It’s no secret that modern Pokémon games are often regarded as unfinished or unpolished, especially this one. However, I believe the main reason many prefer previous Switch entries, despite Violet being objectively a “bigger game”, is the vibe of its open world.

In Scarlet/Violet, exploring the world essentially boils down to “going from Town A to Town B” as indicated on the map. It truly feels like there isn't much to discover in between, rendering the travel experience somewhat lifeless. Once gym badges are acquired, there’s no longer any reason to walk around and seek out new locations.

In Arceus, the game centers around all the new catching mechanics. Players are not only encouraged but also rewarded for exploring and discovering new ecosystems of species. There are numerous memorable locations. Plus, it’s fun how every Pokémon around rushes towards you with the intent to murder you. All of this accompanied by tranquil background music reminiscent of Breath of the Wild's style. It’s just a vibe.

I also believe that the exposition should be dialed down in future installments. So often was I almost having fun exploring Paldea, only to be interrupted by a random call on my Rotom phone delivering a dull 2-minute speech about exposition I had already heard from several other characters.

On the positive side, the new towns are really well designed. Additionally, some of the newly introduced mechanics, like the auto-battles, bring a cool element to the gameplay. Finally, I also liked some aspects of the story.

Nevertheless, I’m just a man trying to enjoy a game for kids. Please make Pokémon great again.