Pokemon Sword

 Switch
User Score
4.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 5909 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,997 out of 5909
  2. Mixed: 852 out of 5909
  3. Negative: 3,060 out of 5909
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  1. Julpyz93
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Yes maybe the game isn't perfect graphically but sorry it's the best pokemon yet and remember that it's the first real pokemon in an HD consol so imagine the next game?
  2. Jp117
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Game is great yea I miss the Pokémon that weren’t there but had fun playing been a fan since red/blue
  3. GreenMenace
    Feb 22, 2022
    8
    I liked Pokemon Shield so much that for the first time (and probably the only time I’ll ever do this) I purchased its partner game. I did so because I’ve really enjoyed shiny hunting in these games—and plan to get a shiny living dex someday. This review is for people deciding between Pokemon games available on the switch. I won’t review any game I haven’t played. If you want a detailedI liked Pokemon Shield so much that for the first time (and probably the only time I’ll ever do this) I purchased its partner game. I did so because I’ve really enjoyed shiny hunting in these games—and plan to get a shiny living dex someday. This review is for people deciding between Pokemon games available on the switch. I won’t review any game I haven’t played. If you want a detailed review of Pokemon Sword, please review my Pokemon Shield review.
    Without further ado, here is my take on the following Pokemon games:
    Pokemon Let’s Go—This game has the highest odds of finding an overworld shiny Pokemon. Generally, players are unable to single out Pokemon in a shiny hunt. As for the Pokedex, it sticks to the first generation of Pokemon which allows the game to make the graphics a little more pleasing to the eye. If you own this game, you can easily obtain Meltan and Melmetal in Pokemon Go. It intends to take players back to Red, Yellow, and Green, but they made several changes. The partner pokemon are refreshing, but the changes to all game antagonists are not. Pokemon Let’s Go has players catch Pokemon like Pokemon Go and it offers a coop system that makes both catching and battling Pokemon significantly easier. EVs are replaced by candies.
    Pokemon Sword/Shield—This game is the eighth generation of Pokemon. It boasts the ability to make Pokemon battle ready quickly. Pokemon raids are a fun addition, considering how much XP you get in addition to the rare items and Pokemon obtained. Raids allow the postgame (ie collecting Pokemon and making them powerful enough to challenge other players) to go quicker than ever before. It’s not exciting per se to participate in a raid, and it can also be incredibly frustrating if you go with AI teammates since certain Pokemon do their absolute best to do nothing during the raid. Players can change Pokemon natures and obtain hidden abilities through items, which previously was impossible. It’s also easy to reset EVs. Finally, and most importantly for myself, there are a variety of methods to shiny hunt. In addition to shiny Pokemon, there are marked Pokemon, which are Pokemon with ribbons that allow for a title to follow after their name. The introduction of the wild area allowed players to encounter a lot of Pokemon early in the game. This title’s flexibility is what has me coming back to play it years later.
    Pokemon Home—This app is important since it is key to trading Pokemon over the GTS.
    Pokemon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl—A nostalgic nod to Pokemon’s 4th generation. It includes some features of Platinum, but not all of them. The most efficient way to shiny hunt is through Poke Radar, but it’s possible to “mess up” your streak if you encounter Pokemon the wrong way. Other than that, this game has the worst odds to encounter shinies. On the plus side, though, the ai actually puts up a little bit of a fight. Gym leaders use viable strategies seen in online ranked play. The underground acts as a simplified wild area which addresses a former weakness of the limited Pokedex entries of the old games.
    Pokken Tournament DX—A fighting style game. I played the demo and had fun with it, but it was too expensive for me personally to justify purchasing it.
    Pokemon Unite—A kid friendly moba. Still has plenty of toxic moments, but for better or worse, players have a hard time communicating to each other. It’s a fun free to play game that’s relatively easy to pick up.
    Pokemon Snap—This is a more casual approach to Pokemon, where you take pictures of Pokemon in their natural habitat. You can toss things at them to try to get a better angle. It’s shorter than other Pokemon games, and it looks a lot nicer to boot.
    Pokemon Legends Arceus—The latest Pokemon title (with the longest tutorial). You either love its game design or you don’t. I really like how it focuses on catching Pokemon out in the open. Typically, encountering Pokemon is a random encounter from a set encounter table. As I played the game, I felt like I was memorizing where different Pokemon hung out. I don’t know why it gave me such joy to hear an alpha Blissey roar out a challenge to the world, or to hear the cry of surprise when a Pokeball hit them out of the blue, or to hear the cry of outrage when they broke out and spotted me. This is really the only game where shiny hunting could be dubbed as “fun” since this is another game that allows overworld shinies as you ride a Pokemon roaming the world. Another thing worth mentioning is that I enjoyed the characters in this one as some of them were as goofy as the Pokemon Gale of Darkness and Colosseum era. I would have liked more variety in the research tasks, and the graphics would have been well received during the Gamecube era. Contrary to what you might have heard, it is not an open world game. It’s more like five large wild areas plus one hub.    … Expand
  4. kare8019
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    楽しいです ポケモンたちは可愛くて見ててすごく癒されますね 個性豊かなキャラクターばかりで凄く楽しいです。処理落ちするところがちょっとだけマイナスポイントですゲームフリークの技術力がないからでしょうね
  5. Jonathan1910
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    El juego es perfecto se nota el salto grafico y 94 nuevos pkm muy bien diseñados ligeros detalles pero que merece la pena
  6. Felink2019
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Amazing game, amazing New forms, enjoy and stop de stupid hate. Is a big jump to the next open world in franchaise.
  7. Edswitch
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. O jogo finalmente está trazendo câmera livre e cenários mais abertos pra franquia , eu simplesmente amei Pokemon Sword and Shild… Expand
  8. Abtron555
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    A great game with a few flaws that can be easily overlooked. The story isn’t amazing or anything, but it’s definitely not bad, and Gamefreaks decision to not reveal most of the Pokémon was a great because I actually DISCOVERED new Pokémon that I’d never seen before. Some of the graphics aren’t BOTW (but Pokémon doesn’t use cell shading I believe) but just because the environment wasn’tA great game with a few flaws that can be easily overlooked. The story isn’t amazing or anything, but it’s definitely not bad, and Gamefreaks decision to not reveal most of the Pokémon was a great because I actually DISCOVERED new Pokémon that I’d never seen before. Some of the graphics aren’t BOTW (but Pokémon doesn’t use cell shading I believe) but just because the environment wasn’t perfect, the Pokémon were about as close to perfect that you can get, with the humans and Pokémon were very expensive (humans not as expressive as the Pokémon, but they looked better than Sun and Moon). Over all this game is great and my favorite game in the series!… Expand
  9. Alastor_X
    Nov 17, 2019
    8
    While i understand most of the people complaining, i think this is a great pokemon game it have a great start, and it feel solid, later it down the pase but not a great problem, graphically it's the best pokemon game and it look a lot better than other games like fire emblem three houses, level design it's great on towns and gyms, but it feel flat on the wild area after a whilenot for theWhile i understand most of the people complaining, i think this is a great pokemon game it have a great start, and it feel solid, later it down the pase but not a great problem, graphically it's the best pokemon game and it look a lot better than other games like fire emblem three houses, level design it's great on towns and gyms, but it feel flat on the wild area after a whilenot for the graphics, but for the level design of that area.

    And about the animation, i've watched a video of pokemon attacks that only jump and dont move at all, that video it's fake, you can turn off/on the battle animations, all characters have animation iddle and animation attacks , of course not the best, but lest remember it's a turn based RPG, not a fighting game like pokken tournament.

    people remember the best to make your voice being hear it's dont buy the game, forget about attacking people who are enjoy it, or the developers, that only waste your speech, make noise and not results.    … Expand
  10. fab1012
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    It is true this game is not the best pokemon game and less the best game of the year but it is the first stone for a promising future of pokemon, in this game we could appreciate one of the best inventions to date in the world of pokemon which It is the creation of the wild area which will be the first stone for the creation of the tower that is the future of pokemon.
  11. Xolam
    Nov 17, 2019
    10
    Started the game with low expectations because of criticism.

    I played every pokémon game and I think this one might be my favourite, just on route 2 alone I never had so much fun, it's insane. The NPCs are walking in cities, the pokemon have different movement outside of the grass depending of their species etc.. the world is SO LIVEFULL. The multiplayer experience is fantastic    Started the game with low expectations because of criticism.

    I played every pokémon game and I think this one might be my favourite, just on route 2 alone I never had so much fun, it's insane.

    The NPCs are walking in cities, the pokemon have different movement outside of the grass depending of their species etc.. the world is SO LIVEFULL.

