As we all know by now, Pokémon Legends: Arceus has taken the well-trodden Pokéformula of the last 20 years and turned it on its head. For fans who've been playing the games for years, it's an exciting reinvention of the series — but what about people who are completely new to Pokémon? And what about people who really like the nitty-gritty of the Pokémon games — is it too simple for them?
Luckily for you, we have both on staff! Kate (Staff Writer) has played almost all of the Pokémon games (except for Black & White 2, Pokémon Let's Go, and the Diamond & Pearl remake) and Tom (Deputy Editor) has played... none of them.
We locked them both in a room to discuss their thoughts on Pokémon Legends, coming from totally different ends of the Pokéspectrum...
Kate: First question, Tom: How many Pokémons have you played?
Tom: I had played no real Pokémons. I seem to remember a couple of puzzley ones on 3DS that were free-to-play. That’s pretty much it! Well, now I’ve played one.
It really just takes all of the stale game mechanics and dumps them in the bin
Kate: Ah yes, like Pokémon Shuffle. But today we’re talking about Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Would you say it’s better than Pokémon Shuffle?
Tom: Yes, a definite upgrade! Better graphics too.
Kate: And that’s it, thanks for coming to this chat. JUST KIDDING, HAHA. So, for me, PLA is a bit of a revolution in the Pokémon series, because it really just takes all of the stale game mechanics and dumps them in the bin. They started over from scratch, and that makes it feel fresh and exciting. But as someone without that frame of reference, how does the game feel to you?
Tom: It’s been quite addictive, to be honest, and it’s one of those games that digs into your brain and bugs you at work, or when being an adult that can’t play games all of the time. It’s just there at the moment, which is a sign of how well put together the gameplay loop is. It has that lovely gift of every time you play you achieve something, even if it’s small, and I’ve been rather charmed in my opening 7-8 hours.
Is Pokémon Legends good for Pokébeginners?
Kate: A few of my non-Pokémon friends have asked me if they should get it, since social media is just a big ol’ Poké-fest right now. And I’ve told them… no. Because I’m worried that, for people coming from similar open-world-ish games (like Skyrim, Monster Hunter) it’ll be disappointing… because it seems a little emptier than those. But maybe I’m wrong? Maybe I’m being too harsh? How do you think it compares?
Tom: Well if I was looking at it as a critic, as in if I was reviewing it, then sure there are big bits of world where it’s just you and the Pokémon. So I can see that. But, I feel like that works in the context of the game’s design, and what you’re actually doing whether playing the story or just leveling up.
The core ‘catch ‘em all’ aspect is really tightly put together and compulsive
The quests etc are very basic, but the core ‘catch ‘em all’ aspect is really tightly put together and compulsive, to me anyway. If I see a new Pokémon I instantly want to scout it, try to catch one, then fill the Pokédex. Game Freak has a number of weaknesses, but they’re masters of scratching that specific itch, I think.
Kate: For the record, I’m really loving it, but I’m weirdly cautious about recommending it. The way I’ve been playing it is leisurely, with tons of grinding, for no real reason other than to tick them off in my Pokédex.
I love the way they’ve redesigned the “catch ‘em all” core mechanic: it’s not just about catching them, it’s about observing them, which works really well in the context of the game as a sort of old-timey safari. I’ve not done a lot of the plot as a result! How far are you?
Tom: Yeah, couldn’t agree more on that! I’ve been playing pretty slowly too, because I find time drifting by as I learn about the Pokémon. I read a review saying the core story was 20-odd hours, but after 9 hours I’ve only just started exploring the second biome. It’s a very relaxing game that way, time just melts away. That’s a sure sign that it’s succeeding in drawing me in, anyway.
Kate: I don’t know if this is something that everyone does, but I’ve found it’s the exact kind of low-stakes gameplay that makes it perfect for playing while I listen to an audiobook or watch a film. That’s not what I expected, but I really like it (and I’m just about to finish the second biome, for reference!)
Tom: I definitely like how relaxed and quiet it can be. My mum, who’s retired but plays a lot of Switch and in particular RPGs (she’s beaten some ‘proper’ games too, like Dragon Quest titles etc), is similarly really drawn into it. Thankfully, not knowing much of anything about Pokémon doesn’t seem to matter too much, as you can find your own way. That said, it could do with a little more information, as there have been some moments of bafflement.
