Pokemon Sword and Shield Impressions - Sword and Board

[Gralian]

the textures aren't great

Oh boy, seeing blurry textures on a pokeball of all things when i caught something was enough to make my eye physically twitch in discomfort.

No-one needs glossy 4k pokemon or anything, but blurry textures on something that untaxing is kind of unforgivable, especially when the textures in question are not demanding.

If there is any good thing out of Sword and Shield, it's all those sweet memes and fan comics/art.

I wholeheartedly agree with this.

However, it has also spawned lewds on google images which need eye bleach to un-see.

You can't even google just Wooloo without seeing it.

 

[Silvanus]

Oh boy, seeing blurry textures on a pokeball of all things when i caught something was enough to make my eye physically twitch in discomfort.

No-one needs glossy 4k pokemon or anything, but blurry textures on something that untaxing is kind of unforgivable, especially when the textures in question are not demanding.

It's bizarre. Some of the textures are really good (the floor of the ghost-type arena was intricate & well-textured), and yet others are awful (the trees in the Wild Area look like PS2 trees). I can only assume the game was rushed to make a deadline.

 

[CritialGaming]

It's bizarre. Some of the textures are really good (the floor of the ghost-type arena was intricate & well-textured), and yet others are awful (the trees in the Wild Area look like PS2 trees). I can only assume the game was rushed to make a deadline.

I have a feeling that a lot of the games issues are because GameFreak started development of a new pokemon game on 3DS, and Nintendo told them to change it to the Switch, and they simply didn't have the time or know-how to get everything together in time. That would explain the following:

1. The Dex cut
2. The fact that the Wild area is the only area in the game that is any different from any 3DS game area. (I.E. new mechanics and a free camera)
3. The graphical issues.
4. The lackluster animations for attacks on almost every pokemon in the game, doing almost any attack.

It just feels like a first effort to make a full on console game. Now I know they did Pokemon Let's Go, but remember that those games didn't have the same mechanics that a main line Pokemon title would have.

Furthermore, why would they cut mega evolution outright? A whole 3DS mechanic that has been in all games since they released that mechanic. They don't usually cut things, they add things. I can't think of a single Main Pokemon game that has ever cut a feature that was present in the previous games. They've modified things, but they never cut them. Right?

So why this time?

Running out of time is the only thing I can think to justify it.

 

[Yoshi178]

It's bizarre. Some of the textures are really good (the floor of the ghost-type arena was intricate & well-textured), and yet others are awful (the trees in the Wild Area look like PS2 trees). I can only assume the game was rushed to make a deadline.

I have a feeling that a lot of the games issues are because GameFreak started development of a new pokemon game on 3DS, and Nintendo told them to change it to the Switch, and they simply didn't have the time or know-how to get everything together in time. That would explain the following:

1. The Dex cut
2. The fact that the Wild area is the only area in the game that is any different from any 3DS game area. (I.E. new mechanics and a free camera)
3. The graphical issues.
4. The lackluster animations for attacks on almost every pokemon in the game, doing almost any attack.

It just feels like a first effort to make a full on console game. Now I know they did Pokemon Let's Go, but remember that those games didn't have the same mechanics that a main line Pokemon title would have.

Furthermore, why would they cut mega evolution outright? A whole 3DS mechanic that has been in all games since they released that mechanic. They don't usually cut things, they add things. I can't think of a single Main Pokemon game that has ever cut a feature that was present in the previous games. They've modified things, but they never cut them. Right?

So why this time?

Running out of time is the only thing I can think to justify it.

i'm pretty sure the Pokemon Company would have been the one to rush Game Freak to get these games out. they want to keep the pokemon games coming out in line with the Anime's and merchandise don't forget.

and as we've seen Nintendo is more than happy to delay games with Zelda BOTW, Metroid Prime, Bayonetta and Animal crossing all falling victim to being delayed.

Blame the Pokemon Company for Game Freak being rushed here.

 

[Silvanus]

Furthermore, why would they cut mega evolution outright? A whole 3DS mechanic that has been in all games since they released that mechanic. They don't usually cut things, they add things. I can't think of a single Main Pokemon game that has ever cut a feature that was present in the previous games. They've modified things, but they never cut them. Right?

They've occasionally cut mechanics (like swarms/outbreaks which were cut in Gen 6, or DexNav which was great but only present in Alpha Ruby/ Omega Sapphire). Still, these aren't as big or notable as Mega Evolutions. It's a shame; Dynamax seems to be intended as a replacement, but it's just not as interesting.