    The multiplayer experience is fantastic since I'm playing it with friends, there's so much stuff we can do together.    … Expand
  12. DetectiveDonut
    Feb 18, 2020
    7
    Definitely not the best Pokemon game, but there's some value here. It's a good entry point for the series, but you'd be better served with one of the DS' main series games.
  13. Seihoff
    Nov 18, 2019
    9
    El mejor juego de Pokémon, con mucho, hasta la fecha. Me parece una decisión acertada el limitar la Pokedex pero hacer que todos estos Pokémon aparezcan durante la aventura y no como en otras ediciones, que el 70% se consiguen una vez terminado el juego. Las ciudades y localizaciones son preciosas, los escenarios de batalla adecuados, la música es la mejor de la saga sin duda y el sistemaEl mejor juego de Pokémon, con mucho, hasta la fecha. Me parece una decisión acertada el limitar la Pokedex pero hacer que todos estos Pokémon aparezcan durante la aventura y no como en otras ediciones, que el 70% se consiguen una vez terminado el juego. Las ciudades y localizaciones son preciosas, los escenarios de batalla adecuados, la música es la mejor de la saga sin duda y el sistema de gimnasios me parece bien planteado. El drama de las animaciones causado por una mala traducción de una entrevista no acabo de comprenderlo, y menos destrozar la nota de un juego por ello siendo unas expectativas personales y lo exigibles. Los movimientos y Pokémon nuevos tienen unas animaciones notables. La única crítica es la facilidad del juego, deberían incluir un modo difícil con autolevel de los líderes de gimnasio o no permitirte subir de nivel más que los Pokémon de estos rivales, como digo, en un modo que se pudiera seleccionar desde la pantalla inicial. Por lo demás es un juego divertisidisimo y a mi gusto, el mejor de la saga.… Expand
  14. Coconutnut
    Nov 23, 2019
    6
    I think it's a decent game, the story wasn't as annoying as previous Pokemon games, but it also felt lazier. There are no big oceans to explore, no big caves to get lost in, it's pretty much a straight line to the finish.

    The second thing that is very annoying - frame rate. The moment you turn on online mode on the Wild Area, prepare for the framerate to drop to 5-15 FPS. It's bad,    I think it's a decent game, the story wasn't as annoying as previous Pokemon games, but it also felt lazier. There are no big oceans to explore, no big caves to get lost in, it's pretty much a straight line to the finish.

    The second thing that is very annoying - frame rate. The moment you turn on online mode on the Wild Area, prepare for the framerate to drop to 5-15 FPS. It's bad, pretty bad. I can't believe they allowed this to happen. Even if you try disconnecting from the internet, the other player models stay there so the framerate stays low regardless.

    Overall, not a bad Pokemon game, but it does feel lazy. The framerate especially feels like the game wasn't play-tested online at all.

    There are very good things in this game, but the shortcomings drive the overall experience down. If you don't care about the story, this might seem good as you can finish the story pretty quickly with no problems, but if you're looking for a game with a good story, this is not it. Pokemon has never been about the story, but this is one of the weaker ones.    … Expand
  15. yetimand
    Dec 15, 2019
    8
    i think this game is pretty good. all the new pokemon were solid. butt the lack of some of the made the deacent
  16. Rub3n15
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    It’s nice to finally have an official Pokémon game on the switch that not let go pikachu and lets go eevee
  17. 1000fps
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    This is the best Pokémon game to date. It do what Pokémon does best. Catch em all and such.
  18. Dillonology
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    Already one of my favourite Pokemon games created! Raiding brings this game new life and is very fun with friends!
  19. Eggtron
    Nov 17, 2019
    8
    Pokemon Shield has been a fun return to the series despite the inclusion of all pokemon before it. Some more attention to frame rate and other polish would have been appreciated. Great designs on new pokemon and the wild area is amazing. Dynamax is...ok but leaves much to be desired.
  20. UmAlguem
    Dec 13, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. O jogo é bom pra franquia mas podia ter sido mais ambicioso, a trilha sonora é perfeita e o jogo é divertido.… Expand
  21. VescularGold
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    Before the game came out, I was unsure if I was going to get it, but after I bought it and tried, I actually like how the game is, I enjoy the story, love the characters, love the new Pokemon, and more. There are some minor issue, but GameFreak will probably fix it later. To the point, I really love the game, game and I don't think it deserves the hate it's getting because it's a good andBefore the game came out, I was unsure if I was going to get it, but after I bought it and tried, I actually like how the game is, I enjoy the story, love the characters, love the new Pokemon, and more. There are some minor issue, but GameFreak will probably fix it later. To the point, I really love the game, game and I don't think it deserves the hate it's getting because it's a good and fun game to play, in my opinion… Expand
  22. Paladean
    Nov 21, 2019
    8
    German/Deutsch

    Ich für meinen Teil, habe richtig Spaß an/mit diesem Pokémon Spiel. Endlich sind wieder Arenen da, neue coole Features wie das Camping, die Naturzone, neue Möglichkeiten zu leveln usw. Das Post Game könnte etwas ausgebauter daherkommen, aber alles bis dahin ist in sich genommen so stimmig, wie eh und je. Mindestens 30 Stunden Spielspaß.
  23. Cruzeta
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    A mk me parece junto a pokemon sol y luna lo mejor que han hecho pokemon y gamefreak quieren implementar nievas mecanicas y pokemons y vosotros os quejais ningun juego es perfecto los juegos estan para disfrutarlos
  24. Metalcritico
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Excelente muchas horas de juego como siempre en las sagas de pokemon!
    Super adictivo!!
  25. Presstart25
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    Es un gran viedojuego, que tiene algunos problemas, pero no son tan importantes como para opacar sus exelentes cualidades, por eso el 8
  26. OmniPhantom
    Nov 26, 2019
    9
    I don't really transfer much so the smaller pokedex really doesn't bother me much. Plus two of my favorite pokemon are in the game.
  27. Kronos_EVC
    Nov 15, 2019
    8
    El juego no es perfecto, sobretodo flaquea en las áreas silvestres, pero el apartado artístico es precioso, el diseño de los Pokémons es de los mejores de las pasadas generaciones, el salto talvez no ha sido tan grande como uno esperaba pero todo fue por conservar lo clásico del juego. A mí me encanta!
  28. Georgemuller052
    Nov 17, 2019
    10
    Es el mejor Pokémon que jamás se haya creado, un excelente juego adictivo, los que le ponen mala nota son piperos.
  29. Daeny
    Nov 25, 2019
    7
    È una bella gioco mi piace la possibilità di muovere la telecamera, bella grafica
  30. stratosf
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Really funny pokémon game. Keep on this game freak a love this game and I'm having so much fun with it. Awesome graphics and really nice moves. Story is long not like other pokémon games and I love the new battle system and also the legendaries and new pokémon species.
  31. CarlosNaru
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    Excelente juego, poco a poco están entendiendo lo que los fans realmente quieren en un juego de Pokémon, la característica más innovadora y que le beneficia mucho a la franquicia es el mini mundo abierto del área silvestre y el hecho de que puedas ver correr a otros jugadores en vivo en tu mapa , si síguenos por ese camino de verdadera interacción en línea en tiempo real incluso en pueblosExcelente juego, poco a poco están entendiendo lo que los fans realmente quieren en un juego de Pokémon, la característica más innovadora y que le beneficia mucho a la franquicia es el mini mundo abierto del área silvestre y el hecho de que puedas ver correr a otros jugadores en vivo en tu mapa , si síguenos por ese camino de verdadera interacción en línea en tiempo real incluso en pueblos y otras zonas , Pokémon se convertirá en uno de los mejores RPG de la historia ojalá se queden con lo bueno de esta entrega y desechen lo malo . Dejar fuera a muchos Pokémon no es una opción , los fans preferimos que se tarden 4 años en sacar un jjuego a que lo saquen cada año apresuradamente . Felicidades a gamefreak un juego muy hermoso.… Expand
  32. rain97
    Nov 18, 2019
    9
    This game is amazing. It’s nice to see pokemon still going strong. People should stop crying about their favorite pokemon and focus on experiencing this game for what it is.
  33. Aman144
    Nov 17, 2019
    9
    After playing this game for over 25 hours beating the main story and postgame story, I can easily say this is my favorite Pokémon game and it’s hard to go back to older ones with all the improvements sword and shield has to offer. Animations are amazing especially Dynamax moves and starter signature moves. The art style goes so well with this region that in some areas it just looksAfter playing this game for over 25 hours beating the main story and postgame story, I can easily say this is my favorite Pokémon game and it’s hard to go back to older ones with all the improvements sword and shield has to offer. Animations are amazing especially Dynamax moves and starter signature moves. The art style goes so well with this region that in some areas it just looks gorgeous. Depending on how you build your team the game can be very difficult as some trainers have really good AI. The league battles were incredible being in the stadium knowing everyone is watching you and hearing them cheer for you truly is a great feeling. The cities are big and there were many secrets to find. The game just felt ambitious and with some more time I know this game would have been even better but still I’m happy with what we got. The hate on this game is overblown more people need to play it and most importantly play it with an open mind or you’ll never like it. Definitely a 9/10 game for me and the most fun I’ve had ever playing Pokémon

