Pokémon Sun and Moon, combined together, are the main event for 3DS this year. The hype and buzz around Pokémon GO hasn't exactly harmed awareness of the upcoming portable titles, and The Pokémon Company has also been upping its game with a number of major reveals. In recent times it's unveiled new Pokémon, gameplay features, mechanics and even add-on toys. There's been a lot going on.
Way back in early May we asked you about your excitement levels following the original Sun and Moon reveal trailers, and now seems like a good time to revisit the question; after all, we've got a far broader picture of what these games will bring.
First of all, below are some key reminders and summaries:
- Feature: Pokémon Sun and Moon - Breaking Down The Most Exciting New Features
- Gallery: Take a Closer Look at the Pokémon Sun and Moon Legendary Pokémon, Rotom Pokédex and More
- Gallery: Nine New Pokemon and Zygarde Formes from Early July
- Gallery: Six New Pokémon from Mid-July, Including the Mighty Bewear
- Gallery: New Pokémon, Z-Moves, Poké Rides and More
- Gallery: A Closer Look at Team Skull and New Pocket Monsters in Pokémon Sun and Moon
There's been plenty to take in with Sun and Moon, then, including some features and gameplay ideas that are a notable shake-up to the IP's formula; the competitive scene could also get rather interesting with some of the changes.
So, with these reveals and details, how excited are you about Pokémon Sun and Moon right now? Hit up the polls and comments below to let us know.
Comments 107
Waiting to hear about the online features. will dicate my purchase.
getting two copies of both versions. One for me and one for each of my older kids. We can't wait to play these games. My older son can't wait to try out the Battle Royale, I can't wait for the island challenges, my daughter can't wait to catch all the cute Pokemon and my youngest son can't wait to play it.
Hyper Training has me super pumped! I breed shiny Pokémon for competitive battling and Hyper Training will definitely ease the frustrations of hatching shinies with imperfect stats.
I'm not interested in the games but not because I don't like what I see, it's just I was worn out during Generation IV's Diamond that I never finished and tried to get back in with X and lost the desire to continue after beating the first gym.
So guess I can't put my vote in.
Honestly, though, I think they're showing off way too much of the game. Sure, exploring the region is part of the fun, but so are the new Pokémon, and based on how many they've shown off and how many Pokémon were added in Gen VI, I'm worried they're revealing their hand too early.
Was disappointed with x n y to easy hopefully these will be better
More of a challenge I mean
@Shepdawg1 it was the same for ORAS, showing all the megas before the game came out.
I really don't like that, and I feel the surpirse is being spoiled.
For the first time I'm leaning towards getting both versions (I'll main in Moon & play catch up at work in Sun version), lots of benefits to this, I get all the version exclusives and I can trade with myself which makes leveling up competitive Pokémon faster plus potentially I get more bottle caps.
I'm getting Sun, but the thing I want to hear about most is the Pokemon Amie, I want more interaction with our Pokemon, similar to the Chao Garden from Sonic Adventure 2. :V
Honestly? I'm really excited. I think these have the potential to be my favorite games since HeartGold / SoulSilver. And in my opinion that is a TALL order. From what I've seen, special attention has been paid to making the battle mechanics feel fresher and more complex with several of the new Pokemon having two or more layers of strategy to them. The new Alola forms are awesome, and I love Team Skull Best team in a long time, looks like.
@KickButt_Gaming I didn't even consider whether Amie would be getting an upgrade! I really hope so, but at the same time I'm not holding my breath for it.
Pokemon Moon master race! I'm really looking forward to this one; aside from Mega Evolution, I really didn't like X and Y.
I'm excited to be done with ORAS and the horrible format that is VGC 2016.
Sun and Moon should hopefully be the breath of fresh air the competitive scene needs.
Also, most of the new Pokemon look pretty cool so far. Gen six was really good and it looks like they're going from strength to strength.
I'm hyped like no one ever was. Especially love Alola forms, they gives new life to Pokemon that have been forgotten, like Marowak. And new style of collecting badges, this series needed to change the formula.
And I'll buy Moon, cause friend takes Sun.
