Already Torn
Banned
Nope!
I don't want to use Cutiefly but it's so good for both catching mons and switchins.
Pokémon Sun & Moon |OT| Ultra Beasts and where to find them
- Thread starter Galava
- Start date
I don't want to use Cutiefly but it's so good for both catching mons and switchins.
agent00
Member
For sure. I like it a lot. Definitely makes the game more challenging, which is welcome.
Well, I beat it. Dealt with all the UBs ([/spoiler]there's a fucking ton of them, lol[/spoiler] and legendaries, too. WARNING: Criticism ahead. If you just want to stay just hyped with your bros and keep enjoying the game, skip this post. I know some people like a happy-only OT.
But as someone whose gaming opinions usually fit right in the with the majority opinion of both GAF and the mainstream I've had a really strange time with this game, because for the first 15 hours I hated it. I would have called it the worst mainline game bar none if it hadn't improved later on. Fortunately, from the end of the 3rd island and through all of postgame it improves pretty much immeasurably, but I was bored out of my mind going through most of the main campaign.
Has there ever been such a linear, cutscene-heavy pokemon game? One of the reasons I struggle to enjoy JRPGs is that these twee narratives that I can't stand are pushed so heavily. I'm not a person who is good at ignoring that, I struggle with it. It actively hurts my enjoyment of games, which is why I dodge most JRPGs despite liking the gameplay systems. But Pokemon was always great at avoiding that. 'There's 8 gyms, go beat them, and halfway through beat some loser team.' That was pretty much it with the exception of Black/White. In particular, Pokemon X&Y (which I pretty much loved) were amazing at keeping the story to a minimum. Within the first half hour you've got your starter, been through the first forest and beaten a cool bug gym. The pacing is jolteon-quick.
In Pokemon Lillie, on the other hand - sorry, Pokemon Sun - it's like the FF13 of Pokemon. Constant walled off linear paths (just literally wooden fences to keep you on the right path!) with a flag marking your destination, Rotom doing his best Navi impression to keep you going forward, and with asinine cutscenes every 20 steps. It drove me crazy.
Not only that, but the new pokemon are way too scarce in the early game. I played mostly at night, maybe that didn't help. But there didn't seem to be anything like the diversity of 'mons that XY had - I saw the same ones in the wild again and again and again. I also thought the trials (outside of the totem fights) were a poor substitute for gyms. The electric trial, in particular, was pathetically low-effort.
There were tons of quality of life issues, too. The loss of the PSS, the fact that the game explained the basics in over-detail, yet I somehow beat the game without understanding how the hell to use the Festival Plaza at all (I genuinely didn't understand that it was the online hub - I thought it was for simulating trading and battling with the AI characters that appear around you.) Worst of all, as someone who played on the old 3ds, the framerate was beyond abysmal, with major hitches during any kind of multibattle, totem battle, battle royal etc. What's more, as someone who loves 3d, the removal of it from battle scenes was ridiculous. They've had 3 years to improve their dire XY engine... and it got worse? Worse framedrops, no 3D whatsoever? Is there any other game company who'd get a pass for this? An improved engine was one of the things I was most looking forward to, so to see it regress was just amazing to me.
And where were the puzzles? Strength puzzles, sliding floors etc. Where were the big dungeons and caves to get lost in? The long treks to some legendary's lair etc? In making this huge map, somehow the world feels smaller than ever before. Where were the huge advances you'd expect from the 2nd gen on one console? In XY, the fact that we were seeing the world in 3d for the first time, and got to enjoy all the pokemon's new amazing models and phenomenal animations was a huge thrill that pulled me through all the way. What was the equivalent jump forward this time? There wasn't one, really. The new 'realistic proportions' world was a give and take deal - much more wasted space but some nice vistas to make up for it. It didn't add a huge amount to the game for me and compared to other 3ds games was pretty visually disappointing. The almost total abandonment of the 2nd screen was also quite extraordinary, especially as many die-hard pokefans had told me that the second screen was an essential part of pokemon.
