Pokemon Sun

 3DS
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1265 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 868 out of 1265
  2. Mixed: 186 out of 1265
  3. Negative: 211 out of 1265
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  1. iliketrains
    Aug 16, 2017
    9
    This is my first pokemon game and I LOVE it. From the charters to the different pokemon this game is amassing! The only problem is the battles feel to easy.
  2. chocapic
    Nov 21, 2017
    9
    Como juego de pokemon, es de 10, tanto por todas la innovaciones, como por la historia y por los diseños espectaculares de los pokemon. Personalmente no me gusta el rumbo que esta tomando la saga hacia un publico mas infantil, tanto por la dificultad como por los diálogos de dora la exploradora, y sigo prefiriendo los gimnasios a esta basura, pero es una idea nueva por lo menos. Juego deComo juego de pokemon, es de 10, tanto por todas la innovaciones, como por la historia y por los diseños espectaculares de los pokemon. Personalmente no me gusta el rumbo que esta tomando la saga hacia un publico mas infantil, tanto por la dificultad como por los diálogos de dora la exploradora, y sigo prefiriendo los gimnasios a esta basura, pero es una idea nueva por lo menos. Juego de pokemon excelente, que te encantará si eres fan, pero no esta a la altura ni de 2º ni de 5º generación.… Expand
  3. Bunnyhoppy
    Nov 3, 2017
    9
    I absolutely love this game. It was fairly challenging at times, but not so hard it can't be played by a kid (Not that all of us who play Pokemon are kids. Pokemon stays with you forever). The plot is amazing, particularly compared to X and Y. The graphics...fabulous. And I absolutely love the Alolan forms, too. People say that Pokemon is old, but that doesn't change anything. It's still aI absolutely love this game. It was fairly challenging at times, but not so hard it can't be played by a kid (Not that all of us who play Pokemon are kids. Pokemon stays with you forever). The plot is amazing, particularly compared to X and Y. The graphics...fabulous. And I absolutely love the Alolan forms, too. People say that Pokemon is old, but that doesn't change anything. It's still a great franchise.… Expand
  4. FranciscoM
    Nov 23, 2018
    9
    A vibrant region, customization of your character, cool new Pokemon added and a near perfect game, apart from some minor issues with frame rates.
  5. W-Lights
    Dec 2, 2018
    9
    The most ambitious pokemon game ever made: every risk they could take with the formula was taken yet: 1- almost all worked and paid off and 2- still feels like playing a pokemon game from start to finish. You have the best story with amazing themes (like the context of tradition and progress) a region that feels like a real world country with background that makes sense, characters withThe most ambitious pokemon game ever made: every risk they could take with the formula was taken yet: 1- almost all worked and paid off and 2- still feels like playing a pokemon game from start to finish. You have the best story with amazing themes (like the context of tradition and progress) a region that feels like a real world country with background that makes sense, characters with layers from both good and bad side, a new system instead of just more gyms just for the sake of it, a heartwarming conclusion, and smart ideas that honestly should be implemented 20 years ago.… Expand
  6. Bernyz
    Sep 20, 2019
    9
    Es un cambio drástico en cuanto a los pokemons anteriores, pero es muy bueno
  7. ZeroBacon
    Oct 7, 2020
    9
    I think this is a very good Pokemon game. Not as great as some of the other ones, but it’s one of the best ones in years. The removal of gyms is fine, but it has some great music. I think this game’s worth a shot, even if its dead easy.
  8. SirXyonder777
    Jun 29, 2022
    9
    This game is an amazing Pokémon game. The graphics are great, but when they zoom in on the faces, you can see the pixels. An overall amazing game, but why did they get rid of the gyms?! I wish they didn't redesign all the Pokémon they did, but it's a great game for anyone who likes Pokémon, and I would argue that it's one of the best games to introduce someone to the series. I also reallyThis game is an amazing Pokémon game. The graphics are great, but when they zoom in on the faces, you can see the pixels. An overall amazing game, but why did they get rid of the gyms?! I wish they didn't redesign all the Pokémon they did, but it's a great game for anyone who likes Pokémon, and I would argue that it's one of the best games to introduce someone to the series. I also really love how they brought back past characters like Dexio, Sina, Red and Blue.… Expand
  9. Guzmant
    Sep 10, 2023
    9
    I'm not going to lie, I'm not the biggest Pokemon fan.

    A lot of Pokemon games have a great concept but fall very flat in execution, the best Pokemon games are ok while the worst ones (aka 90% of the Switch releases) are abysmal. 'Pokemon Sun & Moon' was the biggest exception. The gameplay, whole functional, is not too different from the other games. although I have things that are worth    I'm not going to lie, I'm not the biggest Pokemon fan.

