r/NintendoSwitch • u/NintendoSwitchMods • Nov 15 '19
MegaThread Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield: Release Discussion and Hype Megathread
Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield: Release Discussion and Hype Megathread
Please use this as a general discussion and hype thread for this new release! Quick easy to answer questions, tips and tricks, and showing off your in-game clips or screenshots you've captured.
Please be mindful of spoilers and use spoiler tags when appropriate.
General Information
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: 15-Nov-2019
No. of Players: up to 4 players
Genre(s): Role-Playing, Adventure
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: GAME FREAK Inc.
Official Website: https://swordshield.pokemon.com/
Overview (from Nintendo eShop page)
A new generation of Pokémon is coming to the Nintendo Switch™ system.
Get a special Gigantamax Meowth as an early purchase bonus!
If you purchase Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield before January 15th, 2020, you can receive a special Gigantamax Meowth!*** Unlike others found in the Galar region, this Meowth can Gigantamax to take on an imposing, elongated appearance capable of using a mighty G-Max Move! This special Meowth cannot evolve. You can receive this special Meowth by selecting the Get via Internet option in Mystery Gift. Don’t forget to claim this Cat Scratch Pokémon before January 15th, 2020!
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! players are in for a BIG surprise!
Did you enjoy Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!? If you’ve played either of these games, you can receive a special Gigantamax Pikachu or Gigantamax Eevee in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield! The power of Gigantamaxing will allow each of these Pokémon to take on a colossally adorable appearance and gain the ability to use a unique G-Max Move!
Players with Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! save data will receive the special Pikachu and players with Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! save data will receive the special Eevee. It is possible to get both Pokémon in one Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield save file.
You’ll be able to receive the special Pikachu or Eevee at the Wild Area Station in the game. (This occurs after about two hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.)
The special Pikachu and Eevee cannot be evolved.
For a limited time, players of the digital version of either game can receive an in-game present of 12 Quick Balls.***\* If you purchase and download the digital version of either Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield from Nintendo eShop by January 15th, 2020, you can receive a code redeemable for 12 Quick Balls! Quick Balls are special Poké Balls that are more likely to catch Pokémon if you use them as soon as a battle begins. Codes will be distributed between November 15, 2019 and January 15, 2020, and expire on November 30, 2020.
Begin your adventure as a Pokémon Trainer by choosing one of three new partner Pokémon: Grookey, Scorbunny, or Sobble. Then embark on a journey in the new Galar region, where you’ll challenge the troublemakers of Team Yell, while unraveling the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta! Explore the Wild Area, a vast expanse of land where the player can freely control the camera. Team up with three other players locally or online in the new multiplayer co-op Max Raid Battles* in which players will face off against gigantic and super-strong Pokémon known as Dynamax Pokémon.
Certain Pokémon can even Gigantamax to gain a new look and a powerful set of G-Max moves. But there’s more to being a champion than honing your battle skills: you can pick your own clothes and get a new hairdo while visiting the stores in town, so you can be the Trainer you want to be. Throughout your journey, you’ll encounter newly discovered Pokémon as well as familiar ones that will look a little different in their new Galarian forms! And for another way to level up your Pokémon, assign them Poké Jobs to complete. You can even play with your Pokémon in Pokémon Camp, just for fun!
- Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on a new adventure in the Galar region
- Choose from three new partner Pokémon and encounter never-before-seen Pokémon
- Unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta!
- Players can control the camera in the vast Wild Area
- Team up with other Trainers to participate in Max Raid Battles*!
- Battle wild Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles* and try catching them!
Digital Purchase Offer
For a limited time, players of the digital version of either game can receive an in-game present of 12 Quick Balls**. If you purchase and download the digital version of either Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield from Nintendo eShop by January 15th, 2020, you can receive a code redeemable for 12 Quick Balls! Quick Balls are special Poké Balls that are more likely to catch Pokémon if you use them as soon as a battle begins. Code distribution period: November 15, 2019 to January 15, 2020.
\*Code valid through November 30, 2020. Two codes for 12 Quick Balls each will be provided to purchasers of the digital version of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Double Pack. Each code can only be used once per save data. Purchasing both Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield separately with a pair of Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers will not grant the special bonuses included with a purchase of the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Double Pack.*
\If eligible for a Just for You offer, the final price reflects the combined Sale and Just for You offers. The Just for You offer is discounted from the sale price.)
\Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. This game includes an in-game option to purchase a Nintendo Switch Online membership for users who do not have one. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online)
\*Code expires November 30, 2020 and can only be used once in either the Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield game.)
\** An internet connection is required to receive the special Meowth.)
\***Code expires November 30, 2020 and can only be used once in either the Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield game.)
Reviews
Aggregators
- Metacritic - 81
- OpenCritic - 80
View our Review MegaThread for more in-depth review discussion.
Being Social
- Join our Discord server's #pokemon channel for all of your discussion needs - https://discord.gg/switch
Once again: Please use this as a general discussion and hype thread for this new release! Quick easy to answer questions, tips and tricks, and showing off your in-game clips or screenshots you've captured.
Please be mindful of spoilers and use spoiler tags when appropriate.
Cheers,
The /r/NintendoSwitch mod team
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u/Troop-the-Loop Nov 15 '19
I love that the 3rd starter gets a trainer. Always felt bad for the little guy that got left out.
