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This review contains spoilers
Whilst this game was definitely on the easier side compared to some other Pokemon games, it does hold a special place in my heart. The plot was simple yet endearing, and the characters- whilst forgettable for some- all brought their own unique charm to the game as a whole. The choice to give the player a group of friends to travel with was interesting, and the dynamic that each of the friends had with the protag was gave the game a little extra sense of personality, and made the game feel more 'realistic' in a way. Mega Evolutions are, to this day, one of my favourite gimmicks that have been brought to the table, and the designs of most of the individual evolutions are mostly stellar (with some exceptions. Looking at you, mega Manectric.) Also, the music was always pleasant, providing a wonderful experience to the ears throughout the whole game.
The Kalos region was a fun new area to explore, with the character customisation options available via the clothing stores and boutiques adding a nice element of customisation that had not previously been seen in the games prior to it. Lumiose city, whilst difficult to navigate if you're not a genius with directions (I know I'm not), was a fun place to explore, with the amount of different shops and services being available to provide plenty of entertainment for post-game. The Cafes are a great way to level up lower level Pokemon (although, the hald-holdy nature of the EXP share doesnt deem this completely necessary until post-game, unless you find a last minute addition to your team). In general, it was a fun new region, and I'm looking forward to being able to explore it further in the upcoming game.
Team Flare and Lysandre was certainly entertaining in my opinion, however I do feel as though their motives were somewhat vague and weren't explored as much as they could've been. Considering Lysandre's main objective was essentially mass murder, I feel as though his character could've been built up on slightly more to make him seem more 'villainous'. The final fight between Lysandre and the protag was somewhat underwhelming and overly easy for a boss battle, however this may not be a dealbreaker if you're looking for a more relaxing time.
Everything about AZ was extremely interesting, however it was disappointing how unfinished he seemed as a character. He seemed to have such an interesting story that would've provided a great deal to the plot, however he was used as little more than a side character. The ending with his Floette returning always brought a tear to my eye, however everything regarding the before (the war and the 3000 years after) and after (the infinite years after his Pokemon returned to him) were just left completely untouched. One battle and 3 or 4 scenes of dialogue just seems not enough for a character with such potential, and I do hope they build upon him slightly more when the new Legends came comes out next year.
Finally, the online services... Ripperoni. But, for the time they were available, the gen 6 online communication features were easily one of - if not THE best in the series. Wonder trading, O-powers, just everything about it was so clean cut and made the experience that much more fun. Seeing all the icons on your bottom screen of people you had either communicated with or passed by was honestly just pleasant, and added a little bit of extra charm to the game. Pokemon Amie was a fun time, as being able to see other peoples Pokemon running across your screen and leaving gifts was a nice touch, and was all in all a fun game mechanic. The same goes for Super training (although this isn't an online feature, but oh well); fun minigames, easier EV training, and an easier way to get evolution stones? Sign me up.
In general, the game still holds up well for its time. Whilst the plot could have been bulked up more, it was still a wonderful game that provided a lot of amazing mechanics that many people still love and appreciate to this day. It certainly had letdowns in some areas, however the sense of community and the general enjoyable mechanics made is a worthy edition to the Pokemon franchise.
The Kalos region was a fun new area to explore, with the character customisation options available via the clothing stores and boutiques adding a nice element of customisation that had not previously been seen in the games prior to it. Lumiose city, whilst difficult to navigate if you're not a genius with directions (I know I'm not), was a fun place to explore, with the amount of different shops and services being available to provide plenty of entertainment for post-game. The Cafes are a great way to level up lower level Pokemon (although, the hald-holdy nature of the EXP share doesnt deem this completely necessary until post-game, unless you find a last minute addition to your team). In general, it was a fun new region, and I'm looking forward to being able to explore it further in the upcoming game.
Team Flare and Lysandre was certainly entertaining in my opinion, however I do feel as though their motives were somewhat vague and weren't explored as much as they could've been. Considering Lysandre's main objective was essentially mass murder, I feel as though his character could've been built up on slightly more to make him seem more 'villainous'. The final fight between Lysandre and the protag was somewhat underwhelming and overly easy for a boss battle, however this may not be a dealbreaker if you're looking for a more relaxing time.
Everything about AZ was extremely interesting, however it was disappointing how unfinished he seemed as a character. He seemed to have such an interesting story that would've provided a great deal to the plot, however he was used as little more than a side character. The ending with his Floette returning always brought a tear to my eye, however everything regarding the before (the war and the 3000 years after) and after (the infinite years after his Pokemon returned to him) were just left completely untouched. One battle and 3 or 4 scenes of dialogue just seems not enough for a character with such potential, and I do hope they build upon him slightly more when the new Legends came comes out next year.
Finally, the online services... Ripperoni. But, for the time they were available, the gen 6 online communication features were easily one of - if not THE best in the series. Wonder trading, O-powers, just everything about it was so clean cut and made the experience that much more fun. Seeing all the icons on your bottom screen of people you had either communicated with or passed by was honestly just pleasant, and added a little bit of extra charm to the game. Pokemon Amie was a fun time, as being able to see other peoples Pokemon running across your screen and leaving gifts was a nice touch, and was all in all a fun game mechanic. The same goes for Super training (although this isn't an online feature, but oh well); fun minigames, easier EV training, and an easier way to get evolution stones? Sign me up.
In general, the game still holds up well for its time. Whilst the plot could have been bulked up more, it was still a wonderful game that provided a lot of amazing mechanics that many people still love and appreciate to this day. It certainly had letdowns in some areas, however the sense of community and the general enjoyable mechanics made is a worthy edition to the Pokemon franchise.