Right now, my biggest concern is Mega Evolution. I absolutely loved this feature in Pokemon X and Y but I am worried that this feature is going to be cut for Pokemon Sun and Moon.
I watched Shady Penguin and Shofu's video on this subject and I must confess, the points that Shady brought up to why Mega Evolution may be cut were very good.
Considering how hyped I was to see what new Mega Evolutions would be given to existing Pokemon, this would be a double deal breaker for me as not only would I not be getting the Mega Evolutions I am already loving but there would be no new ones to enjoy as well.
Aside from this concern, I'm really excited for the games! However should they be removed, I actually might not buy them.
@TeslaChippie me neither, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Sun and Moon is looking to be the best Pokemon games since HGSS. The game seems to have the right balance of accessibility and content and has introduced a lot of neat features. I'm especially excited for Alola Forms, I've wanted to see something like this for a while but never thought it would happen, and I like several of the Alola Forms revealed already.
Pokemon Sun and Rowlet for the win! I was a bit skeptical about the new Pokemon and features, but I've grown to love them so far. I dare say that Sun and Moon might be the best Pokemon games yet, and that's saying something.
Excitement can't even describe how I feel about Pokemon right now. I had a luckily short phase of falling out of it when OR/AS were released because there were just too many Pokemon games in such a short time span and I just felt burned out of the experience. But GO rekindled this spark I have for this franchise just at the right time. I'm actually that excited for Sun and Moon, I've already preordered the Sun & Moon-styled 3DS. The steelbox edition of both versions are also preordered and so is the Official Guide. I guess I'm set for November 23rd!
Very pumped about this game, it seems Pokemon is getting back on track! Most excited about the Alola forms. Gen 1 getting some love
Only slightly related, but no amiibo news for SuMo?
Not massively hyped on it - I thought XY was really bland and while ORAS improved on it, it still wasn't up to what I'd expect from a Pokemon game.
Will likely have very few people agree with me on this, but I think the series lost a lot of its charm when it ditched 2D sprites. Had to happen eventually, of course.
Hopefully it's a huge step up from XY/ORAS. I could be tempted to pick it up - especially considering my options for games aren't aplenty.
@sandman89 agreed! I really hope that the island trials and team skull are a much tougher challenge than what we got in X & Y. Or at least have two difficulty levels like FE. Casual could include the updated EXP Share and easier battles and Veteran could have the old EXP Share or none at all and tougher battles.
Gonna wait until I know if this comes to NX. If it does it will be my go to start game for the console. That is if I buy it since I am still on the fence with all these rumors... Not as angry as week ago, but still on the fence.
If it doesn't come to NX then definitely gonna go for the Sun since it seems to be the less bought
I'm surprised Moon is winning the poll, I thought Sun was going to be more popular. I'm gonna grab Moon because I prefer the Moon legendary.
@Moon I think (hope?) you'll find a lot of people do agree with you. X/Y were INCREDIBLY bland, despite the 3D paintjob. That's why I'm cautiously optimistic about these ones. I like what they've shown, but who's to say if the actual game is sufficiently rich enough to justify a purchase (although I do plan to buy it, unless Etrian V somehow gets announced for the fall).
@NCChris I'm 95% sure Mega Evolution will still be in the games. On the bottom of the Z-Ring is a circular hole where a Key Stone could fit.
Honestly, I'm more hyped for these games than Breath of the Wild! The only problem is, I can't decide what my team should be besides Popplio (unless the final evo leaks are real) and Alolan Exeggutor!
I have reservations about a few new ideas, like the island challenges seeming like generic fetch quests, but I'm still extremely excited. I like most of the new Pokemon and the Alola forms seem like a good way to shake things up even more. I don't think they'll ever top Heart Gold and Soul Silver, but this game should be plenty of hours of enjoyment.
I'm just waiting to see what post-game stuff it has...since the last couple of games have been "meh" with that so far.
I'm extremely hyped for Pokémon Sun and Moon, and I can't wait to get my hands on it!
I've hardly looked at any of the advance info - I was always going to get Pokémon Moon so don't want (m)any spoilers.
