Pokemon Legends: Arceus

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Generally favorable reviews - based on 118 Critic Reviews What's this?

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8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3825 Ratings

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  • Summary: A Bold New Direction. The Pokémon Legends: Arceus game honors past Pokémon games' core gameplay while infusing new action and RPG elements. You'll need to catch, survey, and research wild Pokémon in a long-gone era of the Sinnoh region to create and complete the region's first Pokédex.A Bold New Direction. The Pokémon Legends: Arceus game honors past Pokémon games' core gameplay while infusing new action and RPG elements. You'll need to catch, survey, and research wild Pokémon in a long-gone era of the Sinnoh region to create and complete the region's first Pokédex.
    -Catch Pokémon-
    To catch Pokémon in the Pokémon Legends: Arceus game, you can observe them to learn their behavior, then carefully sneak up, aim your Poké Ball, and let fly!

    You can also have your ally Pokémon battle wild Pokémon that you hope to catch. Just throw the Poké Ball holding your ally Pokémon near a wild Pokémon, and you'll seamlessly enter battle and command your Pokémon by choosing from moves it knows.

    -An Adventure in the Sinnoh of Days Gone By-
    You'll be brought to the Sinnoh region, the setting for the Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games. But this story unfolds in a long-gone era, before ideas such as being a Pokémon Trainer or having a Pokémon League even existed.

    All around, you'll find Pokémon living wild in harsh environments that make for a Sinnoh unlike the region you may remember from the days of the Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games.

    The Poké Balls of old were apparently built a little differently from the ones we know so well. They were made mostly of wood, and steam puffed from their tops when Pokémon were caught.
    -Meet Your First Partner Pokémon-
    As you start off on your adventure to create the region's first Pokédex, you'll be able to choose Rowlet, Cyndaquil, or Oshawott as a partner.

    These three Pokémon arrived with a Pokémon Professor, who encountered them on research excursions to various regions.
    Rowlet
    Category: Grass Quill Pokémon
    Type: Grass/Flying
    Height: 1'
    Weight: 3.3 lbs.

    Rowlet is a Pokémon from the Alola region. It uses photosynthesis to store up energy during the day, while becoming active at night. Silently it glides, drawing near its targets. Before they even notice it, it begins to pelt them with vicious kicks.

    Cyndaquil
    Category: Fire Mouse Pokémon
    Type: Fire
    Height: 1'8"
    Weight: 17.4 lbs.

    Cyndaquil is a Pokémon from the Johto region. It is timid and always curls itself up in a ball. When it's surprised, the flames on its back flare up stronger. When it is attacked, it uses its flames to protect itself.

    Oshawott
    Category: Sea Otter Pokémon
    Type: Water
    Height: 1'8"
    Weight: 13 lbs.

    Oshawott is a Pokémon from the Unova region. With the scalchop on its stomach, it blocks opponents' attacks, then retaliates immediately by slashing. Its scalchop can be used to break open hard Berries as well.

    Arceus
    Holding the key to this tale is the Pokémon known as Arceus. Arceus is said to have shaped all there is in this world. Just how is this mighty Pokémon connected to your journey?

    Category: Alpha Pokémon
    Type: Normal
    Height: 10'6"
    Weight: 705.5 lbs.    … Expand
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Pokémon Legends: Arceus - 13 Minutes Of Gameplay

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 102 out of 118
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 118
  3. Negative: 0 out of 118
  1. Digitally Downloaded
    Feb 2, 2022
    100
    Every time I think I'm losing interest in Pokémon, Game Freak does something to reinvigorate me. The Pokémon Pearl and Diamond remakes last year were fine, though I ended up spending more time just playing the original Pokémon Pearl again. I needed something like Arceus, I think, to get me to once again drop dozens of hours into a single game. This is a brave, bold game into new frontiers for Game Freak, and it confidently promises a new and revitalised future for the series.
  2. Vooks
    Jan 26, 2022
    90
    I’ve dragged myself through Pokémon games in recent years, but not with this one. Pokémon Arceus Legends is the future of Pokémon games. It’s the game we’ve all been waiting for for years, with a new and fun way to catch Pokemon, a story that adds to and pulls from Pokemon lore and a region you can genuinely get lost in. Pokemon Legend Arceus is Pokémon, evolved.
  3. Game Rant
    Feb 25, 2022
    90
    Pokemon Legends: Arceus's gameplay is simple but incredibly rewarding, stripping away much of the tediousness that has plagued recent entries in the series to focus on what's fun. Those who grew up with Pokemon should like it especially, as while it makes dramatic changes to the core formula, it somehow feels truer to the spirit of Pokemon than the older releases.
  4. MGG Spain
    Feb 3, 2022
    83
    Arceus is one of the big games of the year. Perhaps not the best or the most polished, but one of the most fun and relevant to the industry, which is no small thing. The philosophical and mechanical change that it can trigger in the saga is one of its letters of introduction, despite the more than improvable technical section.
  5. GameOver.gr
    Feb 14, 2022
    80
    Pokémon Legends: Arceus is rightfully one of the best Pokémon adventures to pass down in history. Introducing a more fluid battle system, it sets new standards in the franchise, which will be hopefully established in future games.
  6. Jeuxvideo.com
    Jan 26, 2022
    80
    By sometimes clumsily reconciling a new formula and heritage, Pokémon Legends Arceus misses the mark from time to time. But certainly remains a pleasant and successful title.
  7. IGN Italia
    Jan 26, 2022
    50
    Pokémon Legends Arceus should have been the next new step for the franchise but it turned out to be a disappointing experience.