    A lot of Pokemon games have a great concept but fall very flat in execution, the best Pokemon games are ok while the worst ones (aka 90% of the Switch releases) are abysmal. 'Pokemon Sun & Moon' was the biggest exception.

    The gameplay, whole functional, is not too different from the other games. although I have things that are worth praise:

    1. Z moves working for everyone: the idea of Megas only working for specific pokemon (and none of the generation it was supposed to represent) was nonsense and limited a potentially great gimmick. Z moves are more limited than Megas in concept, but they are executed much better.

    2. Totem battles: finally no more triple battle luck fest, totem battles are much more skilled are require more strategy rather than just spamming your best moves.

    The plot is the best in the series by a wide, and I mean WIDE margin. Besides having the best world building in the series, the main characters are fleshed out, develop on screen (can't say the same for the previous gens) and are more grounded overall. Lusamine is the best villain in the franchise and the most well written character: a crazy woman who went insane after losing her husband and started loving Ultra Creatures more than her own children to the point she wanted to reach their universe and merge with them.

    The Pokemon is the best generation yet. all 3 starters have great design and ooze with personality (especially Incineroar) and some of the best Pokemon like Mimikyu and Tsareena. There's barely any bad Pokemon at all.

    The cutscenes, often criticized for being "awful" even though they're nothing atrocious that other games didn't do, help the game to feel more immersive and visually interesting than chibi sprites that barely move.

    This game was a great experience.    … Expand
  10. fbnaulin
    Nov 21, 2016
    8
    I play Pokémon since Red/Blue, but stop completing Pokédex and caring about sharing / competitive features after Gold / Silver. Then, I just play Pokémon as an RPG, main story, maybe some extras and that's all.

    Having this in mind, Pokémon Sun / Moon gave me a very nice and fresh impression. The story is peaceful, and everything feel like a slices of life touch in it. It's great to have    I play Pokémon since Red/Blue, but stop completing Pokédex and caring about sharing / competitive features after Gold / Silver. Then, I just play Pokémon as an RPG, main story, maybe some extras and that's all.

    Having this in mind, Pokémon Sun / Moon gave me a very nice and fresh impression. The story is peaceful, and everything feel like a slices of life touch in it. It's great to have a Pokémon game where you can advance without a HM slave or using a lot of repels to avoid countless useless encounters.    … Expand
  11. DarthSidious63
    Nov 21, 2016
    8
    To all the complainers of how easy Pokemon is then move on. It's main target audience is a younger audience or fans of the series. Granted there is too much hand holding but it's a nice looking game. Sun and Moon has nice changes but its time to add a difficulty setting for experience players.
  12. Maxson
    Nov 19, 2016
    8
    It's a good game, probably not the best one but I'm still exploring the game. The introduction is a bit slow, especially for the hardcore pokemon fans. I think this game in my opinion is great for newcomers. The graphics are a bit better than the previous 3DS Pokemon games. The gameplay is still the same, they didn't change much with the core element in the game. For those that areIt's a good game, probably not the best one but I'm still exploring the game. The introduction is a bit slow, especially for the hardcore pokemon fans. I think this game in my opinion is great for newcomers. The graphics are a bit better than the previous 3DS Pokemon games. The gameplay is still the same, they didn't change much with the core element in the game. For those that are suffering from long loading time and lag, you guys are playing the game on the old 3DS. I have the new 3DS XL, and the game runs fine. I'm pretty disappointed with some of the reviews here, because some of the guys just don't understand. Gamefreak wants to bring new players in, that's why we have the tutorial and introduction in the game. They want new players to understand the basic concept of the game, especially the younger kids that are playing this game for the first time in their gaming life.… Expand
  13. Shabok
    Nov 20, 2016
    8
    I've been playing pokemon, both competitively and casually, since RBY first came out. Here are my feelings:

    Pro: + The new mons are some of the best overall in terms of design. Much better than XY + Gyms have been replaced but its a nice change and actally makes the game harder + Graphics and animations are great + Lots of things to do aside from clear the trials + Customization of    I've been playing pokemon, both competitively and casually, since RBY first came out. Here are my feelings:

    Pro:
    + The new mons are some of the best overall in terms of design. Much better than XY
    + Gyms have been replaced but its a nice change and actally makes the game harder
    + Graphics and animations are great
    + Lots of things to do aside from clear the trials
    + Customization of your avatar
    + Festival Plaza is a great consolidation of thing competitive players care about
    + No more HM
    + Tons of QoL improvements for casual and competitive
    + It's pretty long

