Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon

[archie4208]

Feels good being in the Rowlet master race. 

[a slime appears]

I am convinced that Game Freak employs incompetent programmers or they are forced to utilize a prehistoric game engine because it's too much effort to do a rewrite. Even though they have two teams and the A team is given three years to make a handheld game.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

The reality is all the awesome Japanese programmers go to mobile or other industries since they get paid much better and work less hours. It's gotten pretty bad if you want to hire top talent over there.

[close]

[Tasty]

I am convinced that Game Freak employs incompetent programmers or they are forced to utilize a prehistoric game engine because it's too much effort to do a rewrite. Even though they have two teams and the A team is given three years to make a handheld game.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

The reality is all the awesome Japanese programmers go to mobile or other industries since they get paid much better and work less hours. It's gotten pretty bad if you want to hire top talent over there.

[close]

S&M look great for a 3DS game. Shits all over the DQ remakes for instance.

[TakingBackSunday]

looks great

[chronovore]

I am convinced that Game Freak employs incompetent programmers or they are forced to utilize a prehistoric game engine because it's too much effort to do a rewrite. Even though they have two teams and the A team is given three years to make a handheld game.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

The reality is all the awesome Japanese programmers go to mobile or other industries since they get paid much better and work less hours. It's gotten pretty bad if you want to hire top talent over there.

[close]

:whynotboth.gif

[a slime appears]

I am convinced that Game Freak employs incompetent programmers or they are forced to utilize a prehistoric game engine because it's too much effort to do a rewrite. Even though they have two teams and the A team is given three years to make a handheld game.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

The reality is all the awesome Japanese programmers go to mobile or other industries since they get paid much better and work less hours. It's gotten pretty bad if you want to hire top talent over there.

[close]

S&M look great for a 3DS game. Shits all over the DQ remakes for instance.

Art, animation, and visual design is fantastic. Can't take that away from the game but that also has nothing to do with programming prowess.

I was more specifically talking about the team's inability to evolve past the core mechanics of their engine, which I've been told is crushingly data driven and highly inefficient, which results in not being able to render the game at 800x240 for 3D or even have a rock solid 30fps throughout the game.

You have games like Yo-Kai Watch, Resident Evil Revelations, and Monster Hunter Stories that outdo it on a technical level on the 3DS, all which had smaller teams and shorter development cycles. GameFreak has the cash, development time, and hiring clout to outdo those efforts but they choose not to or maybe they simply can't.

Also none of my point matters since little kids don't give a shit about GRAFIX.

[Tasty]

 

I mean the game's not even out yet and everything shown so far is smooth and looks great.

[thisismyusername]

Well, I mean this is the same engine as Gen 5, isn't it?

I mean the game's not even out yet and everything shown so far is smooth and looks great.

There's definitely frame drops in the demo, and they couldn't spare processing power for post-processing/Anti-Aliasing.

[Tasty]

Gen 5 is the same engine as 4 lol.

[Tasty]

[Tasty]

Spoiler summary of changes from previous changes, both general and competitive (via GAF):

spoiler (click to show/hide)

so no hordes, no super training, no triples, no rotations, no national dex, no new megas, no dex nav, no move tutors

but hey, there's no hms anymore, and uh some op pokemon got nerfed, and they brought back trainer customisation, and trainers show up in the battle screen now, and it's a fully 3D environment, and it's apparently more challenging now with totems and exp scaling

[close]

Seems like mostly a big step forward, although lack of hordes is gonna hurt EV training a bit. I don't have much problem with the other omissions.

[CatsCatsCats]

None of that meant anything to me, maybe I'm out

[Your Stalker]

i'm gonna miss move tutors and hordes

[Tasty]

The second paragraph should make most casual fans really happy.

[Tasty]

Reviews.

NintendoLife: 10/10

Simply put, Sun and Moon are best Pokémon games that Game Freak has ever produced. Poké Pelago, the side quests, the absolutely stunning nature of the presentation, it's all a sheer joy from start to finish. Game Freak hasn't missed a beat and has managed to carefully balance the inclusion of new mechanics without totally ruining things for the most hardcore fans. It's got content coming out of its ears, a much more interesting story, and rewards exploration in a way no other title in the series has. Whether you're a Pokémon fan new or old, this is an absolutely essential purchase.

Digital Spy: 5/5

Pokémon Sun and Moon is the ultimate Poké adventure. It manages to introduce a lot of new features that greatly enhance the gameplay experience, but retain enough of the original DNA to make sure it doesn't feel totally alien to players who have been Pokémon trainers since 1996.

