Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue forever changed the gaming landscape and started one of the most popular franchises ever. Its merchandise sales exceed Harry Potter, Lego, and Star Wars. Little did we know that Pokémon would be the juggernaut it was back on Feb. 27, 1996. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, these seminal titles marked the inception of a cultural phenomenon that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
The original series introduces players to the enchanting realm of Kanto, where the dream of becoming a Pokémon Master begins. Players are given the choice between three starter Pokémon: Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. With each version offering exclusive creatures and subtle variations, the Red vs. Blue debate sparked a timeless rivalry among fans.
Flash forward a few decades, and you have Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu & Let’s Go Eevee. As remastered versions of the original games on the Nintendo Switch, these games incorporate the catching mechanics of Pokemon GO. Not only that, some of Pokémon, items, evolutions, and starter Pokémon are different.
Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu & Let’s Go Eevee Starters
In Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu & Let’s Go Eevee, players cannot pick Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur. Instead, players either pick Pikachu or Eevee, depending on which version you buy. That means the original progression changes. Players can not evolve Eevee as well. Your starter Eevee has to stay as Eevee throughout the game. Granted, you can catch another Eevee on Route 17 and evolve that Pokémon into anything.
Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu Pokémon
Another main difference between the original games and the remakes is the addition of Alolan variant Pokémon. Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon introduced these new versions of monsters.
| Kanto Pokemon | Alolan Pokemon |
|---|---|
| #027 Sandshrew (Ground) | #027 Alolan Sandshrew (Ice/Steel) |
| #028 Sandslash (Ground) | #028 Alolan Sandslash (Ice/Steel) |
| #043 Oddish (Grass/Poison) | #088 Alolan Grimer (Poison/Dark) |
| #044 Gloom (Grass/Poison) | #089 Alolan Muk (Poison/Dark) |
| #045 Vileplume (Grass/Poison) | |
| #056 Mankey (Fighting) | |
| #057 Primape (Fighting) | |
| #058 Growlithe (Fire) | |
| #059 Arcanine (Fire) | |
| #088 Grimer (Poison) | |
| #089 Muk (Poison) | |
| #123 Scyther (Bug/Flying) |
Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee Pokémon
| Kanto Pokemon | Alolan/Mega Pokemon |
|---|---|
| #037 Vulpix (Fire) | #037 Alolan Vulpix (Ice) |
| #038 Ninetales (Fire) | #038 Alolan Ninetales (Ice/Fairy) |
| #052 Meowth (Normal) | #052 Alolan Meowth (Normal) |
| #053 Persian (Normal) | #053 Alolan Persian (Normal) |
| #023 Ekans (Poison) | #127 Mega Pinsir (Bug/Flying) |
| #024 Arbok (Poison) | |
| #069 Bellsprout (Grass/Poison) | |
| #070 Weepinbell (Grass/Poison) | |
| #071 Victreebel (Grass/Poison) | |
| #109 Koffing (Poison) | |
| #110 Weezing (Poison) | |
| #127 Pinsir (Bug) |
Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu Special Moves
In addition to the new Pokémon, Pikachu and Eevee have special moves they can learn to bolster their strength.
| Move | Power | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zippy Zap | 50 | Electric | Always hits first, always critical hits |
| Splishy Splash | 90 | Water | May sometimes Paralyze opponent |
| Floaty Tail | 90 | Flying | May sometimes cause opponents to flinch |
| Pika Papow | Varies | Electric | Power depends on Friendliness. Never misses |
Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee Special Moves
It’s not a surprise that Eevee has vastly more options to choose. Since you can’t evolve Eevee, this gives you options.
| Move | Power | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bouncy Bubble | 90 | Water | Heals for 50% of damage dealt |
| Buzzy Buzz | 90 | Electric | Always causes Paralysis |
| Sissly Slide | 90 | Fire | Always cause Burn |
| Glitzy Glow | 90 | Psychic | Creates Reflector that halves Special damage |
| Baddy Bad | 90 | Dark | Creates Reflector that halves Physical damage |
| Sappy Seed | 90 | Grass | Plants HP leeching seed |
| Freezy Frost | 90 | Ice | Resets all Stat Bonuses |
| Sparkly Swirl | 90 | Fairy | Heals ally’s Status Effects |
| Veevee Volley | 90 | Normal | Power depends on Friendliness. Never misses |
Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee Items
The most significant difference between the two series is the fast number of items purchasable in the remake. Because of the increase in Pokemon, there are new evolution items and more updated heals.
