“Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a step in the right direction for the aging series, even if its technical limits can't always support its ambitions.”
There are pros and cons.
- Research is rewarding
- Streamlined catching
- Charming sidequests
- Excellent combat tweaks
Cons.
- Tasks can be tedious
- Weak visuals
- Biomes lack variety
For the past seven years, every new Pokémon game has felt like a good idea. None of the new releases have felt like a full painting. The final version of Pokémon is a museum that collects all the best doodles.
The franchise's biggest departure to date has been thrown out the window by Game Freak. There is no competitive component, no gym, and no elite four. While it draws inspiration from more contemporary series like Monster Hunter, it is more focused on organizing the innovations of the 2010s in one place.
Pokémon: Arceus makes bold changes to the formula, successfully kicking off the long-needed reinvention. Technical limits around its neck prevent it from fully evolving.
A professor’s game
Pokémon is an open-world remake of the monster-collecting series. While there is catching and battling, the key word is research, as players are dropped into an ancient version of the Sinnoh region.
The emphasis on research leads to innovative hooks. Pokémon behavior nets players research points, which help build out a full Pokédex entry for the creature. It applies the idea of mobile-like daily challenges to each creature, letting players progress for doing virtually anything. There are quite literally thousands of boxes here.
At times, Pokémon is a dream come true. Creatures can be caught by tossing a ball at one without a fight, an improvement on Pok Go. Players are forced to dodge out of the way when wild creatures attack. Players can ride Wyrdeer, jump in the ocean, and switch to sailing on a Basculegion. It felt like a dream game to me when I was locked in the loop.
Sometimes it can be a bit tedious. I had to do creature studying to up my star rank and advance the story. It is reminiscent of Pok Go, which is unconvincingly gamifies repetition. Arceus handles that idea better, but it can wear thin once you catch your eighth Shinx.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a game about humans learning to coexist with the unpredictable creatures around them.
The game is hit-and-miss in terms of scripted content. The main story doesn't feel like it takes advantage of its feudal setting, it just feels like your average Pokémon world. Sidequests are more entertaining. These stories explore Pokémon behavior in ways that are gleeful. One mission has players capture a Zubat to help a woman figure out how to fly in the dark. A group of people are looking for a stray Drifloon that is playing with the village's children.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a game about humans learning to coexist with the unpredictable creatures around them. It is a warm, fuzzy experience that rewards players who identify more with professors than trainers.
While fighting isn't the main focus, it is still a core part of the game. The battles have been completely retooled and are for the best. The biggest difference is that Pokémon now have initiative in battle, so a Pokémon's speed stat is essential. The turn order determines when each creature acts. A quick monster could get two attacks before its opponent.
Arceus has a new hitch to moves. It can choose to execute a move in a strong or Agile style, which both use more powerpoints. Strong style hits harder, but will give the opponent an extra move. Agile style trades power for extra moves. The changes make battles even more strategic and tense, as players need to balance their damage output and attack frequencies.
A creature's move set can be changed at any time. Whenever a move is learned, either through buying new ones or leveling up, it is added to a list. One of the series' most convoluted features was removed because of a move to set a new one.
It is great news for players who have been begging for the series to challenge them. It has been streamlined in all the right ways. There is a tab in the battle that explains every active buff or debuff, and players can change PokE9;mon on the fly. The main series should include every single quality of life improvement.
Many of the mechanics will come to the next mainline Pokémon game based on how fans receive them here.
I sometimes felt like I was in a design proving ground. In noble PokE9;mon battles, which are on Sun and Moon, that is apparent. The players face a powerful monster by repeatedly tossing balms at it, sending out Pokémon to weaken it, and dodging attacks.
There are only a few of them throughout the adventure, and only the last few fights really find the concept. In the first fight against Kleavor, I didn't send out a single Pok. I just pressed one button to throw balms, not a Monster Hunter-quality fight.
The ideas in combat and outside of it feel like the final draft. Arceus is a safe place for Game Freak to experiment with new ideas. Many of the mechanics will come to the next mainline Pokémon game based on how fans receive them here. The game feels like a solid opening act.
I don't like the tech side of it, but I will say that Pokémon is an ugly game. I said that as a person who mocked people who complained about Sword and Shield. The unambitious art style is not a good fit for an open-world game that is built around inspiring awe.
While players move through the world, the landscape texture shifts and loads. Sometimes, Pokémon will move in a two-frame animation. There are more jagged lines in the character clothing than in the GameCube game. Sword and Shield's pop-in issue is back, and it's even more frustrating because open-world games are fun if you see something off in the distance.
I don't think Pokémon is a good game.
The open-world design is not inspired. Rather than throwing players into a giant world, it breaks it down into five different areas. You don't get a lot of visual diversity because each one has a specific theme. When you are in the grassy zone, it is just fields and trees. Some areas look the same, but with different lighting and texture. That's a shame, because Sword and Shield's Isle of Armor DLC features an intricate, varied island.
Breath of the Wild was so satisfying because there aren't many environmental secrets to uncover. It is a big empty space that feels like a testing prototype at times.
I have enjoyed my time with the game, but it is a little frustrating. It shows how slow the franchise is in implementing change. For the past seven years, every single Pokémon game has had at least one genuinely neat idea, but all stop short of presenting the best version of it. I anticipate a follow-up that will pull it together.
I'm in the exact same spot with Pok. I am imagining how the next PokE9;mon game can integrate all these new mechanics and make the game of my dreams a reality. The franchise feels like it is five years behind because it is a few years off. Arceus is a step in the right direction, but it still has a lot of catching up to do.
Arceus takes a lot of experimental swings and many of them are successful. The pivot to research-driven gaming does a better job of rewarding players. The quality of life changes it brings to the table are excellent across the board and feel like they will become standard in the series going forward. The project has been held back by some first draft design ideas and weak visuals. Even with its issues, I am still hopeful that the series will evolve.
Is there a better alternative?
Pokémon Sword and Shield is a good option for more traditional fans. Some of the same open-world experiments are found in those games.
How long will it last?
It is an open-world game with a lot to do, but I can't reveal the length of the story. Between researching, completing sidequests, and finding collectibles, I think it will keep fans occupied for a long time.
Should you buy it?
Yes. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an intriguing and much-needed reset for the aging series. It is a perfect match for the Nintendo Switch.
Arceus was tested on a Nintendo Switch in handheld mode and on a TCL 6-Series R635 when docked.
