The most adorable iteration of Pikachu known to humankind is back in Friday’s release of Detective Pikachu Returns. If you’re looking to solve mysteries with a coffee-loving Pikachu, but you’re not sure if you’re ready, I’ve got answers for you.
Do I Need To Play Detective Pikachu First Before Detective Pikachu Returns?
No, you don’t. Detective Pikachu Returns gives you a quick summary in-game within its first 30 minutes, including the adorable opening cutscene below. The game thoughtfully gives efficient intros to important characters and backstories as necessary.
Furthermore, it may be tricky to get a hold of the original Detective Pikachu. It came out in 2016 on 3DS, and you can no longer buy it digitally. Honestly, though, I think you’re okay passing on it. I remember loving the first few hours, but the plot became pretty circular and the pacing got rough.
In case you want to know what happened in the 3DS Detective Pikachu game, here are the highlights:
Plot Summary of Detective Pikachu (2016, 3DS):
- Tim Goodman is a young man in Ryme City, a special place where Pokémon and humans coexist (rather than the latter capturing the former). He’s looking for his missing father, freelance detective Harry Goodman, and comes across a Pikachu who, amazingly, he can understand. The talking Pikachu claims to be a “great detective” and was Harry’s former partner.
- Prior to the events of the game, Pikachu and Harry were in a mysterious car crash, and Pikachu now has amnesia and doesn’t know where Harry is. Pikachu can’t use any of his normal fighting powers. Additionally, there have been many reports of Pokémon becoming unusually violent and aggravated.
- Tim and Pikachu solve a variety of cases together, like an Aipom stealing a necklace. Along the way, they befriend an aspiring journalist, Emilia Christie, who is interested in figuring out what’s going on with the rampaging Pokémon. She works as an assistant for the television news network GNN.
- Tim and Pikachu reveal a conspiracy where scientists from the Pokémon Comprehensive Laboratory tried to create a miracle cure using DNA from Mew, but accidentally used DNA from Mewtwo who has a “berserk gene.” The result was a drug called R, which is what is causing Pokémon to rampage. Some people have been using the opportunity to cause crime and havoc in Ryme City. Mewtwo visits Pikachu discretely, asking him to destroy the remaining R vials and return any stolen DNA cells he finds.
- After a lot of running around, Tim and Pikachu discover the criminal mastermind is the president of GNN, who’s kidnapped Emilia. He’s been using R to instigate Pokémon crimes so that GNN can be the first to report on the scene, hoping to dominate the information industry of Ryme City. A battle ensues, and Mewtwo swoops in to help as gratitude for Tim and Pikachu helping him.
- Emilia is rescued, and Ryme City is saved. Mewtwo tells Tim and Pikachu that Harry is still alive, and as long as they don’t give up hope, they’ll find him.
What Else Do I Need To Know Before Playing Detective Pikachu Returns?
Detective Pikachu and Detective Pikachu Returns share a very different gameplay style than the average Pokémon game. Players will guide Tim and Pikachu through various mysteries by interviewing people and Pokémon, exploring environments, and piecing together logic. There’s no Pokéballs or battling here.
If you saw the 2019 Detective Pikachu movie, then you already know a lot about how Pokémon live together as equals in Ryme City, which stands out in the Pokémon universe. Ryme City is a delightful setting to explore, which I’ll talk more about in my forthcoming review.
Speaking of the movie, it’s not an exact adaptation of the games. There’s a cheeky reference to this within the first 30 minutes of the game. In Detective Pikachu Returns, two years have passed since the events of Detective Pikachu. In-game, there was a movie made of Tim and Pikachu’s adventures saving Ryme City from R. The game cleverly acknowledges this plot divergence when Tim’s mom and sister lament that they weren’t in the movie at all, to which Tim responds:
Should I Play Detective Pikachu Returns?
I’ll say more in my forthcoming review, but so far, it’s another fun adventure in the beloved universe that’s great for anyone who wants a change of pace from the mainline Pokémon games.
Detective Pikachu Returns, developed by Creatures and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, was released on Friday, October 6, 2023, for Nintendo Switch. It retails for $49.99.