Kate: Dragon Quest is actually a great comparison. My partner and I talk about how DQ11 is basically made for salarymen – people who work long shifts and want to switch their brain off when they come home. It’s a game that’s designed to be engaging and compelling, but it’s pretty much just a checkbox simulator!
PLA is similar, because you can pick it up for hours or minutes and put it down just as easily. But I agree, the tutorialising is… almost non-existent, which is surprising given how very hand-holdy it is in the first hour or two.
Tom: Yeah, it’s like they just decided to not bother with any tips after that opening! Which is fine-ish, but it starts introducing lots of items with just one sentence descriptions, and figuring out their real use often requires asking a veteran or looking it up online.
The salarymen point seems right for sure, and that’s maybe the one way it actually is a bit like Breath of the Wild; you can be immersed and try to save the world for 3 hours, or just do one quest / shrine / find a Korok seed and call it a day. It lets you set the tempo.
What about them graphics, though?
Kate: I think we should tackle the point a lot of people have been making: What do you think of the way the game looks?
I think it looks acceptable for a Switch game with open / large biomes. Could be better, but not awful
Tom: Oof, looking forward to a lot of people disagreeing with me! Maybe it’s because I play almost exclusively on the handheld, but I think it looks ok. Not good, but I don’t think I’d say it’s bad, either. I think it’s technically flawed but does have a cohesive art style that I actually quite like.
Now, I think those criticizing do have a point - The Pokémon Company is extremely wealthy, and by extension them and Nintendo can give Game Freak the resources to do far better technically. No argument with that, but as I’m playing it I’m not bothered by that, frankly, and I think it looks acceptable for a Switch game with open / large biomes. Could be better, but not awful.
Kate: I find myself wishing the art direction was a bit more exciting – they could have leaned into something more expressive of the time period – but like you say, it’s fine.
Also, I have theorised that Game Freak were given a very tight leash on this one, so they would have to prove themselves before being granted a bigger budget. I’m fine with that, because I think they did a great job with everything else… but I have high hopes for the next instalment!
Tom: Yeah, that seems very feasible. I do generally agree with the idea I’ve seen online that The Pokémon Company (and I guess Nintendo to a degree as publisher of the mainline games) enjoy their profits a little too much without re-investing enough back into tech, staff, teams etc.
I don’t know how big the Game Freak team is, but it does always seem to be battling to deliver large scope games, based on video and comments I saw around Sword / Shield animations too. In PLA, at least, they’ve really given the Pokémon a lot of life and character, they’re incredibly charming when running around and behaving in different ways.
Kate: I hope I don’t get beaten up for this, but: I think people are way too harsh on the Pokémon games when it comes to graphics! At the same time, like you said, we know they must have a lot of money. But maybe The Pokémon Company takes it all? I don’t know!
Tom: Yeah I’d need to research it, but at the end of the day it’s down to The Pokémon Company and partners like Nintendo to invest money and drive better technology if they want. Game Freak will have limits in how far it can go, perhaps.
But I also kind of agree on the graphics being treated harshly at times. It’s a SWITCH game. I remember even BoTW got ripped for graphics in its early days, textures of rocks etc. And I just think it’s boring. If a game’s world immerses you, realism and detail is secondary. If the game and art design do the job for me, I don’t worry about the rest too much.
Ahhh, look at all the lovely shinies
Kate: Eeeexactly. But I have another question for you: Have you got any shinies yet? I feel like everyone’s getting shinies and I haven’t got any.
Tom: I don’t know! Which means probably not? I have a pony thing in a blue Poke Ball, but that was a quest so it’s probably not what you’re talking about. So no, I think…
Kate: Yeah, that’s a scripted one! Shinies are just special colours, but PLA also has large/small Pokémon, too. I’m not 100% sure how to tell if they’re large or small unless they’re standing next to another one.
Tom: Haha, yeah, I haven’t figured that out either. I have one Pokémon (the thing that you get from rattling trees) that was a different colour to the others? Maybe that’s a shiny, maybe not. It’s one of those things the game doesn’t really explain, so I’m trying to make sense of it.
