Pokemon: Legend of Arceus

They finally did it. Gamefreak gave us an open-world Pokemon game.

I've tried to lower my expectations when a new Pokemon game is announced these days. I, however, could not contain my excitement when Arceus was announced. It was everything we, as fans, could have asked for. It looked like a perfect blend of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild mashed into a pokemon setting. It had over-world wild Pokemon, Pokemon that followed you, a great art style, and dare I say it, a little more difficulty involved. GameFreak were on to a winner. Of course, there were the usual grumblings about the visuals looking sub-par. But they made up for that by making the world absolutely beautiful with the changes in time/ weather. Creating golden sunsets, spooky beaches and glacial landscapes. The world felt alive. Not only ALIVE but dangerous too.

You are a member of the Survey Corps, tasked with documenting Pokemon by observing them in their natural habitats. You can learn more about each Pokemon by feeding them, capturing them and meeting other hidden criteria. It was a nice shakeup that brought something fresh to the franchise. The general population of Hisui fear Pokemon. But as you progress through the Pokedex, Pokemon are viewed as friends, and they decide to share Hisui with them. You have a personal mission that aligns with completing the Pokedex. Meet all Pokemon. Given to you by almighty Arceus itself.

One of the positive changes introduced; one I'd like in all future games is the ability to choose to battle wild Pokemon or just throw a Pokeball directly. This sped up filling the dex and gave us a new way to obtain shiny Pokemon via mass outbreaks. To explain that a little more. Multiple species of a rare Pokemon species can spawn on the map; during these outbreaks, the shiny odds increase dramatically. I like to collect shinies in Pokemon games and feel this is the correct way forward, it's the perfect blend of chance, but you still have to have the skill to catch them when they appear. I managed to mess up a few, and it haunts me daily! Bonsly, Eevee I'm looking at you!!

Gamefreak also introduced Alpha Pokemon. Alpha pokemon don't offer any competitive benefit; instead are just gigantic versions of their species.

I personally made it my mission to have a team of alphas. Because it's hilarious to have a pokemon the size of a building walking behind you. A fun little thing I did, was to lend my gigantic alpha pokemon to the townspeople and had colossal Steelix and Rhyperior working on the farm!

The battle system was also shaken up. Battle styles were introduced, you could see the order of the battle, and a swift style attack would likely let you attack twice in a row. A Strong style attack, however, would be more powerful. But leave you exposed to follow up attacks. It made things a little more tactical. I'm not sure if it was just my experience. But I frequently had to swap my Pokemon just to survive. it was brutal.

To summarise, I thought it was a great game on the switch. One of the best even. It showed Gamefreak ARE listening. I'd have liked a little more post-game, like with previous entries. But it's a solid Pokemon game and completely wipes the floor with Sword and Shield. There's enough content to keep you busy for hours. It's a game that you can just pick up and play in small segments if you want, which I did during my lunch breaks. There are positive changes, and they did a great job of giving, Arceus, the deity a meaningful story. I enjoyed the Hisuian variants a great deal too.

Not long after the LOA release, they announced Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and their respective starter Pokemon. After Pokemon: Legend of Arceus delivered such a superb title. I'm immensely looking forward to what happens next!