Pokémon Legends Arceus

 

Pokémon Legends Arceus is a new RPG action-adventure style game, where you’re able to play in a more sandbox type world, with quest givers, options to choose said quests and generally play the game however you deem fit.  Fighting style still remains with the turn base system, however you do have the option to attempt to capture the Pokémon rather than being forced to fight it.

In the traditional sense, the game still offers up a travel system.  Here I managed to obtain a Wyrdeer early on through the main storyline.  I will say that the game does offer up a rather interesting main storyline and there are a bunch of side quests you can do for additional items and even rare Pokémon!  One of the first side quests gave me a shiny Ponyta.  So take my advice: do the side quests!

I am currently about 10 hours in the game and I’ve only just completed 2 stars and calmed one Legendary?  (I assume they are Legendaries, I’m pretty novice when it comes to Pokémon, I’ve only completed 2 games - both on the switch.)

I am currently working on the 2nd zone - but there is a lot yet I need to complete or ‘master’ in my Pokédex for research when it comes to finishing the game.

Another notice to this game is everything you use is crafted.  There are some locations that offer shops to purchase some things, but unlike the traditional games, new and better poke-balls are crafted.  And they offer up some bonuses when catching Pokémon at certain levels.  (Ie, Pokémon won’t obey you if they are caught with a ‘lower’ level ball). 

RIFTS 

Another thing the game offers up, to which I was thinking were like the raid battles from Sword/Shield, are time rifts.  Temporal temporary game events that come about in game play that offer up a chance to challenge and catch rare and higher level Pokémon not yet found in the game.  While my base group were mid teens, I got the game message that a temporal opened up.  It wasn’t hard to find, just find the rainbow dome while looking around on the map.  You walk through the shield and inside you can gather color gems, other materials and of course Pokémon!  I obtained a level 31 Gasteon.  Naturally, I didn’t have the level 30 pokeballs.  I did manage to capture it with a level 20 pokeball.  And the thing likes to disobey!

The game is definitely fresh to the traditional Pokémon games that have been previously played.  I will enjoy finding out just how the story pans out - as it is talking of previous clans from the previous games I’ve played.  Stay tuned for updates as I gather them.  And with total game time to almost-near-maybe not- completion.

Pokémon Shining Pearl

 Shining Pearl just became very intense.  The Grand Underground adds several (if not hundreds) more hours to the game!  I’m already ~ 20 hrs in the game and only obtained 6/8 badges needed for the just the storyline!  I’m progressing nicely, having not one, but 2 legendary starter Pokémon available to me having not only pre-purchasing the game, but having previous Pokémon games on my system as well.  In this Grand Underground, not only are you able to capture Pokémon not found in the original game (Platinum, only), you have ginormous caverns to unlock and discover.  Shiny drops to gather to obtain rare and shiny statues for your very own personal area.  Not only do they allow for you to create your own aesthetic personal space, but the statues give bonuses to both attack power and increased chance of discovering that Pokémon in the wild.

I’ve played Pokémon shield ~ 60 hrs, not officially capturing every Pokémon, however having defeated all the gyms, finishing the story and capturing my very own legendary Pokémon!  As my first, official, Pokémon game that I can say really got me into ‘gotta collect ‘em all’, I really liked the story it had.  Shining Pearl also has just as good of a story.  I’m definitely considering Arceus and adding that to the list.  Not only is it rumored to have a BoTW feel to it, which I love, it will continue with great story features that I have come to love.