@Grumblevolcano
I think what happened is, they put the other versions on sale, and accidentally included the Switch version by mistake.
Cause otherwise, ya. Like you say, it's rare to see pre-orders go on discount.
It's a good deal. I really hope Switch gamers support it. Sometimes it seems like, the better the graphics, the less the fanbase is interested for some reason.
Psalms 22:16 (1,000 yrs before Christ)
They pierced My hands and feet
Isaiah 53:5 (700 yrs before Christ)
He was pierced for our transgressions
I still think my #1 criticism of SwSh is that one of my favorite tenants of Pokemon (Exploration) is totally missing. It was already reduced in XY, and again in SuMo), but in SwSh (at least the base game), there's literally no sense of discovery outside of the Wild Area. And that only lasts for... maybe 10 minutes to see the whole thing? Otherwise, the game is basically a line with nowhere to turn off it. No optional areas, no getting lost (even the woods halfway through are literally a straight line, Viridian Forest style).
This is my #1 problem with the most recent games: the lack of exploration. Gen 5 was arguably the start of this (the region and progression through it was very linear, however there were loads of optional areas to explore), but Gens 6 and onwards is where it got worse. Gens 7 and 8 in particular have massively stripped down routes, coinciding with the introducing of a dynamic camera (as opposed to a top-down view). These games are the ones they really railroad you through a set path both in terms of region and narrative design. However I'm willing to forgive Sword/Shield for this more because I generally prefer its setting, Pokemon, and the wild area. Plus the DLC was a step in the right direction when it comes to exploration.
I dunno how I feel about the whole open world thing, I love open world games but I dunno whether Pokemon would actually be better for it. One of the things I liked about S/S was how focused it was, I think the art of a curated, linear, journey has been sort of lost in modern gaming. I think a part of why S/S felt so well tuned to me was because it was such a controlled experience that didn’t allow players the ability to go too far off script and potentially break the flow. I do agree at points the game felt overly handholdy and rushed, but to me a more open, exploration focused version of S/S isn’t just an automatic win. I could see just as much of a chance of that ruining the game’s momentum and pacing, if done poorly.
That is why I am quite intrigued by the apparent hub focus of Legends, if true and done well, it might strike a good middle ground. Possibly giving the players the opportunity for exploration, but still keeping them on somewhat of a leash, so the devs can still have some degree of control over the proceedings to allow the game to retain a form, structure and clear pace/momentum.
@Buizel Yeah, I literally can't bring myself to try the DLC. I keep hearing from everyone that it helps redeem the base game but I just have no desire to open that game again.
@Pizzamorg I'll be honest, the way you describe it doesn't sound that bad. I personally hated S/S' pacing though so... That def didn't help lol.
As a sidenote, I'm actually really enjoying BDSP. While it still pisses me off the sheer number of things that should have been fixed that weren't (honey trees come to mind, as well as the lack of platinum updates), the Grand Underground mixes what I liked about the OG one with some of what was good about the Wild Area, and let's me explore it at my own pace. Capsules being on the main menu makes me update them way more, I missed them. And Sinnoh does have a really fun map. This is probably the most fun I've had with a Pokemon game since... ORAS probably.
EDIT: Okay this is petty but I have to mention it. Just got to the berry master's house, and the lady who used to sell you fertilizer sells berries now. Fine, fertilizer was an annoying mechanic, I don't mind it's removal. But she still has the same dialogue, so she talks about how she makes the berries she's selling by mixing high quality dirt with manure... honestly made me laugh. Can't believe no one noticed that.
NA never got the Brilliant Diamond + Shining Pearl steelbook exclusive to UK. I had to order on eBay for $50 because I'm a diehard Switch steelbook collector.
Pokemon Legends Arceus also has one, but Amazon UK won't ship to US.
Thankfully, FNAC out of France sells the steelbook separately (for €40) but offers it free with the game for €49.99. And they ship to the US. I figure if I'm gonna pay $50-60 for it, may as well get an EU copy of the game to sell on eBay and recoup some costs. Even selling at $45 and pocketing $35, that puts net cost below buying it directly.
If anyone is interested, here's the link. Use Chrome to translate to English.
I'd always been curious about the Plants vs. Zombies shooter spinoff titles. Finding the newest one at 14 dollars at Gamestop is as good a time as any I guess.
That game came out on Switch this year, so that's a pretty great deal.
Talking about the whole difficulty/lack thereof in S/S, it is kinda weird that I believe Leon has a level 66 Pokemon as his strongest Pokemon, so you grind it out for that goal in mind. But so far all of these end game fights have been between 61 and 63, so I have gone in overlevelled but not through choice, but just by playing the game as instructed.
