(Source: Imagevent.com)
2013 was a massive year of innovation for the Pokemon franchise. The anime adaptation started what is arguably the best region arc since Sinnoh (Unova's arc was not well-received by members of the fandom such as myself). The games also made multiple innovations, primarily the switch from two-dimensional sprites to cel-shaded models. Pokemon have been rendered as three-dimensional models before, but never in the main series of games. Pokemon X and Y serve as a transition point between the two eras of the franchise. These two games look beautiful with the three-dimensional makeover, they still play mostly the same as their previous iterations.
Since the battle system is an iconic part of the Pokemon franchise, it remains mostly unchanged. The battle system expands upon the innovations established in Black and White and Black and White 2, in which you see the entirety of the Pokemon as opposed to the head and shoulders of previous titles. The battle animations have also been significantly improved, thanks to the transition to three-dimensional animation. Unfortunately, the battle screens still look as they did in the Black and White series, only with a three-dimensional upgrade and changes to the user interface. The battle screen will not have any significant changes until Sun and Moon. A new and welcomed feature is "mega-evolution", in which certain Pokemon will gain a temporary new form during battle through the use of a "mega stone".
In terms of overworld gameplay, the player character can now move in eight directions instead of four, or all directions when controlling with the circle pad. Again, this is a result to using a three-dimensional game engine. The character animations are also more dynamic and expressive, with the addition of fully animated cutscenes interspersed throughout the story.
The Pokemon's sounds have been digitally remastered and re-recorded, such as Pikachu's being replaced by that of its anime voice actress, Ikue Otani. The sounds are significantly cleaner as a result of the remastering, and sound better to accommodate the changes in X and Y.
The overall game's difficulty has been reduced from previous installments, mostly due to the implementation of the experience share. The aforementioned item makes leveling up Pokemon easier, as all Pokemon gain experience regardless of participation in battle. Mega-Evolution also makes battles easier; however, the battle mechanic can significantly ruin the balance when using certain Pokemon. For example, a Charizard or Lucario that mega-evolves can significantly turn the tide of battle. Essentially, Mega-Evolution overpowers the Pokemon utilizing them.
Until the release of Sun and Moon came, X and Y had the best story I have seen in a Pokemon game. The story had always been improving since Diamond and Pearl, but X and Y's story had extra layers of depth and character development. The player could become invested in the character they were playing as along with becoming invested in the supporting cast. During my playthrough of X, there were times where I actually rooted for Shauna and Serena. I had rarely done that with rival characters in prior games, and I would usually root for myself (aside from May in Ruby and Sapphire and their remakes). I could actually sympathize with the main villain of the game, and I could see his motivation for enacting his plan. The main antagonist is a tragic character with a tragic backstory, and as a result, he wishes to remake the world/destroy the world using the game's legendary Pokemon.
Overall, the game is an excellent addition to the franchise and a welcome beginning to a new era loaded with innovation and positive change. However, I do wish they would change more to further improve gameplay mechanics. However, my wish would later be granted in Pokemon Sun and Moon.
