'Pokémon X' and 'Y' Are Polished But Play It Too Safe

Pokémon X and Pokémon Y represent huge graphical leaps forward for the Pokémon RPG series, improving the things fans love and wrapping it in a shinier package. But that colorful exterior belies a rigid adherence to the same old game formula, for better or for worse.

For its first entry onto the 3DS handheld, GameFreak along with Nintendo brought the storied franchise into the world of modern graphics, with three-dimensional characters and worlds. The games — with slight variations between the two — are more beautiful and engrossing than ever because of it, with Pokémon creatures seemingly jumping off the screen. Read more...