Look, the game has some major strengths. It does. The fact that it's balanced for exp share (finally) is a huge, huge improvement, and as a result the challenge is sometimes there. I wiped at two of the totem fights, all of which were well put together. The elite 4 is really well put together too, and a fantastic challenge. The stretch of story from the end of the third island to the end of the game is the best a story in pokemon has ever been (very low bar, and I won't say I loved it, but still). I don't understand why it opened so poorly and at such a slow pace by contrast. The music, which is good-to-okay for the first three islands, becomes spectacular at the 4th island. They outdid themselves there. There is, contrary to some reports, plenty to do postgame, imo. (Took me 23 hours to beat the story, 35 hours to wrap things up postgame. That's plenty.) The new pokemon designs are great (but they're always great to be fair). The new attack animations are also very well done.
But it wasn't enough for me to really love the game. Mostly, I just raged at the linear nature of it, the handholdi-ness, the constant interruptions. I felt mostly relief after beating it.
I've restarted Pokemon X to see if it was just nostalgia talking, and one hour in I must admit I still love it to bits. I'm left wondering just how small a minority us hardcore X defenders will be going forward - looking at this thread and metacritic I imagine we'll be a small group indeed.
Seems like most of you love this one, and I'm happy about that. I think gamefreak can build of it. But me? I'm disappointed.
Favourite pokemon: Tsareena. What a beast she was. Trop kick wrecks the single player game.
Favourite track: (Lategame track, so musical spoilers maybe) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=356Z4qD201Q
But as someone whose gaming opinions usually fit right in the with the majority opinion of both GAF and the mainstream I've had a really strange time with this game, because for the first 15 hours I hated it. I would have called it the worst mainline game bar none if it hadn't improved later on. Fortunately, from the end of the 3rd island and through all of postgame it improves pretty much immeasurably, but I was bored out of my mind going through most of the main campaign.
Has there ever been such a linear, cutscene-heavy pokemon game? One of the reasons I struggle to enjoy JRPGs is that these twee narratives that I can't stand are pushed so heavily. I'm not a person who is good at ignoring that, I struggle with it. It actively hurts my enjoyment of games, which is why I dodge most JRPGs despite liking the gameplay systems. But Pokemon was always great at avoiding that. 'There's 8 gyms, go beat them, and halfway through beat some loser team.' That was pretty much it with the exception of Black/White. In particular, Pokemon X&Y (which I pretty much loved) were amazing at keeping the story to a minimum. Within the first half hour you've got your starter, been through the first forest and beaten a cool bug gym. The pacing is jolteon-quick.
In Pokemon Lillie, on the other hand - sorry, Pokemon Sun - it's like the FF13 of Pokemon. Constant walled off linear paths (just literally wooden fences to keep you on the right path!) with a flag marking your destination, Rotom doing his best Navi impression to keep you going forward, and with asinine cutscenes every 20 steps. It drove me crazy.
Not only that, but the new pokemon are way too scarce in the early game. I played mostly at night, maybe that didn't help. But there didn't seem to be anything like the diversity of 'mons that XY had - I saw the same ones in the wild again and again and again. I also thought the trials (outside of the totem fights) were a poor substitute for gyms. The electric trial, in particular, was pathetically low-effort.
There were tons of quality of life issues, too. The loss of the PSS, the fact that the game explained the basics in over-detail, yet I somehow beat the game without understanding how the hell to use the Festival Plaza at all (I genuinely didn't understand that it was the online hub - I thought it was for simulating trading and battling with the AI characters that appear around you.) Worst of all, as someone who played on the old 3ds, the framerate was beyond abysmal, with major hitches during any kind of multibattle, totem battle, battle royal etc. What's more, as someone who loves 3d, the removal of it from battle scenes was ridiculous. They've had 3 years to improve their dire XY engine... and it got worse? Worse framedrops, no 3D whatsoever? Is there any other game company who'd get a pass for this? An improved engine was one of the things I was most looking forward to, so to see it regress was just amazing to me.
And where were the puzzles? Strength puzzles, sliding floors etc. Where were the big dungeons and caves to get lost in? The long treks to some legendary's lair etc? In making this huge map, somehow the world feels smaller than ever before. Where were the huge advances you'd expect from the 2nd gen on one console? In XY, the fact that we were seeing the world in 3d for the first time, and got to enjoy all the pokemon's new amazing models and phenomenal animations was a huge thrill that pulled me through all the way. What was the equivalent jump forward this time? There wasn't one, really. The new 'realistic proportions' world was a give and take deal - much more wasted space but some nice vistas to make up for it. It didn't add a huge amount to the game for me and compared to other 3ds games was pretty visually disappointing. The almost total abandonment of the 2nd screen was also quite extraordinary, especially as many die-hard pokefans had told me that the second screen was an essential part of pokemon.