    Con:
    - Framerate drops on standard 3DS whenever more than one mon is on the screen
    - Wild pokemon calling for help is the worst mechanic in any of these games. Ever. It's worse than hoarde battles, which were actually very useful for EV training. This is just irritating. It's supposed to add challenge, however it just translates into useless tedium
    - Boring, predictable, stereotypical characters
    - Rival (if you can call him that) is irritatingly cheerful and says about 4 different things just in different ways... What happened to all the jerk rivals?
    - The amount of handholding is nauseating
    - Rotomdex is annoying. It never shuts up and always tells you exactly where to go
    - Zmoves are cool but I find myself never using them because I can get 2 attacks off by the time the animation finishes
    - Team Skull is...embarassing
    - You can only go fishing in designated spots
    - New mons are all slow as dirt, with only 2 or 3 non legends having base Spd >=100

    This is not the best game in the series. GSC still blows it away. I'm still giving it a solid 8. It's not a bad game by any means (although those framerate drops are, frankly, embarassing in 2016) and it's definitely worth playing. It's hard to appeal to every type of person who plays this game. They definitely tried to. In my eyes, they earned B when, with a few tweaks, this could have been a solid A title.    … Expand
  14. SuperMatt777
    Nov 19, 2016
    8
    Pokémon Sun/Moon are an interesting take on the main series of Pokémon, taking a break from challenging 8 gym leaders in favor of Island Trials. It definitely fits the Hawaii theme that the game has going on and I think it's pretty cool. The games themselves are really good, making the long, hyped wait well worth it. The new Pokémon introduced maintain a level of creativity in theirPokémon Sun/Moon are an interesting take on the main series of Pokémon, taking a break from challenging 8 gym leaders in favor of Island Trials. It definitely fits the Hawaii theme that the game has going on and I think it's pretty cool. The games themselves are really good, making the long, hyped wait well worth it. The new Pokémon introduced maintain a level of creativity in their designs, types and abilities, in my opinion. A few new and incredibly useful features introduced include the removal of HMs in exchange for the Poke Pager, a device that calls specific Pokémon to fill in the place of the missing HMs. Incredibly helpful and relieves you of forcing yourself to have a water or flying type just for Surf, Waterfall and Fly or a completely different Pokémon all together for the rarely used Strength or Rock Smash. Another addition is the Poké Refresh, which replaces the Poké-Amie from the previous generation. The repetitive mini games are gone and instead, you can just pet and feed your Pokémon. Simple enough. You can also clean it after battle and, best of all, restore the Pokémon of any status condition it may have gained from the battle, effectively eliminating the need for a few status restoring items. You can also check stat alterations in the battle itself as well as the game telling you which moves are effective against the Pokémon you're up against, making it incredibly helpful for new players. The game's locations are quite nice as well, perfectly fitting in with the game's theme and the many characters are filled with personality, many of which really make you wonder what their backstories are. The Battle Royal idea is a cool thing as well. I've seen some YouTubers do free for all battles in gen 6 games and this idea seems to take that idea and make it official. The only complaint is how the battles end when one person loses all their Pokémon.

    However, despite how much I'm enjoying the games, there are a few flaws. While I don't mind the change in Island Trials, the Totem Pokémon battles are incredibly irritating, mainly due to the introduction of wild Pokémon being able to call for help. Not only does this stack the odds against you, but it makes catching wild Pokémon a hassle and facing the Totem Pokémon almost one sided against you. I don't mind the Island Trials idea, but I still much prefer gym battles. Another big thing is how uncommon or hard to get the new Pokémon are. If they don't have a five percent chance of finding in the wild, the either evolve in a specific place more than halfway through the game. I love the idea of Alolan forms, a change in type for past Pokémon makes them more interesting to use, but the variety is low and limited to generation 1 Pokémon, which I'm not huge on. There is also a hefty amount of Pokémon missing from the game, meaning you must transfer to get them. Z-Moves are also a new introduction to the game, but I barely see use in them. I feel they were meant to compare/compete with the Mega Evolution idea, but in my eyes, I just don't see use in them. Trainer customization returns, but it's incredibly dull compared to X & Y.

    Overall, Sun and Moon were definitely worth the wait. Various fixes made playing the games much easier and the new ideas are, in my opinion, not bad. The new Pokémon are amazing and creative and the game's story is interesting so far, as it is filled with amazing characters. However there are those various flaws that are easy to complain about and they can be pretty glaring at times. But get passed those and your looking at pretty great games. The change of pace wasn't a bad idea, but it's not one I hope to see become the new normal.    … Expand
  15. EpicLadySponge
    Nov 18, 2016
    8
    It is agreeable that Pokémon Sun isn't getting anywhere from its predecessors, X and Y, but to be on the safe side, it does have its beauty moments and anyone wondering when to buy it, it would possibly be now... only if you have a 3DS that is.
  16. Barnes1987
    Mar 6, 2017
    8
    Pokemon is back yet again with Sun and Moon. The look of the game has improved greatly and the same fun gameplay is still there, but some minor changes bring the score down a little for me. Still well worth a look.
  17. militarymetal
    Nov 30, 2016
    8
    Pokemon Sun/Moon is a different experience than any Pokemon game before it. While the game still carries the same linearity of traditional installments, the new environment not only inspires exploration, but also highly encourages it. It's a refreshing feeling for a Pokemon game, and even 30 hours into gameplay, not once did I ever feel discouraged from exploring the game at all. I alsoPokemon Sun/Moon is a different experience than any Pokemon game before it. While the game still carries the same linearity of traditional installments, the new environment not only inspires exploration, but also highly encourages it. It's a refreshing feeling for a Pokemon game, and even 30 hours into gameplay, not once did I ever feel discouraged from exploring the game at all. I also appreciated the new trial system over the traditional gym system, as they were all unique to their respective typing, and each challenge felt fun and engaging. The new elements, new mechanics, and the gorgeous environment create a truly spectacular experience.

