Very underrated. It obviously has the expected problems that come with most gacha mobile games, but you know what you're getting into before you're downloading it.

But behind that veneer of a gacha is some neat stuff. Firstly, the models for everything are fantastic! I love this anime-style CG, and wish it would get used in more games, because it's just very appealing on the eyes. Given that the characters are the heart of this game, having them stylishly designed is key. The characters also have fun interactions, and although voice lines can be limited at times, I'm honestly surprised they went the extra mile to record any lines at all for a mobile game.

The game mechanics are quite fun too. They're not the traditional Pokémon mechanics, instead simplified and distilled down. But I was frankly okay with that. I didn't go to this game expecting a traditional Pokémon experience, and the fact that they decided to retain any of the turn-based mechanics at all is just a pleasant addition.

Where this game falters is the length and the eventual grind. Leading into the far end of mid game and into late game, the pace of your progress slows down significantly. Leveling up your trainers is an extremely long process, and battles can be way too difficult, leaving you stuck. This may have been improved upon from the time I stopped playing, but it was this grind that made me stop playing when I was otherwise having a good time.

But of mobile games, this was a lovely time. If you light fun, light-hearted, cute Pokémon aesthetics, especially from all your favorite trainers throughout all the games, this is a lovely little diversion.

This game actually has a very fun battle system that changes Pokemon battles from the traditional turn based system to that of a timed-energy system, and all battles are 3v3 with designated Strike, Support, or Tech class Pokemon.

Unfortuantely all of those positives are ruined by mobile game mechanics. Endless upgrades, repetitious events that require you to play the same battle a hundred times, and way too many characters to actually have any sort of balance. At least half the roster is literally unusable and has no scenario in which they would be worth picking over another character. There are options for increasing the power of moves like repeated pulls and more, but that is really only useful for Strike characters. Increasing power is basically useless for Tech and Support classes because their value doesn't come from raw strength.

I've got pretty much every character to their max level so I just play the hardest battles which are either too easy or too hard, there is no in between.

I'm pretty bored of playing the game at this point and have mostly stopped. I occasionally play it for a week or so when they have an event going on. But it's really come down to just a collecting-fest. Barely any substance anymore.

This game is honestly very good. It's very welcomed to see more of the human cast of the Pokemon games show more personalities, you get to see the protags display personality too and you get interesting interactions (although it does rely a bit on CYOS when it comes to some characters teaming up).

The music is phenomenal, with remixes of so many battle themes and some attention to details like Wallace and elite 4 members getting their own spins at their regular battle theme.
And the voice acting is amazing as well. It shares a lot of its cast with the Fire Emblem games, and they're just as competent as they are there. Well, except for Galar because they caved in to the meme of "but Galar characters should be bri'ish" (Allister and Bede sound great, though).

Unfortunately, gacha be gacha...

The fact that this is probably one of the best uses of the IP nowadays is worrisome, to say the least. It's not the worst gacha in existence, but it is a gacha, and an expensive one at that. Every day playing it is a test of resilience against exploitation of FOMO.

However, not only does it tell genuinely good stories with the characters from the franchise -- within the boundaries of what is acceptable for a kids' game, of course -- but it offers one of the most exciting and challenging single player experiences in the history of the franchise. And of course, it has banger remixes of tracks from the games, as well as stellar character designs.

I keep playing it, hoping it will never piss me off enough that I have to quit.