See all 125 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 910 out of 1375
  2. Mixed: 207 out of 1375
  3. Negative: 258 out of 1375
  1. ChaosRex88
    Mar 22, 2023
    10
    After playing Legends for two months and more than 100 hours, I decided it was time to give this game its due for being amazing. This was theAfter playing Legends for two months and more than 100 hours, I decided it was time to give this game its due for being amazing. This was the Pokémon spin-off I wanted to stay away from for a while until other reviews flew in, because Pokémon spin-offs aren't really my thing. In the past, I played spin-offs like Pokémon Snap for the N64, Gameboy's card game, Pokémon Puzzle League, and Pokémon Pinball. Then, I stopped playing those after the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games happened and wanted only the main entries.

    Now today, I wanted something more from Pokémon instead of what Brillant Diamond's outdated gameplay offered and Violet's annoying glitches. Especially because the whole thing about making it to the Pokémon League finally grew stale as well.

    In comes Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which starts you off with the story being about you entering the Hisui region through time and space. The game focuses on you, not just a professor who says, "Okay, pick a Pokémon, and now get going." Nope. You'll be introduced to quite a bit in the beginning, but only so you understand both gameplay and your purpose. It's not your typical Pokémon game.

    Yes, you catch Pokémon during encounters. Yes, you can also train them as usual, and the evolution system is better and more practical. Forget about needing to trade Graveler to get Golem; they have a link cable item for that. They all have unique behavior and don't immediately start a battle if you get close enough to them.  Be warned, the territorial Pokémon will attack you without engaging in battle. Also, if you like boss battles, it has those too, which are also part of the story. The game actually does something Game Freak and Nintendo have only promoted since the first games. Which is, you've Gotta Catch Them All! However, you feel like you can catch them all, always on your own time, to enjoy much more. Also, I'm glad you don't need two versions just to get most of the Pokémon. Game Freak, please, no more of that two versions stuff. You can build the Pokédex, but differently, and I don't mean that in a bad way. You'll be able to build Pokédex entries for each Pokémon and their evolutions with unique research-related tasks, but they make it fun, not a full-time job. However, there's a rank system involving stars, like receiving badges. I managed to get up to five stars in the first section of the region alone. Yes, the first section is what I said, with LOTS of Pokémon and land to explore.

    The way this game sets up multiple locations to visit in Hisui is totally how I would have wanted Paldea to do it. With Paldea, you get one big map. With Hisui, on the other hand, you get a large map with multiple sections to choose from, and each one is huge, some bigger than others, but you don't get tired of exploring just one map this way.

    So in conclusion, so I don't spoil anything entirely, everything in this game met my highest expectations and more. Even the catching system is something I wanted Violet to keep instead of sending out Pokémon to instantly fight. Also, shiny's aren't quiet like in Violet. When you see a shiny Pokémon or even hear one nearby, you'll know just by the stars flying around them and the slight jingling sounds. So enjoy shining hunting and distortion events too, which are like Pokémon catching raids with rare and shiny Pokémon sometimes appearing. Check this out as a fan and as someone who loves open-world-ish games to have plenty to do. Great job, Pokémon Company!    … Expand
  2. Saieedaqel23
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of the best Pokémon game ever, it’s a breath of fresh air to the series that long overdue. All though the graphics lack… Expand
  4. Marcos1996
    Jan 29, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pokémon Legends Arceus is a great game amazing open world feels like a true RPG catching Pokémon is better than ever Pokémon models are great the Pokémon battles are amazing This game is a new positive direction to the Pokémon franchise also the Exploration is amazing and is very rewarding the ranks are nice. Arceus is a great visual game with the mechanics of the game not being repetitive at all. The story is great and the unique pokemon to the game are the most coolest things you ever saw Overall Pokémon Legends Arceus is one of the best Pokémon games ever that I recommend buying.… Expand
  5. SMG31
    Jun 6, 2022
    9
    Asides from the fact that the titular Arceus appears very little in the game this is without a doubt one of the best Pokémon games of allAsides from the fact that the titular Arceus appears very little in the game this is without a doubt one of the best Pokémon games of all time, I really mean it, I love Pokémon and this is just fantastic… Expand
  6. Jerem8
    Apr 11, 2023
    8
    Despite the bad graphisms, Pokémon has to reinvent his gameplay to perfection. The history is good, the artistic direction is great. It's tooDespite the bad graphisms, Pokémon has to reinvent his gameplay to perfection. The history is good, the artistic direction is great. It's too bad the graphics couldn't have been done better.… Expand
  7. carlosamegos
    Mar 1, 2022
    6
    This game is a step in a new and exciting direction, but the world feels eerily dead and unfinished.

    For example, there is a severe lack of    This game is a step in a new and exciting direction, but the world feels eerily dead and unfinished.

    For example, there is a severe lack of music when running around the map. The pokemon just stand around staring into space instead of playing/chasing each other. The pokemon species all just kind of spawn in groups at certain spots, without much variation. The graphics are rather poor. You can finish the main story in about 10 hours. Like with most pokemon games its too easy.

    There are some cool things about it though, especially the open world aspect. There are also fairly challenging events with rare pokemon, shiny pokemon to catch, and quite a few legendaries to catch.

    I enjoyed it, but yeah, something about the emptiness really puts me off the game.    … Expand
  8. Be3nj
    Nov 22, 2022
    0
    Apesar de tudo é um bom jogo! A mecanica de captura te faz ficar entrertido por varias horas

See all 1375 User Reviews

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