    However, the game is not without it's fault. While Sun and Moon are definitely Game Freak's most ambitious installment to date, the overall story was a bit lacking. While elements of it were new and different, it was a pretty typical archetype for the Pokemon series. It's not bad by any means, but I felt as though that as far that goes that they did not bring anything new to the table.

    Overall, Sun and Moon are still a much needed breath of fresh air to the series, and it makes me hopeful as a fan to see what they do next in the world of Pokemon.    … Expand
  18. Sakamoto_San
    Sep 11, 2017
    8
    Un buen juego pero con una historia floja, dejaron fuera las mecánicas de las mega evoluciones incluidas en la versión anterior y eso deja la sensación de que el juego esta incompleto, su principal problema es no contar con la pokedex nacional para poder juntar a todos los pokemon que se limite solo a Alola es muy malo y deja a el titulo sin la amplia variedad de pokemon que existen.
  19. OrbitingJupiter
    Nov 22, 2016
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Alright, I already wrote a review for Pokemon Sun and Moon, however, I originally gave them a 6/10. I thought they were pretty decent games, but also took huge missteps as well. Well, as you can clearly see, I'm writing a second review. Overall, looking back on the 2 games, I have to say...

    My opinions on this game have shifted for the better. I suppose I just needed to adjust a bit. Don't misinterpret what I'm saying; I don't think they're perfect now, I have just grown more fond of them. Anyhow, I'm not here to be an ass-kisser, I'll keep this review as objective as possible.

    I'll start with what I liked. Firstly, I thought the Pokemon designs in the game were, for the most part, very good. There are exceptions, of course (*glares at Dhelmise*), but on the whole, I liked them. Hopefully they can keep this up.

    Another thing I though was very interesting were the Alolan forms of the older Pokemon. I liked the idea that certain Pokemon have to adapt to different regions and areas. Most of their designs were very good as well, with the only exception being Dugtrio, but I can't say that its original design was all that mesmerizing either.

    The soundtrack has grown on me as well. I originally thought it was quite sub-par, however, it has gotten better the more I listened to it. I especially like Guzma's, Lusamine's, Red's/Blue's, The Elite Four's, and the League Title Defense's themes. The credits theme is pretty damn good too... except for the amateurish vocals.

    The graphics in the game are damn good as well. The 3D Pokemon models look astonishingly good, the environments look very pleasant, an they overall appear less "Gamey," as I said in my previous review. I WILL mention one issue some folks came across, and that is the framerate. I won't lie- I was playing on the new 3DS, and the only time I encountered slowdown was during double battles. If you have a new 3DS, the framerate shouldn't be too much of an issue, but if you have a standard 3DS, you should probably be wary of this when you think about purchasing these games.

    All of that is really good, but the thing that REALLY changed my mind on the semi-negative rating...

    Was the story. I honestly didn't expect my opinion to shift as much as it did, but the more I thought about it, the better it became.

    The story in this game is easily one of the best, if not THE best, story in the entire series, only rivaled by Black and White. I am SO glad this game wasn't like X and Y with its shallow characters, non-existent emotions, and muted tone. The story in this game is really good! You feel actual tension as things start to happen, the protagonists are very down-to-earth and view you as actual FRIENDS and not battle buddies like those 5 caricatures from X and Y (shows how great they are when I can't even remember their names), and best of all, YOU FEEL ACTUAL EMOTIONS AS IT PROGRESSES. There are some genuinely touching moments in the game!

    The driving force behind this story is Lillie. Lillie is the best character in the Pokemon franchise since N. I'm not exaggerating, she really is a great character! She's not an obnoxious damsel in distress, nor an edgy 'I hate everything and everyone' if you know what I mean. She's a very grounded, yet emotional young woman with a ghastly upbringing. Her mother is a Ultra Beast obsessed lunatic, and her father is a street thug. After being through all of this, she ends up meeting the player, and as the journey goes on, she grows more autonomous and cheerful.

    The only issue I can highlight is that she CAN seem kinda cliched at times, but overall, she's a fantastic character, and a great motivation to progress through the game. I really hope she appears in another Pokemon installment.

