The new mechanics make this feel game feel more involved than previous Pokemon entries. It's an open world game, though the graphics aren't anything extraordinary. Catching pokemon feels more rewarding since you can sneak up on them while exploring the field and throw a pokeball at them to attempt to catch them. Success varies and different factors such as different pokeballs come into play.
Completionists may love this game as completing the Pokedex takes time. Catch a pokemon and they are added to the Pokedex with tasks such as: Times defeated, times you've seen it use X move, number caught, number caught while hidden, etc. Pokedex tasks vary from Pokemon to pokemon, making this a treat for completionists.
Item management and inventory is a big focus. Inventory is small, but can be a tad bit upgraded which makes you really have to consider what items to keep on hand and what to keep on your item storage box. Materials and resources are gained while exploring fields or defeating pokemon, and various items like potions, pokeballs and other items can be crafted at base camps.
Battles are paced faster. Animations aren't as slow as Sword/Shield, but not as fast as Nexomon. Somewhere in between. Action is swift with cool battle music. Typical tainer battles are nonexistant, but a training ground exists to battle different "trainers."
For a Pokemon game, it has a higher challenge since items aren't handed to you in mass quantity. Wild pokemon also hit very hard, which is both good and bad. Good for the challenge since past Pokemon games can be pretty easy, but a negative as you can have a Level 52 Growlithe that can faint in one or two attacks to a Level 40 Water Pokemon.
I'll say the story wasn't very engaging or interesting. It was nice that it's different from the usual "I want to be a Pokemon trainer and go battle all these gym leaders for badges." But even gens later, it was a bit of a chore sitting through unnarrated, long stretches of unskippable text dialogues and cutscenes. I also wasn't a fan of the boss battles. They are large Pokemon you face throughout the story, where the battle involves you throwing balms at them aimlessly while dodging their attacks (and occasionally sending out a Pokemon to battle when given the command). I can see and appreciate that something different was made, but tired of these after the 3rd battle.
Solid new Pokemon game. Not perfect, but a good improvement on the formula.
Completionists may love this game as completing the Pokedex takes time. Catch a pokemon and they are added to the Pokedex with tasks such as: Times defeated, times you've seen it use X move, number caught, number caught while hidden, etc. Pokedex tasks vary from Pokemon to pokemon, making this a treat for completionists.
Item management and inventory is a big focus. Inventory is small, but can be a tad bit upgraded which makes you really have to consider what items to keep on hand and what to keep on your item storage box. Materials and resources are gained while exploring fields or defeating pokemon, and various items like potions, pokeballs and other items can be crafted at base camps.
Battles are paced faster. Animations aren't as slow as Sword/Shield, but not as fast as Nexomon. Somewhere in between. Action is swift with cool battle music. Typical tainer battles are nonexistant, but a training ground exists to battle different "trainers."
For a Pokemon game, it has a higher challenge since items aren't handed to you in mass quantity. Wild pokemon also hit very hard, which is both good and bad. Good for the challenge since past Pokemon games can be pretty easy, but a negative as you can have a Level 52 Growlithe that can faint in one or two attacks to a Level 40 Water Pokemon.
I'll say the story wasn't very engaging or interesting. It was nice that it's different from the usual "I want to be a Pokemon trainer and go battle all these gym leaders for badges." But even gens later, it was a bit of a chore sitting through unnarrated, long stretches of unskippable text dialogues and cutscenes. I also wasn't a fan of the boss battles. They are large Pokemon you face throughout the story, where the battle involves you throwing balms at them aimlessly while dodging their attacks (and occasionally sending out a Pokemon to battle when given the command). I can see and appreciate that something different was made, but tired of these after the 3rd battle.
Solid new Pokemon game. Not perfect, but a good improvement on the formula.