    Also to address the National dex controversy I believe that is overblown as well, when you are playing the game and seeing all the new Pokémon you forget all about the Pokémon that aren’t there. If a game is bad to you because of frame rate drops and pop ins which in a technical sense in the wild area keeps the game from being unplayable then I don’t know what to tell you. It’s barely noticeable and if it bothers you that much I don’t know how you play many other games. Lastly I just want to talk about how great the music in this game is my lord definitely my new favorite Pokémon soundtrack you got to listen to it with headphones it’s so incredible    … Expand
  34. WilliamGame
    Nov 16, 2019
    6
    Let's start with some good! The game has been pretty enjoyable for me as it is a Pokémon game, which is a franchise I've grown up with. In addition, the devs have made competitive Pokémon way more accessible than in previous generations through new features like mints. Some areas have really nice graphics. The wild area is a great idea! How you encounter Pokémon in this game is also quiteLet's start with some good! The game has been pretty enjoyable for me as it is a Pokémon game, which is a franchise I've grown up with. In addition, the devs have made competitive Pokémon way more accessible than in previous generations through new features like mints. Some areas have really nice graphics. The wild area is a great idea! How you encounter Pokémon in this game is also quite fun as they appear in the overworld. In my opinion, I think the new Pokémon designs are quite great... Besides Sobbles final evolution. All jokes aside, the new Pokémon are all pretty solid. This game Pokémon Camp feature is a very fun way to interact with your Pokémon. I also really enjoyed the character designs. The character customization was really extensive. The music was nice all around! The gyms were also really fun and had a lot of charm in my opinion. There have also been tons of quality of life additions.

    Now on to the not so good. The game is incredibly easy, the decision to remove turning off EXP share was completely unnecessary. I would be fine with it if they balanced the game around it. However, I don't think they did and I finished the game in only around 18 hours. I even tried to purposefully avoid trainers at a certain point as my Pokémon were so strong. I also had to box my most powerful Pokémon for a bit until I progressed far enough to feel comfortable playing with them without feeling like I cheesed the game. Although some areas of the game are really pretty, others are not. The wild area for example, that place feels incredibly barren and lifeless compared to some of the towns. A lot of the textures could've used more polish. The weather is also quite jarring in the wild area as it switches from sunny to snowy in what seems like two minutes when you're biking around. There is also a feature where you can't catch Pokémon that are too high of a level if you don't have the badge requirement to catch them. This decision makes no sense to me. This is all a shame as the wild area was the selling point of the game for me. Across the board, almost all areas had really bad pop-in and draw distance. Framerate did also noticeably drop occasionally. Although I had loved Mega Evolutions, I don't care at all for dynamaxing as it's most likely going to be scrapped anyways in future generations, it wasn't nearly as creative as Mega Evolutions, and felt the most gimmicky out of Megas and Z-Moves from past generations. Megas also gave love to Pokémon that needed more love. Dynamax doesn't really give love to "unpopular" Pokémon as every Pokémon can dynamax and a lot of generation one Pokémon got gigantamax forms. The rival is insufferable and seems to appear every three steps I take and won't leave me alone. The story was meh, and there was little postgame. The story was also very linear. And I haven't even touched "dexit" yet. All I would like to say about dexit is that I don't like being lied to, especially if I'm your consumer. Overall, the game wasn't "awful" but it definitely isn't "amazing" either. However, it was disapointing. And yes, a review is the perfect time and place to criticise and praise a game when necessary.    … Expand
  35. Goran1620
    Nov 16, 2019
    8
    Its a fun new Pokémon with slightly better visuals than Lets Go, but doesn't deliver the full Pokémon experience. It is way too easy, the Game treats you like a 4 year old who doesn't know how to walk, some wild battles can be challenging but the arenas and other Story fights are just too easy. The animations are lazy and straight up the same as in Sun and Moon. 400 Pokémon are cut andIts a fun new Pokémon with slightly better visuals than Lets Go, but doesn't deliver the full Pokémon experience. It is way too easy, the Game treats you like a 4 year old who doesn't know how to walk, some wild battles can be challenging but the arenas and other Story fights are just too easy. The animations are lazy and straight up the same as in Sun and Moon. 400 Pokémon are cut and Graphics are a disappointment. The Story is linear and doesn't stand out in comparison with the other Editions. But I still gave it a 8. I love the new Pokémon and the Galar forms and as I said, its still fun. Pokecamping is a great new feature and the Wild Zone is a open world like area where you can catch a vast amount of Pokémon, fight in Dynamax Battles and find a lot of items. The City's look better than ever and the Music is great. Its still a shame how much Gamefreak could've done, but they still deliver a fun new Pokémon with some great and some not so great changes.… Expand
  36. SOUNDWAVEMAN
    Nov 17, 2019
    7
    I have played Pokémon Sword for about 6 hours now and I would describe my self as a causal fan of the franchise including the games, TCG, Figures etc I particularly enjoy the games though. Now unfortunately this game has some major issues and I very much understand the frustrations of the Pokémon Fan Community who dislike this game(s). I personally feel this game was rushed, it isn’tI have played Pokémon Sword for about 6 hours now and I would describe my self as a causal fan of the franchise including the games, TCG, Figures etc I particularly enjoy the games though. Now unfortunately this game has some major issues and I very much understand the frustrations of the Pokémon Fan Community who dislike this game(s). I personally feel this game was rushed, it isn’t pushing the switch and ultimately feel that it’s like a game for the a 3DS successor console if such a thing were to exist which it doesn’t and I doubt it ever will. The graphics are a bit better than 3DS games. But should be much better than they are considering they are on the Switch. I’ve given a score of 7 because I feel that is a fair score. The game plays and you can catch Pokémon, Battle and have some fun with it. It’s not a bad game it’s just a bit of a disappointing one. To be honest personally I prefer Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee as they are supposed to be different and be their own thing and have a unique experience. But yes ultimately Sword and Shield are a bit of a let down. My advice is to find as much information about these games as possible and if you don’t like what you see then don’t buy it. Hope this review helps and thank you for reading.… Expand
  37. vivivi
    Nov 18, 2019
    10
    It is very good, even if we cannot see all pokemons.
  38. SenseiSoriel
    Nov 15, 2019
    8
    Before deciding if a game is good, I first do the 1 hour test. if within that hour I have no fun, then that game is not for me and my review will reflect that. The same is true for the case where I do have fun. I find it deplorable that this game was hit by both sides of the fake reviews just of angry little kids on either side of the line. This review shows that these games are for me.Before deciding if a game is good, I first do the 1 hour test. if within that hour I have no fun, then that game is not for me and my review will reflect that. The same is true for the case where I do have fun. I find it deplorable that this game was hit by both sides of the fake reviews just of angry little kids on either side of the line. This review shows that these games are for me.

    After playing both games, I believe this game is an 8 out of 10 if we consider this the first mainline pokemon on a home system. And I played each games for more than 1 hour and found them fun, which is my first criteria to find if I like a game or not.

    Added features:

    -Pokemon camp is usefull and well taught. In previous games, we had to run to the pokemon center each time we wanted our pokemons healed. Now, we just have to pitch the tent almost anywhere, cook curry and rest. I'm curious to see what will end up as curry recipe guides from diferent players. This, in it's own way, is similar to the coocking of Breath of the Wild.

    -''Let's go'' and ''traditional'' encounters makes it fun to catch pokemons. More common pokemons appear on screen and the tall grass encounters makes it have this random bit element common to RPGs.

    -Wild Area, altought it has it's downsides like having ''super strong'' pokemons, it is still a fun place to explore. Max Raid Battles can be done both single player or multiplayer, there is a good variety of pokemons that can be found there (and some do not appear in the pokedex, which means a post game expanded pokedex).

    Removed features:

    -National Dex, don't really care about that as long as I can get Mawile from one of the games.

    -No GTS, good ridance, no more ratata's in exchange for a hard to get pokemon...

    -No backward compatibility with previous pokemon games, I don't really care, this is a new page in Pokemon's history and it should be seen with a clear mind instead of saying ''hey it should be done like that''. In fact, I welcome this change since it allows to develop a new competitive scene for pokemon. I can see both the 3ds and the switch competitive scenes coexist at events since both systems are fundamentally differents.

    Pros;

    -New chapter in the pokemon franchise. Gamefreak did their best under a tight schedule.

    -Graphics are representative of what Pokemon is. I don't care what Gamefreak said, they don't have the best PR team right now, and I don't care what ''dataminers'' said. Does this game look graphically good and appealing to me? Yes.