    With all of that out of the way, it's time to talk about the negatives.

    Unfortunately, the biggest issue I had with the game is still present. The new Pokemon may have great designs but their stats are incredibly "Second-rate." The most common complaint about them is that they're too slow... and yeah, I empathize with that. Tip: When you get to the battle tree, DON'T USE GEN 7 POKEMON. THEY SIMPLY CAN'T COMPETE WITH OLDER ONES. Yes, there are exceptions, but the majority of them just can't hold their own against anything but themselves.

    The only other huge issue I have is the pacing. Not only does the story take a bit of time to gain some traction (despite its quality), but the opening tutorials like the trainer school last way longer than they should. Sorry, but taking 2 hours to tell me stuff I already know isn't acceptable.

    At the end of the day, I'm very happy that I played these games. GAMEFREAK has shown to me that even though they will always stick with the winning formula, they at least had a bit of ambition while making these games.

    I will recommend this game to any Poke-fan out there, maybe even most folks who own a 3DS. Here's hoping for a sequel of some kind.

    8/10    … Expand
  20. peropify
    Dec 14, 2016
    8
    Pokemon Sun (and Moon) is everything you want in your latest Pokemon generation game. There have been overall good and interesting changes to the casual and professional player and has generally picked up most of the good things found in past games. However, it would be nice if they would invest in a game that focused more on story and there's just way too many Pokemon in the game now forPokemon Sun (and Moon) is everything you want in your latest Pokemon generation game. There have been overall good and interesting changes to the casual and professional player and has generally picked up most of the good things found in past games. However, it would be nice if they would invest in a game that focused more on story and there's just way too many Pokemon in the game now for it to be feasible to "catch them all", not to mention how plagued the game is with hackers. But this game was a step in the right direction.

    My suggestion is to break even more from convention with strong emphasis on story and difficulty. The reason the Pokemon franchise is so successful is because of it's roots in Pokemon Red and Blue. Gameplay was designed amazingly (either by genius or mistake), from the more difficult gym leader typings and pokemon available in the early game. As for story, I think it would be a great idea to go back to the past - a prequel if you will - that explains interesting pokemon mythology from the legendary dogs to the pokemon war.    … Expand
  21. aescalantesuare
    Sep 29, 2017
    8
    Después de dedicarle mas de 100 horas e iniciar el "competitivo", puede decir que es el juego de la saga mas me ha emocionado.

    Puntos en contra:

    - Los mapas son sencillos
    - Todos los combates contra la PC son faciles
    - No existe la Pokédex nacional
  22. Neng-
    Dec 15, 2016
    8
    This game steps up pretty much every other Pokemon game made before, the plot is more engaging, battle animations look better, route designs are very well done and the kahuna system is innovative and gives a fresh atmosphere to the game.

    There are some annoying things they got rid of like the MO system and the box storage (you can now switch a party member for a Pokemon you just    This game steps up pretty much every other Pokemon game made before, the plot is more engaging, battle animations look better, route designs are very well done and the kahuna system is innovative and gives a fresh atmosphere to the game.

    There are some annoying things they got rid of like the MO system and the box storage (you can now switch a party member for a Pokemon you just caught), and that's a step in the right direction.

    Altough, things like the bad framerate (even on new3ds) in double battles is something that should be fixed as soon as possible, and the z moves doesn't really add anything to the game that really matters.

    That being said, the new alola forms are cool and the post-game is very entertaining, all in all is a game that keeps improving and that is always a good sign. Collapse    … Expand
  23. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    8
    I would call this game, one of the most anticipated games of the year. At least for me, this was one game that I was very excited about. I was a huge fan of Pokemon X/Y and although ORAS (Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire) weren’t as enjoyable as X/Y, ORAS are still great games.

    In what Nintendo would probably describe as a P.R. disaster, a few weeks before the game came out, all the new    I would call this game, one of the most anticipated games of the year. At least for me, this was one game that I was very excited about. I was a huge fan of Pokemon X/Y and although ORAS (Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire) weren’t as enjoyable as X/Y, ORAS are still great games.

    In what Nintendo would probably describe as a P.R. disaster, a few weeks before the game came out, all the new Pokemon were revealed. But what started out as potential disaster ended up helping out Nintendo because this was the best selling Pokemon game ever made. Clearly people saw the Pokemon and had to get this game to have the New Pokemon on their team.

    It wasn’t just new Pokemon though, Game Freak (The developers of Pokemon) took old generation 1 Pokemon and put a fun spin on them all. Take Ninetales from the picture to the left here. Up until this point, Ninetales was a Fire type but in Pokemon franchise, he/she gets a new typing and a new look. Lets be realistic here, I think it looks a lot better. So if the new Pokemon didn’t bring enough hype to the game, the new Alolan Versions of old Pokemon certainly did.

