POKEMON SWORD AND SHIELD REVIEW

Pokémon: Sword and Shield

Title: Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield

Available Platform: Nintendo Switch

Release Date: November 15, 2019

Developer: GAME FREAK inc.

Genre Action RPG

Review by Marcus Moliterno

I have been playing video games since I was 2 years old. It is the easiest way for me to relax. I was one of those children who was never allowed to play Pokémon. The only thing my mom knew about it was what they talked about in church. She was told it was based on the occult. I can understand why my mom would be concerned with the information she was given. However, I really wanted to play Pokemon Sword and Shield.

So when I asked my mother if I could buy the next Pokémon game, I was absolutely flabbergasted! She said yes. I thought back to my childhood, my older brother was also not allowed to play it, but still somehow bought games in the first three generations. So as I played through this game, and took notes to write this review, I was filled with a child-like wonder. “So this is what it must’ve felt like back in the 90s!,” I thought to myself. I have since caught every Pokémon in the game and completed the Pokédex.

Synopsis of Pokemon Sword and Shield

Pokémon was inspired by boyhood hobbies such as catching bugs. And in Japan, it was common to catch beetles and make them fight. This is perfectly represented in the original games by two Pokémon, Pinser, and (Gen 2) Heracross. Both of these Bug-type Pokémon were themed around beetles. This most recent game builds on this concept in many ways by completely creating the perfect atmosphere. Have you ever thought to yourself, “what if Pokémon was in the UK?”

One of the greatest elements of this game is the writing. It’s very fun to read the British terms used in every corner of the world. Words such as telly (television), mum (mom), and my personal favorite pants (lame or bad).

The Gym challenge in this game feels very reminiscent of European Football (soccer) with the uniforms, the stadiums, and the crowds.

The new Pokémon that are introduced in this game are great – Corvinight the crow in shining armor; Rolycoly the rolling coal pile; Applin’ the Wyrm in an apple; Wooloo is just a rolling sheep; Drualdon a walking steel skyscraper. Almost all of them perfectly represent the Galar region – This is the region that Sword and Shield take place in which is themed around the United Kingdom.

STORYLINE:

The story is about you. Each game has a rival and the rival in Sword and Shield is Hop, the champion’s little brother. The champion is Leon.

You begin by picking your starter Pokémon from the following: Grooky the Grass chimp, Scorbunny the Fire rabbit, or Sobble the Water chameleon. Shortly after you’ve selected your starter, a Wooloo runs (rolls) into the Slumbering Weald which is a very dangerous and foggy wood that is home to some powerful Pokémon. As you and Hop search for the lost Wooloo, you stumble upon two very powerful, and unknown  Pokémon. As you try to defend yourself, you quickly realize that you can’t hit them. The Pokémon starts to cause a heavy fog to roll in. Soon the fog is too thick to see anything, and you lose consciousness. Leon finds you and Hop unconscious in the woods.

Your Pokémon legend has just begun. You must now complete your Pokédex, go through the Gym challenge, and uncover the secrets of the Galar region’s history, and the mysterious Pokémon in the Slumbering Weald.

Pros:

• Simple gameplay and story.
• Easy to understand.
• Exactly 400 Pokémon to find and catch.
• Exciting challenges in every Gym.
• The music is great, especially the Hop battle theme.
• The Wild area is a great concept and is a very big open place to find many Pokémon.
• Breeding is the easiest it has ever been.
• Clothing comes in many varieties.

Cons:

• Lack of complete Pokédex is a major disappointment for many long-time fans especially now that the series is on a home console.
• The graphics are slightly on the rough side.
• Version exclusive Pokémon are easily the most annoying feature of the series.
• Trade evolutions are also a very outdated feature that should have been changed long ago.

Recommendations for Pokemon Sword and Shield

My recommendation for Pokémon Sword/Shield is ages 10 and up. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with this installment in the series with only a few minor hiccups here and there. While the game is rated E for Everyone, I have reservations about younger children playing it because there are some concepts that may be harder for younger children to understand.

P.S.: My mother revealed the real reason she didn’t want my brother or me to play Pokemon when we were younger. It had more to do with limiting screen time and having us read more!

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