Lego’s New Pokémon Sets Are Cooler Than You Think
With the exciting launch of new Pokémon sets on the horizon, the Lego company has yet to fully clarify how the technology behind these toys will function or why it should matter to fans. In a recent chat, Lego representatives delved into the intricate mechanics that drive their upcoming Smart Play toys. While these Pokémon sets are primarily designed for kids, there’s a lot for adult fans to appreciate in the effort to capture the essence of the beloved franchise.
The product descriptions for the 12 new sets highlight that players will have the ability to capture, bond with, and train their Pokémon. Visuals of the sets showcase elements like potions, food, and targets, hinting at gameplay that mirrors the mechanics found in Pokémon games. But what does this all entail?
“Every Pokémon is unique,” explains Siddharth Muthyala, design director at Lego.
During a video call, Muthyala shared that each Pokémon features a Smart Tag that tracks attributes such as attack power and type. As kids engage with the toys, the technology allows the Pokémon to accumulate experience points. The Lego sets can detect when pieces are moved and recognize specific actions like jumps, dashes, and somersaults. While kids can let their imaginations run wild, the sets include “story starters” to guide play, featuring vehicles and targets. The more you play, the more your Pokémon evolves.
When a Pokémon levels up, the toy lights up and emits sounds. While it doesn’t get as detailed as the video games—there’s no level 100 cap—the toys can abstractly gauge a Pokémon’s power based on its training. A stronger Pokémon will perform better against others in the sets.
The monsters can engage in battles, and the toys enhance this experience with unique sound effects and visuals. While a Pokémon can “win” a battle, they won’t faint like in the games; instead, they transition into different states. Pokémon can become tired and need to rest, and if they lose a battle or are shaken too vigorously, they might get dizzy. Players can also use potions to heal their Pokémon after intense training or battles.
Sound design plays a crucial role in how the toys interact with players. While the sounds don’t perfectly mimic the in-game monsters, they offer a more nuanced auditory experience.
“The Smart Brick is an instrument,” Muthyala notes. “It generates sound as you move it, so it’s not just pre-recorded audio… there are subtle variations, similar to what you’d hear from a harmonica.”
Federico Begher, senior vice president at Lego, mentioned that Smart Bricks are programmed with straightforward rules that enable a broader range of interactivity. The goal is for kids to mix and match elements from different sets, addressing the limitations of previous interactive Lego toys, like the 2020 Super Mario set.
“That set only worked for Lego Super Mario and wasn’t really compatible with other products in our lineup,” Begher explains.
While he didn’t confirm any upcoming Pokémon sets, he hinted that the new Smart Play toys are designed with future possibilities in mind.
“You don’t need to restrict yourself to a specific set of products; you can use this Smart Brick with any Lego sets you choose,” Begher adds.
Although earlier interactive sets like Lego Super Mario, Lego Vidiyo, and Lego Hidden Side didn’t fully realize their potential, the lessons learned from those experiences have paved the way for the new Pokémon sets to explore exciting new avenues.
“It feels quite serendipitous because what we initially thought were mistakes with those sets turned out to be crucial learning experiences for us with this technology,” Begher reflects. “This represents a more complete expression of our vision for technology.”
Lego fans have until June to cast their votes for their favorite Pokémon: Mew, Gyarados, Arceus, Rowlet, or Joltik.
