Hey everybody, just a quick blurb about the leaked Western release of Pokémon Go. I woke up this morning to many news sites claiming that we Westerners could download the game via a mirror site and play the full experience with no issues as long as you have an Android device. So as a 30 year old man, who has a deep nostalgia for Pokémon, I had to grab my balls (the poke kind), turned on my GPS (and watched as my battery drained faster than I had ever seen it deplete before), and created my character as I booted up this app. For people who know me, I have a very big problem with mobile games. Instead of going into a more venomous rant on those experiences, I will just simply say they are not for me. You know what is for me? Pokémon.

There are not very many character creator options in Pokemon Go, but that doesn’t matter when you have the goal to catch ’em all. The new professor introduces himself and then he sets you off to catch your first pocket monster. Bulbasaur was my first! After this quick tutorial you are set off with walking around your home town, or local areas and Pokémon will start populating on the GPS map in the app. Also the map is populated with icons that are in real life art, sculptures, or major places of interest. In the game they are turned into Pokémon stores, gyms, and other Pokémon related things. Going to these hotspots offer items such as: Pokéballs, eggs, (can hatch into new Pokémon) as well as incense and other items to use to attract these catchable creatures.

I have not spent much time in Pokemon Go but I am working my way to become Level 5 so I can take on my first gym. How that works I have no idea but I will certainly report back! For now I suggest going to the mirror site where you can download the Pokemon Go app here and start your Pokémon journey!