    The game starts out a little bit different than most other Pokemon games. For example in the first Pokemon games, you get to pick your starter within the first 5 minutes of the game. This its take quite a bit longer and although I don’t know the exact time, it felt like it was a good half hour before you can even pick your first Pokemon.

    Picking the starter wasn’t too much of a hard decision for me. I had given it a lot of thought before hand. I came to the decision that I was going to pick Rowlet, a couple weeks before the game even came out. Some of you may be wondering why and the simple reason is because I really like the Owl design of Decidueye. I also took it a step further and looked into the three starters stats and move list. The fact that Decidueye could learn Brave Bird, Spirit Tackle, Leaf Blade, Sucker Punch and if I wanted to he could also learn False Swipe. This is the first time where I actually preferred the grass type over the other two. This is just my own personal opinion but I think Decidueye is the best grass starter in the history of the Pokemon franchise.

    The rest of my team, ended up filling out as the game progressed through the story. A lot like my starter, I looked at the leaked Pokemon list and really made tentative plans of what my team was going to look like. That did play out the way I wanted it to and ended up only keeping half of my original team. Normally in Pokemon games, I build a team early on and play the game with that team. This was the first time in a Pokemon game that I just kept tinkering with my team, trying to find a good chemistry with all my Pokemon. Finally, I did settle on the team that is just below this post.

    Datrix/Salazzle/Mudsdale/Toucannon/Alolan Ninetales/Alolan Golem

    Getting back on track and talking about the game itself, I felt like the game took a long time to actually get going. There was a very long tutorial that ended up taking at least an hour and half (if not closer to 2 hours).

    I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn’t had a chance to pick to up the game yet. I’m not going into specific details about the story but I do want to talk about my opinion of the story. Personally, I did not like the story. With that being said, I know I am in the vast minority and most people think that this is the best Pokemon story created. Before I go into why I didn’t like the story, I do want to give out a shout out to Game Freak for focusing more on the Narrative rather than just the gameplay.

    The Game’s length is probably somewhere between 20 and 30 hours. I know it sounds like a wide margin but it all depends on if you take the time, explore and try to catch all the Pokemon as you can. Personally, it took me about 25 hours to play through the game and it just felt like a long time for me. A big reason for that are the very long and unskippable cutscenes. I feel like there are at least 5 hours of unskippable and not very interesting cutscenes. This really slowed the game down for me and made the game feel like it was poorly paced.    … Expand
  24. Xenn2423
    Nov 23, 2016
    8
    Pokemon Sun is a great game to start off with for new Pokemon fans, but doesn't bring too much to the table for experienced pokemon trainers.

    Let's start with a quick look at the pros and cons. Pros: -Amazing graphics and animations for a Pokemon title -Features are more refined and user friendly -Map on lower screen makes it easy to find your next objective -New 'Alolan Form'    Pokemon Sun is a great game to start off with for new Pokemon fans, but doesn't bring too much to the table for experienced pokemon trainers.

    Let's start with a quick look at the pros and cons.

    Pros:
    -Amazing graphics and animations for a Pokemon title
    -Features are more refined and user friendly
    -Map on lower screen makes it easy to find your next objective
    -New 'Alolan Form' Pokemon bring back some fan favorites
    -'Z-Move' mechanic adds a new layer to movesets
    -Unique puzzles take the place of the battle-heavy gym system
    -'Poke pelago' allows pokemon in your PC to be productive
    -EXCELLENT soundtrack for boss/rival/legendary battles

    Cons:
    -Very, VERY linear story: No freedom to explore
    -Incredibly predicatble plot twists
    -Vague and sometimes nonsensical storyline
    -Limited post-game content
    -Pokemon cannot be transferred from old games until January
    -Only a few new pokemon are added
    -Many, MANY pointless loadscreens and cutaways
    -Unskippable cutscenes (Some of which are 5+ minutes)
    -Lengthy and dull tutorial that can't be skipped
    -Multiplayer features are buried behind the new 'Festival Plaza'
    -Communication features limited (no more typed out messages or shoutouts)
    -Main Rival (AKA 'Edgelord Supreme') has very little screen time
    -Pokedex talks too much (Yes, it TALKS now)
    -You can't even buy Black Jeans if you're playing Sun >:(

    Overall, this game was worth the money spent. For only $40 USD, I got about 30 hours out of the storyline, and I'm up to 50 and counting now that I'm building up my usual competetive teams. However, the story was somewhat lacking, and there is very little postgame content to play through if you aren't a hardcore player. If you don't intend to play competetive multiplayer, complete the pokedex, or complete some other obscure long term goal, this game will most likely only last you 30-40 hours before you move on.

