Until last year, absolutely nothing was known about a new Pokémon game, if not many rumors that were circulating in the air. In the end, all of a sudden, February 27, 2019 arrives, which with a Pokémon Direct reveals the existence of Sword and Shield Pokémon, the brand new main chapters of the super famous saga dedicated to pocket monsters, for the first time on a home console: Nintendo Switch. Switch represents the perfect place where Pokémon is destined to land: the natural combination of portable console and home console, so as not to really give up anything between comfort and graphics. After the announcement we talked about in this preview, Nintendo continued to flood us with information, expertly dosed over time with a perfectly calibrated dropper. In fact, on June 5 a Pokémon Direct was aired which made the setting and the new mechanics much clearer, while at E3 we even got to try the game with our hands. We are therefore ready to recap together what awaits us in these two brand new adventures.
New games, new Pokémon
Absolutely obvious but important sentence: in every new main chapter of Pokémon, new monsters ready to be caught cannot be missing. Pokémon Sword and Shield are two completely new games, with a design that starts from scratch specifically for Nintendo Switch, detaching itself from the portable consoles to which the saga has always referred. It has been since 2016 that we have not had a real main title, if we consider that in 2017 we had Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon and in 2018 we had Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee, all remakes of previously released chapters. . So, after 3 years, here are some new pocket monsters. And there is no main chapter without the most difficult choice of all: that of the 3 starters.
- Grookey: the grass monkey, gives the feeling of being able to become a mighty gorilla. It is very difficult to imagine anything other than a Grass / Fight as far as it is concerned, and that would mean a return to the Chespin typology;
- Scorbunny: the fire-type bunny seems to be very special. That patch-shaped spot on his nose could mean a Fighting type, however the similar types of Pokémon seen so far have often resulted in a Normal-type secondary category;
- Sobble: the water chameleon seems to be very shy. He is the most varied as regards the possible types of his evolution, but the ones that seem most probable to us are Dark, Elf, or Earth.
All three Pokémon Sword and Shield Starters are truly beautiful and well designed. Seen in their entirety they appear very simple and round, similar to those of the first generations, however by analyzing them they are full of details that make them unique. As a design they are probably the best starters for many years now.
Let's now take a look at the other Pokémon announced so far:
Woloo, the Sheep Pokémon, has soft fur and is much appreciated by weavers for creating particularly popular local products.
Drednaw, the Bite Pokémon, has a sharp, serrated jaw with which it is able to detach even pieces of rock and metal. He has a very difficult and impetuous character, so only the most experienced coaches are able to control him.
Gossifleur is the Bloom Pokémon. It lives in places with clean air and water and its pollen appears to be therapeutic. Gossifleur is able to evolve into Eldegoss, the Cotofronzolo Pokémon. It has small seeds on its fluffy head, which promote plant growth and energize people and Pokémon.
We then get to know Corviknight, the Raven Pokémon. From its large size, this bird will also serve as a Volotaxi to be able to return to the cities already visited up to that moment.
Alcremie, the Fresh Cream Pokémon, produces a cream that becomes sweeter and tastier when it is happy. Desserts made with this cream are always delicious, so much so that many award-winning pastry chefs aspire to have it in their kitchens.
Yamper, the Puppy Pokémon, tends to be attracted to anything that moves quickly. It can chase people and Pokémon, or even charge behind vehicles! Yamper is equipped with an organ that generates electricity and is activated when it runs. However, this Pokémon is unable to store the electricity it produces, so it is often seen running around surrounded by crackling sparks.
Rolycoly, the Coal Pokémon, can light up dark places with its red eye. It uses the agglomerate of coal attached to the body like a wheel to move nimbly around mines and caves. It doesn't seem to have a problem even on the roughest roads.
Duraludon, the Metal Alloy Pokémon, is a very special Steel / Dragon type. The metal that its body is made of is incredibly strong and surprisingly light: the Pokémon has a total weight of only about 40 kg. This allows him to move with a certain agility despite appearances. Unfortunately, his body is subject to corrosion and is known to rust easily.
Let's now move on to the two Legendary Pokémon. The two wolves are quotes from Odin's two wolves: Geri and Freki.
The first, Zacian, he struggles by moving with such grace that he even manages to charm his opponents. In his mouth he holds what appears to be a sword.
The second is Zamazenta, who fights with such imposing moves as to overwhelm any opponent who dares to face him. His body is protected by what appears to be a shield.
The new region, Galar
The new Pokémon Sword and Shield region is filled with vast, lush expanses, and Pokémon battles are a sight loved by everyone, as a true regional sport. There are gigantic stadiums filled with enthusiastic crowds, and the fights between gym leaders and challengers are even shown on television.
This region loudly recalls Great Britain, and the developers have in fact put a lot of weight on the alternation of scenarios full of nature and advanced technologies. As for the external areas, we wanted to get to the call of a classic fantasy, inserting the dungeons and what are called the Wild Lands.
In these areas, they can be explored far and wide in style Open World, we can meet clearly visible on the screen rather than making random encounters, and in these lush landscapes we will find Different Pokémon depending on the weather every day.