Look, the game has some major strengths. It does. The fact that it's balanced for exp share (finally) is a huge, huge improvement, and as a result the challenge is sometimes there. I wiped at two of the totem fights, all of which were well put together. The elite 4 is really well put together too, and a fantastic challenge. The stretch of story from the end of the third island to the end of the game is the best a story in pokemon has ever been (very low bar, and I won't say I loved it, but still). I don't understand why it opened so poorly and at such a slow pace by contrast. The music, which is good-to-okay for the first three islands, becomes spectacular at the 4th island. They outdid themselves there. There is, contrary to some reports, plenty to do postgame, imo. (Took me 23 hours to beat the story, 35 hours to wrap things up postgame. That's plenty.) The new pokemon designs are great (but they're always great to be fair). The new attack animations are also very well done.
But it wasn't enough for me to really love the game. Mostly, I just raged at the linear nature of it, the handholdi-ness, the constant interruptions. I felt mostly relief after beating it.
I've restarted Pokemon X to see if it was just nostalgia talking, and one hour in I must admit I still love it to bits. I'm left wondering just how small a minority us hardcore X defenders will be going forward - looking at this thread and metacritic I imagine we'll be a small group indeed.
Seems like most of you love this one, and I'm happy about that. I think gamefreak can build of it. But me? I'm disappointed.
Favourite pokemon: Tsareena. What a beast she was. Trop kick wrecks the single player game.
Favourite track: (Lategame track, so musical spoilers maybe) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=356Z4qD201Q
NipplesAndToes23
Member
Damn, the game just came out yesterday and you beat it already!?
I live in the Caribbean with a euro 3DS. Puts me in a shitty position all the time with releases. Once I had preordered and paid for the game I wasn't going to let Nintendo's ludicrous region-locking stop me. Plenty of ways around it.
I won't lie, I got two hours of sleep last night lol.
EDIT: To be clear, I didn't play the leak when it came out and seeing the reports of bannings I'm glad I didn't. I have 40 purchased games on my NNID. Wouldn't jeopardize that.
Already Torn
Banned
Yo Griss, I understand all your complaints (like the lack of early game mons), but for some reason the overall aesthetic, music, and presentation is so good that I want to get through it all more. Like in X I had all these options of where to go but just wanted to do the main story to get it over with already. Right now in Sun my only options are to continue the story or go catch a Mankey despite the fact that I already have a living Dex in the bank, and I actually want to go catch that Mankey. First Pokemon game to make me feel like this in a looooooooong time.
I also kind of like these characters more than in any Pokémon game before, so that helps. Compare Hugh or whatever to those trash Scooby Doo losers in X and Y that never left you alone. I'm actually laughing at the spots I'm supposed to.
I also kind of like these characters more than in any Pokémon game before, so that helps. Compare Hugh or whatever to those trash Scooby Doo losers in X and Y that never left you alone. I'm actually laughing at the spots I'm supposed to.
You and I had the exact opposite experiences, lol.
And for me, having a living dex made me less likely to want to go catch pokemon, whereas seeing them in 3d for the first time (and not having a living dex) made me crazy excited about capturing monsters back in X.
It appears way more people are with you than me. And that's alright. Taste is subjective after all. People seem to love Alola. I liked it. But I loved Kalos. (Barring Lumiose, which was garbage of course.)
I will say, though, that the technical stuff is objective. And it ain't right. o3ds users got shafted big time there.
All I'll say to anyone who is playing through it in the middle now is that if you like the start/middle, then you're going to love the later game. Because it DOES get a lot, lot better.
I am loving Alola and I didn't like Kalos. To each their own.
Already Torn
Banned
That's music to my ears haha. It might be a personal taste thing too. Even just thinking of some of those ugly Kalos routes makes me kind of sick, it's by far the worst region as far as I'm concerned. While X was my least favorite Pokemon game (outside of the good it did for the future of the series obviously), this is shaping up to being one of the best at first.
NipplesAndToes23
Member
Wait, I didn't read that long ass post before. I don't see how you could beat a game that's probably around 40 in one day, losing sleep, and not like it?