    -The soundtrack has some good remixes of old themes and the new themes are rather enjoyable to hear on long gaming sessions. If only Nintendo released the soundtracks of the games instead of putting them under a heavy lock.

    -No need to grind hours just to find one specific pokemon, most of them appear on the screen making it easier to choose what pokemons you want to get.

    -You can skip the tutorial section if you already have played a pokemon game before. This was a huge problem with Sun and Moon, now there is no hand pulling that forces you to follow that specific tutorial.

    -You can send your boxed pokemons do jobs! So yeah, now they are not left to rot in the box anymore.

    Cons:

    -Dependance on Date and Time for the weather in the Wild Area.

    -Power drainer, the game drains a switch out of it's energy in roughly 3 hours, if you own the version 1 of the switch. I do not know how much it drains the battery on the revised switch nor on the handheld only switch. But this can be easilly solved with either an electrical outlet or an external battery.

    -Limited open world elements, maybe one day we would see a fully open world mainline pokemon game, but it is not this game. I suspect that this will become better with time.

    -Bugs. At this time, there is a huge bug with the auto save feature that erase the saves of the games on a nintendo switch.

    -Almost no skipable cutscenes. I own both games and some cutscenes are long. I don't particularly care to see the same cutscene 2-3 times to have every starter pokemons in my teams, but I would have liked it if the ''skip cutscnes'' feature was better.

    I still have a few things to try, I have not completed any of the two games, but so far I am enjoying myself with these games.    … Expand
  39. soniction
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    Compared with previous generations, the picture has improved. Although there is no national illustration, when you enter the world of sword shield, you will not be able to extricate yourself.
  40. OtherwiseSix
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    I battled a gigantic ninjask with my kaiju-sized crying baby lizard and experienced levels of hype about a Pokemon battle that I haven't felt since I was a kid battling my friends on Pokemon Stadium for the N64. The Dynamax system is an absolute game-changer and really fits well with the feeling you get that Pokemon battles and Gym-challenges are huge events in the Galar Region.

    For me,    I battled a gigantic ninjask with my kaiju-sized crying baby lizard and experienced levels of hype about a Pokemon battle that I haven't felt since I was a kid battling my friends on Pokemon Stadium for the N64. The Dynamax system is an absolute game-changer and really fits well with the feeling you get that Pokemon battles and Gym-challenges are huge events in the Galar Region.

    For me, Pokemon Sword and Shield are a big step forward for the Pokemon series. I think this sort of soft reboot is exactly what the series needed to get people truly excited about Pokemon again. Just being able to see Pokemon flying or wandering around in the wild and in the backgrounds while travelling is so much fun.

    And I think that's why these games resonate so well with me. Pokemon Sword and Shield is getting Pokemon back to it's roots of just being a simple, fun game to sit down and play. It's a lot more streamlined than previous titles and there are a bunch of Quality of Life changes that I think were long overdue.

    Do you actually still want to run back to a Pokemon center all the time while grinding up some new Pokemon? Well you're completely free to do so. Or you can pop up a nice little camp, play with your Pokemon a bit, make some curry and just have an absolutely charming rest there on the spot.

    Do you want to have the ability to change your Pokemon's nickname or moves location locked to a specific city that you might not make it to for a long time? Feel free not to use the super handy all-in-one Pokemon rater found in all the Pokemon centers.

    Would you prefer to not see which Pokemon you're about to fight while running around in grass? Well close your eyes because the ability to speed up the process of trying to catch the final Pokemon in an area is an absolute godsend to those of us who really just want to get to the next area and keep playing.

    Here's some extra stuff about where I think the state of the game is, but it's not technically about Pokemon SwSh, so you can definitely stop reading. Why is anyone reading this in the first place?

    I've been out of the Pokemon game for a while now. I was never really behind Z-Moves, Megas or the myriad other mechanics that just seemed to be piling onto the later generations of Pokemon games. That doesn't mean that Pokemon X & Y, Black & White, Black & White 2 or Sun & Moon were bad games or anything.

    In fact, each iteration of the main games seemed like an innovative evolution of the series striving to both satisfy older fans while bringing in a new generation of trainers. Unfortunately I just fell slightly outside of the box on those games. They weren't really for me, and that's okay. They didn't hurt or change any of the older games I hold so dearly and I understand that now (as an adult) I am not the target audience for a children's game.

    The number of Pokemon in the games is still daunting to me in today's gaming landscape where a new game, DLC or balance update seems to come out every week. However, with a lot of the menial grinding and monotony removed from the game I feel like this might actually be my chance to actually fill a Pokedex for the first time in 15 years and I'm really excited.

    Here's a final lukewarm take on my end; Pokemon started as a very simple premise and as technology advanced, the games expanded and advanced along with it. I think a lot of people got to grow up alongside the Pokemon series as the games continued to become more bloated and complex. I think it was probably a great experience for some hardcore fans out there, but again, these are games for children.

    I think all the competitive trainers out there are great for the game, but at the end of the day they have to realize that they are not the target audience of this series. I'd be surprised if most trainers make it to the Pokemon League, let alone sink 1000 hours into endgame systems, Pokedex completion, selective breeding or competitive battles.    … Expand
  41. JonCamRo
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    Es tan adictivo como cualquier nueva generación de pokemón, entretenido, una jugabilidad excelente
  42. Rigur29
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. El juego esta muy bien. La forma Dinamax reemplaza las megas, pero lo hace incluyendo a todos los pokemon. Las megas modificaban el diseño, pero se abandona y creo que esta bien perder eso, para incluir a todos.
    La historia no la senti tan larga y algunas texturas del area silvestre se pueden mejorar.

    En cuanto al Gameplay estan bueno como siempre creo que es una compra muy recomendada si buscas un titulo Rpg que te divierta.
    Si buscas tu pokedex nacional pasa de largo.

    El juego estan bueno como cualquier otra entrega.    … Expand
  43. Zerozen
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    I don't understand why people are giving this game such a bad score I've been playing Pokemon games since red and blue The Originals all the way through current-gen well yes it sucks they took out so many Pokemon and the National dex I still think the pros outweigh the cons the graphics are decent the gameplay is great and the new mechanics are fantastic definitely an improvement inI don't understand why people are giving this game such a bad score I've been playing Pokemon games since red and blue The Originals all the way through current-gen well yes it sucks they took out so many Pokemon and the National dex I still think the pros outweigh the cons the graphics are decent the gameplay is great and the new mechanics are fantastic definitely an improvement in Pokemon games I will admit there is a little bit of slowdown in the game when you have online functionality turned on but that's to be expected when you're playing a game with lots of other players on screen but when it's turned off there is no lag whatsoever… Expand
  44. Iantonio13
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    El juego es magnifico. Las nuevas mecanicas son muy buenas, la zona silvestre es entretenida y la región logra cautivarte.
  45. Keffir
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    Лучшая игра про покемонов!

