The new Expansion Pass Part 1: Bubbly Basin and Ver. 2.0.0 update for Pokémon Pokopia are scheduled to release on August 5th, and we couldn't be more thrilled to dive into building new habitats and meeting new Pokémon. Recently, we were given the opportunity to try out the upcoming Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass firsthand to write about our first impressions and experiences with the game.
Details on Our Playthrough
| Duration | 1 Hour |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To provide initial impressions for news coverage |
| Primary Contents | Dive Mechanic, Bubbly Basin |
Our playthrough of the new area started us off already within Bubbly Basin. Even with a full hour to explore the area, and the progression slightly streamlined for the event, it still felt like we were just scratching the surface of the depths, so we expect several hours of gameplay from this new update in its August release.
As the demo we experienced was in Japanese, note that some of the terms used in this article may be unofficial translations.
Dive into an Underwater World!
The Ver. 2.0.0 update of Pokémon Pokopia will first and foremost bring the introduction of the Dive move. While you could previously only traverse above water via Surf, or through it using the Magnet Rise move, Dive allows you to have complete control of your character as you go underwater with an air bubble to keep them breathing.
While diving underwater, you will be capable of moving around on the ground, as well as swimming effortlessly to any height or depth. This movement is similar to Magnet Rise in that it allows for easy ascension and descension through the water, and makes previously inaccessible areas yours for exploring.
A Surprise Encounter With Manaphy
Before you can begin diving in, you'll first have to meet Manaphy, which takes place after completing the main request and raising the environmental level of the area Bleak Beach.
Manaphy will be your diving instructor so to speak, helping you learn the move and also sending you on a short tutorial through an underwater cave area.
New Possibilities for Building Your Towns
While Magnet Rise could previously be used for flying through the air, it was primarily used for removing objects and quickly rebuilding landscapes. By using the new Buoyant Block items, players can now create buildings and lay down structures floating anywhere in the water, in addition to on the seabed. This opens up new possibilities for crafting your dream town, allowing you to utilize the 3D space like never before!
New Content in Bubbly Basin
While the Dive ability and underwater features is available to all Pokopia players in the free Ver. 2.0.0 update, you will really be able to make the most of them within Bubbly Basin, the new area of the game which constitutes the main portion of the Expansion Pass Part 1 content. Bubbly Basin introduces several hours of new content, including new Pokémon, new Habitats, new Requests, and a plethora of new items, structures, and collectibles to find!
Bubbly Basin will be accessible to those who have already cleared Bleak Beach and unlocked Dive. It can be reached through a gate found underwater, which you can only arrive at through use of the new Dive move.
Discover Brand New Water Pokémon
In Bubbly Basin, you'll discover an underground town filled with corals, algae, and other new materials, but devoid of any inhabitants at first. After meeting up with Popplio, you will begin to receive requests for creating new habitats that can only be created with the new items and materials found here in Bubbly Basin.
The new Pokémon introduced are Water types that can thrive in an underwater environment. Several beloved Pokémon such as Corsola, Mudkip, Sharkpedo, Totodile, and many more make their appearance, and with them come many new habitats to construct in order to meet them.
Move Water Pokémon In and Out of Bubbly Basin
Water Pokémon befriended in Bubbly Basin can be moved to your other Pokopia towns, and additionally, you will be able to move previously befriended Pokémon into Bubbly Basin. While Pokémon like Magikarp clearly felt like a fish out of water splashing around on the surface, they feel at home in this new area, swimming through the water quickly and effortlessly.
An Expanded Collection of Items to Discover
In addition to the new Pokémon and habitats associated with them, the expansion introduces a new tab for Bubbly Basin exclusive items in the Collection. This means that you will have new Relics, Costumes, Files, Recipes, CDs, as well as new furniture to purchase at the Pokémon Center, and much much more to discover and help you uncover the secrets of this sunken city.
Brand New Requests and Storyline
The Bubbly Basin content is focused on expanding the worldbuilding done in the base game of Pokopia. Like the previous areas, you will have several important requests to take care of in order to transform Bubbly Basin into a vibrant area filled with underwater inhabitants. These of course include rebuilding the Pokémon Center and meeting new friends to raise the Environmental Level, but also assisting Popplio in finding its friends and improving their quality of living by building new structures!
Areas to Explore Throughout the Town
Bubbly Basin is very expansive and offers many exciting sites to see and places to explore! In addition to the underwater town, the area is filled with caves that contain surprises such as new items and files containing hints about what life used to be like here.
Deep Sea Adventures!
Additionally, Bubbly Basin is home to the Deep Sea, several dark underwater trenches which need to be lit up in order to explore them to the fullest! You'll have to make use of the new items here, which can be placed strategically on the sea floor or floating in the water to provide light and allow you to further venture into the depths.
Approaching the Surface
In addition to what's below the surface, Bubbly Basin also contains areas to explore above the water. By using Surf while near the surface, you'll be able to see what's above it all! This includes several islands and other points of interest, giving you more places to see and shape to your liking.
Final Thoughts on Pokopia's August Update
As someone who invested well over 100 hours into the base game discovering all the Pokémon, habitats, and even collectibles that the game had to offer, I personally couldn't be more thrilled about the new content we're getting with this update.
With the new Dive mechanic and underwater exploration, we're not just receiving a new area, but we will be introduced to a new way to play the game entirely. While the base game was already packed with over 300 Pokémon to befriend, I'm very excited to see what all new Pokémon we get to meet in this brand new area. I saw several familiar faces in my experience, but I'm looking forward to discovering more!
Pokopia is such a wonderful blend of cozy gameplay and Pokémon world building, and with all the amazing memories I have of setting up my towns and making new discoveries, I can't wait to sink even more hours into the new content we're getting on August 5th, as well as in the coming months alongside future expansions!