I never even done that for my favorite game.
Does anyone have a guide to what all of the hairstyles look like? I find it incredibly frustrating that Gamefreak is asking us to gamble thousands of Poke-bucks on hairstyles. At least with clothes you get a preview before you buy them. No reason they couldn't do the same for hair.
NipplesAndToes23
Member
First result in Google.
shadow2810
Member
> Caught a Feebas
> Found out Feebas can only evolve through trading
Why
> Found out Feebas can only evolve through trading
Why
Velcro Fly
Member
Finally got my Lycanroc.
Going to need a 6th:
Decidueye (Grass/Ghost)
Lycanroc (Rock)
Ribombee (Bug/Fairy)
Wishiwashi (Water)
Mudsdale (Ground)
Limited to new Alola pokemon only with no Alola Form pokemon.
Looking over some types there is just nothing new for them. But then I look at Bug and there are like 2 or 3 other bug types I would use
Going to need a 6th:
Decidueye (Grass/Ghost)
Lycanroc (Rock)
Ribombee (Bug/Fairy)
Wishiwashi (Water)
Mudsdale (Ground)
Limited to new Alola pokemon only with no Alola Form pokemon.
Looking over some types there is just nothing new for them. But then I look at Bug and there are like 2 or 3 other bug types I would use
Thank you!
I'm the same with books, RPGs, and TV shows.
I mainline them whether I like them much or not. Once I start, I do not stop for anything but eating or drinking (or work, obviously) until finished. Doesn't say much about my enjoyment of the thing in question at all, it's just how I do it.
Dandy Crocodile
Member
You have a gap that Salazzle would fill nicely~Finally got my Lycanroc.
Going to need a 6th:
Decidueye (Grass/Ghost)
Lycanroc (Rock)
Ribombee (Bug/Fairy)
Wishiwashi (Water)
Mudsdale (Ground)
Limited to new Alola pokemon only with no Alola Form pokemon.
Looking over some types there is just nothing new for them. But then I look at Bug and there are like 2 or 3 other bug types I would use
> Caught a Feebas
> Found out Feebas can only evolve through trading
Why
Whoa, they changed Feebas's evolution method? Right, I guess there's no way to max beauty in these games.
Finally got my Lycanroc.
Going to need a 6th:
Decidueye (Grass/Ghost)
Lycanroc (Rock)
Ribombee (Bug/Fairy)
Wishiwashi (Water)
Mudsdale (Ground)
Limited to new Alola pokemon only with no Alola Form pokemon.
Looking over some types there is just nothing new for them. But then I look at Bug and there are like 2 or 3 other bug types I would use
Salazzle.
My team in Sun (second playthrough) was Mimikyu, Araquanid, Salazzle, Midday Lycanroc, Bewear and Alolan Ninetales.
Prism Scale trade's been around since Gen V for games without contest stats, yeah. Nothing new.
I'm not even that far in the game but I'm already soooo over pokemon being able to call for backup. It wouldn't be so bad if they could only do it once but to have to fight thru a whole bunch of them one after the other when you're trying to capture is pretty wack. Can't imagine what a pain in the ass it's going to be if you stumble upon a shiny that keeps crying SOS.
Also I've only done the first trial, but is every trial going to be just you vs. single pokemon? I'm not sure I'm that into it. Gym leaders were never that difficult, but it felt more special to go up against a team of pokemon rather than just a single boss pokemon. We'll see tho. Only one trial complete so I'm not going to judge the game on it yet.
Also I've only done the first trial, but is every trial going to be just you vs. single pokemon? I'm not sure I'm that into it. Gym leaders were never that difficult, but it felt more special to go up against a team of pokemon rather than just a single boss pokemon. We'll see tho. Only one trial complete so I'm not going to judge the game on it yet.
Velcro Fly
Member
Yeah I'm like trying to find a female one. I caught a male one I think because I didn't know how it evolved.
Doing a mono bug run of this game sometime in the future. There are so many good ones that are new plus so many that I love from previous gens.
Doing a mono bug run of this game sometime in the future. There are so many good ones that are new plus so many that I love from previous gens.
I would have made it affection.
Please no. I hate the in-battle effect of affection x.x I actively avoid using Refresh because of this. I cut off battle animations for a reason I don't want extra stuff happening lol =p Bad enough we have one affection based evo x.x
Finale Fireworker
Member
I was able to 1-Hit all of Hala's Pokémon with my Pikipek.