    Но... Графон все же плох, да.
  46. Amuzurill
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Fantastic.
  47. Ccey
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Best Pokemon game so far. Many thinks are improving,from saving to pc-box on the go .. love this game
  48. GatHalo117
    Nov 16, 2019
    7
    Look, I first entered the franchise when platinum came out, and I was excited because I wanted to see what Pokemon had in store as a game. It felt magical especially when I didn’t know all the Pokémon and that there were other Pokemon that I didn’t know that existed. Watching this game on YouTube with that mindset, it’s one of the most stunning of the series but not perfect. I played thisLook, I first entered the franchise when platinum came out, and I was excited because I wanted to see what Pokemon had in store as a game. It felt magical especially when I didn’t know all the Pokémon and that there were other Pokemon that I didn’t know that existed. Watching this game on YouTube with that mindset, it’s one of the most stunning of the series but not perfect. I played this game as a shiny hunter I was bit bummed when I couldn’t bring my Pokémon to the game, but I realized something. Yeah Pokemon games now might not be the same as I remembered as a kid but it’s because they are making a game for new kids to feel the same magic I did as a kid but from a new era. I know I can still love Pokemon at my age but as a passionate fan, I felt that my time ended in the sun and moon era not because of the games themselves but it’s just the natural change that is part of life. I’m happy with my memories and I think (very very) newcomers will feel the same with this game that I once had.… Expand
  49. near4422
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    Even though I have only 12 hours spent with the game I need to say this - I am amazed! And I am so sure the rest of the game is going to be as good or even better than what I saw earlier. Of course game has it's flaws, like everything but In my honest opinion (as a all time big fan of Pokemon who played every single main core game and many side games) this game is a wonder. It repairsEven though I have only 12 hours spent with the game I need to say this - I am amazed! And I am so sure the rest of the game is going to be as good or even better than what I saw earlier. Of course game has it's flaws, like everything but In my honest opinion (as a all time big fan of Pokemon who played every single main core game and many side games) this game is a wonder. It repairs dozens of little issues that the games before had. It is beautiful, the UI is so clean, it contains so many cutscenes, characters have many face impressions and it looks so living and cheering. Never before the world of pokemon was so consistent - there is a reason why those people stay in Gyms for example. Now, I was a little bit nervous when I acknowledged that hundreds of Pokemon are being cut off the game. I'd say I was a little upset at first. But then I realised I just love Pokemon and that should not be a problem to any fan. It gives us oppurtunity to try some new mons in our playthroughs. It allows to balance the meta much more than ever before (who tried to battle in USUM will notice that there aren't like few pokemon that can only be used in order to win fights). There is much easier way now to even prepare such pokemon for competitive purposes. At this point i am not mad at GameFreak for cutting off such many Pokemon. I am sure that those Pokemon will make their return in next games. If it comes to the cons of the game.. well there are few. For example the game drops FPS very frequently - even on every trainer who approaches us on a route. Not even talking about Wild Area on which the game gets down to like 10 FPS sometimes.. it's ridicolous and not pleasing at all. The online features are not polished as they should be. The lag is very sensible and anoying when playing together in a Wild Area. Also the functionality to join some random Raid battles did not work even once for me (I always hosted raids because of that). Speaking of raids - they are far to easy. I expected them to be a challenge but for now I don't even feel like doing so. They are boring. I can solo raids from 1 star to even 3 star no problem and it's not even rewarding. Most of the pokemon found in raids can be caught or trained up in a normal way. The game overall is a bit easy. There is a NPC who heals your pokemon everywhere, before the cave, after reaching the end of cave, inside the cave. There is almost no reason to carry potions. The Pokemon reach lvls pretty fast and if you're consistent you're going to outlvl your opponents really fast. Just because of that i quickly started to play with two parties of pokemon (other reason being that i wanted to play with so many pokemon i couldn't decide which to take with me) and once certain pokemon reached enough lvl to be a little bit above average i switched to the others - this way the game kept being pretty balanced and challenging at times. Also the Dynemaxing seems to be a little slippery. It looks good, animations are brilliant and I love the idea that pokemon can reach such size only in certain situations - it remains fresh and cool. But the damage of Dynemaxed pokemon seems to be so high it's insane. I can like one-hit KO a raid boss or Gym leader's strongest pokemon with Dynemaxing.
    To sum things up - I don't think we have ever had such good main series Pokemon game. This game is a wonder and can be a good place to start a new era of pokemon games on a better and stronger device which a Switch obviously is. The company tries to improve things and I think they are going great. If you consider yourself being a longtime true fan of Pokemon you cannot miss this game.    … Expand
  50. Death_ball13
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Absolutely love the open world mix between old and new school Pokémon the game mechanics and handling are amazing this has made me fall back in love with Pokémon after the fault of ultra sun and moon. Graphics are great love the camping and the raids as well have been playing this since release hope they keep making the games just like this
  51. Derrisa
    Nov 16, 2019
    5
    As always (I’ve always been a devoted fan of the pkmn games since I was a little girl) I’ve purchased the game. Maybe not so eager this time due to the dexit and all (it was really sad for me but I suppose it was so for a lot of people. But I guess this I can forgive... I guess). There’s one thing I cannot forgive and it’s the duration, the length (pardon my English, since it’s not myAs always (I’ve always been a devoted fan of the pkmn games since I was a little girl) I’ve purchased the game. Maybe not so eager this time due to the dexit and all (it was really sad for me but I suppose it was so for a lot of people. But I guess this I can forgive... I guess). There’s one thing I cannot forgive and it’s the duration, the length (pardon my English, since it’s not my first language...) of the game. They should be ashamed. Never has been a Pokémon game this short. I’m serious you can check in sites such as howlongtobeat and compare these to the other. To ALL the other. To say the difference is huge is not to say enough. Graphics and spirit remains cute but as I said, the problem with the duration of the game (along with the lack of more content) is almost unforgivable.… Expand
  52. Gamelegend98
    Nov 16, 2019
    8
    Expected more of gamefreak, this game had the potential to be the best. Graphics and pop ins doesn’t really bother me. The only problem I have is there is little content compared to for example Pokémon heart gold and soul silver
  53. chaispaquichui
    Nov 16, 2019
    5
    Épée et bouclier n'est que l'ombre de ce qu'aurait du être pokémon sur switch... Le scénario est médiocre (même pour du pokémon), plus de la moitié des pokémon sont absents, les méga-evolutions ont disparu et les graphismes sont passables. Un jeu sans ambition qui annonce un futur bien sombre pour les prochaines versions...
  54. Jess16
    Nov 16, 2019
    5
    Love this Game play all the game I actually think when they started introducing stuff like mega stone z crystal and now dynamax they were making the game to easy to Beat Also games fo feel short but it depending on how you playare you playing to catch all the Pokémon or are you playing more for the story the other thing that make a difference is also how much have you played and howLove this Game play all the game I actually think when they started introducing stuff like mega stone z crystal and now dynamax they were making the game to easy to Beat Also games fo feel short but it depending on how you playare you playing to catch all the Pokémon or are you playing more for the story the other thing that make a difference is also how much have you played and how long have you had it Also I been playing mostly blind like I don’t know most of the new Pokémon type or evolution or even knowing the gym leader pokemon level. The other thing is when defeating gym I only use one Pokémon that has the type advantage of the gym leader and that made the gym leader harder to defeat. I do think they made this game easy but I think game freak did it for those that are new to to Pokémon that might of started with Pokémon go or let go As for the Pokédex don’t treat this game like a gen 8 game think of it like a gen 1 game… Expand
  55. Nikolaisut
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    El juego es genial, lo mejor que he visto de Pokémon hasta ahora, Gracias Gane Freak!
  56. EvilDAC
    Nov 16, 2019
    8
    Me a encantado, es una nueva experiencia de Pokémon en Switch, hubieron varios recortes y es porque GF es una compañía pequeña y conservadora que siempre se mantuvo en portátiles, pueden hacer más pero necesitan evolucionar, es un paso acertado por ahora pero no aceptado para futuras entregas
  57. Captain_karen
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I thoroughly enjoyed this game thus far and found it very deserving of a 10!… Expand
  58. Romaniaisoc12
    Nov 17, 2019
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is good it's not as bad as some people say after all you can't review a game based on what you want it to be ,you only can based on what it is… Expand
  59. xxRaaphs
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    I was not paid to do this review.
    I'm 28, not a kid. I'm a consultant as work.
    Yes, I'm a big fan of the series (as most people who have already played the game, of course). ... and this is the best game in the series ever. Seriously the best pokemon I ever played (I played at least 1 game of all generations, usually 2) I played 10 hours of the game before getting to the second city,    I was not paid to do this review.
    I'm 28, not a kid. I'm a consultant as work.
    Yes, I'm a big fan of the series (as most people who have already played the game, of course).

    ... and this is the best game in the series ever. Seriously the best pokemon I ever played (I played at least 1 game of all generations, usually 2)

    I played 10 hours of the game before getting to the second city, because there's this amazing thing called wilf area in the way, which to me felt the same way as playing Breath of The Wild with pokemon.

    It's crazy to be a huge area with 50+ first evolution stage pokemon and you barely just picked your starter and did some random talking with some characters.

    I see a lot of ppl complaining of being overleveled, but it's clearly because the wild area is super fun, and Game Freak couldn't have been sure that have imagined that most of the ppl would spend so much time there (a lot of ppl don't care that much about wild pokemon, just wanna get the game done, for example) that it would impact level throughout the rest of the game.

    anyway, dont listen to all the unreasonable hate. the game has just released and I hear it has some bugs, but what game doesn't launch with bugs these days? most of them will be fixed with 1-2 patches. I myself have played over 13 hours and did not run on a single bug-drop of fps.

