Disclaimer: I began writing this before Pokémon Go was announced. All of this post is still valid for the game I describe, but holy hell, I hope Pokémon Go is going to live up to the hype. Because in theory, it's everything I ever wanted as a child (and let's be honest, as an adult) and while it would be so easy to get it wrong, I have faith that GameFreak are looking at the mistakes competitors are currently making and avoiding them themselves.
That this is all opinion and daydreaming on my part. I'm not in any position of power to nudge GameFreak into doing any of this, and I'm well aware that I don't speak for everyone. But I've been thinking a lot lately about how amazing a current-gen console Pokémon game would be, and what I'd like to see in it.
First and foremost: a freeroaming exploration. None of this travelling between set locations via cutscene and catching Pokémon off other trainers that was such a letdown in Coliseum. You can still guide people in the right direction - the tree blocking a path or man refusing to let you past until he's had his morning coffee are staples in the series, and while I would prefer something more subtle, I can acknowledge the need to gently encourage people in the right direction, especially if there is a storytelling element. However, games don't need to channel you down the right path. Do you want the plot to progress? Then maybe go to the last place that got mentioned to you and see what's going on, there. Or maybe, the plot could be experienced in a slightly more organic way; hints and whispers of criminal activity going on wherever you happen to go first? Multiple plans over different places, that when foiled lead you into the wider plot through key items and dialogue?
What would be really impressive to me would be levels of wild Pokémon and trainers tracking your level for a true free-roaming experience. It would provide a larger incentive to explore over level grind and explore strategies and a varied party over simply over-levelling before Gyms and the Elite Four. Perhaps provide a few areas with static levels for people who want to EV train, but for everyone who wants to experience the game, this could be a very good system. Of course, your own Pokémon will always have a slight advantage over wild ones of a similar level due to Effort Values, so it wouldn't stop people from level grinding if they wanted that extra advantage. It would just allow people who wanted to progress quickly and explore the tools to get out into the world a little quicker.
Imagine this: you start out in your little village hometown, where the graphics are gorgeous and picturesque, but trees make the field of view seem small. Then you step out onto the first route, and a large rolling plain is spread before you, teaming with movement and new monsters to battle and catch. I want it to give that 'first time on Hyrule Field' goosebumps. I want that slow realisation that that far point in the distance can be walked to, and explored, and look beautiful while doing it.
The Wii U can give very pretty graphics when handled correctly. Look at stills of Mario Kart 8 - lots of detail packed into a charming style. Look at the demos of the new Legend of Zelda game - utterly gorgeous. I want that level of detail in a console Pokémon game. I would still keep it stylised - hyper realistic would not work for the Pokémon franchise, and would look dated incredibly quickly.
Battle, as a large part of any Pokémon game, would be incredibly important. There's a lot of depth and complexity in the main, turn-based series, which I love, but the idea of being able to control your Pokémon beyond four attack moves is also appealing. Of course, there is the arcade-fighter, Pokkén Tournament, which shows that they have played around with fully controllable Pokémon and Pokémon moves connecting properly with their target, but I see this as unlikely to happen in a main game unless as a minigame (similar to the Beauty Contests in the main series). Why? One, Pokkén Tournament is being made with Namco Bandai, who have experience with fighting games and systems, but a collaboration on a main game seems unlikely. Two, the console game will probably be (and should be) cross-compatible with the handheld series. Changing the fighting system too drastically would result in a nightmare of trying to code Pokémon so they still work on both games, and a good fighter on one game could be a poor choice on the other. With this in mind, I would still keep the turnbased battles intact, though I would love better detailed battles - moves that connect with the opponent fully, gorgeous backgrounds and settings that add to the world and makes you really feel like you are on a epic journey.
Despite wanting to maintain the status quo with regardless to battles, I do want to get rid of one staple of the franchise - Hidden Move machines, or HMs. In the handheld series, they're used to guide the player to the next area, but if the plot shifted to accommodate freeroaming, along with the levels of encounters adjusting to the party, suddenly limiting the use of them seems odd. I mean, logically, all flying type Pokémon can fly, they don't have to learn it from a machine. The same with water-type Pokémon swimming - though I have always wondered why player characters seem unable to swim, when they so often live near bodies of water and other people are seen swimming, frequently as young children. What I'm suggesting here is that any Pokémon which logically should be able to preform that move can, innately, without having to learn a move. This will encourage team diversity a little more naturally and will stop one (or more!) Pokémon in the party being kept around just for their HM abilities.
A console game should integrate well with the handheld games and vice versa. This would be a perfect opportunity for Nintendo to promote Pokémon Bank, their subscription-based storage facility. I mean, I'm not a fan of paying monthly to transfer Pokémon between games, but if more games in the series used it, it would feel less like a rip-off. Of course, there is a better way for Nintendo to cash in on extra stuff - Amiibos. Both the Wii U and the new 3DS can read and write data stored on Amiibos - why not use them as 'shuttles' between games? It wouldn't be backwards compatible with the current gen of handheld games, but could be a fun idea in the future. At the very least, kids can take their team with them in an Amiibo to challenge their friends when they go and visit and play Wii U together (so can adults, I mean, I would, but I'm also a massive dork who would charge into the room, Pokéball held in an outstretched arm yelling "Trainer Ame wants to battle!")
Along with more free-roaming elements, I'd like a way for you to feel accomplished in the world of Pokémon even if battles aren't your biggest passion. Sure, have a Gym/Elite Four network there, and be rewarded for challenging them and winning, but also be rewarded for other actions. Fully exploring hidden areas, catching particularly difficult Pokémon, breeding particularly great IV'd Pokémon. Even little challenges like completing the game without using legendary Pokémon or having a team of all the same elemental type that still kicks butt. I want to see challenges that shake up the way competitive play is done (for the uninitiated, international Pokémon tournaments are a pretty dull e-sport, as most top ranked players use similar teams and plays, because they've worked out that, mathematically, it's the least risky way to win. In the end, it comes down to which player exploited the mathematics behind the game the most, which kinda sucks all the fun out of it). Basically, encourage players to have fun with the mechanics and the idea and wonder that the world of Pokémon still holds today.
A complete bonus from me, but I would adore it if it would ever happen: remember Pokémon Snap? Can you imagine Pokémon Snap, a game where you take pictures of Pokémon while riding through predetermined routes, but in a current gen world, with no rails? Can you imagine having it as a fun sidequest that you could always dabble in for extra money, but don't actually need it for progression - it's literally just for your own enjoyment? I mean, the Wii U would be perfect for this - you could move the controller like a camera and use the screen as your view through the lens, you could share them on Miiverse if you're so hell bent on making social networks a thing...come on, Nintendo, you gave us Link selfies, you can realise my dream of becoming a wildlife photographer in the world of Pokémon!
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