 

[CritialGaming]

They've occasionally cut mechanics (like swarms/outbreaks which were cut in Gen 6, or DexNav which was great but only present in Alpha Ruby/ Omega Sapphire). Still, these aren't as big or notable as Mega Evolutions. It's a shame; Dynamax seems to be intended as a replacement, but it's just not as interesting.

I guess, but those mechanics weren't actually ever full on features. They were kind of side things that I would equate to mini-games in other RPG's. Like are beauty contests still a thing? 3-way battling?

Dynamaxing is fucking dumb. For a couple of reasons.

1. Unlike Mega-evolution, you can't dynamax everywhere.
2. Unlike Mega-evolutions, when you do dynamax, you're moves all change out to be generic Max-type moves. "Max Fire" or "Max Water" etc. Which is obviously because they couldn't animation all the moves into the huge-boy form.
3. Unlike Mega-evolutions, dynamax doesn't change the Pokemon's form or typing. With only a couple notible exceptions like Gengar who becomes like a Cave of wonders from Aladin.

Basically, Dynamaxing is inferior to Mega Evolutions in every single conceivable way.


Also I just want to ***** for a moment about how much I fucking hate Nintendo for trying to force me into buying their shit online service. You can wonder-trade without it and I HATE IT! I just wanna wonder trade and I'm not buying a huge online service pass to do that shit.

Look you wanna have the service be required for deliberate trading, online battling, raid battles with players, fucking fine. But a blind rando trade? Come on you gotta give people SOMETHING right? Fucking bullshit.

 

[Gralian]

It's bizarre. Some of the textures are really good (the floor of the ghost-type arena was intricate & well-textured), and yet others are awful (the trees in the Wild Area look like PS2 trees). I can only assume the game was rushed to make a deadline.

I have a feeling that a lot of the games issues are because GameFreak started development of a new pokemon game on 3DS, and Nintendo told them to change it to the Switch, and they simply didn't have the time or know-how to get everything together in time. That would explain the following:

1. The Dex cut
2. The fact that the Wild area is the only area in the game that is any different from any 3DS game area. (I.E. new mechanics and a free camera)
3. The graphical issues.
4. The lackluster animations for attacks on almost every pokemon in the game, doing almost any attack.

It just feels like a first effort to make a full on console game. Now I know they did Pokemon Let's Go, but remember that those games didn't have the same mechanics that a main line Pokemon title would have.

Furthermore, why would they cut mega evolution outright? A whole 3DS mechanic that has been in all games since they released that mechanic. They don't usually cut things, they add things. I can't think of a single Main Pokemon game that has ever cut a feature that was present in the previous games. They've modified things, but they never cut them. Right?

So why this time?

Running out of time is the only thing I can think to justify it.

I didn't think about how Gamefreak would have been forced to shift focus from 3ds / handheld to home console mid production, i guess that would make sense in regards to the uneven quality. Having said that though the switch is nearly 3 years old. Additionally, devs are given devkits to work on games far ahead of the console's given release date, not only that but Nintendo must have announced privately that the 3ds was on its deathbed. I can't believe they would have let development continue so long only to do a heel-point-turn

I only wondered if production was rushed specifically to meet the Christmas deadline, which would make more sense.

Personally speaking, and i know this is controversial, but i couldn't care less about the national dex business. I never caught them all, i never got both versions of the game and didn't have any direct friends to trade with. I was only in it for the journey, to beat the fantastic four with my favourite pokemon team (even if they weren't the "best" in terms of meta) and call it a day. So it doesn't affect me too much. I do like the majority of the new gen, really didn't like the starters though.

They've occasionally cut mechanics (like swarms/outbreaks which were cut in Gen 6, or DexNav which was great but only present in Alpha Ruby/ Omega Sapphire). Still, these aren't as big or notable as Mega Evolutions. It's a shame; Dynamax seems to be intended as a replacement, but it's just not as interesting.

I guess, but those mechanics weren't actually ever full on features. They were kind of side things that I would equate to mini-games in other RPG's. Like are beauty contests still a thing? 3-way battling?

Dynamaxing is fucking dumb. For a couple of reasons.

