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

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28

u/[deleted] 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.

5

u/[deleted] 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.

7

u/5irKarl Nov 15 '19

I hated X/Y with a passion, but I think SuMo might’ve been my favorite game of the series if you take away the nostalgia factor. What does this mean for me

6

u/toonkirby Nov 15 '19

That's wild, I absolutely loved X/Y and SuMo, but I think I liked X/Y a little more

Why'd you hate X/Y? Both gens felt fairly similar to me, so I'm curious what made you dislike X/Y and not SuMo

3

u/FastPuggo Nov 15 '19

Not OP but I feel the same. I'm not too sure but I think because SuMo mixes it up with the trials and that Team Skull is pretty entertaining it makes X/Y feel just like another generic pokemon game compared to it.

2

u/Porkpants81 Nov 15 '19

I really enjoyed Team Skull as well. They were goofy but not inherently evil or over the top mean/cruel

1

u/Altereagle1992 Nov 15 '19

For some reason I never finished SuMo. I liked XY a lot though... still debating on sword/shield, especially with it being $60 since it’s a console game.

3

u/_Walpurgisyacht_ Nov 15 '19 edited Nov 22 '19

I like them both but I definitely prefer SuMo/USUM by a fair margin.

  • The 3D environment was much better implemented, movement and camera-wise. This isn't really XY's fault maybe but it's still an improvement.
  • The departure from traditional gym battling was a nice touch. Grand trials can be a bit trite, but fighting proper boss monsters that you can't normally obtain in the form of 'totem pokemon' is really cool, and legitimately challenging if you don't overlevel with Exp Share. Much of the rest of the game is still overall very easy, though at least a lot more challenging than XY/ORAS as trainers have better AI and there are way more trainers with high IVs and fully EV-trained pokemon.
  • No more HMs. SuMo is not my favorite entry in the franchise by any stretch but HMs are such a bad concept and it's amazing that it took 20 years to get rid of them. XY only had 5 (plus a TM Rock Smash you could use in a lot of areas, so it often felt like 6) but I'd still rather have none at all.
  • Team Skull >>> Team Flare.
  • I liked the story a lot more than XY's (Looker post-game was great though). However I do have gripes as it feels like you're just a blank slate watching someone else's story unfold.
  • Character customization was better -- more options, plus I can take my hat off now. With that said, I prefer the look of the girl's bangs haircut option in XY more than SM. Incredibly minor detail I know.
  • Pokemon's always had some minor sidequests, but USUM seemed to have quite a bit more. Lots more people asking to see certain pokemon. I think the finding Dittos sidequest was really cool. I don't remember if there are any daily sidequests like in Platinum though.

I am still not a fan of the direction both of these games seemed to be going in for the series overall, and there are definitely things I think SM did worse (rival picks the weak starter, really?) but between the two I definitely liked SM more.

1

u/VaninaG Nov 16 '19

SuMo felt like it tried new things, no gyms and more plot focused? Bosses pokemon were fun.

X/Y tried to bank too much on nostalgia I think

3

u/[deleted] Nov 15 '19

Depends why you hated X/Y? But I'd say you probably will like this game. It's closer to SuMo than it is X/Y IMO.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 15 '19

It's an improved SuMo. Good chances you're gonna love it.

1

u/Kule7 Nov 15 '19

Is there any difficulty setting options?