It's been a while since our last Pokemon Event in the UK, but with Autumn in full swing, and Halloween drawing ever closer, Nintendo are giving us one last reason to leave the house before it gets too cold to step outside, by treating us to another free Pokemon (at least, we hope it's not a trick!) - and this one is particularly spoooooky!
The mythical Psychic/Ghost Pokemon, Hoopa, will be obtainable by visiting your local GAME store in between the 23rd of October and the 5th of November, to anyone with a copy of Pokemon X, Y, Alpha sapphire or Omega Ruby. Only available as a download (you can't catch this one during normal gameplay), for any Poke-fans out there who want to "catch 'em all," this event is a must!
This is the most intimidating gift we've ever seen!
In order to get your free Pokemon, all you have to do is head down to your local GAME store, and ask for a code. The code will be printed on a receipt at the till point and is completely free.
To redeem the code and obtain this horned djinn of mischief, there are a few steps to follow. After loading your Pokemon game of choice, select the "MYSTERY GIFT" option, then "RECEIVE GIFT", followed by "GET WITH CODE" (you'll need an internet connection to do this). All you need to do then is type in your code, load up your save file and collect your free Pokemon from the delivery person in the Pokemon Centre! Be sure to make room in your party first, as this is where Hoopa will be going. If there isn't a space for it when you speak to the delivery person, you'll have to nip over to the PC and deposit a Pokemon before talking to them again.
From the moment Hoopa joins your party, it will be level 50, so straight away it can be a pretty useful asset to your team. Coming pre-equipped with some pretty powerful Psychic moves, Hoopa will pack a fair punch, including one move that's exclusive to Hoopa - Hyperspace Hole. This attack causes physical damage, and cannot be stopped by defensive moves such as Protect, or any that cause accuracy or evasion status changes.
But Hoopa's not just any Pokemon. In fact, downloading this new 'mon adds an extra branch to the game's story. By heading to your nearest Poké Mart with Hoopa in your party, and talking to the clerk by the till (the one who isn't usually there, but always mysteriously appears when there's an event happening…), you'll trigger an interesting bit of dialogue. Apparently, this clerk has an evil Pokemon trapped inside a bottle - and he's more than happy to hand it over to you! Such a kind thing for a complete stranger to do, eh? Coincidentally, this bottle will give you the option to change Hoopa's form from the mischievous little "Confined Hoopa" to the terrifying "Unbound Hoopa".
Hoopa will also be holding the item Focus Sash, which will prevent it from being the victim of a one-hit KO. Instead, Hoopa will remain standing with 1 HP, giving you chance to wreak revenge on your foe.
Eerie...
For those of you who collect the Pokemon Trading Cards, heading to GAME for the event will also give you early access to the Elite Trainer Deck Shield and the Powers Beyond Tin, which features the Hoop-EX card! Exclusive to GAME from October 23rd to November 5th before it goes on general sale everywhere else, your local GAME store should have them in stock when you pay them a visit for your Hoopa code! We may even try our hand at carving ourselves a Hoopa themed pumpkin this year - even if it's not amongst the official Pokemon Company pumpkin stencils we covered last week. Who knows, maybe it'll be a late addition to the list. Still, we're incredibly excited about the opportunity to get our Hoopa and add it to our team - and we can't wait to give Hyperspace Hole a go, and see what it looks like in action.
Put it in your diaries, Poke-fans, as Hoopa will be available for a limited time between October 23rd to November 5th, so don't forget!
