I’ll get the low-hanging fruit out of the way by mentioning how distracting the graphics are. The story is just alright, even as it picks up in the second half. However, the gameplay is so goddamn good for modern Pokémon and breath of fresh air in its own right. The mechanics are solid and the way in which Pokémon battles work is unique and fun. It’s so interesting to explore the Pokémon universe before Pokémon became so commonplace; the goal of the game putting emphasis on catching Pokémon and filling out the Pokédex is so, SO cool. In spite of its flaws, this game reminded me of my love for the franchise and its characters, which is more than I can say for other recent titles.