We can't wait to see where the series goes next, because with Pokémon Sun and Moon it's clearly the beginning of a new Pokémon era, not the closure of the last.

IGN: 9/10

After 20 years of slow but steady evolution, Pokemon gets a bit of a reinvention in Sun and Moon. An engrossing and rich new region makes the Alola journey — along with all the changes Sun and Moon make to the existing formula — enjoyable throughout the main adventure, and small interface and variety of upgrades along the way make a few of the things that stayed the same feel better than before.

God is a Geek: 9.5/10

Pokémon Sun and Moon are filled with so much you’ll be absorbed in every facet from the moment you begin;

DualShockers: 9/10

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are both fantastic additions to the series’ 20th anniversary. With an inspired new generation of Pokémon and a ton of variation, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are the freshest take on a tried-and-true series. However, just like a vacation, most changes are ones I hope are temporary — I’ll be happy to return to the formula again next year.

Destructoid: 9/10

But for every issue I found with Pokemon Moon, whether it was an old problem that just caught up with the series or something new -- I found solace in the indomitable likability of a cast member, or the thrill of finding another party member that I would battle with for years to come. I'm already seeing myself playing for several hundred hours before the end of 2016, and I haven't even fully experienced all of the online features yet. Such is the power of Pokemon, and I hope we get to see Alola's influences linger as Game Freak gears up for its next adventure.

The Sixth Axis: 9/10

EGM: 9/10

A couple technical issues aside, Sun/Moon might be the best Pokémon game yet. It freshens up a formula some of us PokéManics might not have realized was growing stale until now. Trials and Grand Trials provide variations on familiar gameplay, and the removal of HMs and telling players how effective their moves are rejuvenates battling.

The Good   The island trials will make you never want to battle in a gym again. Ride Pokémon doing away with Hidden Machines from previous games.
The Bad   Some slowdown in battles involving three or more Pokémon.
The Ugly   Why is my character always smiling? Even when things take a turn for the worst in the game, my character’s facial animation never changes.

Game Informer: 8.5/10

Sun & Moon feels significantly different from previous Pokémon games. X & Y may have marked the series’ biggest visual change, but Sun & Moon shows Game Freak is willing to re-examine Pokémon’s tenured mechanics in order to improve the game. Sun & Moon is still Pokémon, but it showcases some of the biggest changes the series has ever seen – and that’s a good thing.

GamesRadar: 4/5

Pokemon’s celestial pair occupy a unique position, belonging to a bestselling series played by kids and adults alike. Sun and Moon not only maintain its broad appeal, but boost it into the stratosphere. It’s familiar enough and different enough. It’s complex but well-communicated (if a little heavy handed in its tutelage). Learning about each of Sun and Moon’s new monsters - how they run, fly, swim, feed, dance, and co-exist with locals - gives the games a marvellous sense of rolling wonder for anyone, regardless of age. Game Freak’s latest welcomes old fans disillusioned by previously samey entries and entices a whole new generation to pick up a Pokedex.

Nintendo World Report: 8/10

Pros

Battle mechanics are as fun as ever
Characters and world are charming
Does experimental things with formula
Fun additional features
Ride Pokemon lift the move limitations

Cons

Double Battles chug rather harshly
More linear and easy going
Story less intriguing than expected

Eurogamer: Essential

With Pokémon Sun and Moon however, I have a new one: the world of Pokémon is finally, exactly that: a world, with charming, textured characters not just in the named friends and foes you meet, but the random people on your journey, the region you live in, the music, the Pokémon themselves and the very soul of the journey. At long last, Pokémon is not just back. With Sun and Moon, it feels fresh again.

GameXplain: Loved it

 

[Positive Touch]

any good deal on 3ds xls coming up? no way am i sharing my game boy with my wife when this shit comes out

[Tasty]

any good deal on 3ds xls coming up? no way am i sharing my game boy with my wife when this shit comes out

XL not sure, but Nintendo's advertising a Black Friday deal where you can get a (regular) New 3DS for $99.

[demi]

I dont think any retailer is advertising an XL deal, just the "regular" new 3DS.

[demi]

Pokemon Sun & Moon $32 at Amazon - if you havent bought it already

http://amzn.to/2gqqFGW

[Himu]

Game is fantastic.