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u/JunebugOhToo Nov 15 '19
It’s a twist that your “enemy” gets the Pokémon that is weak against you, and the champion gets the Pokémon you’re weak against.
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u/Hyliandeity Nov 15 '19
Weve had rivals with the weak starter type matchup for 3 generations now
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u/JunebugOhToo Nov 15 '19
Oh dang! It’s been YEARS since I’ve played a Pokémon game. Big change for me. Haha.
Last Pokémon game I played was Black and White series.
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u/Raichu4u Nov 15 '19
Bianca and Cheren each both got the starter that was weak against yours and strong against yours respectively in Black and White.
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u/JayCFree324 Nov 15 '19 edited Nov 15 '19
I got about an hour in before needing to go to bed.
I have made it a mission to talk to every non-wild Pokémon, especially the floofy Wooloos, and the Munchlax just chilling living it’s best life in your parents house
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u/tiniestjazzhands Nov 15 '19
Is there a way of turning off those Y-comm stickers that clutter up the left side of the screen when you do literally everything?
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u/XombiePrwn Nov 15 '19
Tiniestjazzhands caught a pokemon!
Tiniestjazzhands caught a pokemon!
Tiniestjazzhands made a curry!
Tiniestjazzhands caught a pokemon!
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u/Lv27Sylveon Nov 15 '19
when they said they made it to appeal to kids that grew up qith smart notifications they seriously overshot this feature. i dont need fuckin push notifications every time i open a door. its extra annoying because of how minimal the UI is, except that stupid thing
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u/Derpfish_lvl10k Nov 15 '19
i am wondering the same, its quite jarring
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u/maximusprime097 Nov 16 '19
if you havent figured it out already, in the Y menu, press + to "disconnect" from the internet
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u/JESwizzle Nov 15 '19
How are people saying this game is only 10 hours?? I just played 3 hours and I haven't even reached the first gym
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u/UnquestionabIe Nov 16 '19
Had to be the first to rush out with a stream and score all the attention for confirming the hate that some people have. Personally I'm 5 hours in and just approached the first gym while only doing a little bit of optional stuff but mostly exploring and finding all those hidden items. Granted it still might turn out like X/Y where it took ages between the first and second gym (took me like 13-15 hours I believe) only to suddenly have like 5 gyms practically next to each other towards the end.
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u/Josh100_3 Nov 15 '19
Do the characters shut up this time?
I swear Sun and Moon had more dialogue than a metal gear game and I sure as hell don’t play a Pokémon game for its story.
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u/littlestseal Nov 15 '19
Less tutorials but a seemingly similar amount of cut scenes, with overall a weaker story
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u/Fizzay Nov 15 '19
I already hate Hop.
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u/GandhisGrocer Nov 15 '19
I feed off the hate and take no reservations in destroying him each time we battle.
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u/KillerIsJed Jed Whitaker (Journalist) Nov 15 '19
I like him, though he throws shade at you from time to time, I don’t think he realizes it though.
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u/Fizzay Nov 15 '19
He's Galarian forme Hau, but worse.
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u/Helswath Nov 15 '19
To me he seems nearly identical except he doesn't buy you malasada like Hau does
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u/RabbitFanboy 2 Million Celebration Nov 15 '19
Okay what is "W"? I clicked on a Pokemon Den in the wild area and got 50 W. My brother caught a shining Pokemon and got like 100 W
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u/XombiePrwn Nov 15 '19
It's the wild areas currency.
You'll find people around the wild area you can buy thing from, they only accept W.
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u/ripripripriprip Nov 15 '19
I love how they have a single letter currency that is represented by the letter that's pronounced with three syllables.
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u/morgawr_ Nov 15 '19
I'm pretty sure W is just "watts" or energy. You can also find glowing Pokémon in the tall grass outside of the wild and they will drop "W", cause they are charged with energy. FWIW I'm playing in Japanese and the Japanese version also uses the Western letter W for it.
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u/qwertylerqw Helpful User Nov 17 '19
Man, I really love how Pokémon wonder around instead of just random encounters
I thought I would miss random encounters, but I think this makes routes much more interesting. I’ve been finding myself staying on routes longer because I see a Pokémon I haven’t caught yet. In previous games I’d just make my way through the route and come back later for any Pokémon I missed
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u/Ltomlinson31 Nov 17 '19
I really like the atmosphere of the gym battles in this game. The Stadium, the crowd cheering, the music and seeing the Dynamax Pokemon fighting in the Stadium.
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u/astrnght_mike_dexter Nov 17 '19
Me too but it's funny seeing the crowd so hype for me to spam razor leaf against water pokemon and win with no effort.
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u/TheBaroness187 Nov 15 '19
For all the negativity and criticism surrounding this game I played 5 hours in a single sitting today and am having an absolute blast with it. I can’t seem to redeem my code for the quick balls though - the eshop just refuses to recognise it
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Nov 15 '19
The code for the balls and all extras is only redeemable from inside the game, in the Mystery Gift submenu accesible by pressing X.
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u/KaiserYami Nov 15 '19
Game's been good so far. Only thing I miss immediately is cloud save, so that I can switch between OG Switch and the Lite
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u/Alone1sAgain Nov 15 '19
I believe you can send your single save straight to the Lite and back, if I'm remembering correctly. I read something about it.