I hope this game gets harder.
I hope this game gets harder.
Sutton Dagger
Member
What is the Pokemon qr code thing in the op?
Just get them to SoS.
Novel Mike
Member
Mini Nuzlocke update...
Lost half my team to a freaking Sylveon, god that thing was powerful. Was seriously close to having it wipe my entire team, that is nuts.
Lost half my team to a freaking Sylveon, god that thing was powerful. Was seriously close to having it wipe my entire team, that is nuts.
You'll get used to the SOS method. While it's annoying as fuck at first, the first time a pokemon SOS's and a rare pokemon shows up (for me it was Elekid calling Chansey) you will forgive the system all its sins.
The trials, on the other hand, I did not like. Too short, too gimmicky, no puzzles like the gyms used to have, and no challenge outside of the totems. The totems were really, really cool though. I'd been hoping pokemon would do something like that for a long time.
I've long argued that wild pokemon should get a powerboost over trained ones to make up for the fact that it's 6v1 in your favour and their AI is the weakest in the game. Unlike trainers, they don't usually use the most effective move (which makes perfect sense - that's what a trainer is for after all.) The totems are like a version of that idea and I like it a lot.
I tried Nuzlocke and by god it was a struggle. The SOS system will take out your best pokemon from time to time, and if you show up to a totem fight underlevelled it's curtains. I made it to
Lurantis
Dandy Crocodile
Member
Yes, Totems are amazing. The Fourth Totem Pokémon in the jungle wiped me and that NEVER happens. I even had a 4x resistance with my lead.
I was able to 1-Hit all of Hala's Pokémon with my Pikipek.
I hope this game gets harder.
Depends on how you play it. I got sweeped by Hau on the third island but that's partially on my team comp.
If you're maxing affection in Refresh (boosted exp)
Never turn off the exp share
and play on Switch and not Set
I don't imagine it'll ever get too challenging for you.
BinaryPork2737
Unconfirmed Member
You can scan QR codes to add info to your pokedex. Scanning 10 of them using the in-game scanner allows you to perform an island scan, which allows you to catch a pokemon you wouldn't be able to catch otherwise, like one of the gen 2 starters.
Finale Fireworker
Member
I'm playing Set.
I'm holding off an evolving my two best Pokémon (Litten and Pikipek).
But I keep Exp Share on because I don't feel like it makes the game easier, it just saves time.
But I've made it this far only using two (and a half, I use Slowpoke for catching wild 'mons) Pokémon, so the impact of Exp Share has been irrelevant.
Litten and Pikipek are both level 21. I never intentionally grinded levels, but I would fight any wild Pokémon I came across. I have started running from wild encounters because I am apparently six levels overleveled.
PadWarrior
Member
I got one rockruff that was docile and another one that had a neutral nature.
If they're 21 by then that seems incredibly overleveled. I'm at 29 and I'm on the third island.
Honestly, from the little I've played it has some of my favourite stuff from JRPGs outside of maybe Lillie. The opening in Iki Town gave amazing vibes, especially at night.
Kalos didn't make me feel anything, and that was annoyingly handhold-y with your "friends". I don't mind a more guided structure as long as what they're limiting me to feels compelling.
Kalos didn't make me feel anything, and that was annoyingly handhold-y with your "friends". I don't mind a more guided structure as long as what they're limiting me to feels compelling.
Sutton Dagger
Member
Oh that sounds cool. When do I have access to that exactly?
Sorry one more question. What is the countdown timer thing for magerna about?
Spiritreaver
Member
Yup. I'm also playing with EXP share off and am about the same level on the third island.
I too got swept by Hau. :X
I managed to have a Magby call a Magmar and a Cubone call a Kangaskhan. I've caught so many rarer Pokemon early on the game it's insane.
Not to mention I managed to get chickorita on the first island because of QR codes.
I'm loving the diversity of this game!
Finale Fireworker
Member
Is the game balanced with the assumption you're running from all your wild encounters or something?
I mean, I've been playing Pokémon forever. I know not to grind. I know only to go through each grassy area once. But when I WOULD encounter a wild Pokémon, I would battle it.
Now I am apparently the unfathomable horror of Alola.
Similar threads
- Featured