    For multiplayer fans, the replacement of the PSS (Player Search System) will hit you rather hard. Instead of having the ability to have a short, typed message displaying what you are looking for or whether or no you'd like to battle, you must choose from vague, unhelpful preset phrases along the lines of "Willing to trade any time!" You will no longer be able to tell the world that you need a level 97 female Alolan Ninetales with 5 perfect IV's, Moonblast, and its hidden ability. Not only that, but you won't even be able to USE the multiplayer features until you complete a few completely unrelated tasks in the festival plaza, which many people haven't even located in their menus in the first place. These barriers make it seem almost like Game Freak didn't want people to interact with the multiplayer menus, and leave us wondering why they even opted to get rid of the brilliant PSS system in the first place.

    Final verdict: New pokemon players will find this to be a great introduction to the Pokemon games, and hardcore players will enjoy some of the new battle systems and Pokemon. However, if you're a casual Pokemon player that's just in it for the story, and you want something more along the lines of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire in terms of content, you're going to want to pass on this one.

    8.5/10 (from a hardcore player's perspective)

    9/10 (from a new player's perspective)

    6.5/10 (from a casual player's perspective)    … Expand
  25. CorkAficionado
    Dec 8, 2016
    8
    I'm a longtime fan of the series so keep that in mind when considering my review. Also keep in mind that the game is intended for children, so I'm not going to be super critical.

    I was really impressed with the my experience on the first island, I thought the pacing was pretty great after the introduction and I was really pleased by the sheer quantity of basic pokemon I caught within    I'm a longtime fan of the series so keep that in mind when considering my review. Also keep in mind that the game is intended for children, so I'm not going to be super critical.

    I was really impressed with the my experience on the first island, I thought the pacing was pretty great after the introduction and I was really pleased by the sheer quantity of basic pokemon I caught within the first four or five hours. Everything was relatively easy, but I thought that was fine since it was the first island.

    Once I arrived at the second island my enthusiasm diminished a bit because the amount of newly available pokemon per area was starting to diminish. That said I was still having a pretty great time, the ride system removing the requirement of HMs to travel was a great feature, and the rate of introduction was such that it allowed you a pretty good deal to explore without gating it behind gym badges like previous entries in the series.

    By the time I got to the third island though I was really struggling to keep interest. In a game where the premise is to "Catch them all." Running into the same rats and birds ~60% of the time is not exactly an enticing prospect. Heck, these are entirely different islands, maybe show a little bit more biodiversity? I understand having common pokemon but you could at least have made them common per island, rather than the same common pokemon between islands. Fortunately the story picks up at this point and compels you through the end of the game, which is alright on it's own.

    The Post-game is alright, but I don't enjoy it as much as I did with Gen 4 and Gen 5s different modes of battling. I don't have as much time to grind out ideal pokemon either, so that definitely factors into it. Still, I find it better than Gen 6.

    All in all I was genuinely pleased with the quality of Sun and Moon. There were a lot of very great cosmetic enhancements over previous entries, small things such as better backgrounds in combat and trainers using different types of pokeballs. This is easily the best looking pokemon game to date, but that is very much what it should be.

    All things considered it's a pretty solid entry. They made some poor choices in regard to pokemon distribution (in my opinion), and having a regional dex smaller than the previous generations is a bit sad as a person who enjoys catching as many per region as possible. But the various quality of life improvements and cosmetic enhancements were really a step in the right direction in my opinion.

    Conclusion:

    I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but it's a good game. I enjoyed it significantly more than XY / ORAS and about on the same level as BW / B2W2. I was also pretty disappointed in the quantity of new pokemon, but the regional variants were an inclusion that I thought were great and would love to see more of in future games.

    I think most fans of the series will enjoy the game, I think most children will enjoy the game. I think the game could have offered more, but the game is still good if not great.    … Expand
  26. minorthreat97
    Dec 11, 2016
    8
    It's a good Pokemon and great way to Celebrate it's 20th Anniversary. However there a few things that could've been expanded upon or improved. Somethings that used to be in Gen 6 have been removed, which doesn't ruin the game in a big way but it does make you wish they stayed or were improved. There isn't too much new Pokemon but overall they're interesting pretty cool. The story isIt's a good Pokemon and great way to Celebrate it's 20th Anniversary. However there a few things that could've been expanded upon or improved. Somethings that used to be in Gen 6 have been removed, which doesn't ruin the game in a big way but it does make you wish they stayed or were improved. There isn't too much new Pokemon but overall they're interesting pretty cool. The story is predictable and cheesy but overall it's tolerable and pretty great. Somethings are a chore however, the cutscenes sometimes feel like they go longer than 1 minute and the tutorials take so long to finish ( I'm over exaggerating but it feels like forever.) Oh yea Rotomdex is pretty annoying, it's cool at first but it just never shuts up lol.