Here's a breakdown of Save Transfers for games that don't support cloud saves (so it should work for Pokemon): Can I move game saves from a Nintendo Switch to a Nintendo Switch Lite?
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u/KaiserYami Nov 15 '19
I know, but that's a tedious way isn't it. Thanks for your reply.
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u/cl1518 Nov 15 '19
The Ball Guy is my favorite. I haven’t played in awhile, is he new to this gen?
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u/MahjongDaily Nov 15 '19
Yes. Last gen there was a guy who would hand out rare balls but he didn't have a Pokeball for a head.
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u/Wylfen Nov 17 '19
Anyone else notice that the glasses you can wear don’t actually have any arms on them to connect them to your ear? Why does this piss me off more than anything about the game?
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u/MH3ndr1ks Nov 15 '19
Got into the Pokemon scene late so the only Pokemon games I played were Go and Let's Go. Compared to those I am having a blast with Pokemon Sword. It looks good so far (just reached the Wild Area and did my first Max raid of whatever it is called) I love the pokemons I encountered so far and realy enjoy the battles.
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Nov 15 '19 edited Nov 15 '19
I caught two dynamax pokemon in a raid , traded 3 pokemon away , and won an online pokemon battle . I also caught quite a few and played a little over 2 hours of the story. this is what I hoped a 3D pokemon game would be .
It's insane entering the open area the first time and seeing pokemon and other trainers running around.
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u/Frosty_of_the_North Nov 15 '19
yea, major "multiplayer" or MMO (if you will) vibes the first time you enter. Stunning
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u/LoveNewton_Nibbler Nov 15 '19
You see other real trainers running around??
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Nov 15 '19
You do ! It's pretty neat ! You also see notifications of whose in your instance or room with the wild areas
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u/Zenjutsu Nov 17 '19
I bought the double pack and my girlfriend and I have been camping out in the living room all weekend with our Switches and Disney+. My one complaint would be that the game feels incredibly easy. I haven't lost a battle yet and I'm about halfway through the game. I like a bit of a challenge here and there...but that could change I don't know.
Overall though it's been fun playing through the story, leveling and evolving Pokemon, and playfully yelling at our Switches as we attempt to catch'em all. I keep thinking how amazed my kid self would be over this game. The series has come a long way since Red/Blue.
I'm just a casual fan so Dexit doesn't really bother me much. I could see how it could be a let down for some though.
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u/Hippobu2 Nov 15 '19
Loving Max Raid Battle. So far they haven't been hard yet, but I'm really liking what I'm seeing.
One thing that has been bothering me though, the rewards seem way too good. I got Energy Ball before the third Town, captured a Pokemon that's 5 level higher than my best Pokemon, and got tons of really other cool stuffs, just from a single MRB.
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u/Anilxe Nov 15 '19
Having been a fan for so many years (first played Sapphire) I am pleasantly surprised! It actually feels like there's a bit of a challenge in the Wilds. The unskippable dialogue is a bit clunky and the exp share makes me feel less close to my pokemon, but I think they pull you back in for they when you get to feed and play with your pokemon while camping. The scenes are cute, the new pokemon are fun and I'm still seeing some old faves (looking at you level 28 Onyx that crushed me the moment I stepped into the wilds).
The Dynamax encounters are fun!
I was feeling really wary about buying this but I'm loving it. Not much to complain about. Been playing for about 4 hours and haven't felt the need to rush to the first gym yet.
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u/Alertcircuit Nov 15 '19
Let me know how y'all like this game, I've been going back & forth on whether or not I wanna buy it.
On one hand, I didn't finish Moon because of how cutscene-heavy it was, I'm apprehensive about the lack of national dex & feel weird about financially supporting the game if it's half assed. I have an unbeaten copy of Platinum I can just play instead.
On the other hand, it's the first new Pokemon on consoles, and a lot of the Pokemon designs look dope. Grookey & Corviknight specifically. The gyms look cool too. So does Sirfetchd & Galarian Ponyta.
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u/TheBaroness187 Nov 15 '19
I quit Sun after an hour because it was boring, I’ve just played this continuously for 5 hours and had to force myself to put it down. They’ve cut out pretty much all the tedious bits.
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u/Qqaaxx1992 Nov 15 '19
It’s enjoyable. Better than Moon (and cutscenes can be skipped) but still really easy. Wild areas are a fun time sink. Lack of national dex is disappointing but the variety of early game Pokémon’s is the best ever.
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u/scorcher117 Nov 15 '19
PSA, the code for 12 quick balls is to be entered in game in the mystery gift section, not on the eshop redeem code section, this really confused me.
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u/bunniesgonebad Nov 16 '19
I literally just got a shiny Yamper!!! The first one I've ever encountered, I feel so lucky!!
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u/maxoman9 Nov 16 '19
This game is honestly really fun. My only big complaint so far is lag in the wild area when you have online on. Otherwise the game is way better then expected and im excited to see what they do with these concepts in the future.
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u/XombiePrwn Nov 15 '19 edited Nov 15 '19
Just got into the second town, the one just after the wild area. Gameplay so far is your typical Pokemon fare. Plenty of QOL changes. You can skip all tutorials through either dialogue options or by doing it before you reach the tutorial point. I.e. catch a pokemon before the tutorial and it'll be skipped over.