Sun version probably with Litten as my starter, I'll have to see all of evolutions to make my final choice.
Would like to see what these games have to offer in terms of post-game content though. The more recent games have been incredibly skinny when it comes to post-game.
Both games preordered. Collector's guide preordered. 3DS carrying case preordered. So ready.
Once we know the exclusives per version I'll make a decision on which I'll get.
Also not really hype, but I can be persuaded, yes. So far none of the new Pokemon interest me, they mostly just look really basic or cutesy, nothing really interesting yet.
And I don't like Alolan Forms. It just gives me Gen 6 vibes where we got very few new Pokemon but apparently countless Mega Evolutions were enough to compensate... Not really though.
I admit I'm a Poke'maniac. Every time I've sunk 100's of hours into a generation, I proclaim that I'm done .......And then a new one is announced, sucking me right back in. So yeah, I'm excited and will be picking up one of the versions day 1
My Raichu will have its tummy filled with pancakes, it will become a surfing champ, and, and.......MAYBE IT'LL LET ME RIDE ALONG WITH IT ON IT'S TAILBOARD!!!
.....Well, it would, I mean, I fed it pancakes, and it's based on a kangaroo rat, and I just so happen to be a kangaroo, so it's tailboard can support us both, because we're both eating swell pancakes!
Also, as a Raichu supporter, it mAkes me feel NOICE and SWELL that Raichu is getting love and attention this gen, YEAh!
Also, alolan Ducklett plz!
Sun and Moon seem absolutely perfect. Each generation has made me happy with all the new features but I've recently taken a stab into the competitive side and now I'm looking at the games from a different angle. So not only am I looking forward to the new generation as I normally would, now I'm looking forward to how the metagame is going to change up.
Its really great they're bringing forgotten, neverused pokemon into the spotlight - thats how Mega Evolutions should have been (but ended up just giving popular/powerful pokemon an extra boost they didn't need). Z-moves are looking like they might make primary evolutions viable in battles as well? I hope that's the case, which will bring way more variety into competitive rather than the same generic 50 we normally see.
The new Team Skull are bursting with personality, the new pokemon are all interesting in their own way (Mimikyu and Wishiwashi are my faves so far) and even the unused type combinations are being explored this time around. It really does feel like there will be something for everybody this time.
I've never been a fan of Raichu before -I'm not even very fond of Pikachu like the Mainstream is- but even I'm impressed with what we've got.
I just hope they go Alolan form Starmie with a Water/Ghost typing. I know it won't actually happen but I'm still hoping it will. And I'm kinda hoping for a humanoid water type that -like Raichu- will be based on surfer dudes. Y'know, the Scrafty and Gothitelle route. Outside of those wishes, I'm already more than satisfied so far. The games can't get here fast enough and Moon version will definitely be worth every penny.
While I want 1x1 with 6 pokemon each trainer and some rules (smogon alike) to the battlespot, which now is a wasteland of chaos, ubers, 1Hit-Ko, etc. And a hard mode to keep the single player fun to play, I can't wait for this game, a lot of new Pokemon looks good, very good (Morelul and Fomantis awesome), the idea of alolan forms is just amazing and refreshing and the tone of the rival gang, the trials everything is looking great!!!!
And
4 kids = 2 copies of each version (they decided which versions they wanted), both versions for me and my husband and also importing both versions from Japan along with the Sun and Moon XL and we're all getting Z-Rings and Crystals (except my husband)
Praise the moon! (The moon will come down in 3 days........)
Can't wait to do a blind nuzlocke run!
I'm more excited for Mario party star rush and the new amiibo tbh! Hope the preorders for them open very soon😊
@KickButt_Gaming I just read this while in a Chao Garden in SA2. Always have loved this game...though I haven't got much oit of the Pokemon Aime (however it's spelled) thing in Y and Omega Ruby. I mostly ignore it.
Neither game for me as of now. I find it weird that I'm not excited for Sun and Moon, though. I've enjoyed most of the GBA and DS games, and liked X quite a bit, even though I didn't like the Mega Evolutions. I just couldn't get into Alpha Sapphire, and now Sun and Moon doesn't even look very fun to me. Guess I'm just out of Pokemon...