In these areas it will also be possible check the camera so you can better notice distant or hidden tools or Pokémon, and you will be able to search every corner of grass, sky and lakes.
Goodbye Mega Evolutions and Z-Moves
In the Galar region there is a mysterious phenomenon capable of making Pokémon become gigantic: this phenomenon is called Dynamax. Thanks to it, new battle systems are opened (which in fact replace Mega Evolutions and Z-Moves): in Pokémon Sword and Shield it will be possible to use the Dynamax only once per fight, allowing your Pokémon to power up and substitute their Moves for Dynamax Moves, more powerful and spectacular, only to return it to normal after 3 combat rounds. As for some Pokémon, the new mechanic is even more functional: they are in fact subjected to the phenomenon called Gigamax, which in addition to increasing their size also changes their appearance. Just to give an example, Alcremie in its Gigamax form will become a giant wedding cake!
In the Wild Lands of Pokémon Sword and Shield we will not be alone: we will be able to connect up to 3 other players online or locally to explore these expanses that are lost visibly to try to challenge the fearsome Dynamax Raid. In fact, it will be possible to find in these areas some Wild Pokémon that are already magnified and that have no turn limit, strong in addition to abilities and special abilities. These Pokémon are challenged to gods Multiplayer raid, which will then allow us to capture the victim in the event of a won battle. During the Raid only one Pokémon of one of the 4 players is able to perform the Dynamax, so it is important to agree with the companions to use the best strategy. Some Pokémon will be catchable exclusively through Raids and cannot be found in different conditions.
Characters and Gym Leaders
Let's talk now about some characters we will meet during our adventure.
dandel (American name: Leon) is the absolute champion of the Pokémon League. He has an incredible unbeaten record, especially given the fact that the Galar region bases all its sport on battles and therefore fights are the order of the day. His is a bright personality, he's popular and everyone loves him. It is no exaggeration to say it is the most important person in the whole region.
Hop is the rival of the protagonist and is the younger brother of Dandel. His dream is to become a champion and trains every day non-stop. His journey begins on the same day as ours, which will certainly allow us to develop a certain bond with him.
Professor Flora (Magnolia in American) is the Pokémon Sword and Shield professor, a lovely old lady who researches Dynamax. His aide, who is also his niece, is called Sonia
Galar's Pokémon Gyms are special and gigantic stadiums built specifically to allow contenders to perform the Dynamax on their monster. Usually each gym leader has his own Ace Pokémon that is capable of Dynamax, so it's important to know how to wait to be able to fight on equal terms. Depending on how the battle progresses, the audience in the stands will show more or less enthusiasm.
The first Gym Leader announced was Yarrow (Mylow in American), grass-type coach. He is a muscular guy with a very tenacious fighting style.
In the following Direct we get to know other gym leaders. The water type is Riviera (Nessa in American). His calm and poised demeanor hides a strong competitive spirit and an iron will.
Fabia (Bea) is a Galar karate prodigy, heir to centuries-old traditions and techniques, as well as an expert in Fighting-type Pokémon. She is known for her stoic character and seldom reveals her emotions. Even in desperate situations, he always maintains a rigorous fighting style.
Finally, the last Gym Leader featured is Onion (Allister in American). This talented Trainer who specializes in Ghost-type Pokémon became Gym Leader despite his young age. He is extremely shy and fearful. When he is around people, he always wears a mask that hides his face. He rarely shows up in public and is said to spend much of his time among ancient ruins and cemeteries.
What to expect?
Graphically Pokémon Sword and Shield has obviously made huge steps forward compared to the last generation of Sun and Moon, on the other hand the saga has finally landed on home consoles. With elaborate animations, details and peculiarities spread throughout the story, together with an innovative and captivating design of the new Pokémon, certainly we will have nothing to regret. This is obviously if we do not consider the problem that has been discussed a lot in the last period: the fact that apparently not all the existing Pokémon will be present and therefore there is no National Pokédex. From the interviews it is clear that sooner or later this moment should have arrived, and above all a title like this - which completely renews graphics and animations - is the ideal time to start skimming those who would otherwise be almost 1000 monsters.
Of course, this will not stop esports and competition, which are considered extremely important in these two games. The more vertical players will be able to take advantage of the new skills, mechanics and moves to try to create the definitive team, while the more casual players will be able to delight in what seems to be an unmissable adventure and with characters full of charisma.
Pokémon Sword and Shield will be released on 15st November at the same time worldwide, and it will be possible to buy a double pack with both games and one inside Golden steelbox.
The two games have unique features per version, which are not limited only to the Pokémon present: even Gym Leader and some dynamics of the story differ between the two versions. Playing both ensures a complete point of view on the adventure. Obviously, each of the two games is complete and self-contained to fully enjoy the complete gaming experience.
Let us know what you think of Pokémon Sword and Shield! Will you buy them? One of the two or both? Which Pokémon do you like best from the ones shown so far, and which is your favorite Gym Leader? What do you think of the new mechanics? We can't wait to find out your points of view.
► Pokémon Sword and Shield is an RPG type game developed by Game Freak and published by Game Freak Nintendo for Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 15/11/2019