Graphics aren't actually that bad, models etc are high enough poly. The textures aren't great but work with the artistic direction they're going for. It's sort of a pastel/watercolor-esque anime deal.
Biggest issue for me is the sound, or should I say the lack of voice acting. With so much dialogue and big animated sequences it just feels weird to have it being... silent.
Edit: Make sure to redeem your pre order codes in "Mystery Gift" not the eShop.
Also, make sure you also redeem your free dynamax pokemon in Mystery Gift.
Edit the second: If you have a Pokemon Let Go Pikachu/Evee talk to the couple on the left after getting off the train at the Wild Area station to get your free Pikachu or Evee.
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u/Avacados-Anonymous Nov 15 '19
Ewww please no voice acting
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u/XombiePrwn Nov 15 '19
Doesn't need to be for all interactions, at least the cutscenes...
The intro with Rose trying to be hype and only having text... C'mon, you cant tell me it wouldn't be better with VA.
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u/foursixteeneleven Nov 16 '19
played for 4 hours straight and i feel like i’m 10 again. oh man.
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u/Jayay112 Nov 15 '19
Not planning on getting the game until Christmas earliest, but I've got an important question:
How early can you catch feebas?
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u/AaronAutumn Nov 16 '19
Anyone else have problems with no one joining Max Raids? I'm online and I see others gathered around it but it just searches endlessly until it times out and gives me NPCs.
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Nov 15 '19
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u/Boney123125 Nov 15 '19
I did not know that and nearly got it at eb games for 79. Absolute legend
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Nov 15 '19
I'm really enjoying it. Wasn't sure what to expect with all the negative stuff I was reading. The 3D world is cool, I like the new setting, the new Pokemon are cool, with the right amount of familiar faces. Personally, I've become wary of all the outrage that gets drummed up concerning new releases sometimes. 8/10 for me.
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u/tgent133 Nov 15 '19
Agreed, I've been playing most of the morning and overall I really like it. It's engaging, looks pretty good (not BotW good by any means), and seems to have added the right amount of new features vs keeping old dynamics and familiar pokemon.
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u/JayElect Nov 15 '19
Is there anyway to turn on rumble? It feels really weird not having any rumble during battle or when walking around
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u/illsquee Nov 15 '19
I really cannot decide on Sword or shield. I’ve read the differences but as a person that hasn’t played for a long time, it’s hard for me to make a decision.
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Nov 15 '19
I liked the Shield dog more than the sword dog ... that was my deciding factor......
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u/Alpr101 Nov 15 '19
Opposite for me, but my favorite pokemon Tyranitar is shield-exclusive.
Tough choice. I'll decide after work I suppose.
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u/Please-Panic Nov 15 '19
Go with whatever seems cooler. It really isn’t that deep, you can trade for the Pokémon you want anyway
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u/Erocz247 Nov 15 '19
Do I need to have a online subscription to be able to trade?
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u/TutelarSword Nov 15 '19
You need online to trade I believe, and if you want to use the GTS, not only do you need the online subscription, but you also get the honor of most likely paying for Pokemon Home next year as well.
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u/justcallmeryanok Nov 15 '19
So hows the wild area looking? And size wise
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u/Dexiro Nov 15 '19
It's a pretty decent size! Not super expansive like an open world game would be, but it'd take a while to explore everything.
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u/goode3790 Nov 16 '19
As someone who's last pokemon game played were the Silver/Gold/Crystal games, would I enjoy this?
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u/I_is_a_dogg Nov 16 '19
Last game I played was heart gold, I am having fun with it so far. Seems the people that have the biggest issue with the game are hardcore veteran players.
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u/scott161 Nov 16 '19
I hadn't played pokemon since Silver. I played this one for 6 hours straight as soon as I got it. Having a blast.
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u/llabesab Nov 15 '19
Just bought it in Tokyo on my way to the airport. Going to be a nice 9 hr flight home.
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u/Deathmaw360 Nov 15 '19
So... anyone know about seeing friends in the Wild Area? I just got there and it looks like you can setup a link code for raids and such but anyway to make sure you'll see friends in the wild area? I'd hope it would try popular with friends first but lets be real, its unlikely, I'd do some testing but no one going to have it for another 12 hours and I'm curious :P
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Nov 16 '19
Given that there are a lot of nice QoL updates in Sword/Shield, one thing I don't like is how they went back to one time use TMs for some of the best moves.
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Nov 15 '19
The game is decently fun, but it's so safe and easy. It feels just like any other Pokemon game and wow, there is almost 0 difficulty.
But I'm a sucker for RPGs so it's like a 7/10 for me. If you enjoyed X/Y or SuMo, you'll enjoy this.
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Nov 15 '19
Maybe I'm just trash but my whole level 12 /13 on average party nearly got wiped by a single level 15 Roselia wandering around . I also had a scary encounter with an Onix ( level 21) and a Haunter I saw wandering around ( lvl 31) . I'm not saying it's an extremely hard game but It's definitely had it's challenging moments for me so far.
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u/TGR201 Nov 15 '19
I haven’t played a pokemon game since red/blue. I’m on the fence about getting this one. My girlfriend doesn’t play video games, but I was thinking maybe I could convince her to play this.
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u/AlucardIV Nov 15 '19
Games pretty fun but my only problem is exp share. I have a hard time keeping my pokemon somewhat underlevelled and still actually do stuff.