Kate: That’s a Burmy! He comes in like… five different colours, I think, depending on what he used to make his coat. I think he’s based on a real-life bagworm. I could look this up to confirm but I refuse to do research.
Tom: That’s the one. Then no, I have no shinies
Tutorial disappointments
Kate: To go back to your earlier point, this game isn’t particularly good at explaining things. A generous read on that would be that it’s set in the past, and you have to figure things out for yourself… A less generous read would be that they assumed Pokémon fans would know things by default. I won’t lie, figuring things out is fun, but only to a point…
Tom: I think to be fair to the game, at least so far, you don’t need to know everything or understand every detail, it’s challenging but you can find a way. And I haven’t minded figuring things out slowly, either. Like Super Effective and Ineffective moves, I gradually figured out which symbol was which, learnt how to swap the Pokémon tactically for those moves, and that was great. It gave a few basic tips and I learnt more by myself. I’d lean on the generous interpretation and say that it’s designed well enough for players to learn themselves.
Kate: I’m inclined to agree. It’s bloody difficult, though, and some of those secret tips are important to reducing that difficulty. I’ve seen people talking about the TTK, or “time to kill”, being really high – it takes fewer moves to get knocked out in than the mainline Pokémon games.
However, it’s also WAY easier to catch Pokémon, so I reckon they’ve just simplified the numbers to make it a faster-paced game. Have you experienced that?
Tom: Yeah, I’m surprised how fast the battles are, both ways. I’ve had my Pokémon rapidly defeat ones I’m trying to catch, and I’ve had some encounters where a couple of my team were knocked out in no time. I’m ok with that in the context of this game, and the gameplay loop it’s encouraging, but I can see that it was probably balanced differently in other ‘main’ games.
Kate: I really dislike the slowness of Pokémon battles in the other games, so it works great for me. Especially because I can run around, so I don’t feel as trapped. I’ve cut many battles short by just lobbing Poké Balls immediately!
But is Pokémon Legends: Arceus good for Pokémasters?
Tom: So, as a long-time Pokémon fan, what’s your main feeling with PLA? A step forward, sideways, back? I’m interested in that partly because I’m enjoying it so much that I’m still hesitant to ‘go back’ and try more of the series now that I’m becoming a ‘fan’.
Kate: I think this is an excellent, unexpected next step in the Pokémon series that’s been a long time coming. I want them to expand on this idea, and not just get stuck in a new rut for the next 20 years. I want to see more cities, in this 3D open-world style. I don’t think I’d recommend going back to the old series after this! What do you think, as someone who’s new?
Tom: Yeah, I feel like I’m becoming a ‘Legends’ fan, if that becomes a thing in terms of a series of games following this approach; I love your ideas of cities and different settings. I’ve watched streams and read a lot about previous games, including Sword and Shield, and feel like they wouldn’t grab me in the same way. I guess that makes me an awful Pokémon Casual that’ll never be invited into the cool Poke Clubs.
Kate: I think Sword & Shield is the closest game to PLA, because of the open Wild Area. It’s similar, but still has way more plot and it’s a lot more on rails. Also, you don’t get to ride a deer with a beard.
Tom: That’s a problematic shortcoming, I’d say.
Kate: So, to wrap up, the most important question: Which starter did you pick?
Tom: It had to be Rowlet. It’s an owl with a bowtie. The very definition of a no-brainer. How about you?
Kate: Rowlet. Because he is round and squishy.
Tom: Now we can judge anyone in the comments that didn’t pick Rowlet.
Let us know what you think: Is Pokémon Legends: Arceus designed for newbies? Long-time fans? Or is it good for everyone? Tell us in the comments below!
Comments 49
I think this game is good for almost any pokemon player, maybe not for players on the more online side of things, but for a first timer, and a returning pokemon player? its perfect!
I have friends who haven't touched a pokemon game in years buy PLA, and they were having a ton of fun with it, so it's definitely doing something right.