| Name | Effect |
| Beach Glass | A piece of colored glass. Waves have rounded its edges. It’s slightly rough to the touch |
| Big Mushroom | A very large and rare mushroom. It’s popular with a certain class of collectors |
| Big Pearl | A rather large pearl that has a very nice silvery sheen. It can be sold at a high price to shops |
| Bottle Cap | A beautiful bottle cap that gives off a silver gleam. Some people are happy to receive one |
| Chalky Stone | A small whitish stone picked up at the edge of the road |
| Escape Rope | A long and durable rope. Use it to escape instantly from locations like caves or dungeons |
| Gold Bottle Cap | A beautiful bottle cap that gives off a golden gleam. Some people are happy to receive one |
| Gold Leaf | A mysterious gold leaf. No trees with this leaf have been found yet |
| Heart Scale | A pretty, heart-shaped scale that is extremely rare. Some people are happy to receive one |
| Leaf Letter | A letter written on a leaf. Something is written using Pikachu’s footprints |
| Lone Earring | A single earring that somebody dropped |
| Lure | A glass bottle of perfume that makes rare Pokémon more likely to appear |
| Marble | A round glass marble. You can see colored glass inside the transparent marble |
| Max Lure | A glass bottle of perfume that makes rare Pokémon more likely to appear. It lasts longer than a Super Lure |
| Max Repel | An item that drives away wild Pokémon so you won’t encounter them. It lasts longer than a Super Repel |
| Nugget | A nugget of the purest gold that gives off a lustrous gleam in direct light. It can be sold at a high price to shops |
| Pearl | A rather small pearl that has a very nice silvery sheen to it. It can be sold at a low price to shops |
| Polished Mud Ball | A ball made of mud. It had been polished for such a long time that the surface is very shiny |
| Pretty Wing | Though this feather is beautiful, it’s just a regular feather and has no effect |
| Repel | An item that drives away wild Pokémon so you won’t encounter them for a short time |
| Silver Leaf | A mysterious silver leaf. No trees with this leaf have been found yet |
| Small Bouquet | A small bouquet that was made with heart and soul for a single Trainer |
| Star Piece | A small shard of a beautiful gem that gives off a distinctly red sparkle. It can be sold at a high price to shops |
| Stretchy Spring | A thin small spring. It’s totally stretched out, and what it’s used for is unknown |
| Super Lure | A glass bottle of perfume that makes rare Pokémon more likely to appear. It lasts longer than a Lure |
| Super Repel | An item that drives away wild Pokémon so you won’t encounter them. It lasts longer than a Repel |
| TinyMushroom | A very small and rare mushroom. It’s popular with a certain class of collectors |
| Tropical Shell | A beautiful white shell that may have drifted from a sea in a warm region |
Recovery Items
| Name | Effect |
| Antidote | A spray-type medicine for treating poisoning |
| Awakening | A spray-type medicine to wake the sleeping |
| Burn Heal | A spray-type medicine for treating burns |
| Elixir | This medicine can be used to restore 10 PP to each of the moves that have been learned by a Pokémon |
| Ether | This medicine can be used to restore 10 PP to a single selected move that has been learned by a Pokémon |
| Fresh Water | Water with high mineral content |
| Full Heal | A spray-type medicine that is broadly effective |
| Full Restore | A medicine that can be used to fully restore the HP of a single Pokémon |
| Hyper Potion | A spray-type medicine for treating wounds |
| Ice Heal | A spray-type medicine for treating freezing |
| Lemonade | A very sweet and refreshing drink |
| Max Elixir | This medicine can be used to fully restore the PP of all of the moves that have been learned by a Pokémon |
| Max Ether | This medicine can be used to fully restore the PP of a single selected move that has been learned by a Pokémon |
| Max Potion | A spray-type medicine for treating wounds |
| Max Revive | A medicine that can be used to revive a single Pokémon that has fainted |
| Old Gateau | The Old Chateau’s hidden specialty |
| Parlyze Heal | A spray-type medicine for treating paralysis |
| Pewter Crunchies | Pewter City’s famous crunchy snack |
| Potion | A spray-type medicine for treating wounds |
| Revive | A medicine that can be used to revive a single Pokémon that has fainted |
| Soda Pop | A highly carbonated soda drink |
| Super Potion | A spray-type medicine for treating wounds |