Even though it doesn't look very fun to me, I can definitely see the appeal of this game, and I hope the expectations for the games don't disappoint! I love the idea of Hyper Training! A big step up from Super Training... hated the controls for that!
The removal of gyms and a different structure akin to the Orange Islands is something I've wanted for almost 15 years now. It's a huge appeal to me that we have an island challenge instead of the gym challenge slog. The Alolan forms are a close second.
I'll be getting it for sure, but don't really get excited about Pokemon. It's kind of like FIFA, each new version refines what came before, but it's kind of the same thing as before.
This game would have to be something truly amazing to make me want to buy it because although I enjoyed X and Y I wouldn't say that they were some of my favorite games. I tried Heartgold again recently and despite loving it the first time I just couldn't get back into it for some reason, probably because of the grind-heavy nature of the series. Still, this will almost certainly be an excellent game for fans of the series.
@Thegentleman You're not wrong.
Pokemon SuMo is much better than Pokemon S&M but hey!
@Phil_Kavadias I don't remember, my favorite was Platinum, because of that Frontier area. And then whatever game had the PWT. lol
@Pokefanmum82 wow, that's really cool. I hope to play Pokémon and other Nintendo games with my children some day. Do you guys ever battle each other or trade?
Not sure which version I want yet, I'm waiting to learn about what exclusives each has. Usually the cover legendary figures into the equation, but I'm very fond of both this time.
I so wish Lanala was in Sun. I want to buy Sun but I want Lunala.
Very excited to play Moon in November. These games are shaping up quite nicely.
Never been in to Pokemon before Pokemon GO, and now I'm looking at everything. Tempted to start at the gameboy original. Problem is that I just don't love playing on those little cramped portable game systems.
Anyway, I'm still somewhat irrationally excited about this release even though I'm likely to skip it unless there's some way to play on an NX. Pretty weird.
Already pre ordered my Pokemon Moon version
@Phil_Kavadias I can't remember that far back, lol
@MitchVogel out of curiosity, what is it you disliked? I liked Mega Evolution too, as well as things like Pokémon Amie, the new Pokémon, music, and some of the region's layout. I thought the online components a lot, how the Exp. All removed tedious grinding, and the Pokémon Bank.
I felt like the story was very poorly done though, especially after Black and White. The villainous grunts were really unexciting. The champion made little impact on the player, as well as your rivaling friends, most of the gym leaders, or AZ. There are other things I miss or wish was included, but they're mostly just nitpicks than actual problems (like the exclusion of any real haunted house).
I'm very excited for Sun/Moon. They have a very unique flavor and are bursting with personality. Can't wait.
Not sure which version I want to get. Might just get both. My only real problem with Sun/Moon is that I can't decide what to use on my team!
@Moon :/ THREE DAYS! (Irony....)
I'm hesitant to get excited over the seeming half or quarter-butted job that went into X and Y. Just felt like a very incomplete unfinished game.
@Phil_Kavadias Don't forget Platinum! Black and White 2 also had a sizable aftergame.
i still don't understand why anyone would get both...
@J-Manix98 I would eventually get both games back in the day for trading purposes. I really didn't know anyone else who played Pokemon. Now with online trading available, you don't really have to. Although if we got a pair of games that had some really distinct differences, I'd probably buy both
@J-Manix98
I can't speak for anyone's reasons but my own so, here goes:
I personally am not fond of online play in games, even when it's relegated solely to myself and my family (children and husband). Now, if I have something in the Pokemon games my kids can't seem to get on their own, I will do trading and the occasional battle (Battle Royal might end up with me using online more) but more often than not my kids just battle and trade between each other.
My husband has no desire really to trade unless we make it worth each other's while, so we don't do trades or battles (exception being if he finds something I haven't and vice versa and we have an extra).
Also, I'm a completionist when it comes to maintaining my gaming libraries. If I have an ongoing series, I make sure I have everything. Ace Attorney as an example: I have all the games, main and spin-off. However, since some games were not localized or are digital only, I import to keep my collection complete.