It's a very weird sort of Pokemon game. I feel as though it's too hard to classify as 'good for newbies' or 'good for pros' because it's just so radically different that it really does depend on whether you like either adventure games or RPG's rather than the source material alone (though that may or may not work as well, I don't know). I'm a big fan of either turn based or real time RPG's but not really pure 3D adventure games. However, PLA hooked me in with it's RPG elements whilst making me realize the most fun part of it was the explorative adventure style sections. It's because of it that I may genuinely buy something like Skyward Sword HD, it's that damn good.
So, in short, best first Zelda game I could've asked for.
I always go up and down with my thoughts on this game. I haven't gotten it for myself yet, but this is my thought process:
Woah, you get to move around during battles and stealth/dodge things as the trainer while capturing!
...Oh, those graphics are... bad...
Woah, those new designs look amazing, I wanna try catching them all!
...Oh, abilities and held items are gone, possibly taking away a lot of strategy...
I would wait until a sale... but that will never happen. I suppose I'll never find out until I bite the bullet
@PBandSmelly bite down on that bullet, I think it's the best Pokémon game there's ever been
The fact that this game is about observing them and making the first real Pokedex you think they would have pokemon snap level of animations. The pokemon don't do much, and they don't interact much with other pokemon. I have yet to see a reason this game looks good for me. It had so much potential but the more that came about the game the less excited I became.
@Fizza It's pretty good for newbies, not having any past conceptions can help. The fact that the Pokes are entirely rebalanced threw me off hard at first. Why does my Rowlet start with 52hp... wtf is going on? Besides, the game has lots of ways to go about its objectives, doesn't force you to do only a single thing, this is great for newcomers. It isn't the easiest game in the series for sure, but you can always catch some more Pokemon and then try again, you can really play in your own pace.
I love it so far but I hope legends stays as a spin off series, and the regular main line games continue the way they are. (Maybe learning a few lessons from the success and reception of legends).
@Fizza
Yessss join the dark side, play a Zelda game
Okay, all the fan reception is making me genuinely hyped to play this game. I’ll probably pick it up mid-February during a trip at GameStop for my annual patronage to the establishment.
@FroZtedFlakerZz I really like 2D Zelda like LttP and Awakening but haven't been able to get into the 3D ones like OoT. Maybe I'll take the plunge at some point thanks to Arceus. That's certainly a sentence I never thought I'd say.
@PBandSmelly I think held items and abilities would vastly complicate the game far too much. Would I like to be able to finally use an offensive Avalugg for once, what with it's new Strong Jaw? Yes absolutely, but I'm not tearing my hair out over it since it's somewhat balanced out by the reworked stats, massive movepools and huge variety of mons so you can constantly chop and change as you like.
I don't think they've improved enough of the "stale" mechanics. Improved movement options and an active role in throwing a Pokeball do not immediately remedy a list of issues the series still has.
The main series will take cues from Arceus, to be sure, but the series still needs a lot more work.
On top of all that, the game's primary focus on catching Pokemon, repeats of Pokemon for the sake of filling out the Pokedex, is such a tedious chore that if you're in the camp that finds filling out the dex to be dull as dishwater, this game is probably not for you.
I've been playing pokemon since RBY, only skipped the DS era, came back for XY, and skipped SwSh/Let's Go because they didn't appeal to me. I enjoyed some more than other.
I enjoy the grind, the collecting, the overused design. I dislike the dumbed down difficult, story and pokemon design of the later games.
I'm loving Legends Arceus a lot. It feels like it's not really a pokemon game but it has pokemon in it, like a spinoff but made with mainline care. I don't think it's an open world adventure like BotW, but it reproduces the same amazing feeling I felt when playing it. It's chill but it's challenging. It's full of possibilities, you feel helpless but you soon find exactly what you want to do and not progressing through the story right away is fine.
I can't wait to go back home
@Bobb You're a man of culture in more ways than one if you know what I mean.
@Fizza Oh yeah, take the plunge, the 2D games are great but after Twilight Princess I fell in love with the 3D games, Botw is probably my favorite game of all time. I need to play Arceus now too, I'm seeing such great stuff about it everywhere and it seems to be the kind of thing I'd enjoy.
ok, so how do you not have a shiny? you're running through the core game like a mad dog, lol
@Fizza I'm not sure what part of what I said prompted that but thank you very much. 😃
I hope you are enjoying this odd game as much as I am, my fellow man of culture
while the game is friendly at the beginning
the trainer battles around the end... those are not friendly
also, how do so many have no shinies yet? you basicly get 1 for free through a quest
@DragotheKomodo that one doesn’t count though 😜
@Bobb Moreso the PFP, sorry for not being specific!
