Pokémon X and Y

Did You Know?

• A special Nintendo 3DS XL depicting Xerneas and Yveltal in their Shiny forms was released in North America and Europe on September 27, 2013.
• The X Factor series 9 semifinalists Union J were involved in the British release of X and Y.
• A store in Bournemouth, United Kingdom, reportedly started selling the games on October 11, 2013, before the official release date.

Plot

The games take place in the star-shaped Kalos Region, inspired by Metropolitan France and Europe. Locations such as Prism Tower (Eiffel Tower), the Lumiose Art Museum (the Louvre), and stones outside Geosenge Town (Carnac stones) have real-world counterparts. The protagonist moves to Vaniville Town with their mother Grace and befriends four trainers: Shauna, Tierno, Trevor, and a rival named Calem or Serena. They are called to meet Professor Augustine Sycamore in Lumiose City.

Receiving a Starter Pokémon from Tierno, the player begins their journey, earning their first badge by defeating Viola, the Santalune City Gym Leader. They encounter Sycamore's assistants Sina and Dexio, who bring them to the professor. In Lumiose City, a partial power outage is occurring. Sycamore informs the player about Mega Evolution and asks them to travel across Kalos to uncover its mysteries, providing a Kanto starter Pokémon and its Mega Stone. Before leaving, the player meets Lysandre, an imposing man who desires a more beautiful world.

Development

Development began in 2010. Director Junichi Masuda identified three main themes: beauty, bonds, and evolution. Beauty was the core focus, and Masuda considered France a prime example; a team was sent to study the country in 2011. Flowers were integrated into many routes for visual aesthetics and unique wild Pokémon encounters.

Design inspiration came from European culture; the legendary trio Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde have roots in Norse mythology. More focus than usual was placed on giving new Pokémon unique elements. The titles X and Y, representing the x-axis and y-axis and reflecting different forms of thinking, were chosen early. The simplicity of the names related to the simultaneous worldwide release.

Designers sought to make Pokémon names the same in every country when possible, which Masuda described as exceptionally difficult. The shift from 2D sprites to 3D polygons required a larger development team of over 500 people, including localization teams. Emphasis was placed on retaining the iconic style of art director Ken Sugimori. At Masuda's request, the shapes X and Y were used as the framework for Xerneas and Yveltal.

Sugimori required assistance from designer Yusuke Ohmura; finalization of their designs took about 18 months, three times longer than normal. Manga artist Hitoshi Ariga designed ten species for the games.

Reception

Pokémon X and Y earned generally favorable reviews, with Metacritic ranking them as the 15th and 13th highest-rated Nintendo 3DS games. OpenCritic reported that 84% of critics recommended them, describing the approval as "mighty." Three of four reviewers for Weekly Famitsu gave a perfect 10/10, making X and Y the second-highest-rated Pokémon titles in the magazine's history, behind Black and White. Two of those reviewers noted that the 3D graphics and new display made the game feel fresh and fun, and they praised features like mega evolutions and super training.

Critics widely applauded the shift to 3D graphics, improved visuals, and online integration. Edge magazine called the visuals "rich in detail and flavour," highlighting areas from stately affluent zones to a run-down hotel. Simon Parkin of Eurogamer said the 3D transition was "smooth and natural," calling the games the finest expression of Satoshi Tajiri's vision. Matt Kamen of The Observer praised the new mechanics and audiovisual upgrades, declaring them the series' peak.