1. Unlike Mega-evolution, you can't dynamax everywhere.
2. Unlike Mega-evolutions, when you do dynamax, you're moves all change out to be generic Max-type moves. "Max Fire" or "Max Water" etc. Which is obviously because they couldn't animation all the moves into the huge-boy form.
3. Unlike Mega-evolutions, dynamax doesn't change the Pokemon's form or typing. With only a couple notible exceptions like Gengar who becomes like a Cave of wonders from Aladin.

Basically, Dynamaxing is inferior to Mega Evolutions in every single conceivable way.


Also I just want to ***** for a moment about how much I fucking hate Nintendo for trying to force me into buying their shit online service. You can wonder-trade without it and I HATE IT! I just wanna wonder trade and I'm not buying a huge online service pass to do that shit.

Look you wanna have the service be required for deliberate trading, online battling, raid battles with players, fucking fine. But a blind rando trade? Come on you gotta give people SOMETHING right? Fucking bullshit.

In regards to mega evolution being cut, i can see it sort of makes sense when you consider both Dynamaxing AND gigantamaxing, i just think it would create too much "THIS ISN'T EVEN MY FINAL FORM KAKAROOOOOOTTTTT!!111" in both PvE and PvP scenarios. Something's gotta give and they have to at least try to look innovative. I do agree about the type changing and move changing aspect being important though, it sucks that has been lost.

The Nintendo online thing... yeah, that's a ball ache. To be honest, for the sake of ?17.99 for the year i just went along with it mainly for the one time when all planets are perfectly aligned and i play smash or mk8 online, or for the fun meta aspects of say Fire Emblem 3 Houses with online functionality, or for Daemon X Machina. I don't feel that ?17.99 is enough to worry about so i just went along with it but it is annoying to feel brow-beaten into doing something. It feels more like an obligation than a desirable service.

 

[Yoshi178]

Also I just want to ***** for a moment about how much I fucking hate Nintendo for trying to force me into buying their shit online service. You can wonder-trade without it and I HATE IT! I just wanna wonder trade and I'm not buying a huge online service pass to do that shit.

you could say that about literally any of the console online service's though.

"i just want to play Uncharted or Halo with my friends and i'm not a buying huge online service pass just to do that shit in 1 game!"

at least Nintendo's online is still cheaper than what the others make you pay each year.

 

[Silvanus]

Dynamaxing is fucking dumb. For a couple of reasons.

1. Unlike Mega-evolution, you can't dynamax everywhere.
2. Unlike Mega-evolutions, when you do dynamax, you're moves all change out to be generic Max-type moves. "Max Fire" or "Max Water" etc. Which is obviously because they couldn't animation all the moves into the huge-boy form.
3. Unlike Mega-evolutions, dynamax doesn't change the Pokemon's form or typing. With only a couple notible exceptions like Gengar who becomes like a Cave of wonders from Aladin.

Basically, Dynamaxing is inferior to Mega Evolutions in every single conceivable way.


Also I just want to ***** for a moment about how much I fucking hate Nintendo for trying to force me into buying their shit online service. You can wonder-trade without it and I HATE IT! I just wanna wonder trade and I'm not buying a huge online service pass to do that shit.

Look you wanna have the service be required for deliberate trading, online battling, raid battles with players, fucking fine. But a blind rando trade? Come on you gotta give people SOMETHING right? Fucking bullshit.

Yeah, I have to agree. Dynamax is no replacement for mega evolution. I think they wanted something with scale in order to show off what a home console can bring to the table... but it's so much shallower than mega-evolution. They should've stuck with megas and expanded on the concept.

 

[CritialGaming]

Also I just want to ***** for a moment about how much I fucking hate Nintendo for trying to force me into buying their shit online service. You can wonder-trade without it and I HATE IT! I just wanna wonder trade and I'm not buying a huge online service pass to do that shit.

you could say that about literally any of the console online service's though.

"i just want to play Uncharted or Halo with my friends and i'm not a buying huge online service pass just to do that shit in 1 game!"

at least Nintendo's online is still cheaper than what the others make you pay each year.

That's not true though.

Playstation allows you to play online in Souls games. Not with other players, but you can get messages and rate and have partial functionality with the online systems without paying for the service. Death's Stranding will use your online connection to population player build items and left vehicles. This applies to a lot of other games that have partial online requirements.

I would have liked Pokemon to give partial online service especially since we've been using online services in pokemon for free since forever.

I get why they do it. I just don't like it.

 

[Fappy]

I am enjoying it so far but it is definitely not the console debut that we had all envisioned for the franchise back in the late 90's. Game Freak is very clearly a handheld game dev still.

 

[Yoshi178]