“Pokémon Legends: Arceus” is the latest installment in the Pokémon franchise, and the first to take an open-world approach to the series. The game was released on Jan. 28 and while the game was initially met with lots of skepticism when it was announced, fans took to the internet to express their enjoyment in the days following the game’s release.
The game takes place in a familiar but long-gone land called Hisui, a forgotten era of the well-known Sinnoh region. It takes place in a time where Pokémon were not yet domesticated or widely studied, and when you begin the games many of the NPC’s you talk to regard Pokémon as wild dangerous creatures who only intend to harm humans.
Before the launch of the game, the biggest concern among fans seemed to be the game’s graphics. When the game was announced, fans were taken aback by the graphics shown in the short clips of gameplay. Loosely resembling Nintendo’s “Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” many fans noticed that although the overall landscaping was beautiful, there was lots of graphic clipping and some of the closer vegetation, like grass and trees, also seemed to be pretty low-quality. After playing this game, while some of the graphics do seem lower quality, it doesn’t really feel out of place and the other elements of the game definitely make up for its shortcomings.
As a longtime Pokémon fan, there were so many quality-of-life changes that I didn’t expect to like, but ended up really enjoying. The game just felt so much more interactive without feeling more tedious. For one thing, there are no longer any Pokémon Centers where players can heal their Pokémon, access their Pokémon storage boxes or buy items. Instead, players must craft items like Pokeballs and potions by collecting materials in the wilderness of Hisui and using a reusable crafting kit, which can be stored in their bag. In addition to this, players can access their Pokémon storage boxes by speaking to any guard at the town gates or field camps, change their Pokémon’s names and moves without the assistance of an NPC, work to gather a more comprehensive Pokedex and can choose whether or not to evolve Pokémon.
The choice in evolution really is a significant change to me, because it really feels like the decisions you make as a trainer matter and you can experience your game and story the way you want to. This is truly the best part about the game, and I think what makes it memorable and significant for longtime fans, is that it feels like for one of the first times we’re in charge of our own journey and truly have an effect on the fictional world. As the game goes along, you make choices and complete quests that have effects on the world and your gameplay. You help the people who were once terrified of Pokémon accept them and become curious about them and the research you are doing.
There are so many great things about this game, but the story combined with the new freedoms of a new gameplay style really make this game one of my top favorites throughout the long video game series.