Very fun article!
Personally, even as a huge fan of Gens 1-5, I really don't understand how anyone could even think about comparing any of the other games to PLA.
Imo, PLA is by very far the best Pokémon game ever, in terms of gameplay, quality of life, and story, it absolutely humiliates all other Pokémon games, it's just worlds better. Kazumasa Iwao is the God of GF!!!
I hope Gen 9 is PLA with lots of towns, voice acting and maybe better graphics. And that it doesn't come out this year, take your time Game Freak.
@Fizza thank you for hiding the spoiler.
@Radbot42 I think they do more than is initially apparent.. but you have to take time to notice it. Wild Machoke will run up to you and flex. Aipom will follow you around especially if you throw food at some other Pokémon. Teddiursa are generally not aggressive when they see you, but if there is an Ursaring near you, they notify it and that then comes charging at you. They will nap in various ways (Psyduck sleeping on it’s back is amusing). Mantyke/Mantine actually jump out of the water and fly for a bit and then go back underwater. I also found it cool that Decidueye (that is normally just standing on land battles) will be flying over water (instead of just getting a float like other land based Pokémon).
It’s not as intricate as Pokémon Snap but that’s to be expected. I’d imagine they’d elaborate on future titles.
20-30 hours in, handled a couple of outbreaks, but no shinies. Much to my own amazement, I found piplup in cobalt coastline, though, which feels just as good to me. Who doesn't love that adorable little penguin?
@Henhiro
I absolutely agree with you. This feels like the best pokemon game I've ever played.
@Browny If you think this game suffers from anything the main series does, you clearly haven't played it. Of course it isn't perfect, it has its own issues, but they are its own, nothing to do with the main series.
This game feels like the best Pokémon game in ages I’ve never had so much fun with a Pokémon game, and am finding it really hard to get back in to brilliant Dimond now 🤦♂️
Arceus is my second Pokemon game. Brilliant Diamond last Fall was my first. I like them both for different reasons. Brilliant Diamond absolutely addicted me and I no-lifed it for awhile and did quite a lot in the post-game. Arceus on the other hand I just enjoy liesurely playing and wandering around, even within sub-par graphics. It's just cute and relaxing. I don't know how many hours I'll play or even if I'll beat the main game, but I am quite enjoying it.
This game has enough challenge to keep old players hooked as well as ways to go around this challenge for newcomers.
I also think a lot of Gen IV fans will appreciate the limitless references and easter eggs so this game is for sure catered to everybody.
I wanted to throw out that money doesn't solve everything, talking about the graphics part of the article. I don't know if i'll be able to express my full thoughts into words. Here I go...
I believe it's more about time than money. Game freak could have waited a few more months or even a year after the Gen 4 remakes were released. This extra time could have been used to improve on PLA.
There is a time when you have too many people working on one project. Could it benefit from one or two more people? Probably could have, but I don't know since I don't know what was going on behind the scenes.
One other thing, I don't know if the switch could run something a bit more graphically demanding, but I definitely could be wrong.
Sorry for the essay.
I haven’t been this hooked on a Pokémon game since I got my copy of Blue at launch!
I can see such potential for this format going forward. Sure the Pokédex is a mite too grindy (but that is optional), but I can imagine an immense game arising from this new format. Imagine them patching in Monster Hunter-like multiplayer and supporting Raid battles. I think they made a good choice in setting this game in an era where people didn’t go out much from fear of Pokémon - it at least contextualises the emptiness of the land (and equally adds on that feeling of exploration).
I’m also a big buyer of the rebalancing that seems to have happened. My big gripe with Pokémon has been that each hame generally has a handful of Pokémon that you actually want to have in your party, with the rest acting as filler for the Pokédex. PLA feels (but haven’t fact checked) much more balanced across tje Pokémon. Battles feel more matched and it’s a case that you really need to bring items with you.
I wouldn’t be upset if this became the new series format going forward — let them just remaster all the old games for the next few years and give the ‘Legends’ format a run.