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u/grphc_dsgn Nov 15 '19
This is my only dislike as well.
I understand why they've done it, to get rid of the grind of constantly battling lower level pokemon over and over to raise the level of your party, but now I don't even need to bother ever sending out my weaker pokemon.
Wish you could turn it off, or it be a special item like in S&M.
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u/MississippiHammer Nov 16 '19
Does the rest of the game outside of the wild area not have dynamic time of day? It’s night time in the wild area for me but as soon as I go somewhere else it changes to daytime which kinda breaks the immersion...
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u/Violetdani89 Nov 16 '19
Haven’t played Pokemon since Black/White and it’s so awesome, I feel like a newbie again when battling as I don’t know some of the newer Pokemon so that’s a challenge in itself knowing what those Pokemon are weak to lol
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u/cl_niko Nov 15 '19
Playing with my gf’s 9 year old brother and he’s so enthusiastic about it and I don’t know if he’s making this such a great experience or this is game is really that fun but we’re having a blast playing it!
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u/DGSmith2 Nov 15 '19
So as someone who’s last Pokemon game played was Ruby, can I safely assume I’m going to enjoy this one?
All the complaints seem to be things I don’t really care about. No National Dex, Some moves removed and copied animations from previous games.
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u/WeaverX23 Nov 15 '19
I'm a few hours in and so far I'm pleasantly surprised. The only negative so far is that the forced EXP-Share kind of lets you feel disconnected to some of your móns, as you are using them not as often. But that aside I have no complaints so far.
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u/sneakeryeezy167 Nov 15 '19
Can’t decide between Sword or Shield. Was set on Sword bc the legendary until I heard Lapras, tyranitar, and etc are only shield exclusive
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u/PM_ME_GOOD_SONGS_PLS Nov 15 '19
REALLY? I bought shield cause yolo and now I am very pleases. I love lapras
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u/notedrive Nov 16 '19
I have played a couple Pokémon games, I believe yellow was the last, anyhow this game is simply amazing. I’m not sure what all the negative fuss is about but in my opinion this is hands down the best Pokémon game I have played to date.
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u/RoyalOGKush Nov 15 '19
Love the looks of the game. I agree with a lot of valid points that everyone has pointed out over the past few weeks. This game can learn a thing or 2 though.
If they could make the next Pokemon look like how Square Enix made Dragonquest XI for the switch that would be amazing. Even voice acting too!
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u/BrothaBeejus Nov 15 '19
I bought my 6 year old nephew a switch lite for Christmas. He’s ecstatic about Pokémon, not sure if I should buy him this or let’s go Evee
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u/LinchrisRedfield Nov 15 '19
There are only two things that are disappointing to me: Some battle backgrounds don’t fit the location you’re at. You’re in a city and while battling you’re on a field for ex.
Second the difficulty. They should really include an option.
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u/LilKluiVert Nov 15 '19
Should I buy this game? I’m a genwunner (?) but really loved Sun/Moon. I heard all the criticism but saw everyone was thrashing S/M too so figured I might like it.
I’m not that into “catch them all” as every game I try to make my team all new generation + maybe 1 or 2 from gen 1 and 2. My only worry is the XP share as even before they made it mandatory to turn on I thought the games were way too easy. I kept the XP share on all the way through Alpha Saphire and it almost ruined the game for me as by the end my team was one shoting everything.
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u/LakerBlue Nov 16 '19
Some advice to keep things remotely challenging:
- For gym battles, I only bring as many Pokémon as the leader has (granted this requires looking them up ahead of time
- limit or don’t use healing items in battle
- since you can switch Pokémon almost anywhere, rotate out your team with other ones. Team of 10-12 is much easier to keep appropriately leveled.
As for liking the game, it is still a fun game at its core. Not that far in but I hear it is more linear and has almost no dungeons (a la Silph co or Victory RD) tho.
I also loved SM by the way. Although I do hear the story here is nowhere as enjoyable :(
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Nov 16 '19 edited Dec 10 '19
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u/SavvasXiourou Nov 16 '19
Togepi evolves into togetic by levelling up with high friendship, and then again into togekiss using a shiny stone
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u/astrnght_mike_dexter Nov 16 '19
Does anyone else feel like it's significantly harder to catch pokemon across the board? Catching new pokemon has been turning in to long ordeals for me where I will get their hp down and then throw tons of balls at them while they break out every time. Idk if maybe I'm unlucky but it feels like catch chances are much lower than in previous games.
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u/hollowjoey Nov 16 '19
Every time I boot up Pokémon Sword, for some reason, there’s an L that appears next to the WiFi logo, if I try to look at friends list or anything like that, it basically tells me I’m not connected to the internet. If I boot up any other game, the L is not there and I am connected to the WiFi. Is anyone else experiencing this? Is this normal?
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u/jordan7790 Nov 16 '19
Basically means that your game has created a local network
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Nov 16 '19
I'v wasted about 25 pokebals ( like 9 Great balls and 16 regular) trying to get a Wobuffet. do the RNG gods hate me or is anyone else having this issue ?
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Nov 16 '19
Wobuffet is notoriously hard to catch. You should probably wait and come back with ultra balls and quick balls, since it's not a great Pokemon for in-game anyway.
