Gen V was what really got me back into the series in a big way. It was so refreshing to play a Pokemon exclusively made up of new monsters (until post-game) and the US setting really allowed the games to stand out. It introduced a bunch of nice QoL changes and I really dug a lot of the new designs, even the ice cream monsters everyone lost their minds over (Vanilluxe) was in my Hall of Fame.

The sequels were awesome too. Instead of just being a 'GotY' edition, they were genuine follow-ups with new areas, new features and a lot of the older Pokemon were available and in interesting locations. I still haven't picked up Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon because they went back to that old design choice. If you're ever in the mood, I'd recommend going back and playing through either Black 2 or White 2. Outside of maybe Heart Gold and Soul Silver it's still one of the best scenarios the game has to offer. My only gripe is that they hid hard mode behind some strange trade feature where one of the players had to complete a specific version of the game.

I played way more of Generation VI, but I'll admit that the series really stagnated around that time.

So both Weezing and Zigzagoon will have different looks in the Galar region. Not only that but the Zigzagoon line will be getting a new evolution stage added to it, in the form of Obstagoon. I see a lot of people online comparing it to Kiss, which I totally see and actually think is pretty awesome.

Also, a new Pokemon named Morpeko, that'll have different forms as well, I'm guessing similar to Castform (which has different forms depending on the weather), though in Morpeko's case it depends on the attack you're using I believe.

Farfetch'd has a Sword exclusive evolution called SirFetch'd. Where is your god now Shield fans?



Fighting pokemon.

3 weeks until we all make separate threads for our Nuzlocke Challenges!

The game has leaked, you can see most of the leaked stuff in the link, not embedding it just in case.

i.imgur.com/Jb0aIfH.jpg

There we go

I've played around three hours.

One thing I like about Pokemon is how it caters to all sorts of playstyles. If you want to take your time, capture every monster, collect every item, battle every trainer etc. it's possible but you can just skip through the game as well. Normally I'm with the former, but this go around, I decided to focus more on the main campaign and just get a feel for the game's pacing.

One of the points that was raised during the previews was how streamlined the opening was. While the game registered that I knew about type advantages, there was still A LOT of dialogue in the opening. It was nearly Persona 5 levels of restrictions where the game funnels you to all the main objectives before you're given some freedom. Even then, after exploring the Wild Zone and feeling like you can finally begin your adventure, you're funnelled into the new gym system where you have to go through this drawn out registration process. I was a kid of the 90s, everyone had ADD back then. What happened to simply walking into a gym and blowing bubbles at rock searpents. Instead, I'm ordering jerseys, I'm comparing hotel prices, I'm tangling with a bunch of Chelsea supporters and so on and so forth.

Also the rival is giving me serious PTSD. I walk five feet and there he is trying to chat me up and battle me. Just leave me alone, all I want to do is catch some Pokemon and conquer the eight kingdoms of Galar.

Also I stuffed up my name. I was trying to think of a British variation of Big Pete like I tend to do. For whatever reason, Large came to mind, but I should have called myself a Lord. I may start a new save just to remedy that.

So it's still early days and like all JRPGs, it's as slow as molasses. I'm on my way to the second gym, stopping every now and then to battle trainers and creep around in the bushes looking for new monsters. I like that they brought that back from ORAS and it seems like a nice compromise between traditional games and the Let's Go series.

Hope to finish this by today, I'll make sure to post my Friend Code up as well so we can get some trades done.

Just got to Route 3, game is quite good. The dynomax fights are tough and man there's alot of Pokémon to be caught I'm doing an all new pokemon team and got two evos thus far....

I may have chosen the wrong starter because that

SPOILER: Click to show

Emo Lizard as I call it AKA Sobbles second phase[\spoiler] is just man. Wow. Get a hair cut.

And finished.

I can't stand the NPCs in this game. I thought they would eventually leave me alone after the opening, but they don't let you live through out. They're like parole officers constantly leading you by the nose making sure you complete the adventure in the way the designers intended. The worst is during the Championship where the game pulls you out of it twice to go take care of terrorist organisations and legendary Pokemon. For a 10 hour game, I reckon at least a quater of it was just skipping dialogue and cut-scenes. The player really has little control of their experience.

Hopefully it picks up in the post-game. I played around a little in the Wild Lands and had some genuine enjoyment taking down different raid fights. I'd imagine if I can add more trainers, it will make that part of the game even betterso I'm curious to check that out. I rarely touched on some of the new modes like PokeJobs, so I'm curious to see how that goes and whether that enhances the experience. Otherwise not only did this game fail to deliver the console experience a lot of fans were looking forward to, it maybe the weakest entry in the series to date.

