We weren't quite sure what to expect from today's Pokémon Direct, but we were certainly treated to a very generous dollop of new information. As part of the presentation, we were given our first look at Pokémon Sword and Shield's new Professor, Champion, Rival, Professor's Assistant and a Gym Leader, and even more besides.
Let's kick things off with the new Professor and her assistant, shall we? Introducing Professor Magnolia, professor of the Galar Region and a specialist in the Dynamax phenomenon (a new battle style for the new games), and her assistant Sonia, who just so happens to be Professor Magnolia's granddaughter.
Next up, the Galar Region Champion, Leon. The best trainer in the entire region, and no doubt the trainer you'll be facing right at the end of your adventure, Leon is a popular figure who has is very own crowd of admirers. It's all right for some, huh?
Your Rival, Hop, just so happens to be Leon's younger brother. Hop dreams of one day becoming the Champion, just like Leon, and his journey across Galar begins on the same day as yours.
Finally, let's take a look at one of the new Gym Leaders. Milo is a Grass-type expert, and will stand as one of the eight leaders you must defeat on your path to the Pokémon League.
We'll leave you with a few images of other non-playable characters we spotted through the Pokémon Direct.
Are you excited to meet all of these brand new characters in Pokémon Sword and Shield? You'll be able to get your hands on both games this November.
Comments 42
That is one goofy outfit. The champion and gym leader look like they are ready for soccer.
With the way they're showing off the champion already, it makes me wonder if we'll get a plot twist where the champion is defeated by someone else when we reach him, like his brother Hop.
I get plot twist vibes from Champion Leon, like it turns out he's going to be the antagonist.
This game right now has revealed nothing about an antagonist or villain team, but I actually like how little they've revealed for a change, I actually have surprised to look forward to.
And I hope that stays true up to the release, previous marketing for the 3DS games they were revealing EVERYTHING before the launch.
@Kalmaro It's based in the UK though and soccer is by far the most popular sport there and in Europe in general. Makes sense.
@Citano I was thinking that too, perhaps we'll get a soccer ball Pokémon?
I was hoping for a new twist rather than just 8 gym leaders again, but ah well. Wonder who team evil will be this time.
@Citano Yeah. Not a day went by where I didn't see Theresa May walking around in a football jersey and a baseball cap. Makes total sense
Whoever calls their child Hop deserves to be given federal punishment
Seeing Leon’s design made me feel uncomfortable. I like Hop’s design, though.
@ShadJV With the whole giant pokemon/Dynamax gimmick they're marketing, I'm gonna guess the evil organization will be Team Kaiju.
@Kalmaro I think Galaran Voltorb makes sense as our soccer ball?
We could go on for a long time how leaders' design look goofy, legendaries' design looks like digimon rejects and how the rival is your bff, but then again, this thing has been going on since what? Gen 4? 5?
I have to be honest with myself, I keep buying these games for gameplay alone
@Indielink Yes, I'm ready for this to happen!
I think the dynamax is a nice touch for competitive play, the fact that it is only three turns forces you to make it count. On top of mega evolutions and z-moves it might be a little much though, although the z-moves will probably stay at Alola.
The raid thing is also a nice addition, I mean it can’t hurt.
Why does Milo look like a toddler’s face on a bodybuilder?
Can’t wait to play me some of that cell-shaded sweetness!
@TJWorks idk, when has the evil team ever been that strongly tied to the gimmick? SM was a conservation group (not the first thing you think of with interdimensional aliens), XY was Flare (unrelated to mega evo), BW was Plasma (you can try to make some sort of link between them and dream worlds but that’d be a stretch), DP was Galactic (unrelated to the special/physical split), RS was Magma and Aqua (unrelated to contests), and GS was Rocket 2.0 (unrelated to breeding). I think it’s a jump to assume this game’s evil will necessarily be connected to dynamax (their leader(s) will probably use it but that doesn’t mean much, all big trainers in this region will).
Milo has no nose and a cherub face with an athletic adult build.
Leon is wearing a cape over sports attire.
Hop is named Hop.
Sonia looks like she'd rather be in the mall than in a lab.
Magnolia is keeping up the 'old person using a cane for support' that Pokemon does to emphasize a character's old age.
I'm a little surprised that no one's complaining about another rival that isn't a jerk, but Hop at least has a clear and understandable motive (which is more than can really be said about the friends from X/Y). They did introduce him as one of our rivals, though, and not the only one...
@Kalmaro It can be a normal type, they'll just call it, "orb."
Pokémon never changes. What a waste of opportunity. BoTW had the same one and used it fully, this is just another generic Pokémon game...
Well, after we got sexy semi shirtless Prof. Kukui now we got a Grandma professor. 🤣
@BlackenedHalo
If Pokemon changed drastically, it will be called Pokemon the Legendary Sword and Shield : Breath of the Galarian. 😜
@BlackenedHalo It has quite a few changes. It's not like the series needs a massive overhaul like Zelda did after SS. I think this is just enough to make it fresh and act as a definitive experience depending on what else it has. That's all anyone should want at this point, a definitive home console Pokemon entry.
Is Magnolia the first female pokemon professor?
Hop's looking hip!
@Ryu_Niiyama There is a female professor in Black and White (and their sequels).
@Ryu_Niiyama
Nope.
Remember Pokemon Black and White 1 + 2 ?
Professor Juniper.
Did anyone else notice the music playing in the background when they were showing off the Wild Area? Very much like the theme from Breath of the Wild! Please take a look!
@Anti-Matter @Ryu_Niiyama juniper was the first in the games, but the first over all was ivy.
I wonder if Hop will have a deeper character ark. In the sense of being pressured to be as good as his older brother (which is a big deal to be a champion).
And I like the grass gym leader.... Looks like a rugby esk player.
-Hipster beard (that doesn't even match his hair)
-Booty shorts
-Are those air Jordans?
I am ready to nominate this dude for worst champion design to date.
Questionable designs... I can only hope they have done a better job designing pokemon
@Starcakes I hear you. It has to be. Its like they put 10 different characters together and it doesnt work.
Showing off the champion, eh? I smell a plot twist. Or is the twist the fact that there is no twist?
When they first showed the Champ, I thought he was the prince son of the king or queen of Gallar.
I wonder if Gallar will have royalty, I mean we all seem to think it is based on the UK after all.
Wow... they are talking about the champion already?
I wanted to make this a spoiler-free wait, but hopefully it means there are more surprises coming.
Pokemon Meh and Bleh. I can't with this series.
@invictus4000 Why not?
Sonia is such an cutie!
@Shadowmoon522 She's pretty cute.
The Gym Leader has a face of a baby, but a body of a warrior.
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