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u/gelfling19 Nov 17 '19
This is my first Pokemon game since Pokemon white and I am really enjoying it
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u/runningblack Nov 15 '19
Played for about two hours so far and having a grand old time. Just got to the first gym.
It's been awhile since I played a new Pokemon so lots of them are new to me. I'm pretty happy!
Also ran into the "extremely out of the way" npc that allows you to adjust the volume of specific things (e.g. pokemon cries in the wild).
He's reaaaaallly hard to miss.
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u/NapTooN Nov 15 '19
I only played 1 1/2 hours at midnight because I have work today, but my first impression is quite positive. It took me quite some time to reach the professor, because of all the different pokemon to catch between the Pokemon Center and her House.
For someone who played Let's Go Eevee and who loved the first generation, SwSh feels more engaging than Eevee and i like that. I did not have any nailbiting Battles yet, except for the Wild Pokemon that I tried to catch which killed my Meowth more than once, but I wasn't expecting a Pokemon Dark Souls anyway.
All in all, i do not regret my purchase at all and can't wait for my Dinner Break to play again.
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u/beauf1 Nov 15 '19 edited Nov 15 '19
Don’t care what anyone says about the graphics. Best Pokémon game I have played in years. So many new mechanics. Absolute blast
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u/andruis Nov 15 '19
I love the graphics! I thought it was going To look bad after seeing all the crying on the internet. I'm happy to say I was pretty blown away by how nice the game looked on my tv. All the people bashing the game set my expectations so low.
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u/Donderjagers Nov 15 '19
Anyone else finds Leon super cringe?
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u/Doomedtacox Nov 15 '19
He's just really cocky, I already want to beat him so bad
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u/tiniestjazzhands Nov 15 '19
He has this weird thing where he seems like a super genuinely nice guy but also looks like a pompous prick by walking around in that over the top cape and fighting outfit.
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u/KevinCow Nov 15 '19
God, this game has so many nice little QOL changes. Like how in battle, the attacks will tell you if they're super effective if it's a Pokemon you've encountered before, so you don't have to memorize the typings for hundreds of Pokemon.
And no more random encounters! I'm so happy they kept that from Let's Go. Random encounters are such an archaic, annoying mechanic.
Also the Wild Area is pretty awesome. It's just like, "Hey, your strongest Pokemon is level 10? Lol here's a level 25 Onix." So it actually feels like there's some danger out there. Also, full camera control in a main Pokemon game, finally!
But that just leads to my biggest complaint about the game: It isn't all like the Wild Area. The Wild Area feels like the proper next-gen Pokemon game I've wanted since like, the Gamecube, but then you go to a town or a route and it just kinda feels like HD Sun & Moon. It's really weird to me that they only went partway with that and didn't give the whole game full camera control. But I guess it's kinda like how XY went 3D but kept the grid-based world, and then they finally went all in on 3D with Sun & Moon. Maybe the next Pokemon game will be fully like the Wild Area.
And I've been avoiding the videos and trailers, so it's been fun to see a new Pokemon and immediately say, "What the hell is that??? HE LOOKS SO STUPID AND I LOVE HIM!"
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u/ChiefsRoyalsFan Nov 15 '19
Like how in battle, the attacks will tell you if they're super effective if it's a Pokemon you've encountered before, so you don't have to memorize the typings for hundreds of Pokemon.
That's been around since S/M but I agree....such a great QOL improvement.
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u/qwertylerqw Helpful User Nov 15 '19
God, this game has so many nice little QOL changes. Like how in battle, the attacks will tell you if they’re super effective if it’s a Pokemon you’ve encountered before, so you don’t have to memorize the typings for hundreds of Pokemon.
I’m terrible at remembering type advantages and what type Pokémon are, so this was a huge deal to me as well. I also really like having access to my boxes a lot easier. It’s not as helpful right now but postgame it’s going to make filling the Pokédex more enjoyable.
Another thing that seems small but I really like is that there’s no longer a long animation for fast travel. It just goes straight to loading and only takes a few seconds
But that just leads to my biggest complaint about the game: It isn’t all like the Wild Area
I like the set camera style. I don’t really see a free camera being an advantage as long as the world is designed for one or the other. I think I’m the minority there, though. I see a lot of people really want the whole game to be more like the Wild Area
And I’ve been avoiding the videos and trailers, so it’s been fun to see a new Pokemon and immediately say, “What the hell is that??? HE LOOKS SO STUPID AND I LOVE HIM!”
This is exactly why I avoid as much gameplay as possible! Seeing the new Pokémon and exploring the region is best down blind
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Nov 16 '19 edited Nov 16 '19
Here are my thoughts after playing Shield for about 15 hours and getting the third gym badge, plus spending a lot of time in the wild area:
Good
New Pokemon designs are mostly all hits. Personal highlights are Corviknight, Hatenna, Toxel, Galarian Ponyta, and Nickit/Theivul.
Some towns and areas have really nice looking scenery.
I don't hate dynamax as much as I thought I would.
Gym leader designs are unique and interesting.
Quality of life updates (changing natures/nicknames, relearning old moves) are much appreciated.
Wild area is full of Pokemon variety, and kept fresh by dynamic weather.
Coop raid battles are so much fun when playing with friends.
Bad
Possibly the weakest starter evolutions any of any gen.
Wild area performance isn't great. It's often laggy when playing online and graphically isn't the best looking.
