For as long as I can remember, myself and other fans of the Pokemon RPG series have dreamed about a Pokemon game that takes full advantage of modern gaming technology to create a completely new, immersive way to fulfill the unquenchable desire to train Pokemon in real life. Handheld gaming is great, but as the world of Pokemon expands, the desire for players to completely immerse themselves in it has been a long time coming.

The most common "wouldn't it be cool"  ideas are about a PC Pokemon MMORPG or a no gimmicks VR Pokemon game. While the recently revealed Let's Go! isn't quite any of those things, its new co-op feature, motion controlled catching mechanic and Pokemon: Go compatibility are steps towards a fully realized Pokemon world.

But how Earth do you make the choice between Pikachu or Eevee? Thankfully, I've taken everything important into consideration and, for the good of the everyone, have outlined the definitive and completely serious factors at play that should and will determine your decision.

Let's start with Pikachu:

 
PROS

- It's Pikachu. It's the Pokemon. In Super Mario terms, this is a decision between Mario or Birdo. Why not choose the most recognizable mascot of the series as your in-game companion.

- The worst thing about Pikachu is that it evolves into Raichu. That is not the case in this game, as your starter Pokemon is unable to evolve. So good news for your Pikachu -- it gets to keep its fingers!

- Since this is a remake of Pokemon: Yellow, you will get to enjoy Ash Ketchum vibes for maximum Kanto region nostalgia.  Be the hero, wear the rubber gloves, defeat Onix despite massive type disadvantages!

- Blast Zubats and Pidgeys from the sky quickly and without a headache. Pikachu's high speed makes it possible to burn through the two of the most common Pokemon encounters in Kanto.

- We all know how Pikachu sounds: Pika-Pikas and adorable Pi-KAH-Chus. What does an Eevee sound like? Spoiler alert: it's pretty nauseating.

- Pikachu has mastery over electricity, summoning divine thunderbolts from the sky at whim. Also, Electric pokemon aren't too common in the original 151, so chances are your team, regardless of which version you choose, will include a Pikachu anyway. 

- Pikachus are experts at sitting on trainers shoulders, heads, and generally living outside of a Poke Ball. They are the original rebels against Poke Ball captivity and your choice should honor that.

CONS

- Team Rocket will make their return in Let's Go! and, per original Kanto lore, they have it out for Pikachu. No one needs that extra stress.

- If the hellfire tyranny that was Diglett's Cave makes a re-appearance in this game, Pikachu is straight out of luck. No amount of potions can change your starter Pokemon's huge type disadvantage against one of the most annoying battles in the game.

- Starter Pikachu may have different stats and abilities than normal Pikachus, but that doesn't change the Pokemon's inherent fragility to the most common offensive type in the game: Ground. One wrong Earthquake and your starter is ended.

- Pikachu in a Pokemon game: how original. 

- We already were forced to choose Pikachu as a starter Pokemon in Yellow -- why give up the chance for something new? Embrace change.

Now, let's take a look at Eevee:

PROS

- It's hard to deny that Eevee is an extremely cute Pokemon. Pikachu may have charisma, but Eevee has a tranquil fluffiness factor that is quite powerful.

- In the original Pokemon: Yellow, Eevee was given to your rival while the protagonist received Pikachu. In a way, a choice for Eevee is the closest thing you can get to playing as the anti-hero in a Pokemon game. You are the rival.

- If you want to be extra, choosing Pokemon: Eevee is a step in that direction. It's more of a conscious decision to not choose Pikachu.

- in the original Kanto games, Eevee was a much rarer Pokemon than Pikachu and harder to acquire. Sure, it doesn't matter now, but there is an ingrained sense of value towards Eevee that is hard to shake.

- Eevee was the one of the most innovative Pokemon in the original 151 due to its multiple elemental stone evolution paths.  Although Eevee can't evolve in Let's Go!, it's an interesting opportunity to appreciate a Pokemon that, by design, is just stepping stone towards something else.

- Normal type Pokemon were pretty uninspired in the original Kanto games, but this isn't the case in the modern Pokemon Universe. Nowadays, Normal Pokemon have access to some of the most unique moves in the game, such as Baton Pass, Metronome, and Wish.

CONS

-  You can't get around it: the actual most interesting part about Eevee is its stone evolutions --  something your starter Eevee won't be able to do. Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporean are arguably some of the most popular Pokemon ever so it's a little disheartening to imagine your starter Eevee denied it's rightful elemental ascendance.

- The above is a promotional image provided by Nintendo and Eevee still looks strange hanging on its trainer out of a Poke Ball. Pikachu does the same thing and it looks way more natural.

- Eevee is weird to spell and I've messed it up multiple types in the course of writing this. Not important, but I needed to tell someone.

- Well-rounded Pokemon squads have a diverse line up of Pokemon that can cover each other's weaknesses. On the surface, I can't think of something Eevee can do that a Kangaskhan or Snorlax couldn't.

- Eevee sounds like Togepi doing it's best impersonation of an anime character desperately trying to sound cute. Compared to Pikachu's dulcet tones, this will get real tired real quick.

THE VERDICT

I'd personally take a tried-and-true Bulbasaur any day of the week, but if I had to choose between Pikachu and Eevee, I think Eevee just barely eeks out a win over Pikachu.

Let's Go is all about a new experience and a new way to play. The novelty of playing with Eevee as your starter Pokemon is too good to pass up. Most people will be drawn to Pikachu inherently and that's fine: it's just important to know that choosing Pikachu is the wrong decision and a huge mistake.

Trust me, It's not as if both versions will offer identical gameplay experiences and Nintendo will balance the game around either starter. That totally won't happen.