So I went looking for a Switch OLED to get myself something for Christmas, not only is it really cheap because of the Euro conversion, but look at them all! The Rise special editions, the Animal Crossing special editions plus a bunch of other stuff outside the frame. I guess this is because we are on a small island? Back in the UK the scalpers would have hoovered them all up.
As far as I know, there weren't too many problems with the OLED Switches here, @Pizzamorg .... They're certainly available in stores in my City & online
Have you brought 1 yet, then? Where are you at the moment, if you don't mind telling us?
As far as I know, there weren't too many problems with the OLED Switches here, @Pizzamorg .... They're certainly available in stores in my City & online
Have you brought 1 yet, then? Where are you at the moment, if you don't mind telling us?
Not sure about shops, but I looked around online and they were out of stock everywhere I could see (in the UK I mean). You in the UK as well? What physical shops are selling them?
Yeah, picked one up. Worked out to about 285 quid I think with conversation, so cheaper than buying from the UK direct which I think is about 310 quid? I am in Lanzarote, my family live out here.
Well, Game has them in it's online store, at least, @Pizzamorg .... Had a few OLED boxes on the shelf a couple of weeks ago when I was in my local store last & hadn't heard about shortages of it particularly
My parents went on holiday there once but that's about all I know of the place, lol. If it's cheaper to get it there, anyway, that sounds like a great idea
@Pizzamorg
Be sure to put a tempered glass screen protector on. It's glass but it has plastic anti shatter film that can scratch, and fingerprints and dust don't easily wipe off, but oleophobic coating of tempered glass makes it smooth as an ice rink.
Psalms 22:16 (1,000 yrs before Christ)
They pierced My hands and feet
Isaiah 53:5 (700 yrs before Christ)
He was pierced for our transgressions
@Pizzamorg
Be sure to put a tempered glass screen protector on. It's glass but it has plastic anti shatter film that can scratch, and fingerprints and dust don't easily wipe off, but oleophobic coating of tempered glass makes it smooth as an ice rink.
Okay good to know! I hate trying to get those screen protectors on, but if it is necessary for the OLED I guess I will try.
Though personally I did it by hand because dust could fall along the crevice of the alignment frame.
Tools Needed
Scotch tape
Hot Shower steamed bathroom
Switch with joycon removed
Tempered glass
Optional
Can of compressed air
STEPS 1 Thoroughly clean screen with no streaks or dust. 2 Take into bathroom with hot shower running until mirror is fogged 3 Wash hair at minimum to prevent dandruff 4 Remove shirt 5 Take scotch tape and dab screen all over to remove dust. Check from different angles in the light 6 Take scotch tape and dab tempered glass on both sides before removing the protective film. This removes as much dust as possible from falling onto screen during application. 7 Once screen is 100% clean without a single piece of dust, and you're sure of it, quickly peel protective layer, with sticky side facing down, throw plastic on the floor (no time for being tidy at this juncture, you can clean up later, every second counts because dust is in the air), and apply immediately 8 Run finger along the middle of tempered glass lengthwise, forcing air to top and bottom. Let gravity do the rest. 9 Once air has worked out, press as needed along edges and corners to work out any remaining air.
IF YOU NOTICE A PIECE OF DUST UNDERNEATH AFTER GLASS IS APPLIED, HERE'S WHAT TO DO 1 Get scotch tape pieces ready and hanging off edge of counter 2 Carefully peel up glass from the corner, making sure you don't fracture it or touch the sticky side beneath. 3 Use tape to dab screen dust, and then dab the sticky underside of the glass all over. You never know where new dust may have stuck when removing. 4 Once you're sure screen has no dust, not a single piece, and you've dabbed entire sticky side of glass with tape, re-apply
I Once repeated those steps 4 times with the same glass and eventually got it perfect. Sometimes you mess it up and have to use another, but this method buys you multiple attempts per glass, on average. With 4 included, you should have no problem getting it perfect before running out.
Psalms 22:16 (1,000 yrs before Christ)
They pierced My hands and feet
Isaiah 53:5 (700 yrs before Christ)
He was pierced for our transgressions
Though personally I did it by hand because dust could fall along the crevice of the alignment frame.
Tools Needed
Scotch tape
Hot Shower steamed bathroom
Switch with joycon removed
Tempered glass
Optional
Can of compressed air
STEPS 1 Thoroughly clean screen with no streaks or dust. 2 Take into bathroom with hot shower running until mirror is fogged 3 Wash hair at minimum to prevent dandruff 4 Remove shirt 5 Take scotch tape and dab screen all over to remove dust. Check from different angles in the light 6 Take scotch tape and dab tempered glass on both sides before removing the protective film. This removes as much dust as possible from falling onto screen during application. 7 Once screen is 100% clean without a single piece of dust, and you're sure of it, quickly peel protective layer, with sticky side facing down, throw plastic on the floor (no time for being tidy at this juncture, you can clean up later, every second counts because dust is in the air), and apply immediately 8 Run finger along the middle of tempered glass lengthwise, forcing air to top and bottom. Let gravity do the rest. 9 Once air has worked out, press as needed along edges and corners to work out any remaining air.
