Review of Pokémon Legends: Arceus: A legend is born
Our Verdict
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a must-play for any Pokémon fan. Not only does it offer a huge world full of gorgeous landscapes and great creatures, but it also features a fantastic origin story for Sinnoh. It feels great to be a part of history, even if there are some graphical hiccups
I finally got my hands on Pokémon Legends: Arceus, having felt like I had to wait an eternity for its release. It's safe to say that after more than 20 years, this is the Pokémon game I've been most looking forward to. You know, I never miss a game since I'm such a huge fan of the'mon. Every time a new Pokémon game is out, I eagerly await it. I'm always up for exploring a new game or going back to a previous one with a remaster.
On the other hand, I was very enthused about Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Because it is not just a game from one of my favorite series, but it also pushes the boundaries of the role-playing game genre—which is also my favorite—to new heights. Naturally, I'm drawn to this open-world adventure, but is it a gripping one? Do I get so engrossed in this journey that I forget what time is? Indeed, it does.
It doesn't bother me to acknowledge that this is the Pokémon game I've been expecting for a very long time. It's a logical development for the series and leads the brand in a fascinating new route. Let me be clear: I will always like the classic look, feel, and gameplay of traditional "mon" games, but Arceus offers up a whole new realm of possibilities, which greatly thrills me. Now let's get started and find out what makes this excursion so unique.
To start, the game starts with you falling through a sky portal. What a grand arrival. Similar like my virtual apprentice, I was perplexed, amazed, and mystified. From the minute I set foot on that shore, I became engrossed, even if my motivation at the time was just to find out what had happened.
This is where you'll meet Professor Laventon, the professor from Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Assist him in capturing three Pokémon: Oshawott, Rowlet, and Cyndaquil to start your adventure. I made an easy choice since I knew going in that they were the starter Pokémon (we all knew, right?). I traveled with Cyndaquil, my fire-starting companion from my many happy recollections of our travels over the Kanto area. I did, however, ultimately regret my decision. Later, more on it.
You arrive at Jubilife, the town that functions as the game's central core, from this point on. Main plot missions are available here, most of them were assigned to you by Captain Cyllene or Commander Kamado. Additionally, you may do certain side missions, which are enjoyable in and of themselves. I never felt like I was going above and beyond to assist others. A large number of people request to see either the Pokémon itself or fully finished Pokédex records.
This leads me beautifully to your main objective in the Hisui area. You see, you play as an explorer of the country that would eventually become known as Sinnoh in this game, which functions as a kind of precursor to Diamond and Pearl. Now that we've returned to the starting point, it is your responsibility to create a Pokédex for the planet. I find this to be a lot of fun on its own. I appreciate that you assembled the first one and staked a claim to a significant period of history.
You must, of course, capture every critter in the Hisui area in order to finish it, and, to be honest, I rather like the new methods for doing so. To begin with, you can see them, even soaring well above the clouds. The'mon is visible to you from below, but in order to really toss balls at them, you need to be on the ground. There are many ways to approach a Pokémon that you find in your sights. All Pokémon enthusiasts are used to the idea that you may go to fight and weaken them the conventional manner. Alternately, you may embrace your inner cunning and adopt a cunning tactic.
You can toss a ball at the'mon' if you crouch down and stay out of their line of sight. If it lands properly, there's a possibility you'll catch it. This seemed like a creative and entertaining twist on the conventional recipe to me. Additionally, in fights, you may improve your chances by striking the monster from behind with a ball. Assuming you don't perform a powerful style attack, they get stunned when you hit them with a ball holding one of your Pokémon from the rear. This leaves them vulnerable to your attacks for two rounds.
When confronting Pokémon, the two combat styles that are new to the system are strong and nimble. This mechanism gives a system that is already entertaining more depth. Strong assaults are more damaging, but they have a price: they generally give your opponent two turns before you receive another. As an alternative, you have the nimble style, which allows you to launch two strikes at once, although at a damage penalty. It gives combat an element of strategy. I like considering my alternatives and believe that doing so is essential to defeating my most formidable opponents. Of course, you may also utilize a move conventionally, which is a feasible choice as well, without changing its style.
