i almost didn’t get this game due to all the controversy. but to be honest, the national dex cut and lackluster animations were not even really the problems i had with this game. let me start off with the positives.

the art style was very pretty in most locations, and the new pokémon designs were really fun. i can tell a lot of heart went into decorating the galar region. that being said, there were so many beautifully designed cities in galar, but filled with doors that led to nowhere. it definitely could’ve been more fleshed out. also, customization is always really fun! we got lots of new hairstyles, we could’ve had more skin tones and clothing options, but what are you going to do?

i loved the newly introduced idea of trainer cards as well— being able to not only make your own, but collect the cards of NPCs. next up, the gym challenge. this concept was awesome to me! i loved the idea of you having to be endorsed to do the gym challenge, and each one being at a huge stadium with a bunch of adoring fans cheering everyone on. the gym leader theme was one of the only memorable songs off the soundtrack, it was super engaging, especially when the leader is down to one pokémon and it changes, and the crowd sings along.

then, there’s the wild area. i think it was a bit overhyped, but at the same time it was for the most part interesting and fun. it’s not really required for you to go there, especially when you have most of the regions unlocked, so eh, but it’s good to have the option i guess. also fighting and defeating pokémon that are much stronger than you gives a lot of exp, so that’s a fun challenge.

i also REALLY liked most of the characters and character design this time around. i mean— 4 black characters?? one being the champion and another being our rival? that’s honestly awesome. i love how gamed real is letting more brown people into the pokémon universe. our main rival hop being the champion’s younger brother was a very inch resting dynamic. i heard bad things about him before i got the game, but honestly, he was sweet. maybe a bit much at times but not really. the whole inferiority complex thing going on had me intrigued. we also had two other rivals, marnie and bede. i would literally give bede my lung if he needed one. i really liked his character, but then again the rude jerk with a sad backstory is just my favorite trope like ever, idk why. too bad (spoiler alert) he disappears like halfway through the game, appearing again at the end.) this leads into my first complaint.

the story, or lack there of. i feel as if there really isn’t one. there’s no real villain team, and the “bad guy” isn’t really a villain at all. i’m not saying we need a giovanni every generation but the “plot” was lackluster to me. nothing really memorable, overall very boring. there were so many cool characters and character designs, who’s potential to be more fleshed out was wasted. a pokémon switch game can and SHOULD do way better. i’ve heard the post game story is more interesting and should’ve been the main story so... we’ll see about that. also most of the character development of other characters happens off screen. i.e., bede.

my next criticism, the soundtrack. the only noteworthy songs from the OST in my opinion are bede’s theme, marnie’s theme, the gym leader theme, and battle tower that toby fox composed. (which is in the post game and can ONLY be heard at the battle tower. also… dynamax is… a thing that exists. it’s lazy, boring, and predictable every gym battle. it doesn’t add anything to the “plot” even though i see how they were trying to connect the two. i just don’t care for the gimmick, i’m sorry. i also hate raid battles. they’re supposed to be fun, connecting with others online whether it be random or friends, but the online sucks, and the raid battles are tedious and annoying. and if you can’t find anyone to join you in them, (which, most times, you can’t) they give you braindead AI teammates who literally sabotage more than they do help. leon is lucky that his pokémon were so strong that i had to do a bunch of raid battles for exp candy, or i would’ve never even touched those things.

i think one of this game’s biggest crimes is the lack of voice acting. it’s extremely embarrassing, and at some points the silence was even jarring. this game would’ve had so much more charm if there had been voice acting. at least grunts or sounds for each character’s voice when dialogue comes up. but no, nothing but silence. and for a game with so many cutscenes? yikes. there’s even a silent concert at one point where i was quite literally cringing. missed opportunity. breath of the wild introduced voice acting for the first time in their switch game, pokémon should’ve done the same.

and finally my last criticism, the “high quality animations.” honestly, if all my other problems were addressed i could maybe overlook this, as it didn’t really bother me per se, i just found it unacceptable. considering the fact that Game Freak quite literally said they cut certain pokemon and focused less on other QOL aspects due to them focusing on these so called “high quality animations” that were used in the 3DS games. models popping in and out was very jarring and ruined the immersiveness. dragon quest xi looked SO much better graphically it’s actually ridiculous. AND had full voice acting. and with not even half the budget. seriously game freak, step your game up. you’ll never be a good modern day rpg if you keep doing the bare minimum like this, rehashing the same concepts with minor improvements.

overall? i give it a 7/10. i truly had a lot of fun playing it despite my criticisms, but it really could’ve and should’ve been a lot better.