This should be the template for future Pokémon titles!
After playing Legends for two months and more than 100 hours, I decided it was time to give this game its due for being amazing. This was the Pokémon spin-off I wanted to stay away from for a while until other reviews flew in, because Pokémon spin-offs aren't really my thing. In the past, I played spin-offs like Pokémon Snap for the N64, Gameboy's card game, Pokémon Puzzle League, and Pokémon Pinball. Then, I stopped playing those after the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games happened and wanted only the main entries. Now today, I wanted something more from Pokémon instead of what Brillant Diamond's outdated gameplay offered and Violet's annoying glitches. Especially because the whole thing about making it to the Pokémon League finally grew stale as well. In comes Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which starts you off with the story being about you entering the Hisui region through time and space. The game focuses on you, not just a professor who says, "Okay, pick a Pokémon, and now get going." Nope. You'll be introduced to quite a bit in the beginning, but only so you understand both gameplay and your purpose. It's not your typical Pokémon game. Yes, you catch Pokémon during encounters. Yes, you can also train them as usual, and the evolution system is better and more practical. Forget about needing to trade Graveler to get Golem; they have a link cable item for that. They all have unique behavior and don't immediately start a battle if you get close enough to them. Be warned, the territorial Pokémon will attack you without engaging in battle. Also, if you like boss battles, it has those too, which are also part of the story. The game actually does something Game Freak and Nintendo have only promoted since the first games. Which is, you've Gotta Catch Them All! However, you feel like you can catch them all, always on your own time, to enjoy much more. Also, I'm glad you don't need two versions just to get most of the Pokémon. Game Freak, please, no more of that two versions stuff. You can build the Pokédex, but differently, and I don't mean that in a bad way. You'll be able to build Pokédex entries for each Pokémon and their evolutions with unique research-related tasks, but they make it fun, not a full-time job. However, there's a rank system involving stars, like receiving badges. I managed to get up to five stars in the first section of the region alone. Yes, the first section is what I said, with LOTS of Pokémon and land to explore. The way this game sets up multiple locations to visit in Hisui is totally how I would have wanted Paldea to do it. With Paldea, you get one big map. With Hisui, on the other hand, you get a large map with multiple sections to choose from, and each one is huge, some bigger than others, but you don't get tired of exploring just one map this way. So in conclusion, so I don't spoil anything entirely, everything in this game met my highest expectations and more. Even the catching system is something I wanted Violet to keep instead of sending out Pokémon to instantly fight. Also, shiny's aren't quiet like in Violet. When you see a shiny Pokémon or even hear one nearby, you'll know just by the stars flying around them and the slight jingling sounds. So enjoy shining hunting and distortion events too, which are like Pokémon catching raids with rare and shiny Pokémon sometimes appearing. Check this out as a fan and as someone who loves open-world-ish games to have plenty to do. Great job, Pokémon Company!
