100 hours into Pokémon Legends: Arceus and I am finally at a place where I feel like I can write about this game. I have done everything this title has to offer and am now just enjoying shiny hunting. The journey has certainly been time-consuming but I enjoyed every minute of it. In fact, this is the most fun I have had with this franchise in quite a while. Let me explain why.
Since The Beginning
Since Pokémon Red, or rather Silver since that is when it really clicked for me, I have adored Pokémon. I can remember sneaking my Game Boy out at night to get a few more minutes of game time in before bed. Those memories spent in the Johto region were some of the very best this series has given me. Ever since then, I have been eager to feel that way towards a Pokémon game. I have surely enjoyed each installment, but never to the same degree as Generation 2.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus changed that. Now, I am not confident enough to say that this has replaced Generation 2 as my favorite Pokémon game. What I can say, however, is that it instilled the same feelings that Generation 2 did in me. The changes and improvements Game Freak made in Silver and Gold were some of the biggest and most influential changes to the franchise. Generation 2 introduced shiny Pokémon, breeding, new Poké Balls and much, much more. Those changes refreshed the franchise and created the amazing memories I have of Johto.
Arceus does the same thing, just differently. Arceus changes almost every aspect of Pokémon but immediately feels like a Pokémon game. It allowed me and other players of the game to see and experience the franchise from a different angle. It was an angle that we desperately wanted to see, and it paid off.
New and Improved
My first few hours in the Hisui region left me feeling excited. I was excited for what was to come and for what was happening in that moment. I was playing a live action Pokémon game and a good one at that. Sure it has its draw backs but what Arceus may lack in graphics it more than makes up for in gameplay. This gameplay was simple but it never got boring even 100 hours later.
You can catch Pokémon in the overworld. In fact, that’s really all this game is about. Other than that, your objective is to research these Pokemon and study their behaviors both in and out of battle. It blends mechanics from the core franchise as well as some from other spin-offs like Pokémon Snap and Pokémon Go. It is the perfect hybrid of every game I have ever enjoyed within the franchise.
Researching Pokemon feels a lot like Pokemon Snap, while catching them without battling feels like Go. You can use materials gathered from the overworld to craft more Poké Balls, as well as other useful items to help tame these pocket monsters. Each Pokémon behaves differently, too. Some will run away from you and some will attack you if they spot you. Yes, they attack you, the trainer. That is a first for the series and I actually really love that because it is something I have often thought about while playing Pokémon games. If you do want to engage in battle, simply throw your partner Pokémon at the wild ones. The game will seamlessly transition you into a battle which is turn-based. Now, the wild Pokémon will attack your Pokémon, not you.
The Hisui Region
The Hisui region, or Sinnoh as we know it, is full of surprise and wonder. Again, the game may not look the best, but there’s a lot to do here. For starters, the open world itself. Broken into sections like Monster Hunter titles, Hisui contains five areas you can explore. Each area contains its own assortment of pocket monsters and side quests. Jubilife Village, the game’s hub, offers sanctuary from the wilds as well as a number of shops. You’ll resupply here, swap out partner Pokémon and engage the locals to progress through the story or side quests.
While the story is still one of a Pokémon game, it is was of the strongest in the franchise. Aside from what’s happening to the main character, what tended to catch my eye more was what was happening with the locals of the region. This game explored a number of social issues more than previous games have. The locals are split between two clans, with the Galaxy Team in the middle of their turmoil. As the story unfolds, our protagonist helps them navigate years of hatred to help save the world. We also see the people of Hisui open their minds to the possibility of the human/Pokémon connection. It was refreshing to connect to a story in a Pokémon game, something that hasn’t happened for me in a while either.
Watching the people of Hisui engage with or ask about certain Pokémon brought a level of Pokémon lore to the surface. In previous titles this lore is hidden in Pokédex entries or interactable objects. In Arceus though, this lore is the center of the whole game as your main objective is to create the very first Pokédex. Pokémon lore is really unique and interesting and seeing it out in the open like this was certainly exciting. I was excited to undergo side quests that dove deeper into certain species and their habits.
Shiny Pokémon
Like many veterans of the series, I consider myself a shiny hunter. It really took off with Pokémon Shield for me and I actively began breeding for those highly sought after variants. While I have enjoyed my time with Shield, the announcement of Generation IX means that I will probably be moving my shiny hunting efforts forward. Until then though, Arceus has proven to be a rather enjoyable hunting experience, instead of just spinning around in circles on a bike.
When I originally heard that there wasn’t any breeding in Arceus, I was skeptical. That has become such a big and enjoyable thing for me within the franchise, I wasn’t sure how I’d handle its absence. While I do miss it, it hasn’t hindered my shiny hunting or my overall experience. In fact, Arceus is much more engaging in the way it approaches shiny hunting. Your odds are of course full, until certain requirements are met. Even at full odds though, players around the world are finding shiny Pokémon. That is because with Pokemon showing up in the overworld, it is easier to cycle through them. You can encounter numerous Pokémon at a time without waiting for a battle to load. In fact, this marks the first title I have I stumbled upon a shiny that I wasn’t hunting for. That was really exciting, even though it was a Luxray, one I already have in Shield.
The game rewards you for researching Pokémon by increasing your shiny odds. When you reach level ten for a specie’s Pokédex entry your odds increase for that species. That is how you effectively hunt certain Pokémon. However, raising all of the entries to level ten will award you the Shiny Charm. The Shiny Charm will increase your odds across the board, a necessity for any shiny hunter out there. Raising the research to level ten for every mon wasn’t easy though, so prepare for that.
The Verdict
Pokémon Legends: Arceus more than exceeded my expectations, it blew them out of the water. It is going to be a game I revisit for years to come, and I hope that some of the changes Game Freak made to franchise remain in Generation IX. It is an experience I will never forget and will continue to build upon. While it doesn’t replace Generation II as my favorite entry, it does everything right in engaging its players to experience the franchise through different eyes. If you haven’t picked this one up yet, and you enjoy Pokémon, I’ll encourage you to give it a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
