Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions Review

November 22, 2015

Please note this article contains spoilers for the Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions concert. If you’re intending to see the show with fresh eyes and ears, please click here to be taken back to our spoiler-free home page.

As far as video game concerts go, tours are often limited to seasons in Sydney or Melbourne due to their larger populations. This is quite frustrating for gamers living in other cities, particularly Perth which is a four hour flight to Melbourne. When Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions was initially announced as coming to Australia, only Sydney was named-dropped. This prompted me to book flights from Adelaide and overnight accommodation. Having been disappointed about missing The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddess, there was no force on Earth that would stop me seeing Pokémon. Nintendo must have taken Pokémon’s popularity into account though, because as soon as tickets went on sale for Sydney concerts for Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne were also announced. Indeed I could have cancelled my booking and opt to join my Adelaide brethren, but there was something about seeing the concert in Sydney’s iconic Opera House that made it worth the trip.

Sydney’s first show was on Friday, 21st November 2015. On this particular day it was 42 degrees, so not a lot of fans dressed in cosplay. There were still plenty of Pokémon shirts proudly on display, as well as fans wearing Ash’s hat from the anime. While waiting for the concert to begin I admired the Sydney Harbour Bridge from one of the Opera House balconies. I turned to see two Ash cosplayers standing in a trainer-like stance. They immediately pulled out their 3DS systems and started battling. A handful of fans gathered around, observing battle tactics and laughing at the recognised sounds of Mega Charizard taking to the field. It didn’t matter, we were all strangers, and we had come together to celebrate our love of Pokémon.

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As the audience took to their seats we were treated to “Who’s that Pokémon?” trivia. When the silhouette of Pikachu flashed on the screen, the audience cheered with so much enthusiasm that it took the orchestra by surprise. Other favourites such as Bulbasaur and Charizard got just as much enthusiasm, though I noted people didn’t seem as keen with some of the newer Pokémon generations. Perhaps due to a lack of nostalgia?

Finally the lights dimmed, and conductor Susie Benchasil Seiter walked out on stage to conduct the Pokémon Main Theme. The screen above the orchestra lit up and flashed the title screens of all the handheld Pokémon games (with the exception of Black/White 2 and Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire). There were some cheers but the audience was generally respectful towards the orchestra. We were told the concert was going to look at the Pokémon games chronologically beginning with a trip back to Pallett Town.

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The screen flashed with footage of Pokémon Red/Blue as the orchestra started playing the familiar tune. It went through the motions showing Professor Oak’s explanation of the Pokémon world, then skipped to the gameplay sequence of the player being in their room. The audience chuckled at player’s mother saying “all boys leave home someday. It said so on TV.” The video displayed was edited incredibly well, omitting menu selections and “filler” dialogue between characters in favour of the main highlights. Excitement erupted when the player was choosing their starter Pokémon. Each starter’s Pokédex entry was shown, with the player ultimately choosing Charmander to which the audience approved. The audience were equally delighted to see pokémon land critical hits, and other silly moments such as the Youngster trainer who likes wearing comfy shorts also getting chuckles.

When battle footage was shown, effects were used on the borders of the display. When Pikachu attacked with lightning, for example, bolts would flash on the borders making the battle feel all the more intense. One particular favourite of mine was when a Pokémon used the move Earthquake and boulders fell to the bottom of the screen. It was only a minor effect but it went a long way in immersing the audience into the world of Pokémon.

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As the orchestra continued with various melodies and iconic themes, you began to see just how far the series has evolved. The footage and music matched perfectly, going from the humble Red/Blue/Yellow originals, to the colourful Gold/Silver, to the improved sprites and animations in the GBA and DS outings. Later outings also had more in-depth storylines and themes ranging from the mythos of Kyogre and Groudon in Ruby/Sapphire, to the war undertones in X/Y. I came to understand that the name Pokémon Symphonic Evolutions was more than just a pun and had a double meaning.

When the last melody from Pokémon X/Y came to a close the thunderous applause made it obvious everyone enjoyed the trip down nostalgia-lane. But this was not the last hurrah. As an encore, the orchestra played the full version of the anime’s Gotta Catch ‘Em All theme with the audience encouraged to sing to the music. It was inspirational to hear the halls of the Sydney Opera House eco with the sound of a united force of Pokémon fans. “I want to be the very best, like no one ever was” caused some of the younger audience members to look around in amazement and awe. It’s one of those moments that will live with you forever. And for the record, most of the audience fell silent when the second verse commenced which was quite humourous.

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The final song was Keseki, which was used for the ending of Pokémon X/Y. Not many people realise this, but the song actually has lyrics and these were played on the screen karaoke-style. Despite many presumably not knowing the song, a surprising amount of audience members attempted to sing it. When the concert came to a final close, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra received a well-deserved standing ovation.

The Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions concert tour has officially closed in Australia. If it ever returns or you happen to be overseas where it is playing, it’s highly recommended you attend. It’s a celebration of the main games in the series and it’s captivating to see just how far Pokémon has come over the past 19 years.