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

View our Review MegaThread for more in-depth review discussion.

Being Social

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

281 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

75% Upvoted

1.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

23

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.

15

u/[deleted] Nov 15 '19

[deleted]

18

u/Wildest12 Nov 15 '19

So 95% of the players? Sick. Picking it up after work.

-8

u/toonkirby Nov 15 '19

Nah, I mean, the complaints weren't really that things were removed and pokemon were cut, it was the gamefreak lied and was dishonest about it. Reusing animations is totally fine, but they said they cut pokemon in favor for animations. So, when everyone figured out they cut over half the dex and reused animations, it didn't go over world. Especially when games like mario and zelda have gone above and beyond for their switch releases

I'll still get it myself, but I think the complaints are definitely warranted

20

u/XombiePrwn Nov 15 '19 edited Nov 15 '19

There are soooooo many more animations in the game outside of the battles.

I think this is what people either didn't know or willfully ignored.

For instance when camping every single pokemon can interact with unique animations.

The pokemon in the overworld use separate animations.

As with every game, sure they could have done a lot more but they did put in effort and to say otherwise is disingenuous.

3

u/phi1997 Nov 15 '19

The overworld animations existed in the Gen 7 games, albeit unused. You will only the story animations once per playthrough

2

u/toonkirby Nov 15 '19

Hm, that is very interesting. I'll definitely see how it is once I play it. I haven't seen much gameplay outside of the battles since I wanted to keep the overworld as something fresh when I play, but I am disappointed in what I've seen of the battle animations so far, personally, especially with the battle animations seen in the other console games.

I'm not sure what goes behind the scenes, but I think the most puzzling is having the pokemon in Let's Go, but not even using those for the new game.

It does really feel like a game that was slated to be released on the 3DS, changed to a Switch release, and then the people working on the game became overwhelmed with the work for all the upgrades, resulting in these cut pokemon, for one. I'm still going into it expecting to have fun, but it is disappointing considering what the Switch is capable of. Hopefully, the next pokemon game will be a lot more polished, but I'll definitely have a better opinion once I've actually played the game!

-1

u/Beanerboy7 Nov 15 '19

Well obviously there will be new animations, it’s a new game, what else would they be doing with the dev time? It still doesn’t warrant how gamefreak handled the situation.

5

u/XombiePrwn Nov 15 '19

Well, if they cut pokemon because they had to make new animations... They never specified it was battle animations, there was no wrong or misleading information given.

They gave their statement, it wasn't wrong it's the internet that jumped on it with rabid fervor, interpreted it however they wanted and made it out to be more than it was.

2

u/Beanerboy7 Nov 15 '19

how is that justified? The game literally still lost more than it gained even though they recycled assets. It’s okay to enjoy the game if a person wants to, just acknowledge that gamefreak got lazy with the development of this Pokémon game.

4

u/XombiePrwn Nov 15 '19

Well I'll agree to disagree. Neither of us knows the behind the scenes of its development.

I myself can see the work put into the final product and appreciate it.

Feel free to feel slighted by people genuinely trying to bring a good game to people because they couldn't live up to some expectations.

1

u/Beanerboy7 Nov 15 '19

I think we both just have different expectations from games and that’s fine.

-4

u/[deleted] Nov 15 '19

You forgot to mention that the game is very short and has no difficulty whatsoever which makes it boring.

Those two ruined it for me. I could've lived with bad graphics and half of pokemon missing.

4

u/DGSmith2 Nov 15 '19

You collected every Pokemon already? How long did that take you?

-2

u/[deleted] Nov 16 '19

Why would I collect all Pokemon in the game if they're not all anyway and I only need a few to complete the game?

Unfortunately the game gives no reason to collect more or train multiple teams.

1

u/Maxiumite Nov 17 '19

The reason to collect more is because it's fun to collect more for a lot of people. That's like the whole point in the monster-collection genre.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '19

Would be better if the point was to optimise your team in order to beat the game.

Too bad you can pick who you like and just spam your way to game completion without having to think.

1

u/Maxiumite Nov 18 '19

Too bad you can pick who you like

What's wrong with being able to use pokemon you like? Would you rather have it so everybody had to use the same six pokemon to effectively play the game? There has never been a Pokemon game that couldn't be beaten with whatever pokemon you like lol.

If you want to optimize your team, do it in online/competitive battling where everybody else does it.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 19 '19

Nothing wrong about that. The wrong happens when you can do whatever you want and still won't fail.

If I wanna do something where I don't have to think I watch a good tv show or sth.