I have plenty of my college buddies that play Pokemon and online games, but I generally prefer playing my handheld games on my own.
Probably not a day one purchase, but I'm interested to see how they change the series. I recently played OmegaRuby, and I'm currently playing Pokémon Yellow, so I'll probably play some other series for a while with my limited time. But I'll likely pick it up someday. Pokémon games are fun because exploring and collecting things are fun, and to be honest, sticking to a formula as much as they do takes away from the sense of exploration. The fact that they're willing to make some changes to the formula makes me almost as excited as the fact that the Zelda series is finally willing to make some changes to the formula.
@Pokefanmum82 PokeFamily!
Also, can someone please fix the second poll? There's a mess of duplicate answers on the results.
My impression so far 20% from 100%.
I do like the graphic detail (trees, scenery, camera angle, cell-shading, etc). But, the gameplay itself still make me think twice, after i ever sold my Pokemon X 2 years ago due to lack of desire.
@aaronsullivan If you want to start with the originals, but don't like the cramped original hardware, Red, Blue, and Yellow are all on the 3DS eShop for a pretty decent price
@J-Manix98
Possibly :
1. Collector. They want both of them before too hard to find.
2. Fan. Die hard Pokemon fan will not miss all the collections.
3. Shared to other people. So, they can get either of Sun or Moon version.
I'm excited for the games but not as excited as I was for ORAS. There's lots of things I love about sun and moon so far yet at the same time I don't know what else to be excited for, if new megas were announced I'd be even more excited with anticipation on which one of my favorites would potentially get one, but with sun and moon the only anticipation I have would be other mon designs, and what other aloha formes we'll see. I'm excited for a fresh new take on the franchise and something else to spend lots of my time breeding/battling on, but I can't be excited for something gives me nothing to actually be hyped for, being hyped for new pokemon and formes is like being hyped for new skins in MOBAs or DLC, granted those do hype me but only if it's specific to something I really like (example: mega to a fav mon).
I want to be very excited for pokemon like lurantis and tapu koko but idk if i'll have much of a reason to play them, they could do something stupid that makes them worthless and unappreciated like move pools. (Zygarde didn't even get stealth rock, that was a huge factor in why he sucked, if lurantis doesn't get sword's dance or a similar setup move rip.)
@RoomB31
SuMo....LOL XD
@Pokefanmum82
Wow, Pokemon Fan Family.
Good to hear all family members have same interest and can play together. Meanwhile, i always play my games alone because nobody (my siblings, my Auntie and my Mom) have interest about Nintendo games. Sometimes, i feel envy to other family that can play the games together, have same interest. I miss people who want play together with me. Oops, sorry for complaining about my life...
@Danpal65 Thanks, it's tempting. Being honest, though, I'm not in love with the current cramped portable hardware.
Im very hyped to get this as my first pokemon game
@NCChris
I hadn't even thought about this till I read your post. All these reveals and no new mega evolutions shown 😳 Really hope the ones we've got stay for 7th gen. Maybe it'll be one Mega or one Z move per team for VGC?
@Pokefanmum82
The family that plays S&M together, stays together 😃👍
I'm not honestly sure.
I was guaranteed to get it, until Z-POWER and New forms. To much change, makes me uncomfortable.
Mega evolutions and super training was awesome, but the story telling in Pokemon X & Y was super weak.
Hopefully we can get a good story again like we did from Pokemon Gold/Sliver and White /Black.
Which new additions or features are you most excited about?
For me, the new story and region.
Never played a pokemon game in my life. Like, not even for a minute at a demo station or anything. Didn't even download Go.
So, no?
I'm super hyped! And I'm getting Sun, because my girlfriend's getting Moon.
@NCChris I'm waiting for Mega Raichu.
@gatorboi352 When you decided you want your life to be complete, give it a go
No rotom pokedex in new features?
SMH
We would be more excited if you stopped throwing spoilers in our face, Nintendolife. We can make our own decision if we want to click on the information.