I think I can go back to Pokemon Black and White and other 2D games after this, but I probably can't go back to the 3D games. I really love this game.
Well I’m waiting for anniversary to come so I can get the game so I’m gonna be five months late to the party... yayyyy. :’)
@Bobb This is actually a great way to put it.
One thing I like about LA is the depth of the gameplay. Every choice has immediate (and sometimes un predictable) concequences, which gives you the sense of a challenge, while still being forgiving enough if you make a mistake.
Great article, thanks guys. I’ve never played a Pokémon game, but have considered getting this for my six year old daughter - is it ok for little kids (i.e. not too complicated)? And can you play co-op?
Arceus is my second Pokémon game ever. I played Blue in 1998 and enjoyed it, but never felt compelled to return to the series until now. And I’m loving it so far.
To me it feels like a proper 3D sequel to a classic game, as if after 24 years they finally got around to making Pokémon 2. It’s noticeably sparse in some areas, sure, but the original game had that same low budget vibe back in the 90s.
Just finished the game. This is definitely a game for vets, but it's less because of not knowing Pokemon mechanics and more because the game requires more skill than the average Pokemon game. Having to sneak up on Pokemon and dodge their attacks is much more difficult and requires a different skill set than what casual Pokemon fans may be used to. For vets that wanted something less casual though? This is a dream come true. It's not quite BotW (it's really more like Odyssey), but it's very fun and really brings that sense of freedom, exploration, and experimentation that Pokemon has been missing for years. One of the best Pokemon games I've played so far, hopefully it gets sequels that make it even better.
It’s actually really really great. The best Pokémon I’ve played since B2/W2 for sure. Brings back great memories of PokéPark of all games (I’ll defend that till I die) and the new structure works wonders. Graphics are pants but the rest is so great I’ll let it slide.
I love it so far! The visuals can be downright dreadful, but the way the formula has been reworked to suit a more safari-in-the-open-wilderness kind of feel is done in a really tight manner. For the first time I feel like I'm truly walking through a vast expanse filled with dangerous creatures and like I actually have some genuine interaction with the Pokémon. They all have personalities that exist on more than just a description o a Pokédex page. This even ties in how you might go about catching them. Aggressive ones need to be fought, skittish ones often require stealth and then there's the occasional derpy ones like Bidoof or Magikarp, which you can just stand next to and lob a ball at. Pokémon can also attack you instead of just your Pokémon. It really ties into the idea of Pokémon and humans not being used to each other yet. The bosses even require action-based gameplay. Unheard of!
The graphics don't really look abhorrent until you get Braviary. Then... Oof, it looks so so so so so so SO so bad from the air.
@Brydontk Yes, making a game world look amazing from a distance on hardware like Switch is pretty much an exercise in futility. Unreal 5 streamlines this with their virtual geometry tech, but in older hardware you either need farm of slave-wage workers creating assets that look perfect from any distance, or it just ain't happening. Frankly, not worth the time and money for most developers, unless the game is 100% focused on the flying experience of course. That said, it would be nice if they at least swapped the water material at a higher distance, the tiling effect looks quite bad. But oh well, very minor thing.
I know we all love this game for what it is. This hype and excitement will settle and it will then be easier to judge this game for what it really is. It's not the perfect pokemon game.
It's really fun and great new direction, something we should all be excited for.
But at the same time it's sort of shallow. After a while it sort of becomes very grindy. There is less reason to interact with other people because there is only one version of the game and you have items that removes any reason to trade. There is no PVP.
There is no breeding, there very litle to do in the game except for catching pokemon after you complete the story (Which is not very long), this game is all about the exploration.
What I hope to see in the future is a game that mixes this with the mainline pokemon games, more trainer battles, gyms, elite four, PVP, breading. Multiple Cities and towns, open areas in between that are free to explore like in PLA.
Sort of like a mix between Sword and Shield and PLA.
Because yes, they nailed the exploration and catching mechanics. But I feel they abandoned a lot of the things I like with the previous games. Things that didn't need to be scratched for PLA to still have what makes it so good.
