La séptima generación de Pokémon es una bastante polarizante, hasta donde tengo entendido. Personalmente me gusta mucho porque fue un cambio fresco para una franquicia que llevaba 6 generaciones haciendo básicamente lo mismo.

Me encanta la idea de los Retos de la Isla y especialmente convertirte en el primer Campeón en la historia de la región; le metieron un poco más de historia a los personajes y si bien hay momentos que se quedan cortos o que se sienten incompletos, aún a sabiendas de que Ultra Sun y Ultra Moon existen, viajar por Alola es bastante agradable.

También he de mencionar que decidí volver a jugar el juego desde 0 cuando me enteré que iban a cerrar los servicios online del 3DS, así que empecé este playthrough hace unos meses y lo dejé cuando había completado el Pokédex de la región (alrededor de 300 Pokémon), pero ahora sí me senté a terminarlo y ahora admito que tengo ganas de jugar US/UM en algún momento.

Before I express my thoughts on this game, I am aware that the Ultra games are the 'definitive' versions of this generation, like how Crystal, Emerald, and Platinum were, but I have reasons behind playing this version first.

Seeing this game back when it was in its prime was when I really didn't understand what was going on with the franchise at this point from an outsider's point of view. Pokemon GO came out a few months before this game, and I was crazily addicted to that, and then I saw footage of this game...and it didn't really appeal to me at all. Maybe it was because it was set in a tropical like region, or maybe I saw the first island and said "this world is tiny. This game is gonna be so dull very quickly". Fast forward from 2016 to now, and I finally get to try this game out, after years of avoiding this generation.

Back then, and even now at some points, I hear and read a lot of negativity around this generation, as it is rather text heavy, has an uninteresting battle mechanic, and that the game feels a little lacklustre in content. Well, here's what I have to say about this game, and it is going to be a hot take...I actually like this game quite a lot in several areas.

First off, let's talk the story as we always do. You play as either Elio or Selene, who journeys around the wonderful Alola region, after moving all the way from Kanto. You meet up with your new friends such as your rival, Hau, Professor Kukui (who also seems to be a big wrestler later on), and his associate Lillie. After meeting them, you follow Lillie and almost die saving her strange Pokemon named Nebby, and are given an item from the Tapu protecting the island. Thus, you are seen as a challenger for the trials and start to become the next island challenge champion. However, things are awry within our journey as we run into Team Skull as our usual villains led by the boss Guzma.

Now, let's actually talk about the gameplay because this is where some things have changed this generation. First off, because you are becoming an island challenge champion at first, there are no gym badges for you to grab in this game. No big continent for you to explore, no Champion, nothing like that. Instead, the challenge is presented by defeating the four Kahunas on each island, and by completing all the trials led by the Captains. This was a nice change of pace that was unusual for Pokemon at this time, as at this point we were all familiar with just fighting to become champ. But I know we're living in a time with PLA being a thing and how that too also changed the structure of a mainline entry's game design, but that's different. But yeah, with Alola being based on Hawaii, the region is split with four islands; each being accessible after clearing each Kahuna. There are also no HMs to gain meaning that this is the first game to finally berid of those abominations as these were poorly handled since Gen 1, which makes Gen 7 waaaay better already.

During your travels, you will also be able to take on the trials held by the Captains of the region, whether it is to take out Pokemon, cook up a meal, or guess audio, they are all usually different, with a strong challenge at the end being a Totem Pokemon, having to fight a bigger Pokemon with an increased stat and to call in allies. Yes, this was the game to introduce another battle mechanic: SOS Battles. After an enemy is low on HP, or if an Adrenaline Orb is used, they can call in backup to aid them, or say if Corsola calls in Toxapex, it can attack them. This is their way of changing horde battles into this and I kinda like this more, since it helps with grinding exp if you need it, helps with finding specific abilities or genders you want, and is the best shiny hunting method at that time. But after taking on each trial on the islands, you're faced with the Kahuna, similar to the gym leaders in other games.

Lastly, there are the Z-Moves found within this game's new items; Z-Crystals. When equipped, you gain access to a souped up attack based on its type, accompanied with a flashy animation, that deals huge damage and can never miss at all, but like Megas (which are also in this game), you can only use them once per battle. To be honest, I kind of like the Megas more over Z-Moves. While they are cool to see and are powerful, Mega Evolutions are way better as they increase that Pokemon's stats and could possibly change types too, which was even more useful.

Later on in the game at island three, Kukui tells you that he has made a Pokemon League as you battle members of the newly formed Elite Four and to become the first ever Champion. But whilst doing that, you also visit Lusamine at the Aether Paradise, an organization hell bent on protecting Pokemon from Team Skull, with Lusamine researching Ultra Beasts and alternate dimensions. However, it's revealed she wants to send them here with Nebby's power and to be with one of the Ultra Beasts, Nihilego. She does that and fuses with the Pokemon which was rad as hell! ...But you don't fight her as a battle, you fight her team, which is really weak...almost like Robo Groudon 2.0 in XD.

One last thing I wanted to cover were the Pokemon themselves. These bastards are possibly my new favourites now that I have seen every generation's mons. 81 new Pokemon were added from Alola totalling up to 802 (without USUM), and with the introduction of regional variants: Pokemon that are the exact same, but with a different design and typing, for example Meowth is now dark type, Marowak is ghost/fire, and Raichu is electric/psychic. I actually like some of these Pokemon much more than their OG counterparts, and the new Pokemon rock like Lycanroc, Wishiwashi, Tsareena, and even the legendaries, Tapu Koko & Fini, Solgaleo, Lunala, Silvally, Necrozma, and the Ultra Beasts Buzzwole, Kartana, and Guzzlord. Plus the starters were awesome this time around, although I chose Popplio for my playthrough, I like Litten out of them all.

Overall, gen 7 has one of the strongest stories in the franchise, next to gens 5 and 9, a great set of new Pokemon and regional forms, awesome ways to change the gameplay with trials and kahunas, and the new SOS battles are hype with shinies being so much easier. But I do have to agree that the beginning and ending of the game's plot did drag on quite a bit, especially the cutscenes leading to the credits which was 20 damn minutes, the Z Moves were not that appealing as Megas were on a gameplay level, and Lusamine is not a good mother at all.

Oh, and I also played the demo to get Ash-Greninja for this game. I didn't use it of course, but it was cool to have.