Finally a Pokémon game that tries something completely different and actually pulls it off. After years of the same formula this experimental approach was exactly what the series needed even if it’s rough around the edges.
Catching Pokémon is immediate and satisfying now. You see a Pokémon in the wild and just throw a ball at it. No forced battle transitions or cutscenes breaking the flow. You can sneak through grass and catch entire teams without a single battle if you’re careful enough. It respects your time in ways mainline Pokémon games never have.
The Pokedex research tasks give you actual reasons to interact with Pokémon beyond just catching them. Use certain moves 25 times. Feed them specific berries. Catch them without being spotted. It turns what could be mindless grinding into a checklist that feels purposeful. Yeah it gets grindy especially if you’re going for full completion but at least you’re doing different things instead of just battling endlessly.
Combat changed too with the Strong and Agile style moves that let you trade power for speed or vice versa. Turn order actually matters now and you can get multiple moves in a row if you play it right. Alpha Pokémon roaming the world as mini bosses was a great touch. These huge aggressive Pokémon that will destroy you early on become satisfying to take down later.
The graphics are definitely lacking by Switch standards. Textures pop in constantly and the world looks pretty barren at times. But the art style works despite the technical limitations. Each area has its own vibe from the Crimson Mirelands swamps to the snowy Alabaster Icelands. It’s not pretty but it has character.
Noble Pokémon boss fights were such a welcome change. Actually dodging attacks and throwing balms while looking for openings to send out your Pokémon. These action segments break up the usual Pokémon gameplay perfectly. The Sneasler and Electrode fights especially had me on edge.
The story surprised me by being genuinely good. The time travel premise works and watching the Galaxy Team slowly accept you while building up Jubilife Village gives everything purpose. Characters actually have personalities and motivations beyond just wanting to battle. That final sequence at the Temple of Sinnoh with the rift opening was more intense than anything Pokémon has done in years.
It’s not perfect by any means. The world feels empty between Pokémon spawns. Side quests are mostly fetch quests. The graphics really should be better for a major Nintendo franchise and it’s frustrating that we keep accepting this level of technical performance. I bought it anyway and I’m part of the problem but Pokémon deserves better presentation. Despite all that this game proved Pokémon can evolve beyond the rigid formula it’s been stuck in forever.
50 hours completing the Pokedex to research level 10 for every species was grindy at times but I kept pushing because the core gameplay loop is that satisfying. Seeing Pokémon behave differently at different times of day. Finding rare spawns during specific weather. It all adds up to make the world feel more alive than any Pokémon game before it.
This experiment worked and showed what Pokémon could be when it’s not afraid to change. Scarlet and Violet took some ideas from this but I hope we get a full sequel that refines everything. Graphics need work and the world needs more density but the foundation is rock solid. The fresh take the series desperately needed.