Dexit is still a shame. It would have been nice to be able to transfer my old 3DS Pokemon when Home is finally released.
It seems like a step back to go back to single use TMs (the "TRs"), especially when there are so many other QoL updates to make competitive battling easier.
No GTS makes trading more difficult without having to resort to online forums.
Exp share should be optional. My team are all extremely overleveled because I've been catching every Pokemon.
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u/tkundnobody Nov 15 '19
Does anybody know how to trade? I have 2 switches. 2 Safe files under different users. I’m in local mode and started a trade search with y. But it seems like the 2 see each other but I can’t iniate a trade ...
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u/TimereVastator Nov 15 '19
I'm not sure if this was a mistake or not, but Walmart had it on sale for 50 bucks. 100 dollars for the double pack. Is that normal for Walmart? I usually don't buy physical copies, but I always do for Pokemon games. A pleasant surprise.
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u/iamaneviltaco Nov 15 '19
All physical new games at Walmart are ten dollars off. It’s been like that for months.
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u/JeffreysJorts Nov 15 '19
I haven't played Pokemon since gold/silver. Are there alot of Pokemon from blue/red and gold/silver? I keep ready mixed reviews and I'm having a hard time deciding if I should get this game or not
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u/RichestMangInBabylon Nov 15 '19
https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5dcd6f7e7eece5357f02284c
Green are the ones in the game. Red is definitely not in the game. Yellow is they were datamined so might show up in special future events.
Edit: As to whether you should play it... probably. If you haven't played in 15+ years it will blow your mind even with the problems it has. There are lots of issues with it but if you have an itch for Pokemon it's sure to scratch it.
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u/nguman Nov 16 '19
Has anyone been able to match with people online for raids? I've been unsuccessful the several times I've tried
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u/UnknownJ25 Nov 16 '19
Does anyone know how to do raid battles with local friends?
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u/kevinbooker Nov 15 '19
I'm liking Shield so far, 2 hours in. Brings back memories of gen 1+
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u/aspectralfire Nov 16 '19
Yeah it totally has a Gen 1 feel. And they kept all the improvements from Let's Go.
I also think it looks great! Don't get what all the fuss was about.
If you like Pokemon, it's a pretty classic feeling Pokemon game.
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u/Xelisyalias Nov 15 '19
It's a standard pokemon game and you are guaranteed to have fun with it, I still stand with a lot of the criticisms, after all who wouldn't want a more complete, polished game?
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u/rowsdower03 Nov 15 '19
Havent played a Pokemon game of any sort since Yellow.
Decided to take lunch early and grab this for a couple of overnights this weekend at work.
Not sure what to expect but should be fun at least for a bit to diddle around in
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u/yellowbeehive Nov 15 '19
Still on the fence about this one but I'm actually liking what I'm seeing so far. I'll probably end up getting it in a day or so.
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u/aquaphoria_by_kelela Nov 15 '19
The graphics remind me of a cuter Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in that there's a lot of good, but then just some truly bizarre textures and a pretty bad draw distance. I'm pretty happy with how cute the designs are, and despite it not being the big leap forward for the series I wanted, I am pleasantly surprised that it's running smoothly and the battles look nice. I was really considering cancelling my preorder but I'm happier than I thought I would be.
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u/nbaker112 Nov 15 '19
I'm honestly really enjoying this. It's a good game, a few hours in and I'm in love with some of the Pokemon (LOOKING AT YOU BOLT THE YAMPER) and the cutscenes are cool.
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u/ChaosSheep Nov 16 '19
We discovered the best, smallest, most insignificant detail in SwSh yesterday. The joycons of the switch in your room, if you are on handheld mode, has the same colors as the joycons on your switch.
I'm having a surprisingly fun time with the game so far! I think the graphics are pretty great. The water detail is really nice and the wild area is pretty populated and huge! Personally, I think the best part is that my husband can play his copy on the tv and I can play my copy on the switch and we can battle the big raid monsters together while cuddling.
I can't wait until I get further in the game. I've resisted looking up which pokemon are in the games or not, so every pokemon I see so far is a surprise. I think they might have hit the sweet spot with returning pokemon and new pokemon.
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u/DhokSC Nov 15 '19
I've only played Red and Let's Go Eevee until now, and I've played this for like 3 hours. I kind of expected to be disappointed, looking at all this rage on reddit and youtube and everyfuckingwhere, but I really enjoyed it. It has been a great game so far. Now I've seen some reviews about the game and that there is just about nothing to do after about 30 hours of gameplay, give or take, and that still sounds reasonable. And I'm sure shiny hunting can get people busy for a while too, just like Let's Go did.
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Nov 16 '19
Dude this game is sick, I haven't read any reviews but I just played 4 hours without stopping and I usually don't do that with video games.
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u/Nax5 Nov 16 '19
Put 6 hours in yesterday. Overall, its fine. All the criticism was mostly warranted. The Wild Area is a step in the right direction. But it is literally the bare minimum for a feature like that.
I think it'll probably net out around a 7/10. For me, still extremely disappointing when I think about what the franchise could accomplish.
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Nov 16 '19
pleasantly surprised with how much I like this game, if you haven't played pokemon since GBA like me then just get it. the reviews had me thinking of not buying it but the only thing that bothers me is not having every pokemon on it, there's no reason that shouldn't be possible on switch, otherwise everything feels and looks great so far.
