The most taken for granted thing in Pokémon history is the fact that humans and Pokémon have amicable relationships for the most part. Dating back to Red Blue it’s not unusual to see a npc with an overworked sprite of a Pokémon, or see kids wearing Pokémon paraphernalia. I just take it as a given, and the remarkable thing about Legends Arceus is that the relationship is not treated as a given , instead humans are fearful of Pokémon . It then is as a result of your charting to complete the Pokédex, that you see the city resident's relationship with Pokémon change. You are actively making the human Pokémon bond happen, and it’s wondrous.
I don’t typically play Pokémon for any completionist sake. I am the person who felt that catching them all is a waste of time, and engaging with this game, I assumed I would have some disdain for the premise but by golly did the team really design a compelling capture mechanic and Pokédex filling system. The way the two work in tandem is this glue that keeps you going. The fact that you fill up the Pokédex by capturing many, seeing different moves, evolving them, feeding them, using certain types of moves on them , catching them in the morning or night etc is so engaging. There are so many parameters at work that any moment you see a Pokémon in the wild that most times engaging it is worth it. Beyond just the natural appeal of seeing new Pokémon, the act of trying to get Pokémon at specific times or to complete your pokedex, you will be rotating your team and always on the look out for Pokémon that you haven’t filled your dex information with. However, the one thing that this system runs into as a weakness? The fact that different species of Pokémon don’t interact or connect to each other.
What Pokémon did to make this focus on filling up the Pokédex fun? The act of catching. It is hands down the thing that I thought I would tire of but never got bored of. I was always trying to figure out give my resources that can affect Pokémon movement from berries to get them distracted to things like snowballs that would make them dazed how to get the best opening. Then I would have decide which poke ball is best for the job, is the pokemon flying or in the water? Use the flying types. Did my apricorns daze them, use the heavy ones. If its neither use the traditional ones. The actual feel of the trajectories of these balls is PERFECTION. It felt snappy and satisfying to throw. Lets not forget to acknowledge the use of stealth items through crafting or how the ball trajectory becomes even more tantamount on the water mount?
I remember starting the game and seeing the act of crafting these balls and thinking, I will get tired of this. I never did, the consistent rhythm of traversal through world gathering items, finding new Pokémon and using optional grass to hide in and ambush them, the process of how mounts slowly add more verticality and exploration to previous explored hubs, compounding the loop of gathering and finding? The loop never got tiring, and would always feel fresh because the way attempted adventure was based on what you saved in your bag at that moment. Thats an accomplishment.
The only thing that is weakened by what is an impeccable system around catching is that sometimes I don’t want to battle. I like battles, I like that the group battle elements come back from Sun and Moon. I think if they did the recruiting element from Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby it would be even better. I like that you can alter your speed or strength once you master a move. I love that alpha pokemon in the wild and trainer battle pokemon will use those chains against you. However, the act of battling is not as satisfying as catching. I want these battle system ported to traditional mainline but something about the process feels inferior to the catching mechanics. I don’t think just reintroducing the items and abilities is the answer, I love those things but battling needs something a bit more.
This review reads like gushing, and honestly it is. I went in with a resistive mind, I been on record saying I don’t want Pokemon to be open world or integrate those elements but I can’t help but think what they nailed here leans into elements of open design I often besmirch. I want my gyms and competitive for sure, but the things done here are wonderful. It feels like the end of an era in terms of storytelling style, and world design. I like the smaller scale implied storytelling, and it works but I feel like to emphasize the relationship between Pokémon and humans going forward, it will require so much more. I will miss this era of Pokémon, but the things accomplished here are so tantamount that I can’t help but wait to see how it’s implemented in a style of a game thats more my speed. The fact that Pokemon made this game so close to my speed is sensational. Obvious warts in terms of visuals and custcenes are here, but I don’t care. The way the spheal rolls, timing jumps of Basculin from the water to slo mo jump catch Pokémon and have that feel better than any bow combat I touched in my life? The triumphs are here. Its missing that Sun and Moon charm and the classic Pokémon structure… but you can never expect where it actually goes, its great to feel like I never knew what was next. I am excited to jump into the post game when time provides. Highly recommend.