    Sincerely hope ppl start playing this game as soon as possible and see how fun it is... it must be s complete bummer to see all the work Game Freak put into this and so much hate. I would lose my will to do it, you know? it's an amazing game. really.

    repeating: I'm not a robot, not paid, not involved with GF or anyone, simple person really enjoying the game.    … Expand
  60. Josep79
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Los que dicen que los graficos de este gran juego para mi el mejor en muchos años están al nivel de la ps1 o ps2 esta claro que no han jugado a esas consolas en su vida xq cuando quieran les reto a que me enseñen un solo juego de la época que tenga los gráficos al nivel de este pokémon en lo que se refiere a que no tenga todos los pokémon vamos señores que eso es lo más grave manda naricesLos que dicen que los graficos de este gran juego para mi el mejor en muchos años están al nivel de la ps1 o ps2 esta claro que no han jugado a esas consolas en su vida xq cuando quieran les reto a que me enseñen un solo juego de la época que tenga los gráficos al nivel de este pokémon en lo que se refiere a que no tenga todos los pokémon vamos señores que eso es lo más grave manda narices yo recuerdo con mucha nostalgia el primeros pokémon que tendrían que ver ustedes esos gráficos que si que eran para verlos y echarse a llorar yo espero que a partir de ahora todos los pokémon sean como este por dios que lo espero.… Expand
  61. Fuswl
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Gutes Spiel nette Grafik. Kann nicht verstehen wieso sich alle drüber aufregen. Pokemon immer wieder gerne
  62. Jedi4Jesus13
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    Lots of fun. Best Pokemon game yet! No, it doesn't fully take advantage of the Switch's hardware, but let the company get used to the hardware and the next one will be better. But there's so many great improvements made to this game! Most fun you can have with a Pokemon game
  63. PokePines
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Once you look past all the controversy, at its core the game is still very charming and fun like any pokemon game, and the encounter mechanics are just amazing. The graphics can use some work but ill give gf a pass for their first time.
  64. Rohmeo
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    Sehr gut, auch wenn einige Pokemon fehlen. Die Grafik könnte zwar noch besser sein aber dennoch ist es bisher das beste Pokemon Spiel.
  65. Gnitlo
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    While a lot of people are upset about the Dexit and issues with the game, which is perfectly fine and understandable, I have not felt that this has ruined my experience with the game. This is my favorite Pokémon game to date and I've been thoroughly enjoying it despite some framedrops while online on the wild area as well as some (note SOME) less than stellar animations. If you're a fan ofWhile a lot of people are upset about the Dexit and issues with the game, which is perfectly fine and understandable, I have not felt that this has ruined my experience with the game. This is my favorite Pokémon game to date and I've been thoroughly enjoying it despite some framedrops while online on the wild area as well as some (note SOME) less than stellar animations. If you're a fan of Pokémon and don't mind the cut to the pokedex I can't recommend this game enough.… Expand
  66. seba2212
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    Soy fan de pokemon y llevo un par de horas de juego, no es la octva maravilla, pero me encanta
  67. Properbadman
    Nov 16, 2019
    6
    THIS GAME ISNT AS BAD AS THE REVIEWS ARE SAYING.
    the game looks almost great..
    The new pokemon designs look great The galarian forms are great new additions. And at a push their is 20 hours worth of gameplay in terms of story However the story just felt like their was nothing to show. And it felt like it never went anywhere.. Just felt like all I did was battle gym after gym And how many    THIS GAME ISNT AS BAD AS THE REVIEWS ARE SAYING.
    the game looks almost great..
    The new pokemon designs look great
    The galarian forms are great new additions. And at a push their is 20 hours worth of gameplay in terms of story
    However the story just felt like their was nothing to show. And it felt like it never went anywhere..
    Just felt like all I did was battle gym after gym
    And how many times do you have to battle your rival? Jheeez.
    I accepted the pokedex cut however its pokemon man.. gotta catch them all
    The game isnt that bad but if your going to pay 45 pound for it.. it just will never compete with zelda games Was hyped for the game for years especially when I fount out It was coming on switch.. but I'm just a little disappoint .
    It had so so much potential    … Expand
  68. Pedro27
    Nov 16, 2019
    8
    Even with the Dexit, the game still great and with great potencial to improve.
  69. Stalnox
    Nov 16, 2019
    8
    It's a pokemon game. It's fun. Its bright, shiny, pretty and so far has had no glaring errors.
    Yes, it could have been some huge open world RPG esque adventure with 850+ pokemon, but this one actually fits with the franchise. As a new gen it is a good effort. The new pokemon are cute and I'm a huge fan of the area.
  70. Pikiro03
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Me parece un juego genial, una historia que con cada entrega va siendo mejor, un desarrollo de la trama espectacular, buenas animaciones durante el combate con los diálogos,, una buena región, buen sistema online y el área silvestre es 10/10.

    Sin duda recomiendo el juego a cualquiera, ya que es una gran aventura Pokémon con el mejor toque posible.    … Expand
  71. Proki
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Best of all pokemon game :). Gameplay is awesome, super story and nice graphic. Thx Nintendo
  72. etlewis3762
    Nov 16, 2019
    8
    As a game, Sword and Shield is weird to pin down and depending on what you look for in a pokemon game will determine your love for it. A lot of aspects, like camping and the wild area, and max raid battles are great and an absolute blast to play with. Other parts of the game, graphics especially and the age old JRPG trope of lots of uninteresting talking that's hurt pokemon in recent gamesAs a game, Sword and Shield is weird to pin down and depending on what you look for in a pokemon game will determine your love for it. A lot of aspects, like camping and the wild area, and max raid battles are great and an absolute blast to play with. Other parts of the game, graphics especially and the age old JRPG trope of lots of uninteresting talking that's hurt pokemon in recent games hurt the experience. If you don't mind the mediocre graphics, excess talking, and lack of a national pokedex, you will undoubtedly love this game. If you do mind these flaws can be extremely 'in your face' and seriously damper your enjoyment of an otherwise really fun game.

    My personal gripe is that the exp share is now a permanent and unchangeable fixture of the game, and I've got to do extra work to keep the game challenging I didn't have to do in sun and moon (I never finished X and Y because those games are too painfully easy for me to enjoy and the only games I don't like). While I have not finished the game and only just gotten started I will not judge the story though it seems to follow a similar route to gold and silver, but without a previous games knowledge hiding behind it.

    I personally love the game and am forcing it down to a 7/10 to keep this objective. My personal vote is an 8/10. However that's because I am one of the people who love Pokemon for a reason that was cared about, intentionally or accidentally, by game freak when making this game. A lot of people will feel thrown under the bus because the aspects they cared about were given less care than other parts of the game and they aren't into aspects that were given extra love and care.    … Expand
  73. JamesG3675
    Nov 16, 2019
    8
    I read the reviews and I see that there are no bad ones that have actual fact. There are only 400 Pokémon, people expected more and they shouldn’t have. With 400 Pokémon the game is already a bigger file size than breath of the wild. People also need to realize how big of a corporation the Pokémon company is, the games realese date can not be changed because of all the other products thatI read the reviews and I see that there are no bad ones that have actual fact. There are only 400 Pokémon, people expected more and they shouldn’t have. With 400 Pokémon the game is already a bigger file size than breath of the wild. People also need to realize how big of a corporation the Pokémon company is, the games realese date can not be changed because of all the other products that come out along with the games. Other than stupid complains of people whining and being way to privileged the game in my opinion is outstanding it is a fundamental pokemon game the minimum is tic design is incredible and the battles are fun. There is even some challenge where I find my self highly under leveled. The wild area is also incredible. Seeing other people run around with you and being able to interact with them is amazing. Great game minus the toxic unwarranted hate.… Expand
  74. Dwilly
    Nov 16, 2019
    8
    I personally love this game. As a long time Pokémon fan i am happy to play this game because it still gives me that experience that only Pokémon offers. Sure game freak noticeably cut corners, and I understand why many are upset but for a casual fan like me that is looking for a good time this game great!
  75. Suikoboj
    Nov 16, 2019
    8
    The game is definitely a step in the right direction. The graphics definitely could use some upgrading, but definitely look a lot better than previous entries, even with re-used models(people need to go back and actually read transcripts and understand they did not promise completely new models instead of just going off of what everyone else says), I can't say I got into post game.The game is definitely a step in the right direction. The graphics definitely could use some upgrading, but definitely look a lot better than previous entries, even with re-used models(people need to go back and actually read transcripts and understand they did not promise completely new models instead of just going off of what everyone else says), I can't say I got into post game.

