Pokemon devs talk Z-Moves, Poke Rides, no influence from Yo-Kai Watch

Coming from an N-Zone interview with Pokemon Sun/Moon: director Shigeru Ohmori and producer Junichi Masuda...

N-Zone: Were other games, such as Yo-kai Watch, the reason for rethinking parts of the game, like introducing side quests?

Ohmori: Naturally, things change over time, such as what games are popular. We’re obviously aware of that and take it into consideration when developing a game. However, there’s no game that has directly influenced us like that. Our goal is always to create a game that is especially well received by players, so we’re thinking about things like how to attract players who like playing on their smartphones, or people who like watching YouTube videos.

N-Zone: Why were Mega Evolutions replaced with Z-Moves, especially after so many Pokemon were given the ability to Mega Evolve in Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire?

Ohmori: With Z-Moves, we’ve wanted to introduce a new kind of attack to battles. We wanted to expand the number of Pokemon that were usable in battle, but we’ve also wanted to encourage players to experiment and come up with new kinds of strategies. And once the main story is over, players will get the chance to use Mega Evolutions again and combine both systems.

N-Zone: Are Poke Rides a new kind of HMs? What’s the benefit for players?

Ohmori: In the Alola region, people, Pokemon and nature work together and coexist in a relatively small space. To reflect that, we introduced this new system that essentially allows you to use smash rocks or surf with Pokemon at all times. It just fits well with the way we envisioned this world and it helps give players a feel for the way of life in this region and to enjoy it during their adventure.