    Overall this a pretty good game, some things I wish could've been improved but I got my money's worth and I'm actually enjoying the game.    … Expand
  27. zidfrit
    Apr 24, 2020
    8
    Un juego de pokemon que he vuelto a disfrutar de entrenar e ir armando mi equipo para enfrentar los nuevos retos que nos espera en esta nueva región, incluye un nuevo concepto que en lo personal no me agrado, prefiero la vieja escuela, y es la inclusión de misiones en lugar de lideres de GYM, al menos al final juegas una liga pokemon para quedar campeón (ahora entiendo por que Ash ahora siUn juego de pokemon que he vuelto a disfrutar de entrenar e ir armando mi equipo para enfrentar los nuevos retos que nos espera en esta nueva región, incluye un nuevo concepto que en lo personal no me agrado, prefiero la vieja escuela, y es la inclusión de misiones en lugar de lideres de GYM, al menos al final juegas una liga pokemon para quedar campeón (ahora entiendo por que Ash ahora si pudo ganarla)… Expand
  28. Hippoall2002
    Feb 20, 2017
    8
    A very good game. The new monsters are cute, But I think strategy is less reachable. Also, the new pokedex is easier to complete but some of my favourite pokemon are not still in he game ( Hippowdon ;_; ). The mount are really cool and usefull. The design of the interface is better and the new Z-moves are all awesome.
  29. Coramcrash
    Dec 29, 2017
    8
    Ha tutti i tratti distintivi e di pregio dei predecessori e non si fa mancare qualche aggiunta di qualità.
    Per la prima volta assistiamo ad una storia vera e propria con i controcazzi.
    Le uniche pecche le si possono riscontrare nel level design troppo semplificato ed a volte confusionario ed in alcuni dialoghi eccessivamente inutili e frustranti. Ma alla fine sembra un gioco incompleto,    Ha tutti i tratti distintivi e di pregio dei predecessori e non si fa mancare qualche aggiunta di qualità.
    Per la prima volta assistiamo ad una storia vera e propria con i controcazzi.
    Le uniche pecche le si possono riscontrare nel level design troppo semplificato ed a volte confusionario ed in alcuni dialoghi eccessivamente inutili e frustranti.
    Ma alla fine sembra un gioco incompleto,
    voto 83/100    … Expand
  30. EdwardG
    Dec 3, 2018
    8
    Pokémon Sun shakes the classic Pokémon formula up with new quality of life improvements as well as through the overall theme of the game. Alola is a unique region in that it is split up over four main islands and that it takes inspiration from Hawaii. This is reflected in the great music, designs of the equally great new Pokémon, the likeable cast of characters and even the battlePokémon Sun shakes the classic Pokémon formula up with new quality of life improvements as well as through the overall theme of the game. Alola is a unique region in that it is split up over four main islands and that it takes inspiration from Hawaii. This is reflected in the great music, designs of the equally great new Pokémon, the likeable cast of characters and even the battle interface.

    Catching Pokémon is as fun as it's ever been, and catching them all is a fun challenge. As there are now over 700 Pokémon, there are countless cool and interesting designs. As for the postgame, you can catch and raise more Pokémon, trade and battle online, and there are also a few cool moments after the main story is over. However, after you're done with the story, which I enjoyed thanks to the characters as well as the decent plot, there isn't loads to keep you playing, especially if you tire of the grind of finding, catching and raising new Pokémon. In particular, finding, breeding and raising battle-ready Pokémon (including hidden abilities, natures, IVs and more) for the online side of the game can be a little overwhelming but it is completely optional and is there for people who want a deeper experience.

    On the whole, Pokémon Sun is another great entry into the series with enough new and exciting additions to set it apart from the rest of the games.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best 3DS Game of 2016
1
#1 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2016
1
#1 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 87 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 85 out of 87
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 87
  3. Negative: 0 out of 87
  1. Vooks
    Apr 8, 2017
    100
    Pokémon Sun and Moon make terrific changes the twenty-year-old formula, allowing new fans and returning ones back into the series with a wonderful lively and colourful world. It's just a little too easy for us who have been here from the start - but it's easy to forgot that when you're having such a blast.
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  2. Easy Allies
    Mar 19, 2017
    90
    If you’re a newcomer to the series, this is an excellent opportunity to learn the fundamentals in a laid-back setting. If you’re a pro, you’ll relish the new options in place for making your Pokémon all they can be. Sun & Moon is a Pokémon vacation we’d gladly take again.
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  3. Vgames
    Mar 8, 2017
    90
    These games exceeded my expectations by a mile. Pokemon Sun and Moon are games that every Pokemon fan and every 3DS owner needs to own. Nintendo and Gamefreak did an awesome job creating a great story and the changes they made for the format make the game feel fresh and exciting more so than ever before. The game has its minor issues like the end game and some performance issues on Old 3DS models but the soundtrack, the story and the new features more than make up for it, to make an unforgettable experience.
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