You lost me here @KateGray -
Kate: Dragon Quest is actually a great comparison. My partner and I talk about how DQ11 is basically made for salarymen – people who work long shifts and want to switch their brain off when they come home. It’s a game that’s designed to be engaging and compelling, but it’s pretty much just a checkbox simulator!
One of the greatest JRPGs of recent times is just a checkbox simulator?! I'm not convinced you played it, there's a certain part somewhat early on that hits you hard emotionally like no checkbox simulator could. I fail to even see how it can be regarded as one too.
I found this article an interesting read, but I struggle to see why as the alleged pokefan of the article, you find yourself unable to recommend this game?
It's like you cannot allow yourself to truly get sucked into it and enjoy it. Like you almost want to dislike it rather than just loving it and that's a real shame.
It's ok to not like Pokemon anymore, it's also ok to like it and also ok to love it, but you seem completely torn like you don't know where your foot stands in regards to the series anymore, thus being the Pokemon side of the article, you shouldn't have been.
There was more then enough tutorial imo, sure there were certainly bits to discover that I didn't know right away, an I'm hoping for others too, but that is part of it's charm, part of it's design too I'm sure.
BOTW told you stuff in either a very quick go over, not at all, or a vague way deliberately, the discovery that game had is partly due to this, it forces you to learn and discover things by great game design instead. Very much like PLA is trying to do.
PLA I feel is better than anyone expected, what a lot of people hoped SW/SH would be and an absolute homerun of a game after the consensus that BD/SP got and SW/SH before it.
I honestly hope you continue to play it and fall in love with it like many of us clearly have going by the comments.
The graphics argument though, it really isn't that bad or even pants. It's got it's style and ran with it, sure pop in bits (especially the very early bits) and textures on clothes should have been fixed prior to launch (whether they will is anyone's guess) but this game is on Switch hardware, we can't expect miracles, plus who plays Pokemon for the graphics?
@DaniPooo
I feel it's probably being a test run for how they may well do generation 9, if it's well received and sells well I fully expect gen 9 to be the sequel to this with bits that were not in it, gyms, breeding etc.
@eleven you're reading a negative connotation into something I said in a positive way.
Not everyone enjoys games in the same way — I like to play through PLA in my own way, which sometimes involves gentle grinding through the Pokédex while I listen to an audiobook. I particularly enjoy doing that when I'm having a stressful time, which I am right now, because it allows me to completely turn my brain off. I am glad that a game can offer that to me.
It's like the difference between watching a thriller and a Disney musical: Both are worthwhile and made by talented artists, but one requires much more active thought, and the other is like a balm for your brain. That doesn't make it less worthy.
@Rosona Again, I wasn't being unkind to Dragon Quest 11. The fact that the games are designed for busy, stressed workers to unwind with is not necessarily a negative thing.
I have a busy, stressful life, and even though I work in games, I don't always have the mental energy for a game that asks me to invest a lot of thought and energy into it in order to enjoy it. A game, like PLA and DQ11, can be good and accessible to people like me with frazzled nerves — specifically when exploring the open world and doing side quests. Low stakes moments in a game are good for winding down from a difficult day at work.
And I do like PLA, quite a lot actually — I'm not sure where you got the idea that I didn't. I am just cautious about recommending it to friends who aren't already Pokémon fans, as I would be with any Pokémon game.
I understand that you disagree with me, but you've read quite a lot of feelings into my answers that just weren't there, and now you're writing angry comments to me for things I didn't say. Being a fan of a game does not mean being uncritical of it. Enjoying a game for its simplicity does not mean that the game is bad, or that it is not challenging in other ways. People play games differently, and that doesn't mean they are wrong.
@KateGray I would definitely recommend PLA to a non Pokémon fan though, more so than any other Pokémon game.
I think it’s a game that can appeal to a broader audience than any other Pokémon game.
However, maybe the fact that there is Pokémon creatures in the game will make some people dismiss it as a game purely for children. They might even label me as a man child. What do I care when a game is good, it’s good!
The well-established formula of the past 20 years honestly works better on the 2D games. This game is essentially the Ocarina of Time (or) BotW of Pokémon in reinventing the formula to perfectly fit contemporary 3D gameplay. In my opinion this is the way to go for the 3D games. 2D games can (and should) still exist though.
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