That was one of my favourite things about the Heart Gold & Soul Silver games, and I was really disappointed that this feature hasn't returned for any of the games in the series since. The overworld sprites for the Pokemon in X & Y were amazing. I think it's just a matter of Nintendo being willing to design an overworld sprite for every single Pokemon. Imagine running around Kalos with your Lucario or Greninja ect!

I know there's a small minority who didn't like this feature so perhaps an option to turn it off should be implemented to please everybody.

Hiatus

Seen 1 Week Ago
Posted July 24th, 2021
12,283 posts
10.8 Years
I wouldn't mind if they brought back this feature. It was nice to have them following me around, and it was pretty cool to see all the reactions they made when you interacted with them. If they do reintroduce it at some point in the future, though, I'd like them to give us an option to turn the feature on and off, if possible. Also, I'm moving this topic over to Pokémon Gaming Central, if you don't mind; it's sort of related to all generations (and not just the sixth), so...

Moved.
Male
Seen November 6th, 2017
Posted December 17th, 2016
211 posts
9.6 Years
I dunno. I think it'd be awkward in the current gen with the 3D environments, especially considering the Pokemons' various sizes. Just imagine the walk cycles.

In a 2D game you only had to worry about two frames for walking so when you were running the frames just needed to be sped up. In a 3D game every Pokemon would need two walk cycles - walking and running - that exactly kept up with you. That means one stride for Marill would need to cover the same distance as one stride for Blaziken: it'd need to either move in unnaturally sped up small steps to match the longer stride of a bigger Pokemon or just be completely out of sync with how fast it was moving, which would look horrible.

I noticed the same problem in the 3D PMD when running around the town as certain Pokemon. Some of the animations just felt choppy.

I agree about missing my Pokemon following me around and with the direction the graphics have gone in I just don't think it's viable, not if you want the Pokemon to still look good. I'd rather they didn't follow me at all than follow me with choppy, awkward animations.
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I would like it it but given the speed of the roller skates it my be tricky for pokemon to keep up
The pokemon could go back in their pokeball like they did in HG/SS while using the bike.

i think one of the guys at game freak said there was never gonna be a walking pokemon feature like in yellow & hg/ss ever again
Who said it? And did they say why?

I dunno. I think it'd be awkward in the current gen with the 3D environments, especially considering the Pokemons' various sizes. Just imagine the walk cycles.

In a 2D game you only had to worry about two frames for walking so when you were running the frames just needed to be sped up. In a 3D game every Pokemon would need two walk cycles - walking and running - that exactly kept up with you. That means one stride for Marill would need to cover the same distance as one stride for Blaziken: it'd need to either move in unnaturally sped up small steps to match the longer stride of a bigger Pokemon or just be completely out of sync with how fast it was moving, which would look horrible.

I noticed the same problem in the 3D PMD when running around the town as certain Pokemon. Some of the animations just felt choppy.

I agree about missing my Pokemon following me around and with the direction the graphics have gone in I just don't think it's viable, not if you want the Pokemon to still look good. I'd rather they didn't follow me at all than follow me with choppy, awkward animations.
What you said makes a lot of sense. I'm still hopeful Nintendo can find away to make it work though. If not for their next game at least somewhere down the line.
Age 31
Male
Fortree City, Hoenn
Seen December 6th, 2017
Posted November 14th, 2017
1,276 posts
9.5 Years
The pokemon could go back in their pokeball like they did in HG/SS while using the bike.
Yeah could do but that would make the feature pointless as the games set up for you use the roller skates as the default form of movement.

Synerjee

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Everywhere and anywhere.
Seen May 28th, 2016
Posted February 25th, 2016
2,901 posts
10.6 Years
I really liked this feature! This is one of the reasons why HGSS has been one of my favourite games to date. It would be really awesome if GF could reintroduce this feature to future games or remakes such as the possible and highly favoured RSE remakes. Perhaps they could make the overworld Pokemon sprite do more than interacting with the player though. It would be something if one could, for instance, play some games with it or something, or perhaps with a semi-permanent Pickup-like feature.
Age 31
Male
Fortree City, Hoenn
Seen December 6th, 2017
Posted November 14th, 2017
1,276 posts
9.5 Years
I'm pretty sure walking is still default if you're using the directional buttons. I don't use the roller skates as much as I walk or run to be honest. I do like them a lot though. I'd gladly sacrifice skates for being able to have out Pokemon follow us around. I don't see why we couldn't have our cake and eat it too.
Yes your right I to use the circle pad as my "Default" means of control, but the D-pad is walking by default, maybe a future installment could have the roller blades and removable.

Even better would be if you could ride certain pokemon in your party at anytime (rather than the set ones in X and Y). Speeding around on Rapidash would be awesome.

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深き海の彼方
Seen July 19th, 2022
Posted December 17th, 2017
4,904 posts
9.5 Years
I really like this about hg/ss too. One of my favorite features of the game. It's so lonely walking around alone in Pokemon Black :(

I'm guessing it'd be a lot harder to implement with the 3D and all. But impossible? Certainly not. I really hope they bring this back in future games.
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AaronAbsol

AaronAbsol

Male
United States
Seen December 8th, 2013
Posted December 4th, 2013
6 posts
9.5 Years
I really do like this feature. It wasn't all that big for me while playing the games, but the aesthetic was nice. Even though I do not have either of the games, I think it would have been cool to see in X and Y or any other 3D games to come. Even so, Cliffhanger makes a good point.

Tsutarja

Age 28
he / him
Florida
Seen 6 Hours Ago
Posted 1 Day Ago
27,327 posts
13.2 Years
I would definitely love to see a return of the follow feature in any future games.. I loved it in Generation IV by getting to interact with your Pokémon and picking up the occasional item as well, and I was really upset when that feature disappeared in Gen V.

Esper

California
Seen June 30th, 2018
Posted June 30th, 2018
With the number of Pokemon there are now I would understand if they didn't want to bring it back, but I would love it if they did. It was one of those little things that helped you get immersed in the games, kind of like how in X & Y we can customize our trainers. Anything like that which gives you a little more control over what you're looking at as you play through the game is great because it helps break up the monotony.

I'm not gonna hold my breath for its return. I can just hope they give us something new and just as interesting.

bobandbill

one more time

Male
A cape
Seen 4 Hours Ago
Posted 7 Hours Ago
16,794 posts
15.2 Years
It was a really fun and neat feature, and certainly something I would love to see return. I don't expect it to come anytime soon, sadly, but it occurring for all Pokemon was a great surprise in HGSS.

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