    Though the game can use a little more in the wild area as well an incentive for actually not just doing solo and playing with people. As well as a bit better hit detection for the roaming pokemon, but over all even with the cut dex, it is the best looking pokemon game out right now, as well probably one of the best in the series and definitely if they continue in this direction, the next game can definitely be a knock out of the part.    … Expand
  76. Longoria21
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Pokemon Sword and Shield are the best games in the series, streamlining its most tedious traditions without losing any of the charm.
  77. Sensiblegamer2
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    400 is more than enough. Having a blast with Pokemon! Great job game freak!
  78. DMGspacemanspif
    Nov 16, 2019
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is an excellent addition to the World of Pokemon. They have added a certain level of difficulty to balance out the inability to turn off exp share. This is the first Pokemon game I have been unable to breeze thru with just 1 set of pokemon so far. I am disappointed with no new Eeveelution, but with the switch, expansions are always possible! Highly recommended to new player or veterans! Mega Floof Eevee is the best Eevee!… Expand
  79. RyukCrossX
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Tuve la oportunidad de comprarlo el día de estreno, luché por no comer ningun spoiler y lo logré, después de más de 20 horas de juego, terminé el nuevo pokémon
    Hay momentos en los que te dices a ti mismo "GameFreak, aquí pudiste hacerlo mejor" como en el caso del primer experimento de Rose, imaginan como hubiera sido si el Pokémon gigante hubiera destruido parte de la ciudad y hubiésemos tenido oportunidad de presenciar eso? Oh, Arceus, sería el mejor pokémon con escenas de éste tipo, pero al menos se dan a entender... hay muchas falencias en los juegos, la SWITCH le quedó grande a GameFreak, es verdad, pero como "Pokémin", es otro juegazo, se disfruta como cuando éramos niños, yo realmente ame sus personajes y hasta ahora estoy perdido en la WildZone, criando Sobble bebés y enviándolos por intercambio prodigioso 2.0

    Sí creciste con Pokémon, al igual que yo, no te pierdas ésta nueva aventura, que como la región nueva que es, siempre tendrá muchas novedades y personajes que quedaran grabados en la historia ♥️    … Expand
  80. Anelko
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Good game. Better than expectet. I dont need every single pokemon in the game.
  81. Kingmercyles
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Great game, I recommend it to everyone it's like the old days and even better
  82. skylerrabbit
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    Here's the thing. If a person's entire opinion of this game is going to be based on whether or not there are nearly a thousand Pokemon in it, they've missed the point of the effort. Sword and Shield is an ambitious attempt to redefine what a core Pokemon game can be. _They've succeeded._

    When 'Let's Go!' came out for the Switch a year ago, I made a prediction to friends, even as reviews    Here's the thing. If a person's entire opinion of this game is going to be based on whether or not there are nearly a thousand Pokemon in it, they've missed the point of the effort. Sword and Shield is an ambitious attempt to redefine what a core Pokemon game can be. _They've succeeded._

    When 'Let's Go!' came out for the Switch a year ago, I made a prediction to friends, even as reviews for that installment were...fair to middling. 'It only has the first 150 and it's not breaking new story ground because what 'Let's Go!' really is is an experimental testbed. They're trying new ideas to see what can work'.

    I came into this game legitimately unsure if I'd burned money on a game that had experimented too far, and flown too close to the sun, at the price of halving the number of Pokemon you could catch. I'm one of the converted.

    After realizing the online capabilities that Pokemon Sword and Shield has, particularly the ability to do surprise trades (formerly known as WonderTrades) in the background as you play, seeing who of your friends wants to do a link trade or battle WITHOUT having to go to some special 'Online Zone' and stopping your play entirely...and having an MMO area in the Wild Area, where real time raids for Pokemon happen, I'm sorry. Critics about the dex are not looking deep enough. After spending two hours screwing around in the Wild Area, exploring, capturing, raiding - all online, and some of which being with friends where I DIDN'T have to do 20 minutes of prep on another IM client just to make that interaction happen, I said to another friend, 'I could give a crap about the National Dex having played this. This is the future of Pokemon. If they do 'this' but with more filled in features, they'll have me at the next game. And if they included 500 Pokemon with the same old models to satisfy review bombers, they'll have them too.'

    Effort in this game was put toward completely different improvements, like the Wild Area, raids, a streamlined online experience where being Online doesn't mean stopping your game cold, earlier emphasis on customizing your look, tougher trainers to battle on your journey. Some of these don't sound sexy, and AREN'T sexy if one's assessment of Pokemon begins and ends with 'I want every single one' and everything else - even the challenge and balance of battles - is secondary. Pokemon having grown its Information Technology so online play is possible while you also play the game is the definition of sounding 'boring as hell', but it was needed very very badly for a DECADE. There are a million Gachapon games out there. Pokemon needs its opportunity to grow beyond that into a richer experience people can play on a console.

    Love it or hate it, the least people can do is respect the effort and where the effort was put. I am not seeing that from the negative side whatsoever. 'I didn't get what I want so it sucks, sight unseen.' It disgusts me that people are giving '0' reviews to a game they haven't even purchased because it didn't live up to their expectations set months and years before the game's release. Pokemon cannot grow in a static bubble. And it badly needs room to grow. Game Freak WILL do it with or without those who refuse to give that growth a chance.    … Expand
  83. Franri
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Very enjoyable game, doesn't deserve the hate it's getting. Animations are fine, the gameplay is fun, music is gorgeous.
  84. BronxGamer
    Nov 16, 2019
    8
    Awsome return to a classic franchise.. while nothing blows you away (least not after my 14 hours so far) it holds true to everything that works with the series. Wild Area is a great addition, and wild pokemon pack a heavier punch than what I recall from the past.
  85. WottSquad
    Nov 16, 2019
    5
    What more do I have to say that hasn't been said by countless others? The graphics are average. The slowdowns in the Wild Area are irritating. Not all Pokémon that I've grown to love will be transferrable. It's really easy. There are positives though. The soundtrack is great as expected of Pokémon games with catchy tunes and really cool tracks (Bede's battle theme especially). I like quiteWhat more do I have to say that hasn't been said by countless others? The graphics are average. The slowdowns in the Wild Area are irritating. Not all Pokémon that I've grown to love will be transferrable. It's really easy. There are positives though. The soundtrack is great as expected of Pokémon games with catchy tunes and really cool tracks (Bede's battle theme especially). I like quite a few new pokémon designs. I liked the story and characters but I feel some characters should've had more backstory. I'm going right down the middle with this one. Definitely not the worst Pokémon game but far from the best.… Expand
  86. Qaj
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    I like the game for what it was and I never gave a rat's ass about the national dex thing
  87. TapirReviews
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    Simply put ignore the immature hate.

    As a longtime fan of the series who started with Red and Blue, sword and sheild has finally revitalized my enjoyment of the series. The 3ds era may have had access to the entire pokedex, but they were without a doubt the WORST entries of the series, and were incredibly boring (looking at you sun and moon.) Sword and shield use the standard Pokémon    Simply put ignore the immature hate.

    As a longtime fan of the series who started with Red and Blue, sword and sheild has finally revitalized my enjoyment of the series. The 3ds era may have had access to the entire pokedex, but they were without a doubt the WORST entries of the series, and were incredibly boring (looking at you sun and moon.) Sword and shield use the standard Pokémon formula, with a few new twists.

    I personally loved the variety of Pokémon that a player can chose and I personally ditched my starter (Grookey) for a Snover as soon as I encountered it in the new open space area. The biggest problem that this game really has is not enough endgame material. A New game+ or multiple profiles really should be a new standard to the series for those who dont want to fork over one hundred twenty dollars for multiple playthroughs.

    If graphics and difficulty are what you are looking for Pokémon has NEVER been that series that pushed for a difficult experience (its target audience is either kids or casual gamers.) I would rather have this kind of Pokémon a thousand times over if it meant never having another X&Y or Sun & Moon. This game is worth a playthrough for sure, and am very satisfied with my purchase.

    9/10    … Expand
  88. Agent8
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Muy buen juego hay muchos Pokémon nuevos y el mapa está muy genial, han hecho un gran salto respecto a los antiguos juegos de Pokémon
  89. Zris96
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    Pokemon Sword/Shield has the same magic from other Pokemon games adding some new features like Dinamax and being able to move the camera in some area... The wild area feels like some fresh air to the series, I really like a lot, it's not perfect but from my point of view it can become something really great in the upcoming games...

    The soundtrack is really nice too... Half of the    Pokemon Sword/Shield has the same magic from other Pokemon games adding some new features like Dinamax and being able to move the camera in some area... The wild area feels like some fresh air to the series, I really like a lot, it's not perfect but from my point of view it can become something really great in the upcoming games...

    The soundtrack is really nice too... Half of the Pokemon's and a lot of moves were removed from the game... but it seems like a good move to balance the game and see more variety in the competitive.

    The Pokemon's, battle's, and that feeling of adventure is what needs a Pokemon game, and this one has all of that.    … Expand
  90. Ace61
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    My favorite Pokémon game so far and i have played every Pokémon game. The Graphics are awesome, in the Nature Zone it could be a little bit better but i am happy with it. It is a Must Have game for every Pokémon fan.
    And for everyone that is sceptic because all the hate: Dont believe them they are just overreacting.
    The only thing i am sad about is that there is no GTS.

