I was going to write a big long review about this game, its relation to the series' current standing, and how it relates back to arguably the most beloved era in the series' franchise and how it experiments with a very tired formula, in its very rough around the edge ways. However, I spent the past like two days completing the dex, reliving the true glory days of this franchise of wasting hours of my life hunting for the same god forsaken Spiritomb, and am very tired, so I'll keep it brief.
This game is very flawed, and if you're not super invested in the Sinnoh region or era of games, I'm not sure if this would appeal a lot to you. This game looks ugly, I would agree, but also so does most every other large scale game not helped by Monolith Soft on the Switch right now, and honestly, I don't really care. I love No More Heroes 3 more everyday, and that game looks ugly as sin. And I would concede that the game can be repetitive, and if that is not your thing, more power to you.
I think this game is wonderful. I'm definitely talking from a place of nostalgia, but I think this game perfectly encapsulates all the stuff I loved from Pokemon Platinum. The fact this even exists was like the most mind blowing reveal ever to me. It really focuses in on the mythology and kind of mystery and creepiness that Sinnoh region exudes. And expanding that idea into a more primitive open world, where the world is more openly hostile and you have to put in the research to better understand it is wonderful. Catching every Pokemon is a nightmare, but I'm a Gen 4 fan so I'm used to being beaten up like this. This game also just ends on a fantastic note, the true final challenges are some of the best encounters they've put up.
I don't really know what the future for this franchise is moving forward. A year ago it felt pretty miserable, but after this and the seemingly warm response to the new generation, it seems its bright. I think the fact the franchise was actually willing to give something so weird a shot like this was a smart move, and I greatly enjoyed my time with it. It is far from perfect, but it reminded me a lot of simpler times, and for that I commend and respect it greatly, even if I can understand if others would disagree.
This game is very flawed, and if you're not super invested in the Sinnoh region or era of games, I'm not sure if this would appeal a lot to you. This game looks ugly, I would agree, but also so does most every other large scale game not helped by Monolith Soft on the Switch right now, and honestly, I don't really care. I love No More Heroes 3 more everyday, and that game looks ugly as sin. And I would concede that the game can be repetitive, and if that is not your thing, more power to you.
I think this game is wonderful. I'm definitely talking from a place of nostalgia, but I think this game perfectly encapsulates all the stuff I loved from Pokemon Platinum. The fact this even exists was like the most mind blowing reveal ever to me. It really focuses in on the mythology and kind of mystery and creepiness that Sinnoh region exudes. And expanding that idea into a more primitive open world, where the world is more openly hostile and you have to put in the research to better understand it is wonderful. Catching every Pokemon is a nightmare, but I'm a Gen 4 fan so I'm used to being beaten up like this. This game also just ends on a fantastic note, the true final challenges are some of the best encounters they've put up.
I don't really know what the future for this franchise is moving forward. A year ago it felt pretty miserable, but after this and the seemingly warm response to the new generation, it seems its bright. I think the fact the franchise was actually willing to give something so weird a shot like this was a smart move, and I greatly enjoyed my time with it. It is far from perfect, but it reminded me a lot of simpler times, and for that I commend and respect it greatly, even if I can understand if others would disagree.