(I received a complimentary Nintendo Pokemon Sword and Shield Games to facilitate this review. However, the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own. You can read my full disclosure here.)
Are you looking at getting the new Pokemon Sword and Sheild Games for the Nintendo Switch?
A DREAM FINAY REALISED – I, like many, who grew up in what is now the first wave Pokemon, have fond memories from back in our youths. Perhaps you traded Pokemon Trading Card Game cards at school, which according to my kids, and cousins is still a thing. Admittedly I was too old at the time, for the car game, but not for the handheld video game. I got a copy of the game along with the barely released Game Boy Color, and I took that with me everywhere, from family camping trips, battling with my brother, trading with friends, but that was some 20 years ago.
Back in July 2016 at the launch of Pokemon Go, I like so many others were brought back into the euphoria of nostalgia of Pokemon. Reliving the joy of searching and finding Pokemon, but instead of wandering square fields, I was exploring my neighborhoods and cities, but this time I brought my kids with me. They fell in love much like I had all those years ago. So as time went on, we got them Sun and Moon for their Nintendo 2DS. My daughter would love showing off the cute and rare ones, while my son on the other hand wanted to battle me, and he spent so much time that he has finally been able to beat mine Pokemon. Once they heard about a new one was announced they were so giddy with excitement that all they wanted for Christmas was Pokemon Sword & Shield, luckily for them they got a surprise in the fact that they got it before then.
As a parent, I knew from my own experience that Pokemon would be great games to get my kids into. It always allowed for many different play types; from collecting, battling, puzzle solving, exploration and more. The Pokemon came in many different shapes and sizes, from the simple and adorably cute to the more complex and edgier looking final evolutions. It’s game mechanics mirrored that of Rock, Paper, Scissors, and rewarded the player on knowledge, understanding and strategy, and the game didn’t rely on the player to button smashing and killing countless faceless bad guys or monsters. It taught treating your Pokemon animals with care and respect, and rewarded you for such.
THE GALAR REGION – Much like many of the games past, they lean heavily into a specific real world region and culture. Pokemon X & Y, was inspired by France and Paris, then Pokemon Sun & Moon (later Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon) was inspired by the Pacific Islands most notably Hawaii. Pokemon Sword & Shield continue that tradition with the Galar region, taking heavy inspiration from England. From the way the characters dress, with wholly sweaters and beanies, to the architecture and buildings with red brick homes and cobblestone streets scattered among the countryside and to the Pokemon themselves. Along with homages to Stonehenge and Cerne Abbas among other British landmarks are sprinkled throughout the whole game.
Much like they had done with Pokemon Sun & Moon, they took old beloved Pokemon from past generations and gave them region specific designs. Much like giving an old car and giving it a fresh coat of paint. It brought new life to many older Pokemon. Like giving Pikachu’s evolved form Richu a tail that he surfs on. Or taking Eggsecutor and giving it a long neck like a palm tree. They have continued the tradition, with the Galar Region. Along with new Pokemon that resemble Sheep found on the English countryside to teapots, there are many returning Pokemon with new looks and evolutions. Like a Farfetch’d who evolves into a Sirfetch’d, a bird with a plant sword and shield, that resembles a knight. Or a Ponyta, that has more of a rainbow colors and a unicorn horn, much like that can be found on the Scotlands Royal Coat of Arms. Or the more comical Mr. Mime that now besides having very muted colors, also has very pronounced muttinchops. Which the final evolution resembles a character of a british gentleman, tophat, cane and broom mustache.
LET THE GAME BEGIN – The game starts out much like many in the past introducing you to your home, with just you and your mother. Introduces you to your neighbor, friend, and rival. Along the way introduces you to the new gym system, which really leans heavily into the eSports of the game, with the Galar Region champ wearing sports outfit with sponsors and all, along with the managing director of the Pokemon League. Then after that you party with them and then get to choose your starter Pokemon, which like tradition has you picking between a water, fire and grass type in the forms of Sobble, Scorbunny, and Grookey, respectively. Your friend and rival, so nicely chooses the one pokemon that is weak against your starter. From there you head out into a mysterious forest that alludes to the games Legendary, which depends on which game you bought as it is the one highlighted on the cover. The game does a great job introducing you to the game then allowing you to do what you want. Which to me and my kids surprise allows you to fight Pokemon that are far greater in level than you start out.
