Mehcky
1 review liked by Mehcky
Pokémon: Legends Arceus appeared to be an apprehensive release. Seemingly, many fans were concerned over Game Freak's ability to deliver yet another Pokémon game in such a short time. The initial trailers presented a game with plenty of graphical red flags so naturally, the fans voiced their concerns. However, there was also a hint of something new, which was enough to make me cautiously optimistic.
The early hours of the game are a decent introduction for the new mechanics and premise that Game Freak put into place. Whilst the Hisui region can seem familiar by comparisons to Sinnoh, the game leads with an uneasy atmosphere surrounding the relationship between people and Pokémon. This is the first time that any Pokémon living in Hisui is being documented and consequently, characters are shown as clueless or afraid. I think this is a good re-contextualisation of the dynamic between people and Pokémon, which also pairs well with the setting being an earlier portrayal of Sinnoh. The addition of real-time Pokémon catching (in the overworld) is a great development for the series. It creates a layer of immersion that previous entries lack by allowing the player to maintain full control of their character. Discovering the most effective ways to catch certain Pokémon by using items and the environment gives this game a uniqueness that I hope will carry over to future instalments. The final major change is the addition of Agile and Strong style moves in battle. For most of the game, I did not care so much for these options. Though in retrospect, I think this was a mistake. These moves are more useful than I let on, and I eventually realised this when I taught my Pokémon moves like Ice Shard and Aqua Jet, which move you up the turn order. Combining this with high-speed Pokémon allowed me to move several turns in a row, creating new strategies that the series has never seen before.
Since the game's reveal, it drew comparisons to other open world games. I think those comparisons are mostly valid. You cannot reach quite as far without having to return to the main objective, but you can certainly reach farther than in recent Pokémon games. It feels like the handholding has been somewhat taken away. These are much larger areas than we have ever experienced in the series, and I found excitement through discovery of new Pokémon, new areas and challenging encounters with Alpha and Noble Pokémon.
However, the areas feel quite empty. A number of recognisable locations from Sinnoh are present, but they don't usually consist of more than a room. For example, Solaceon Ruins or Turnback Cave could have drawn more parallel's to their portrayal in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum (DPP). They were confusing labyrinths with puzzle solving elements. Seeing both reduced to a simple room reduces the charm, especially during the post-game hunt for Giratina. I think that including more NPCs, structures and dungeons in the world would have contributed to making the content of the game more varied. Another major critique comes quite clearly with the graphics. I'm not usually one to harp on about graphics, but I feel they are important in this case. The game suffers from poor draw distance, low resolution textures and dull lighting. Additionally, Pokémon outside of a certain proximity will animate at a lower frame rate. Though at the same time, the animation has been generally improved. Pokémon turn and move realistically now, as well as making contact with their opponent during battles. They investigate things, they move spontaneously and you might even catch them sleeping. With respect to the Pokémon, the overworld feels alive and I appreciate that massively.
In summary, Pokémon: Legends Arceus comes as a worthwhile addition to the series. If you are more a fan of battling, it may take some getting used to. There aren't many, but certain ones are relatively challenging. This game goes back to the essence of Pokémon, which is to find as many as you can, if not all. It's difficult to fully pin a genre onto it, but I suppose that's because it's not generic. It's an adventure with RPG elements and the added feel of a collectathon. I'm glad Game Freak are becoming more willing to try new things with their major Pokémon releases and whilst it certainly isn't perfect, I can recommend it to fans of the series who have been eager for something new.
The early hours of the game are a decent introduction for the new mechanics and premise that Game Freak put into place. Whilst the Hisui region can seem familiar by comparisons to Sinnoh, the game leads with an uneasy atmosphere surrounding the relationship between people and Pokémon. This is the first time that any Pokémon living in Hisui is being documented and consequently, characters are shown as clueless or afraid. I think this is a good re-contextualisation of the dynamic between people and Pokémon, which also pairs well with the setting being an earlier portrayal of Sinnoh. The addition of real-time Pokémon catching (in the overworld) is a great development for the series. It creates a layer of immersion that previous entries lack by allowing the player to maintain full control of their character. Discovering the most effective ways to catch certain Pokémon by using items and the environment gives this game a uniqueness that I hope will carry over to future instalments. The final major change is the addition of Agile and Strong style moves in battle. For most of the game, I did not care so much for these options. Though in retrospect, I think this was a mistake. These moves are more useful than I let on, and I eventually realised this when I taught my Pokémon moves like Ice Shard and Aqua Jet, which move you up the turn order. Combining this with high-speed Pokémon allowed me to move several turns in a row, creating new strategies that the series has never seen before.
Since the game's reveal, it drew comparisons to other open world games. I think those comparisons are mostly valid. You cannot reach quite as far without having to return to the main objective, but you can certainly reach farther than in recent Pokémon games. It feels like the handholding has been somewhat taken away. These are much larger areas than we have ever experienced in the series, and I found excitement through discovery of new Pokémon, new areas and challenging encounters with Alpha and Noble Pokémon.
However, the areas feel quite empty. A number of recognisable locations from Sinnoh are present, but they don't usually consist of more than a room. For example, Solaceon Ruins or Turnback Cave could have drawn more parallel's to their portrayal in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum (DPP). They were confusing labyrinths with puzzle solving elements. Seeing both reduced to a simple room reduces the charm, especially during the post-game hunt for Giratina. I think that including more NPCs, structures and dungeons in the world would have contributed to making the content of the game more varied. Another major critique comes quite clearly with the graphics. I'm not usually one to harp on about graphics, but I feel they are important in this case. The game suffers from poor draw distance, low resolution textures and dull lighting. Additionally, Pokémon outside of a certain proximity will animate at a lower frame rate. Though at the same time, the animation has been generally improved. Pokémon turn and move realistically now, as well as making contact with their opponent during battles. They investigate things, they move spontaneously and you might even catch them sleeping. With respect to the Pokémon, the overworld feels alive and I appreciate that massively.
In summary, Pokémon: Legends Arceus comes as a worthwhile addition to the series. If you are more a fan of battling, it may take some getting used to. There aren't many, but certain ones are relatively challenging. This game goes back to the essence of Pokémon, which is to find as many as you can, if not all. It's difficult to fully pin a genre onto it, but I suppose that's because it's not generic. It's an adventure with RPG elements and the added feel of a collectathon. I'm glad Game Freak are becoming more willing to try new things with their major Pokémon releases and whilst it certainly isn't perfect, I can recommend it to fans of the series who have been eager for something new.