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First Impressions of Pokémon Legends: Arceusby@limarc
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First Impressions of Pokémon Legends: Arceus

by Limarc AmbalinaMarch 8th, 2022
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Limarc Ambalina, Jack Boreham, SuperSaiyanProgramming, Blake Cram, Adrian Morales and Sara Pinto wrote about Pokemon Legends Arceus. "The last Pokemon game I played from start to finish was Pokemon Crystal. I've been away from the franchise for a long time, because of the repetitive gameplay mechanics that I just didn't find fulfilling anymore. I love how you can choose multiple ways to try to catch a Pokemon and get rewarded differently based on how you catch them."

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Pokemon Legends: Arceus is taking the Nintendo world by storm. The feedback has been generally positive, but the game isn't without its faults. In this Slogging thread, the gamers of HackerNoon talk about their first impressions of the game.

This Slogging thread by Limarc Ambalina, Jack Boreham, SuperSaiyanProgramming, Blake Cram, Adrian Morales and Sara Pinto occurred in slogging's official #gaming channel, and has been edited for readability.

Limarc AmbalinaFeb 7, 2022, 9:25 AM

Is everyone else having as much fun with Pokemon Legends Arceus as I am?

Limarc AmbalinaFeb 7, 2022, 9:26 AM

Jack Boreham did you start playing it yet?

Everyone, let's talk about the things we love about it and some thing we'd want to change

Limarc AmbalinaFeb 7, 2022, 9:28 AM

To put this into context, the last Pokemon game I played from start to finish was Pokemon Crystal. I played all the DS ones too (I just didn't finish them). So I'm used to the Pokemon Gameplay loop.

I saw Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and wasn't that into the gameplay videos so I didn't try it.

Long story short, I've been away from the franchise for a long time, because of the repetitive gameplay mechanics that I just didn't find fulfilling anymore. I loved them as a kid, but I wanted a deeper story and more gratification for doing things in-game.



Limarc AmbalinaFeb 7, 2022, 9:28 AM

I think with Pokemon Legends Arceus I'm given everything I asked for, and there is a breath of fresh air in the series.

Limarc AmbalinaFeb 7, 2022, 9:30 AM

I love the open-word exploration mechanics and the pokemon catching mechanics.

You know what was boring as hell in the old games? Walking back and forth in wildgrass hoping a cool pokemon would pop out and attack you. In Arceus, you can see the Pokemon in the distance. Instead of "damnit let's walk back and forth in this grass until an eevee appears," it's "Oh! look! An eevee by that tree. Let's try to get it"

Instead of rushing to a pokemon center low on HP and getting attacked in wildgrass where the encounter rate is way too high, you can simple see where the pokemon are on the map and avoid them.

Limarc AmbalinaFeb 7, 2022, 9:32 AM

I also love how you can choose multiple ways to try to catch a Pokemon and get rewarded differently based on how you catch them. If you like the old-school way, sure you can start a battle, weaken it, and throw your pokeball.

If you like Pokemon Go, sure you can simply hide and them throw a pokeball at it and hope for the best.

If you like being a ninja, you can sneak up behind pokemon and throw a pokeball, get a greater chance of catching it, and get rewarded in EXP and money for "catching a pokemon without being seen"

Jack BorehamFeb 7, 2022, 10:54 AM

Limarc Ambalina, I'm itching to play. It hasn't come yet. Hopefully today!!

Jack BorehamFeb 7, 2022, 10:55 AM

I cannot wait!!

Jack BorehamFeb 7, 2022, 10:55 AM

Limarc Ambalina, have you noticed that the Pokes are to scale now?

SuperSaiyanProgrammingFeb 7, 2022, 11:35 AM

Like as they evolve they get bigger? Jack Boreham

Jack BorehamFeb 7, 2022, 12:14 PM

SuperSaiyanProgramming exactly! I know that in sword and shield and especially BDSP, the models were off.

Blake CramFeb 8, 2022, 8:36 PM

Limarc Ambalina You nailed it. It's the most fun a Pokémon game has been to me in a very long time. It captures that excitement of finding a new area and discovering new Pokémon that I used to feel playing Red /Blue and Silver. Turning a corner and seeing an Onix imposing the screen or stumbling upon a rare Pokémon feels so much more epic than running laps through long grass.

I also looove that you can level up through battling and by catching Pokémon, with those perks for achievements like hitting a Pokémon in the back or without being seen. It makes gameplay much more stimulating and I especially love that leveling up your team is easier because almost everything you're doing grants xp. I've been switching up my Pokémon way more because of that's and that's something I never did in base games.

The graphics are wonky at best, but the gameplay is so damn fun, even with a very slow start. I can't stop playing it and I hope this is just the first of this style of Pokémon game for GameFreak.

SuperSaiyanProgrammingFeb 10, 2022, 2:58 AM

Blake Cram exactly! You have much more freedom to swap out pokemon. And I also love how climbing mountains feels the same as climbing mountains in Skyrim lol

Limarc AmbalinaFeb 10, 2022, 2:59 AM

Agree Blake Cram and I might be in the minority here, but i actually think the story is pretty good. I was sick of the whole…team rocket…get gym badges…oOo a legendary pokemon needs help, scenarios..

I’m actually decently engaged in this one.

Limarc AmbalinaFeb 10, 2022, 2:59 AM

I gotta get your input too before I move over to the things I think could be better!

Adrian MoralesFeb 10, 2022, 4:05 AM

Limarc Ambalina I've been having a blast with it! My favorite part is definitely how you can see the Pokémon out in the world. The first time I encountered a Snorlax out in the wild, I was giddy with excitement.

Also, I'm super happy that they trimmed a lot of the long handy-holdy tutorials that Pokémon often is plagued with. You're out and having fun super quickly. I almost have forgotten to do the main story just because I enjoy finding new Pokémon so much.

It feels very fresh, and if this is the foundation for Pokémon games to come, then I am very excited for the future.

Sara PintoFeb 10, 2022, 11:11 AM

Limarc Ambalina I haven't got the chance to play it, but I'm excited to play as open-world. I think it's what has been missing in the Pokémon games. I just saw that Jack mentioned Pokémons to scale?! That's pretty cool, can't wait to try it out

Jack BorehamFeb 10, 2022, 11:48 AM

Limarc Ambalina, you are not moving on until I get my hands on it 😂

Limarc AmbalinaFeb 22, 2022, 7:51 AM

Jack Boreham I know you must have played it by now!! LEt’s hear it

Jack BorehamFeb 22, 2022, 8:43 AM

Alrighty, it's bloody amazing. I've heard the rumours about how good it was, but I couldn't believe it until I played it. Everything is near spot on. Sure, the graphics are far from great, but the battle mechanics and even the story are cool. I love how the Pokemon are the correct size and all the little bits of Pokemon lore sprinkled into the overworld and story. I constantly found myself thinking back to when I played diamond and pearl and mapping whereabouts I was in the Sinnoh region. Playing the game has taken me back to when I was a kid, especially with the absolute killer soundtrack, remixing the old music. An absolute masterclass, in my opinion. Just WOW.

Limarc AmbalinaFeb 23, 2022, 5:21 AM

Jack Boreham I forgot to mention the music…SO GOOD. Worth listening to on a work playlist