I don’t typically play Pokémon for any completionist sake. I am the person who felt that catching them all is a waste of time, and engaging with this game, I assumed I would have some disdain for the premise but by golly did the team really design a compelling capture mechanic and Pokédex filling system. The way the two work in tandem is this glue that keeps you going. The fact that you fill up the Pokédex by capturing many, seeing different moves, evolving them, feeding them, using certain types of moves on them , catching them in the morning or night etc is so engaging. There are so many parameters at work that any moment you see a Pokémon in the wild that most times engaging it is worth it. Beyond just the natural appeal of seeing new Pokémon, the act of trying to get Pokémon at specific times or to complete your pokedex, you will be rotating your team and always on the look out for Pokémon that you haven’t filled your dex information with. However, the one thing that this system runs into as a weakness? The fact that different species of Pokémon don’t interact or connect to each other.
What Pokémon did to make this focus on filling up the Pokédex fun? The act of catching. It is hands down the thing that I thought I would tire of but never got bored of. I was always trying to figure out give my resources that can affect Pokémon movement from berries to get them distracted to things like snowballs that would make them dazed how to get the best opening. Then I would have decide which poke ball is best for the job, is the pokemon flying or in the water? Use the flying types. Did my apricorns daze them, use the heavy ones. If its neither use the traditional ones. The actual feel of the trajectories of these balls is PERFECTION. It felt snappy and satisfying to throw. Lets not forget to acknowledge the use of stealth items through crafting or how the ball trajectory becomes even more tantamount on the water mount?
I remember starting the game and seeing the act of crafting these balls and thinking, I will get tired of this. I never did, the consistent rhythm of traversal through world gathering items, finding new Pokémon and using optional grass to hide in and ambush them, the process of how mounts slowly add more verticality and exploration to previous explored hubs, compounding the loop of gathering and finding? The loop never got tiring, and would always feel fresh because the way attempted adventure was based on what you saved in your bag at that moment. Thats an accomplishment.
The only thing that is weakened by what is an impeccable system around catching is that sometimes I don’t want to battle. I like battles, I like that the group battle elements come back from Sun and Moon. I think if they did the recruiting element from Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby it would be even better. I like that you can alter your speed or strength once you master a move. I love that alpha pokemon in the wild and trainer battle pokemon will use those chains against you. However, the act of battling is not as satisfying as catching. I want these battle system ported to traditional mainline but something about the process feels inferior to the catching mechanics. I don’t think just reintroducing the items and abilities is the answer, I love those things but battling needs something a bit more.
This review reads like gushing, and honestly it is. I went in with a resistive mind, I been on record saying I don’t want Pokemon to be open world or integrate those elements but I can’t help but think what they nailed here leans into elements of open design I often besmirch. I want my gyms and competitive for sure, but the things done here are wonderful. It feels like the end of an era in terms of storytelling style, and world design. I like the smaller scale implied storytelling, and it works but I feel like to emphasize the relationship between Pokémon and humans going forward, it will require so much more. I will miss this era of Pokémon, but the things accomplished here are so tantamount that I can’t help but wait to see how it’s implemented in a style of a game thats more my speed. The fact that Pokemon made this game so close to my speed is sensational. Obvious warts in terms of visuals and custcenes are here, but I don’t care. The way the spheal rolls, timing jumps of Basculin from the water to slo mo jump catch Pokémon and have that feel better than any bow combat I touched in my life? The triumphs are here. Its missing that Sun and Moon charm and the classic Pokémon structure… but you can never expect where it actually goes, its great to feel like I never knew what was next. I am excited to jump into the post game when time provides. Highly recommend.