But there are other methods to strengthen your squad, including using grit or other similar stuff. Again, it provides something that has the power to change the course of a conflict, but it's also simple to ignore. When up against someone, you might find yourself on the defensive much too often. Sincerely, I experienced this quite a bit in the beginning. That is, until I realized that grit increases a number of other metrics. Once I had my squad moving faster, I stopped being the second attacker in combat.
Furthermore, not only your squad has to be performing at its peak. Pokémon may attack you and roam about freely, so you have to dodge them. Thankfully, it's simple to execute, efficient, and personally exhilarating when I can successfully avert an assault that seems to be threatening my life. Additionally, interacting with aristocratic Pokémon requires this competence, which is essential to the primary plot.
You fall from a gap in the sky, which not only throws you haphazardly onto the sandy beach below but also zaps aristocratic Pokémon with an odd energy, each of which is in charge of a different lord (and a woman) that the Diamond and Pearl clans adore. Some of my favorite parts of the game are these conflicts, which need you to stop them from becoming crazy. I'm very afraid of these formidable opponents, but you have to win since there's a lot at stake.
However, you sidestep the furious creature and apply calming creams composed of its preferred meals. Indeed, this is just as cute as it seems. I found this to be both fascinating and tiresome since, as you defeat a lord, you advance the plot and open up new areas of the Hisui region to explore. Let me clarify.
As an RPG fanatic, I'm ecstatic about the chance to not only explore a huge universe but also various sceneries; the cherry on top is that I can do so while riding amazing beasts. Riding the noble Pokémon is great, whether you're doing it on land, in the sea, or in the sky.
However, exploring might sometimes seem like a hassle. The world seems empty even if it is open. I appreciate what I can accomplish in this world, but sometimes I can't help but want for more—or at the very least, for it to seem a little more full. Moreover, it falls short of my expectations in terms of visual attractiveness, and to be completely honest, here is where my biggest complaint is.
The Switch OLED model I'm using to play Arceus isn't perfect in terms of visuals, and the frame rate reductions while docked also don't help. I cannot, however, ignore how vibrant the world seems, particularly when seen on a mobile device. Experiencing various climates, weather patterns, and locations is also enjoyable. Even yet, I can't ignore these graphics glitches, much as I like exploring what is now known as the Sinnoh area (especially since previous Switch games like Breath of the Wild look better).
Nevertheless, Pokémon Legends: Arceus succeeds in its goals in spite of these problems. The game offers unique gameplay concepts and an exciting new approach to explore a planet teeming with amazing animals. Is this a masterpiece, in my opinion? No. Do I believe it has set up the stage for a fantastic title in the future? Indeed.
Arceus has a captivating story, a fascinating universe that is sometimes devoid of life, and endearing characters. It provides end game material once the main plot is finished, of course, just like any other "mon game," but I personally find this to be hit or miss. However, I really like the post-game material this time around. It performs a fantastic job at holding my interest, enabling me to unearth even more mysteries, and improving my comprehension of the environment and Pokémon in it.
Once you defeat the lords and figure out the mystery around the rift, there is much more tale to uncover, and some really rare Pokémon are just waiting for you to locate. Other legendaries are just waiting for you to find them, although it goes without saying that Arceus and the Pokémon of the lakes, Palkia and Dialga, are included in the game (as part of the primary plot, no less). For my part, I was ecstatic to see a particular "mon," absent from Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond, that resembled a ghost or deity.
I should talk about the new appearance that some of the Pokémon have before I end this. To be honest, I'm not sure about this one. While I support various areas giving distinct Pokémon varied looks, I think some of the new designs are a little drab. Typhlosion, for example, seems to be relaxing on a beach or hula-ing in Hawaii. Unlike the original Johto region design, it exudes no fear. However,'mon like Arcanine look amazing in this situation. I will be let down the next time I have one with a different label because it is that good.
All things considered, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a game that every lover of the franchise should play and is friendly to beginner players. In fact, this could be a good spot for you to start if you haven't played any'mon games on the Switch yet. Arceus is proof that change is on the way, and I'm excited to see what the Pokémon franchise has in store.