal attention. It also makes the game a lot less frustrating to play. You only discover when Pokémon have run away when you look at your phone at the end of a walk, and this lessens the frustration of missing out on a catch.

It doesn’t completely solve the game’s problems. Tracking down new Pokémon isn’t possible with the wearable, and the game’s gym mechanic’s still feel half-baked. But if you’re someone that continues to open up the app whenever you go on a walk just to collect a few more candies and hatch a few eggs then the Plus makes the experience a lot less frustrating.

Pokemon GO Plus TechRadar

Engadget

Pokémon Go Plus is not a replacement for the game on your phone, but it’s good for the simple stuff, like hitting PokéStops and catching stray Rattatas, Pidgeys and Spearows. It’s a grinding machine. And, in a game where grinding is crucial for anyone who wants to dominate a gym or two, that’s not a terrible thing. Just be prepared to pack a few more items in your Pokémon Go survival bag.

Pokemon GO Plus Engadget

SlashGear – 6/10

This device is great for people who walk long distances and wish to collect Candy with their Buddy Pokemon and/or hatch eggs without needing to keep their smartphone screen on. This device racks up distance while the user’s smartphone screen is locked. In this way, the Pokemon GO Plus conserves a bit of battery in one’s smartphone and – without a doubt – helps the user pay attention to their surroundings while playing Pokemon GO. For that, alone, this device could very well be worth the cash, very easily.

Pokemon GO PLUS pic

Forbes

So while I am impressed with Pokémon GO Plus’s functionality, I’m not convinced that it’s some revolutionary device that’s going to change the way people play the game. I don’t think enthusiasm forPokémon GO will necessarily translate into enthusiasm for pressing a buzzing button every so often. When you can play the actual game, play the actual game, and Plus seems like it’s useful only for very select situations in which that’s not possible. Is that worth $35 and carrying this thing around with you? I suppose that’s ultimately up to you to decide.

Pokemon GO Plus Forbes

VG247

The Pokemon Go Plus is so simple it’s actually rather difficult to review. It does exactly what you’d expect. Are you a hardcore Pokemon Go player? If so, the Go Plus will provide a convenient way to keep the game even closer to you at all times without draining your battery as fiercely as actively using your phone will. It’s expensive, but how much value do you put on being able to count steps and catch Pokemon more quickly and for longer? This is strictly for the most dedicated trainers, but for those who can’t get enough this is a decent if expensive add-on.

Pokemon GO Plus VG247

Eurogamer

If you’re like me – still playing, albeit at a more relaxed level – the Plus is a fun extension of the app, but still a pricey addition. At £9.99 it would be an impulse buy. At £34.99 it’s the choice between this and a pre-order for Pokémon Sun or Moon. Perhaps you know a Pokéfan who would love to extend the fantasy of Pokémon Go further. Perhaps you still have a posse of pals ready to go out and search for a Dragonite. Pokémon Go Plus isn’t a bad bit of kit, but it feels like its general appeal will be limited.

Pokemon GO Plus Eurogamer

According to just about all the critics above, investing in a Plus really comes down to personal preference. If you are still firmly addicted to Pokémon GO, then it’s a no brainer. The Plus makes the grind a lot easier for the most part. If you find yourself hardly playing the mobile game today however, then you might want to steer clear.

When I first started playing Pokémon GO, I would’ve killed to get my hands on the Plus. Now though, my interest in the mobile game has sizzled down to minimum levels, and I couldn’t be bothered with the hardware. I think it was released just a little too late.

If you, on the other hand (or wrist), think you could do with a Plus in your life, you can actually get hold of it here in South Africa. Raru, AWX, and Loot.co.za all have it on sale on their digital shelves.

Last Updated: September 19, 2016

15 Comments

  1. Interesting….

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      September 19, 2016 at 16:11

      No it isn’t! Pokemon Go must fall!

      Reply

      • The Order of the Banana

        September 19, 2016 at 18:40

        YOU MUST FALL!! I saw there were “festivities” at UCT today. I guess I should expect the same on my side soon…

        Reply

  2. DragonSpirit009

    September 19, 2016 at 13:43

    I might not be an extreme Pokemon Go player but I think this little gadget came out a bit to late. Maybe this is also the reason why they haven’t released in other countries yet either. Waiting for it to be officially released and then actually releasing the app every where. Just my thoughts thou.

    Reply

  3. Mistake Not...

    September 19, 2016 at 13:46

    Are people still playing Pokemon GO?

    Reply

    • DrKiller

      September 19, 2016 at 14:46

      Yes!

      Reply

      • Mistake Not...

        September 19, 2016 at 15:04

        How much is Niantic paying you? ;D

        Reply

        • DrKiller

          September 19, 2016 at 15:06

          They asked me not to tell… but you remember the article about Articuno? 😛

          Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      September 19, 2016 at 14:51

      When I was in Seatlle now the local park had about 15 Pokestops and they all had lures on all day really.. people are still playing like mad

      Reply

  4. Original Heretic

    September 19, 2016 at 13:53

    Too little, too late.

    Reply

  5. VampyreSquirrel

    September 19, 2016 at 14:35

    LOL! Low price tag of R550 – R799 (depending on retailer)… yeah… that’s a low price tag 😛

    Reply

  6. VampyreSquirrel

    September 19, 2016 at 14:38

    Cons – Capture rate of about 50/50, ONE try to capture a pokemon (runs on failure). Pros – pokestop grabs easier, increased pokemon finding range, counts KM with the app closed.

    Those are my notable Pros and Cons. There may be others, and the capture rate might be fixed, but it’s not a “no-brainer” at that price tag. And yes I was thinking of getting one, but I doubt it’ll happen now.

    Reply

  7. I_am_Duffman!

    September 19, 2016 at 15:27

    My question, for km’s to register, the app needs to be open and your phone cannot lock or “sleep”. Which obviously eats battery life. So do you still need to keep the app open with this app? I can’t stand how the game just drains my battery

    Reply

    • Melissa Soper

      September 19, 2016 at 21:19

      No you can have pokemon go run in the background and it will still count km’s if you are using the pokemon go plus. Additionally I have seen major improvement in my battery lif with pokemon go plus, even with the Bluetooth on.

      Reply

  8. RinceThis

    September 19, 2016 at 16:11

    Eggstatic. NOT

    Reply

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