Topic: Pokemon Legends Arceus

@Pizzamorg I mean, I played Sword and Shield all the way through twice, and I could probably do it again with my eyes closed. That game is probably the worst in the series in terms of difficulty.

Also, I have played Melee action games. Monster Hunter and Dark Souls, and by no means is this game the same. However, there's still pattern memorization, and there's still plenty of challenge with these fights. Even if you don't get rewarded or disciplined for doing the fights the intended way or the easy way out, I feel like taking the easy way out always robs me of fun, so I don't generally enjoy using it, even if it costs you nothing to use.

Now for the checkpoint system, it was included because of children. That's why. This game is still a pokemon game, meaning it still has to be accessible for everyone, and Children would give up generally if something's too hard for them. That's why they included a (Completely optional, mind you) check point system.

Wait, what?
Could you resume? I always had to beat the nobles from the start if I died

Yeah the new battle system and the funky turn order is kind of bizarre, too. Everything does such absurd amounts of damage, with lots of funky stuff going on with turn orders and level calculations, it is basically a race to see who can get the first one shot off, then it is just you and the opponent trading one shots until one of you run out of Pokemon. You'll have like four Pokemon you just sort of feed to the battle that don't actually do anything. I am not surprised there are no online battles, as this system really needs a massive balance pass all round.

Come back to me in a year when the Honeymoon has worn off and tell me you still feel this way, because this is some hyperbolic nonsense.

Even trying from the start these boss battles only took me three tries tops.

So it’s not like a sacrifice for the sake of honor or something like that. I genuinely wanted to try from the start again.

In the context of gym battles, I suppose it would be the equivalent of soft resetting after a loss, instead of stalling with items to win.

@Pizzamorg I don't really think this is a "honeymoon period", given that I can still see the flaws within the game. Like the story for instance, where it feels as if they had good ideas in general, but just didn't execute it to the best of their ability, or how the pokemon still kinda just roam around aimlessly in the overworld, and don't generally do much to interact with their environments, or other pokemon for that matter. How the music is pretty great, but they lack in giving Pokemon trainers actual unique themes, aside for one character... or how the antagonist group really doesn't get much in terms of development or screen-time in the earlier stages of the game, while the actual villain, is only revealed in post-game, despite them writing him pretty well.

I'm not denying there's problems with the game, but I seriously don't think Nobles are abhorrent or awful, and I don't see how they ruin the game itself. I know there's a flaw with the checkpoint system, and it not being punishing enough, but you legit don't have to use it if you don't want to.

Edit: I also just don't see how me saying that Sword and Shield is pushover easy contributes to anything. It genuinely is. Legends is still easy, but in comparison I've had more challenges there than I had with anything pokemon related in years. There's legit 2 fights in the post-game that are harder than the champion fights, if you don't use alphas or legendary pokemon on your team to cheese the game.

Oh I'm not arguing they ruin the game, I am just arguing they are absolute garbage. And then whenever I say that a dozen people say, "Nah they are amazing because x completely untrue statement" and I go "Oh my God I am in the upside down again" loop forever.

I guess agree to disagree then? Seeing as some people will find it garbage, as others will end up liking it?

I haven’t really seen that happen here.

Like, at the most you have us saying “they weren’t that bad”.

@Pizzamorg I felt it was exhilarating having to constantly dodge a sheer barrage of attacks for once in a Pokemon game, where before it could get scary, but more on the tactical side of things, you know? Like having to figure out who to switch into, what move to use, that kind of stuff. Here, you have to not only take that into account but also your imminent death by the hand of Ragnaro- I mean Electrode, along with the rest of them as well. The first two aren't anything to write home about personally but once it got to Arcanine, I really started to love them.

The idea is certainly there. It is basically a toothless Monster Hunter and I LOVE Monster Hunter.

My issue with them is a: the checkpoint system removes all tension and it is only a self punishment to not use it. And if I say something is too easy - you should know it is way too damn easy.

B: Pokemon are always entirely optional and can be bypassed entirely to beat these bosses. I've read every single argument about the lore, the thematics, the narrative etc etc as to why this is fine etc etc but I just do not agree with that nonsense. This is a Pokemon game, there should be no way I can beat these without my Pokemon.