Things I know that I didn't want to know, thanks to this site:
the Starters
a few new Pokemon
new forms of old Pokemon
So yeah, thanks again for the spoilers. >_>
@the101 yeah all the time. I got them started on X & Y. My eldest and I trade all the time. My eldest and his sister battle each other alot. Right now I'm breeding eggs for my kids so they have all the starters and I've made sure I got multiples of the legendaries so each of my kids has one. My 2nd youngest son, Sun is going to be his first Pokemon game and we plan on battling each other through Battle Royale. I'm sure we will help each other out with the new games whether it be helping my daughter with the challenges/gyms or making sure whatever version exclusives there are, everybody gets their pokedex filled.
@crimsontadpoles They're just trying to be hipster and go against what they think will be the most popular.
It's just a new, awesome Pokémon game, as always!
Lookin forward to this. Been wanting to play pokemon again, but its so hard to get back into the ones youve already beaten.
I've never played through a Pokémon game.
I admire the hype in this comment section though. Makes me want to play a Pokémon game just seeing how excited everyone is.
@JaxonH
You should take a dive and give it a go. If not one of the prior titles, you could give Sun or Moon a try and have a fresh perspective on the series.
@Yoshis95
I've noticed this as well. I had lost my copy of X and repurchased it so I could get the distributed legendaries and I started playing the game again but I didn't feel all too motivated the way I did when X and Y first came out. I didn't go about exploring the way I did, I caught pretty much a bare minimum of pokemon as I went through the story... I suppose it stems from knowing what's going to happen already.
@ShikabaneHime13
I have them both preordered, just a matter of playing them. I told myself I'd play through Sun/Moon this time. I got X/Y and OR/AS and never played any of them. Think I own all of the games on DS too, and Fire Red/Leaf Green on GBA and Yellow (3DS VC).
I'd heard the 3DS entries maybe weren't as good as past releases, but hopefully Sun/Moon bucks that trend. I'd prefer playing with better graphics and modern features, although, virtual save points would be nice too for the older entries.
@JaxonH
Ah! Understood. Well hopefully Sun and Moon are that final push to get you to actually play. My entire family and I are looking forward to the games. Even put in to take Thursday through Saturday off when they come out so we can go to Nintendo World for the launch party like we did for X/Y and Yokai Watch.
@ShikabaneHime13
Wow that's awesome. Nice that your whole family can go and enjoy it together.
Sounds like people get into the complex intricacies of Pokemon just as much as I do with Monster Hunter. Maybe it is a game I'd really like after all.
@ShikabaneHime13 I wish my wife was into the pokemon video games. She liked the card game better. She's trying out yellow Now. I'm hoping it hooks her then I can get the new ones for us.
It's Pokemon. Of course I'm excited!
Really looking forward to Sun and Moon. I'm hoping the post game content is going to be a lot better than X and Y and we'll have loads to explore after the main game.
I preordered my copy of Sun cos for the first time of 20 years it finally comes in Chinese! It's nearly like a dream come true. Of course it's fine to play Pokemon in English, but nothing compares playing in your first language, it's...just different.
@FX102A Fair enough, sometimes passions just burn out.
@crystaletter Dang it, I knew I forgot to do something today. Curse my impulsive eshop spending!
As a Pokemon fan, I haven't seen anything that's dissuaded me from making a purchase, but that said, I haven't seen anything that's made me really excited for the game either.
I just hope the process of acquiring Bottle Caps for Hyper Training isn't too convoluted. They could easily not provide any areas to easily level your Pokemon to 100 post game and place Bottle Caps as the most expensive Battle Facility prize and it would still be a pain in the donkey to get perfect IV Pokemon (nowhere as bad as breeding but still terrible).
The point of the game is for it to be fun, please don't fill it with mechanics that are intentionally not fun like IV breeding.
don't get me rong i am super excited for this game as i am for most pokemon games( expt misty dungeon#)
but i don't understand how we can clam to know so much bout it all i know bout it is thare be some new Pokemon a new regen and thats bout it
how is that knowing quite a lot unless i missing soming wich i do qwite a lot
Tap here to load 107 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...