Pokemon Sword and Shield introduces the Wild Area, an open area that stretches across the region. That weather and time of day changes which Pokemon can be fought and caught. Along with the Wild Area, also new to the game is Dynamax Challenges that can be found beaming into the sky from little pink ports that you can challenge with up to four other players online (including yourself) or with NPCs (non-player controlled characters). In which you fight giant more difficult versions of Pokemon that allows you Dynamax one from your group to challenge. If you are able to defeat a Dynamax Pokemon, you are given the chance to catch it and add it to your party.
Note: To battle, trade, or join Dyanmax raids with other players, a Nintendo Online subscription is required. You can purchase a single year for $20, or a Family Pass for $35. Along with playing Online for all eligible games like Mario Maker 2, and Splatoon, you can download and play many classic NES and Super NES games.
HIGHLIGHTS- The game is simple in nature, but complex in mastery. The game has 400 Pokemon included in the game. Each Pokemon is unique, no two Pokemon are the same. One Pickachu and another Pickachu will always be completely different. Along with the Type (water, fire, grass, etc.), each have unique EVs and IVs (basically stats that are either permanently born with or can level up through playing) , along with Nature. Which is for any pet owner knows, can be friendly, aggressive, docile. Which adds very subtle nuances to the game play.
One thing that has not been mentioned as much, is the fact that in past Pokemon games you could only have one profile per game card. Meaning you couldn’t have multiple profiles, like similar portable games like Animal Crossing New Leaf. Each person that has a profile on the Switch can play the game independently, which is nice, but requires you to have multiple Nintendo Switches to play or trade. Which unlike past systems have a higher entry cost. As a Nintendo 2DS cost roughly $100, to the Nintendo Switch Lite costing $200 or a regular Switch, $300. So there are trade offs.
It takes about 20 hours to go through the game, but leveling up, completing all side quests and mastery of the game could take countless more hours.
Pokemon Company is currently working on a storage system called Pokemon Home, slated for release in February 2020, that will allow you bring your Pokemon together from Pokemon 3DS games to Pokemon Go, and the previous Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee to one singular place and trade them back and forth to Sword and Shield.
SLIGHT CRITICISMS – Some of the criticisms that have been directed at the game has come in the form of Dexit, which is a lack of inclusion of all the Pokemon past games. My kids and I have been playing the games since X and Y to Alpha Saphire and Omega Ruby to Sun and Moon, and spent much time collecting and importing them from game to game, which for the a few of the mythical Pokemon (those that cannot be found in a game but given out as rewards for events, or special codes are given out at places like Gamestops over the years) we have collected them all, but at this point will have been in vain. Which has been a disappointment since the motto of the game is “gotta catch ‘em all”, and everyone has their favorites from each generation. The game does not include all 800+ Pokemon.
Within the Wild Areas, even though you may be able to fight higher level Pokemon, if you have a type advantage over a stronger Pokemon and are able to fight in and get it down unless you unlocked a badge earlier in the game (earned by beating Gym Leaders), it will all be in vain as you will not be able to catch it.
One thing I have hoped for, for many years, is for them to have voice over. I had wanted to introduce the game to my kids at a much younger age, as they had many of the plushies, but had to wait for a few years until they were able to read. That still continues as they do not have any voice over, and everything is communicated in text and forces the player to be able to read and comprehend.
Update: Pokemon announced on the 9 January 2020, Nintendo Direct, that they will have 2 DLCs (Payable Downloadable Content), that will allow include new stories regions and the inclusion of 200 more Pokemon from previous games to be imported.
CONCLUSION – The game has been a long time coming for many fans, as it is both a home console and a portable version of the game. The game can be played on your Television (or as the British call it, the Telly) or as a handheld. Other than a few small complaints, which is in no regards a deal-breaker, especially for newer players, the game is everything I had hoped for many years, but finally got in time to share with my kids. The game is safe, easily accessible and beautiful. Well worth the time and investment for you and your family.
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