3 badges in, still not worn down by this game! I keep on coming to put in a few hours nightly which after a gamers block of being really tired, this game keeps it coming for me.

Thoughts:

1) I do agree with Pete that the NPCs leave a lot to be desired, no real foil to the heroes worth a damn. They continue to make these Team Rocket knockoffs jokes, not sure where it began but I miss how evil Team Rocket were and their base and traps throughout in Gen 1.

2) The rates of finding a Eevee or Gastly are crazy. I would spend like 30 thirty minutes and get 2 Eevee fights and they don't go down easy to capture. I lucked into finding the new Salamander pokemon that has like a 1% rate to find it unless you do what I did and read up on Vulpix(Or Growlithe if you have Shield which will be my next thing) having an ability to attract more fire pokemon to encounter with you. You got one shot to capture this Salamander in the gym field but that's it. Crazy.

3) I was so iffy on the Dynamix feature but I gotta admit, I am all over it for these gym battles. Feels like such a momentum turner sizing your pokemon to couner theirs to end the battle for the badge. The group dynamix fights not so much because your pokemon with AI continues to get picked on for whatever reason(Not even weaknesses or anything)

4) Shield owners, can I get some help?

Looking for some of the exclusives like a Galatan Ponyta, Spritzee, Growlithe, Croakfrog(Or whatever the dude is, the opposite of Scraggy). Also looking for a buddy to help get me a Gengar, Machamp, Pumpkin ghost evo etc. Haven't run into a damn Abra yet but Alakazam too.

My biggest gripe is the trading online, how they thought of not allowing you to make a vouch for what you want to trade and what you're looking for is crazy. I am trying to trade Swirlix a Sword exclusive in the effort to help a Shield owner to give me Spritzee and instead I get a baby Level 1 Charmander (Which is cool I mean but still!)

My Killers:

Drizzle
Corvisque
Carkol
Toxtricity
Sizzipede(Which is on the coattails of evolving because of Exp Share)
Gastly(Which breaks the streak of all Gen 8 party because I love Gengar...that and I spent almost an hour getting a damn MALE Gastly. Why are females more common than males for this one?)

BENCH:
Orbeetle
Dubwool
Drednaw
Eldegross 
Michael Boltund

All of their efforts are not to be forgotten!

I love Toxricity because it was such a grind to get it's baby pre-evo up there but he's hit his max evo so the slot needs to open up for someone new to shine. Running out of Gen 8 pokemon, might rock Farfetch'd

Also can someone tell me when I mated two Wabboufets, I didn't get the baby version of it? What gives?

I'll help you out with a couple of those trades.

Here's my FC: SW-6978-6299-4278

Haven't run into a damn Abra yet but Alakazam too.

I'm afraid I've got some bad news.

Also can someone tell me when I mated two Wabboufets, I didn't get the baby version of it?

Any Pokemon that received a pre-evo in Gen III and up need to equip an incense to get the pre-evo. In this case you need to give one of them a Lax Incense.

Every gen I resort to old habits with my team where even as recent as Sun I had over 50% of my team as holdovers from Yellow and Gold. It's usually whatever my starter is then 4 from gen 1 and 2 and maybe one other from the new game. This go round I'm doing all verified fresh. No Kadabras. No Raichus. No lame ass Gyarados and his flying jumbo shrimp dragon breath. Ness is only looking forward.

Course I don't have the game yet...

I've only managed to put about ten hours into the game so far, only got my first badge so far. I ended up going with Grookey as my starter Pokemon, with zero regrets as I enjoy having him on my team. I'm also digging the hell out of both Drednaw and Thievul as well.

I really need to put some more time into this game.

So I need some help with some version exclusives, namely:

Slurpuff
Gothitelle
Mawile
Passimian
Turtonator
Solrock
Stonjourner

If somebody could help me acquire those lines, I'd be most grateful.

Also the Pokemon direct is imminent.

Hey just looking for some help with evolving Shelmet and Karrablast. Just need to trade them over and evolve both if anyone can spare a few minutes?

Friend Code is: SW-6978-6299-4278

Sept 30, 2021 13:55:52 GMT Big Pete said:

Hey just looking for some help with evolving Shelmet and Karrablast. Just need to trade them over and evolve both if anyone can spare a few minutes?

Friend Code is: SW-6978-6299-4278

Not sure if i need Nintendo online or not for this(I don't have it due to not using Switch much), if not I can do this.

You're awesome Blindy! Unfortunately you do need the Online Service to do online trades but I really appreciate the offer.