[Himu]

10% melemele pokedex so far. Trying to get a grubbin. Only problem with the game as a Pokemon catcher addict is that the game has worse pokedex options than ORAS. I loved sneaking up on rare Pokemon with neat unique abilities in ORAS. And being able to see what Pokemon it was so I could seek out a specific Pokemon. This game tells you where you can find a Pokemon if you look in the dex but it's not on the same level as ORAS. When I got the Poke Finder thing I was excited because I thought it'd function like Alpha Sapphire but instead it was just for taking pics.

Sucks because there's so many Pokemon to catch! Another great thing about ORAS is that it told you if you caught every Pokemon available on that one location. That's also absent.

So that's the only real negative of this game so far and it will only bother if you the reason you like Pokemon is for catching 'Mon.

[Himu]

Grubbin caught! 11% pokedex! I named her Hercules.

[archie4208]

Sure am glad Amazon delayed my order until Tuesday even though I had it preordered for months.

[TakingBackSunday]

sigh I'm gonna pick this up today I guess

[Himu]

having lots of trouble picking my team! Lots of great monsters! I want a Pyukumuku!

[Himu]

So far this game >>>> X

It's full of personality and more importantly the game doesn't feel like it's made of babies in terms of difficulty. The first real boss used a potion. I fought random npcs who used FULL RESTORE and I'm barely into the game. Npcs didn't act like this in X at all. At best you'd have a boss heal their Pokemon with a potion but that was late game only. Wild Pokemon are also wrecking me occasionally. There is no instant win button like in X where I'd one shot things on the regular. I actually have to use strategy, even against trainers. The music is fantastic and I have the main battle theme stuck in my head.

[CatsCatsCats]

QoI got me wantin this

[fistfulofmetal]

I've been playing this for about 4 hours and I'm still being led around by the nose. Waiting to finally get out into the world on my own finally.

[Tasty]

A little late but I'm downloading Moon now!

[Himu]

I've been playing this for about 4 hours and I'm still being led around by the nose. Waiting to finally get out into the world on my own finally.

It stops after trainer school

[Himu]

This game continues to be fantastic.

Analysis of the dungeon design of the first dungeon:

Rules of Trials - 1. You cannot leave the trial once you have started it. 2. You have to complete the goal of the trial.

At the beginning, you lack revives. Hau gives you five revives but guess what, the Pokemon in the first trial hit like a truck. They have a move called Super Fang which can one shot most Pokemon. Meanwhile, you lack items and you can't just high tail it to the Pokemon Center. You have to actually use strategy. These enemies are fast and STRONG. You will die if you do not use proper resource management. So after defeating the first monster I had beat, I realized I had two of my Pokemon get toasted in the process. I revived them. I'm now up to three revives and only one monster beaten - not a good place to be. So the next monster I fight, I throw in my Alola Muck aptly named Mr. Yuck after the  poison control mascot. One problem with this enemy is how strong they are, so I put used Harden. This started a buff/debuff war. I buffed with harden, it tried to debuff me with Leer. An attack that would almost one hit kill a monster in the last battle gave me some good health padding due to the buff. I poisoned it and played the long game, and kicked its ass with Pound. Using strategy in a Pokemon to not get killed? And I'm only 5 hours into the game. And that was a non-boss encounter.

Pokemon single player that's not brain dead and has actual jrpg dungeon design resource management? They've always had the ability to pull this off but just decided to press the Fuck It button this time.

THIS GAME

And the music

[AdmiralViscen]

Do I need to beat the demo before starting the game to get the bonus items/pokemon, or can I do it at any time?

[fistfulofmetal]

I've been playing this for about 4 hours and I'm still being led around by the nose. Waiting to finally get out into the world on my own finally.

It stops after trainer school

Yeah I'm just after that.

[Himu]

Do I need to beat the demo before starting the game to get the bonus items/pokemon, or can I do it at any time?

You need to beat it.

[eleuin]

so are there only the alolan versions of the ones changed

exeggutor has been memed to death but the new Persian looks terrible too 

[Himu]

ok so the game is still holding my hand

halp

[Tasty]

so are there only the alolan versions of the ones changed

exeggutor has been memed to death but the new Persian looks terrible too

Marowak, Ninetails, Sandslash and Raichu are all pretty cool.

[Tasty]

I'm 20 minutes in and holy shit Himu wasn't kidding about the production values. Super impressed right now.

