Personnage

Hello Loves!

*Quick note, this is a long, opinion post and I do not represent anyone but myself or my opinions on the subject below. It is not meant to be disrespectful toward anyone nor there views. Please, if you comment, keep it friendly, we all have our opinions yus yus! I hope you continue to read, but if not, I understand and still <3 you.

I know not everyone is into Pokemon nor maybe ever have been. To me however, it is a video game franchise that has kept me busy and even helped me out in some dire times. The cuteness and neat evolutions through out the years have kept me coming back for more. Gamefreak themselves have transformed the game from it's prior versions to something a bit more immersive. With the games no longer feeling limited compared to others. Even for the Let's Go video games, which were essential remakes of the first video games. Though perhaps not widely popular, it allowed us as fans to be part of a new game mode with tossing the pokeballs ourselves and having a good time seeing some of an older game get a new life.

Yet, for all the praise I want to give them, I can not help but be constantly disappointed with the new installments "Sword and Shield."

The games themselves have a certain charm about them. Yet, for all the charm, I see a bit more that makes me wonder "Why?" on so many levels. Sword and Shield lack in almost every aspect compared to Let's Go series and even prior games found on 3DS. From graphics, to connection issues, to even travel! Most of my problems with the game, just to clarify are not about Dexit.

Sure most of my disappointing factors perhaps seem to be just asethetic. However, for a 60$ video game, I have a reasonable expectation that the game will be worthy of that money spent. More so if I should plan on buying both!

Lets start with Dexit however, just to get it out of the way. What is Dexit? you may be asking. Dexit is what most are calling the discontinuing of the National Pokedex. This has been confirmed by Gamefreak, that they will be continuing this practice from Sword and Shield onwards and limiting the regions to have certain pokemon only. What this means, is even when they should make a bank available for the switch pokemon installments, not all your pokemon will make it to certain games, if any.

Why this is a big deal to many: Well, the label "Gotta Catch 'em All." still applies and now they can not catch 'em all so to speak. This also means that certain favorites for players all over will not be in every installment of the games from now on. For me, this is never been a big deal. I look to gain my cute favored pokemon, and worry about the pokedex later...if ever. Usually I tend to just try to enjoy the game and build my favorite team.

This game however, aside from not having a lot of my favorites, nor even my back up favorites, has shown me Gamefreaks true colors with the Dex situation. It's not about the players anymore, it's about the Esport pokemon can be and they intend it to be. By limiting the pokemon used in each installments pokedex, they also get to control those pokemon from top to bottom in order to keep championships "fair" and less OP situations. Here is a list of the rules for the upcoming 2020 championship. Note, this is offically on the nintendo switch news.

Rules:
*All battles will be Double Battles played in Pokemon sword and Pokemon Shield.
*Each Player will need their own Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite and a physical or digital version of Pokemon Sword or Shield to compete
*Pokemon will need to have the Galar Symbol, showing they were caught in the Galar region.
*All pokemon from the Galar Regional Pokedex will be permitted except for Mythical Pokemon and certain Legendary Pokemon.
*All pokemon will be set to level 50 including pokemon below level 50.
*Duplicate pokemon will not be allowed.
*Duplicate held items will not be allowed.

They go on to explain timing and then also limit the pokemon allowed to use Gigantamax Factor for the tournaments starting january 4th, 2020.

Some of these rules are the same as they always have been. To me championships and stuff are not even important to begin with but this is what they want there games to basically be about. And looking at such rules, I can not help but notice how close they appear to be in comparison to that of Trading Card games.

To me, that is rather low. It basically tells the player community, you're not as important if you're not in the championships or competing.

The reason I explained this however, is because I did not quite understand the reason many were upset for a while until I came to this conclusion. Everyone is paying 60-120$ for these games, they are no less important then the rest no no.


Moving on from that, *sorry I know that was long*

A big problem I have with the game itself is yus yus, the asethetic concerns. I have a few problems I would like to point out about the game itself compared alone to Let's Go series. First off, you do not get to ride your pokemon in Sword and Shield. You get to ride a Rotom bike, which is powered by a Rotom pokemon... whom is mostly just the power supply to your pokedex.

To be fair, nothing will likely beat riding my arcinine in Let's Go, but to me this is a massive step backwards on GameFreaks part.

Aside from this, you can not have pokemon walking beside you or riding on your shoulder/head, as you could in Let's Go. Again, this is purely fan service... but why would you not allow it?

You can not use Mega evolutions nor prior game super abilities, because Dynamax.

Dynamax is neat... but it's not the greatest thing in the world. Now knowing that most dynamaxing is limited in tournaments as well, that tends to put a massive damper on the thought of it being even relevant in my opinion.

I look to both games and wonder slightly, why is Let's Go so much lower in GB size, by over half compared to this one?

It has been proven that the old pokemon were copy paste from the 3ds versions, The characters have more options for hair and clothes, which is a great thing. However, your pokemon can not be dressed up... which was a feature for other games aside let's go. *Granted it was only pikachu usually but still!*

The quality of the pokemon video games of sword and shield are lacking from start to finish. And no... i have not finished the game. This is a game I keep struggling to turn on atm because of how low my interest is and I think that unfortunate.
There are some features I find to be pretty neat. Such as the open area and being able to see other players in said open area. Finally being able to move the camera.... only in that open area. But was that area alone the best they had to offer with this game? So far, that seems rather true unfortunately.

The connections are sketchy at best, often bringing with it a lot of latency and slowing down of the game itself. This could be a problem with the switch rather then just the game itself mind you. However, I do not doubt the two together do not mix well. This ultimately leads me to question another aspect of Gamefreak, whom have been in the lead for decades when it comes to connecting with others and trades.

There is also an extensive amount of pokemon in game that will not evolve without trade. This is not out of the norm, however the magnitude of the amount is rather shocking compared to other games. That being stated, even with the Dexit issue, there are Hundreds of pokemon in game. So, I tend to not keep this as a bad thing. Many of the pokemon evolved form through trades are also available to find in the open area, making it less then required.

*ADDED*
One thing I forgot to add about this game, on a good note. They seemed to finally increase the difficulty of the game. Some battles are actually pretty difficult now and make you think. Yet, for all this work put in, the same can not be said for the gym leaders. As they are a breeze to defeat in comparison to the rest of the game as a whole.
*ADDED*
Among the long list, is also the lacking features from prior games, such as petting your pokemon. Camping has taken its place and curry cooking simulator. Not nearly as fun, nor cute. You can also toss a few toys out to play with the pokemon and talk to them, but the adorableness has seemingly been toned down drastically.

I know I do not speak for everyone, nor do I intend too. Though I do feel that this could serve as a fair warning for any whom want to buy it, and probably will still buy it.


My current worry about the Pokemon series is that it is becoming and intended to become, a yearly installment much like sports games or Call of Duty. That the fans will buy it merely because it says pokemon on it and... for a lacking evidence, that is what it seems to have already become.

When you release a product that is equal too or lesser then prior products merely because you did not want to give it the time, this warrants a question of why it needs to be in the first place. With Sword and Shield, we also waited an extensive amount of time because they stated, they needed more time to make it a better game. What we got however was what feels much like a copy pasted 3ds game with shiny graphics, and water.


<3, I know this was a long review.... I'm sorry if you did not like it. You are welcome to comment if you wish and I hope you have a great day! Also hope you are doing well and wish you a happy holiday ahead <3 <3