IF YOU NOTICE A PIECE OF DUST UNDERNEATH AFTER GLASS IS APPLIED, HERE'S WHAT TO DO 1 Get scotch tape pieces ready and hanging off edge of counter 2 Carefully peel up glass from the corner, making sure you don't fracture it or touch the sticky side beneath. 3 Use tape to dab screen dust, and then dab the sticky underside of the glass all over. You never know where new dust may have stuck when removing. 4 Once you're sure screen has no dust, not a single piece, and you've dabbed entire sticky side of glass with tape, re-apply
I Once repeated those steps 4 times with the same glass and eventually got it perfect. Sometimes you mess it up and have to use another, but this method buys you multiple attempts per glass, on average. With 4 included, you should have no problem getting it perfect before running out.
This sounds very daunting, but thank you for the guide! I might not attempt this on Christmas Day as I can see myself getting extremely frustrated, but I’ll sit down a couple of days after to give this a bash.
In terms of the gaming front, I finished the S/S postgame content and the first DLC and I am not sure whether it is just burn out or what (50 hours or so in like just over a week on one game is pretty wild for me, but I am on Holiday with not a lot to do so there we are) but I definitely felt less good about these two things than I did the main game.
Firstly, talking about the postgame S/S, I don’t really understand why this wasn’t just a part of the main campaign? The credits roll after like forty or so hours and then the game tells you it is the end. When you wake up in your bedroom, there is no initial indication there is any more content, so I wonder how many people just turned off the game at this point and then missed on whatI would say is kind of essential content really, given how much of the main game is about the two Legendaries.
I also don’t sorta get the whole thing, if I am being honest. While incredibly goofy characters, I at least understood the motivations of the villains in the post game, I actually couldn’t really tell you what the villain’s motivations were or the mechanics of any of the events or the internal logic ticking away in the core game. I think this narrative could have easily been the main narrative of the title, the muddled environmental message of the main title was simply not needed.
The main problem with the post game for me really though, was just how easy it was, I am not sure why the levels of the bosses/trainers were lower than Leon but it just meant I was overleveled for all of this, steamrolled right the way through it and it felt like it was over in about five minutes. I did manage to capture my Legendary without using the Master Ball and without save scumming, so I was pretty happy with that.
You do also get the battle tower I guess for people who just want to mindlessly battle forever? Or maybe play competitively? But there is nothing really for me here, so I cleared a few levels and left behind this mode entirely.
Then the first DLC is sort of not bad necessarily but does just sort of feel like the barest minimum effort DLC they could have produced. It is basically one big new wild area, but not really new at all, as it is actually a more limited version than the one in the core game I believe. It does have slightly better technical performance, but that is about it. And by that I mean the pop in is still absolutely atrocious, but I didn’t find the game grinding to like 5 fps when online, like you do in the wild area in the core game.
You get a range of new Pokemon (or returning Pokemon) to capture, too but I dunno. There are some terrific designs, which drives that “got to catch them all” core loop, but after going through the entire game and building a core team, I just didn’t have much use for any new Pokemon. The actually unique Pokemon are guaranteed as part of the story, the stuff you catch in the wild was usually worse than what I already had. Plus given the levels in the DLC are lower than the end of the main story campaign in the core campaign and because of new things like friendship levels, most of the time I was just gimping myself by swapping a Pokemon out.
So yeah, if you are looking for any real substance, there isn’t really any here. If you just want more of the same, then it does kinda deliver it, but not really a lot of it and not really a lot of reason comes with it to justify it either. There is about maybe an hour of story content? This is padded out to pretty ludicrous degrees by giving you this Pokemon that you get at like 5 or 10 I think and need to get to level 70 to progress the DLC? Forcing you to go and do Raids for however long it takes to get the Pokemon to the right level. Just not a fun pacing mechanism at all.
The other thing is I couldn’t help but feel while playing this that I was just playing with bits of content either cut from the core game or wasn’t finished in time to be included with the main game and so they just sold it to me separately. Like why on Earth couldn’t Pokemon follow us in the core game? And you face gym leaders in the core game with Gigantimaxed Pokemon, but you can’t do it yourself unless you buy the DLC??? Plus like I say, there are no like new types of Pokemon introduced or like brand new biomes or whatever. You could easily stick this into the core game and it wouldn’t feel like a new experience, just part of the wider one. And I kind of have to assume that is exactly what it was, once.
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