Whether you have the Pokemon out autobattling during the fight and you get the Noble down to a certain threshold and then need to beat it with a regular battle at the end, or you juggle control between you and your Pokemon during the fight or whatever form it may be, rolling around and throwing bags is what we get and I personally think that is absolute rubbish. If you like it, then I am so happy for you. You should totally check out my game of the year 2021 Monster Hunter Rise, as I think you'd love it.

@Pizzamorg I tried the demo for it so much but I just couldn't get into it which makes me incredibly sad. Maybe next time? Who knows.

Eh.. rise is alright, but they numbed the difficulty and got rid of the survival aspects like hot and cold drinks, or having to track monsters.

@Pizzamorg With all due respect, why do you eventually do stuff like calling other arguments "nonsense"? You end up looking pretentious and condescending. Also, maybe you aren't understanding other people's point of view, but they do make sense to most people on the thread. Maybe your arguments aren't as good as you think and yet people respect them and don't reply in the same insulting way that you do. This is something that I saw when you were discussing on other threads too, hence why I'm telling it to you now as it's happening again from my perspective. Anyway, I I won't derail the discussion any further.

To everyone:
I decided to wait before I get the game. I saw some longplay videos and while I'm certain that I'll enjoy it, it didn't convince me to get it right away. There's still many lacking aspects on the game, but it does look like it has a really adictive loop and I really enjoyed the music. I know that watching it being played isn't the same as experiencing it myself, but I think that it at least allowed me to see it's shortcomings and strengths. I'll definitely buy it eventually as I think it's a step in the right direction and it's changes are more significant that many people think.

Yeah all the crap stuff that just put the barriers in the way of the fun lol It is nice to see a game streamline in the right direction for once. The PC version seems harder than the Switch version too for some reason, so maybe give it a go.

In terms of Legends, I am going through the first phase of the endgame. I do wish they'd do more introduction to each of the Pokemon. Like a cutscene or something, not just a sentence of dialogue, then a super quick battle and you're done. However, this is more of what I want from a Pokemon game personally. You have a very clear goal, with no grind to break up each step of that goal, you just go and do it. I still don't really understand why it feels like you go through almost like twenty hours of straight filler and then it really feels like the game starts, but I guess anyone who is bouncing off of this, do try and push through those 20 or so opening hours (which I know is a pretty insane thing to ask) because you might enjoy what the game turns into.

Also @roy130390 if you find me insulting, just put me on your ignore list. You don't need to try and do some karma farm speech first.

Eh, I think the nobles are pretty cool conceptually, even if they are technically pretty easy. Their value is more in the gameplay variety and spectacle more than anything - the real challenge of this game comes from exploration, resource management, and completing the Pokedex. I don't agree that the ability to not use your Pokemon is a downside because...why wouldn't you use your Pokemon?

I'm about halfway through the game now and thought I'd do some backtracking...which is getting pretty tiresome. Anyone else wish that, as you levelled up, lower level Pokemon would stop being aggressive? It's quite annoying that, with level 40 Pokemon a 6-star rating, I'm still having to sneak up on and/or battle level 10 mons.

One of the post game/post first final boss legends is actually my favourite boss fight. It's the one with
Cresselia where they make the controls go backwards, it's not the most epic event ever but it did raise a smile on me when playing it.

Eh, the story is filler mostly, which I disliked, but it had what I was looking for in terms of gameplay and content, so I don’t mind the lack of a huge story.

@Pizzamorg Eh, to me they kinda took a part of the fun out of the game. They took the survivalist aspect away, and stripped it down to an arcade version of monster hunter. Still a good game, but I wish they’d go back to the more challenging stuff like harder hitting monsters, hot and cold drinks, and having to track the monsters instead of instantly going over towards them.

@VoidofLight I get wanting to make the game more welcoming, but what was wrong with hot and cold drinks? idk why they got rid of them, they were easy to make, and you could actually buy some of the items you needed,

and tracking the monsters was a odd thing to remove.

I have to agree on the story, for a pokemon game, its amazing, and for the most part, (Haven't beaten the game yet) it was very, bland in a way, it was only later that it started to ramp up.

I think all my feelings about the game just boil down to, its good, but far from perfect, but its the step forward in the series I asked for, the story could be better (But its pokemon LOL), and the bosses aren't the best thing ever, but to me, its core gameplay loop, is good enough, to the point all that other stuff doesn't really bother me.

The game did what it set out the do, and it did it well, this is something new from pokemon, so it might take a wile to get it just right, But i'm all for it.