[Tasty]

Love my new look. ^_^

[Himu]

I'm fighting the first grand trial. I've had XP share off and the boss has Pokemon that lv15. If given the opportunity some of this bosses Pokemon will one shot your entire party. I've played Blue, X, Blsck 2, and Alpha Sapphire and I haven't had to have any meaningful strategy putting together a team in one of these games since maybe the original. Maybe ever because I don't remember a thing about Blue except it was amazing at the time.

I'm seeing people complain about how easy the gane is and I have no idea what they're talking about. So far this is by far and away the Pokemon with the highest initial challenge because I sure as fuck didn't struggle like this on any other game. Even if a move is classified as super effective it doesn't mean it's a win button. Gane rocks. Time to formulate my team.

For the record, he wiped me out. For extra trivia, I never got knocked out once in X.

[Tasty]

I usually get knocked out once or so every game, usually in the mid-game when I get overconfident and haven't leveled most of my team.

People are probably saying Sun/Moon are easy because Exp. Share is on by default, and for instance level 15 isn't a problem if you've been solely using your starter to that point and have been seeking out trainers to battle and not avoiding the tall grass.

[Himu]

I usually get knocked out once or so every game, usually in the mid-game when I get overconfident and haven't leveled most of my team.

People are probably saying Sun/Moon are easy because Exp. Share is on by default, and for instance level 15 isn't a problem if you've been solely using your starter to that point and have been seeking out trainers to battle and not avoiding the tall grass.

All of my Pokemon are level 11-12 except my starter and my Muck which are lv 15.

With xp share off and not only using your starter, this game can be a challenge.

[Tasty]

I usually get knocked out once or so every game, usually in the mid-game when I get overconfident and haven't leveled most of my team.

People are probably saying Sun/Moon are easy because Exp. Share is on by default, and for instance level 15 isn't a problem if you've been solely using your starter to that point and have been seeking out trainers to battle and not avoiding the tall grass.

All of my Pokemon are level 11-12 except my starter and my Muck which are lv 15.

With xp share off and not only using your starter, this game can be a challenge.

Of course. But it's also worth talking about the defaults I suppose. Nuzlocke is really challenging too.

[Himu]

I played X with xp share off and still one shot everything with Greninja.

I've caught 25% of the Pokemon on Melemele so I've fought A LOT and I'm still under leveled.

[Tasty]

Loving the game but I'm kinda disappointed with how little I've seen of new monsters at all.

Oh look Magnemite. Oh look Wingull. Oh look Abra.

It's good for type differentiation (a problem in Sinnoh) but I was hoping to build my team exclusively with new 'mons in this game. Doesn't seem like that'll happen.

Black/White handled this the best.

[Himu]

I think you're supposed to get Alola version of Pokemon. So I'm fine with that because they feel new to me.

[Himu]

I just checked a lot of enemies are level 10 or so even on Route 3. No wonder I'm underleveled. This seems like a deliberate design decision.

[Tasty]

Yeah, it doesn't pay to avoid the tall grass, as annoying as random encounters are.

[Himu]

I don't avoid the grass at all either. I've caught every Pokemon I have come across so far except for Litten and Rockruff.

[Himu]

Got my Poekmon one more level and I pummeled the shit out of grand trial. Staying under leveled is definitely for the best.  This difference between one level is vast and even then, the final pokemon of the grand trial can still fuck your shit up so there feels like there's still balance.

[Himu]

Andy there's SO MANY Pokemon to catch once you've beaten the grand trials and unlock new areas.

I think I might stay on Melemele catching Pokemon until I get nearly 100%. I'm at 28% now, though and I will become overleveled if I catch to many, so I'll leave it at Rockruff, grab the loot, and explore the rest of the island.

[Tasty]

I cannot contain my appreciation for Hau any longer. :'(

[Himu]

Hau just wants to chill at the beach and catch Pokemon. Guy doesn't give a shit about anything just coasting. Living the life

[Tasty]

[Tasty]

Pokemon Sun and Moon sold 1.9 million in its first 3 days in Japan

D-D-D-DOMINATION!!

[I'm a Puppy!]

I'm only about 2 hours in. My initial thoughts is the amount of polish in this is astounding. Everything just, feels and looks perfect. Reminds me of a persona game in the level of aesthetic attention. This could possibly be better than x.

[demi]

rofl. x/y was anusfarts, anything should be better

[Trent Dole]

D-D-D-DONGS

Pokemon never stopped being a big thing in Nippon I'm told.

[I'm a Puppy!]

rofl. x/y was anusfarts, anything should be better

eh, I liked it better than Omega and Black and White (both of them)

[eleuin]