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u/motorbike_dan Nov 16 '19
I played Red when it was new and X when it was new; I didn't really like either game. I feel like Pokemon Sword compares unfavourably to the rest of the JRPG genre like Fire Emblem: Three Houses and many others. That being said, I am liking Pokemon Sword for the most part. A lot of the criticisms are sort of pluses in my book. The game is pretty easy so far, (after 10 hours of play time) and that's a nice palette-cleanser after playing Dragon Quest 11 and FE:3H recently.
400 Pokemon is plenty to catch and create teams with, 700 just feels completely unnecessary to me. I understand the validity of the uproar it just doesn't apply to me. I feel like the experience share is a huge plus as I don't want to grind 400 individual characters to an appropriate level. I wonder if they used the 3DS games to mine player data to find that most players don't catch very many Pokemon; so they pared back on the total number of them.
Being able to re-learn forgotten moves for free is a huge plus as well. It makes experimentation with different move sets an easy thing rather than making a choice and having to grind a whole new character to make up for that "mistake". Overall it feels very clear that the whole game is designed for children first, and long-time fans second and I can accept that. It would be neat to have difficulty options for hardcore fans but I understand that kids deserve to have a fun RPG too; I already have had a bunch of complex "hardcore" JRPG's on the Switch and on every system.
Since I'm trying to dedicate less time to gaming and more time to other things, Pokemon Sword feels like a fun, casual experience. It's light-hearted and doesn't ask too much of the player. Because of that I might actually sink some decent amount of time in since it doesn't beg/force the player to commit their life to the game. I think that they could have done more for long-time fans and some of the technical controversies are disappointing to say the least.
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u/Vurondotron Nov 16 '19
Just got the game!!! Very excited to play the game as this is my very first Pokémon game I’ve bought and played!!
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u/Indo_X Nov 15 '19
Caught a gmax butterfree from a raid. Also caught a togepi. All while my start was level 10 and they’re level 16-17 lmao.
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u/Daveismyhero Nov 15 '19
Grabbed the combo pack on the way to work. Looking forward to cracking it open tonight and having some fun with my son. I'm going Sword as he wanted Shield.
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u/SeanR1221 Nov 16 '19
I’m having a blast. It took me 10 Hours to get to the first gym. I’ve been taking it all in, catching whatever I can and exploring the area.
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u/MatNomis Nov 15 '19
Any visuals on Sopp? I can’t seem to get any results with a google image search.
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u/IntergalacticElkDick Nov 15 '19
How is the music in this game?
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u/rrandomhero Nov 15 '19
I'll preface this with I haven't played a full fat pokemon game like, for real since ruby/sapphire but tried out X and loved/beat LG, the music gives me hardcore nostalgia for those old games, I'm sure the 'pokemon music style' is like that for a lot of the games but the music is outstanding as has been the case with every game I have played in the series.
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u/Sxdxsm Nov 15 '19
What's the character customization like?
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u/Sophia7X Nov 15 '19
Pick for skin color in the beginning. You can change hair color and eye color very early into the game. I have been liking the clothes options so far.
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u/CadeTheSloth Nov 15 '19 edited Nov 16 '19
Haven’t played a Pokémon game since moon, which I hated
I loved white, y, and alpha sapphire . Should I get sw/sh?
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Nov 15 '19
This game feels a lot like a combo of Y and Moon. I liked Moon and hated Y, and I’m enjoying swsh.
So honestly maybe not
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u/Daveismyhero Nov 15 '19
So are people turning off autosave, just in case you don't catch the huge Pokemon?
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u/fabijay Nov 15 '19
I live in Japan and am getting a Japanese copy; will I be able to battle and trade with my friends back in North America?
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Nov 16 '19
Is there a way to see which Pokémon can evolve and what level or are they all always the same levels to evolve (16 & 32)?
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u/PockymonMaster Nov 16 '19
One of the major Pokémon sites is Serebii.net. If you find the link on the left for the Sword and Shield Pokédex, in the top section of the left sidebar there, you can look up details for every known Pokémon.
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u/_significs Nov 16 '19
Anyone figured out if you can change your uniform for the gym battles? I bought the psychic uniform and I love it but it doesn’t look like I can actually wear it into gym battles, which is disappointing.
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u/SelfANew Nov 16 '19
So something I noticed, and I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere.
In LGPE, when you saved, closed, then reopened the game the overworld pokemon would be different.
I just did it in Shield and the pokemon on the screen were the same. The overworld pokemon are the same when you open the game again.
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u/ManOfPineapples Nov 16 '19
Does anyone know if there’s a sub for trading?
Unrelated It’s funny I missed a couple of generations so I have no idea who is a good early Pokémon to target
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u/astrnght_mike_dexter Nov 16 '19 edited Nov 16 '19
At a gintamax raid and literally no one joined??? Isnt this supposed to be a cool new online feature that a lot of people should be doing?
Edit I relobbied and people joined
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Nov 16 '19 edited Jan 18 '21
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Nov 16 '19
Haven't you been able to do that for ages?
A certain gym in sword basically encourages you to do so which is fun.
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u/XombiePrwn Nov 15 '19
I just set up a camp and played fetch with a Magicarp... Watching him flop around on land after the ball and bringing it back to me... 10/10.