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.
Is everyone else having as much fun with Pokemon Legends Arceus as I 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
Everyone, let's talk about the things we love about it and some thing we'd want to change
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.
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.
I think with Pokemon Legends Arceus I'm given everything I asked for, and there is a breath of fresh air in the series.
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.
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.
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"
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"
Limarc Ambalina, I'm itching to play. It hasn't come yet. Hopefully today!!
I cannot wait!!
Limarc Ambalina, have you noticed that the Pokes are to scale now?
SuperSaiyanProgramming
Like as they evolve they get bigger? Jack Boreham
SuperSaiyanProgramming exactly! I know that in sword and shield and especially BDSP, the models were off.
Blake Cram
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.
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.
SuperSaiyanProgramming
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
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.
I’m actually decently engaged in this one.
I gotta get your input too before I move over to the things I think could be better!
Adrian Morales
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.
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.
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
Limarc Ambalina, you are not moving on until I get my hands on it 😂
Jack Boreham I know you must have played it by now!! LEt’s hear it
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.
Jack Boreham I forgot to mention the music…SO GOOD. Worth listening to on a work playlist