    Best Pokémon Game.
  91. bugmaniac
    Nov 16, 2019
    9
    As someone who is not personally effected by the national dex, I wanted to provide a review about the other aspects of the game. I recommend trying the game if you enjoy pokemon and not letting the reviews here sway your opinion as this is getting reviewbombed by websites like reddt. Full review below:

    It's baffling to me that these are rated so low compared to the 3DS games. The only    As someone who is not personally effected by the national dex, I wanted to provide a review about the other aspects of the game. I recommend trying the game if you enjoy pokemon and not letting the reviews here sway your opinion as this is getting reviewbombed by websites like reddt. Full review below:

    It's baffling to me that these are rated so low compared to the 3DS games. The only thing I can think of that any of them do better than sword & shield is that SM have a stronger plot + characters. Everything else is an improvement from the 3DS games. The towns have great flavor to them and are far more fun to explore than any single town from the 3DS games, the graphics are better with no real slowdowns unless you're online in the wild area (where SM slowed down a lot during the trials, XY during hordes), the game doesn't hold your hand as much as SM and lets you skip tutorials, the designs are generally higher quality in my opinion but not by much to be honest, the gym leaders have lots of personality and involvement in the story (SM did this pretty well too though), customization is improved, and power creep is improved by the removal of previous game's legendaries.

    The primary thing that these have over the 3DS games is pacing. The removal of random encounters makes it so the progression is a much more pleasing experience, where you have freedom to adjust your pacing to your mood and aren't constantly interrupted by a random encounter to make routes feel more artificially long than they are. This makes the games shorter, but I'd far prefer a short game to an artificially long game. This pacing is helped by the fact tat a lo of the new cities are aesthetically pleasing and fun to see every nook & cranny of. It's very motivating to explore when the locations generally look unique.

    The biggest flaws outside of the national dex controversy are the graphical issues in the wild area, the trouble with wild area connectivity when trying to raid, and the flatness of some of the main characters in the story. Hop is not very interesting and kinda just feels like a reskin of Hau with less cheeriness. There's nobody here as fun as Guzma, as interesting as lusamine, or as charming as lillie.

    Overall I am a pokemon fan & these games are the best since gen 5 (which are 10/10), so I think a 9/10 is fair coming from someone that loves pokemon as much as I do.    … Expand
  92. kungfuhuntch
    Nov 16, 2019
    7
    The game to be bit buggy but reminder this first time done online thing on mass plain with other player bit buggy but game still good without national Dex the game still good to play with friend. Mostly this waste their money, without Dex, or multiplayer be buggy, The Dynamax is cool idea but better mega or z-move, At Game Freak should be happy what they made for people to happy. And guessThe game to be bit buggy but reminder this first time done online thing on mass plain with other player bit buggy but game still good without national Dex the game still good to play with friend. Mostly this waste their money, without Dex, or multiplayer be buggy, The Dynamax is cool idea but better mega or z-move, At Game Freak should be happy what they made for people to happy. And guess people can't pinch of salt i guess. Serious people to have fun with the game it better be handhold gameplay.… Expand
  93. Kurisuda2992
    Nov 21, 2019
    1
    Compared to other Pokemon games that I have played this isn't one of the greats. The game itself isn't all too breathtaking, the battles only got a few animation improvements but that's about it. The wild area is the best part of this game and it slowly becomes dull, the curry cooking and relaxing with your pokemon is great. The one thing that irritated me was the lack of postgame content.Compared to other Pokemon games that I have played this isn't one of the greats. The game itself isn't all too breathtaking, the battles only got a few animation improvements but that's about it. The wild area is the best part of this game and it slowly becomes dull, the curry cooking and relaxing with your pokemon is great. The one thing that irritated me was the lack of postgame content. Dynamax is cool for a little while (4-5 times for me) then it got boring as well. If the game gets some updates in regards to more content or adding pokemon from previous games then I'll raise up my score.… Expand
  94. TwinFami
    Nov 17, 2019
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have long waited for Pokémon to become a true console experience (sorry, Colosseum and XD don’t count). So I was stoked for this even WITH all the controversies out there and believe me, I think it was blown up too much.

    Here’s what you REALLY need to know about Pokémon Sword from someone who actually is a fan and who actually beat the game:

    -It will throw you off as a lot of the Pokémon who you remember has new types to go along with their redesigns. For example, Meowth is a Steel Type, Ponyta is a Psychic-Fairy, Mr. Mime is an Ice type, etc. So, you will be confused for a bit when facing old favorites, but you’ll get used to it. A type checker is a must.

    -You can get a good team early on. If choosing the fire type Scorbunny as I did, you can get early on water, electric, fighting, ground, and flying types all before the first gym. Train them well and grind and you can easily breeze through the game. -The experience is more restrictive. I get that they want to make things easier for new players or returning players. But how they’ve done it is downright aggravating. In other games, they’ve restricted the level of traded Pokémon, but now they’ve gone one step further and restricted the level of Pokémon you can CATCH as well. For a long time player, especially when I can get well past the required level easily, this is really frustrating, especially when say my limit is level 25 and I run into a level 26 Onix while my team is at level 30 (which actually happened BTW). This should’ve been an option that could’ve been turned on and off. If I want to attempt to catch a higher level Pokémon, at least give me the chance to do so. Don’t restrict my gameplay for other people.

    -Gym “Missions” are a nuisance. What have we learned about Pokémon gyms? We level up our Pokémon, especially ones with type advantages, battle trainers, and defeat the leader. But if I were to tell you that to even GET to the gym leader, you had to herd a bunch of cattle or answer a narcissistic quiz, would you believe me? Of course not because it doesn’t belong! It is what I would expect from a Zelda game, NOT POKÉMON! Why these were added, I have no idea.....

    -The League is....actually a league.....It’s presented as a sport. You beat the gyms, enter a single elimination tournament with the other gym leaders, and then after a long quest, battle the champion. This is one change I actually like and should’ve been done a long time ago. The Elite Four seemed out dated especially for something that is treated as a sport for years in the anime AND they heal you after every match. A welcome addition.

    -About those graphics.....yeah, it’s a mixed bag. While it’s nice to finally see a proper 3D Pokémon game and the cel shaded graphics does help make the transition from portable to console, there’s issues. Jaggy lines, lots of pop in especially for Pokémon and environments. It looks and feels rushed and it’s a real shame.

    -YES VIRGINIA, THERE ARE MISSING POKÉMON....LOTS OF THEM....but let’s be honest here folks. In this real world, do all the world’s creatures live in one region? No and neither does Pokémon. The regional variants and the regional exclusives add more realism to the games and while yes, my little Rowlet is nowhere to be found, I completely understand the concept. It makes having a complete Pokédex a realistic goal. There are over a thousand Pokémon now.....a....thousand.....do you really think it is truly possible to “Catch ‘em All” at this point? No way at all. So while you complain about “Dexit”, think of it in realistic terms rather than in our own wishes. I’d LOVE to see a game with all regions and Pokémon but at this point, it would take a lot more than what the Switch is currently capable of. It would take a PS4 or Xbox One type of RPG that takes up about a hundred gigs to do that. All in all, while my experience was a positive one, it was not without its frustrations and its challenges. I liked the fresh perspective of making it a true regional experience while also making it a legitimate sports title in a sense, but I hated the restrictions put in place as a longtime player as it insults me to be put up against a proverbial wall so to speak a lot of times. It felt like driving a souped up Ford Mustang but being limited to only driving 30mph by the manufacturer and only allowed to increase the limit the more you drive it. The graphics while a step up were also a let down. I don’t play for graphics as I still dust off my SNES and my Atari from time to time with my OSSC, but for a true first console version, it falls way short. Another year for polish and removal of these unnecessary restrictions and handholding would have gone far to help this title succeed. But hey, there’s always the eventual “definitive third game” which at this point is probably going to be named Pokémon Helmet or Pokémon Armor.....    … Expand
  95. Karantal
    Nov 17, 2019
    9
    When playing through Pokemon Sword, I went into the experience expecting a lot of negative elements, especially after reading a lot of the reviews here. However, the game itself almost completely subverted my expectations. While, yes, the story is a tad short, and there are some low res graphics in places of the wild area, the game itself is a blast to play overall. The thing that I trulyWhen playing through Pokemon Sword, I went into the experience expecting a lot of negative elements, especially after reading a lot of the reviews here. However, the game itself almost completely subverted my expectations. While, yes, the story is a tad short, and there are some low res graphics in places of the wild area, the game itself is a blast to play overall. The thing that I truly loved about this game is how much it gets down to the point. If you're a player who loves to grind in your games though, this game definitely isn't for you. The addition of forced exp sharing makes compliments the pace of the game: fast, to the point, and not much fuffing around. The routes are short, which goes well with the exp gain. However, this is hardly a bad thing. There's a constant sense of progression throughout the whole experience, with your Pokemon leveling up at a consistent rate throughout the whole story. Your team constantly gets stronger as you progress, and this thorough feeling of progression makes using any Pokemon at any time feel rewarding.

    The story is very weak, that's an unavoidable fact. The evil team is rarely present, and the resolution to their story arc, if it can even be called that, is very one dimensional. The overarching story is quite basic as well, with the whole story revolving around the gym challenge. While the character development for the three rivals, save Marnie, is quite good, the main story is quite dull. Bede sticks out of the bunch, having a really interesting character progression and sub arc. Hop, while most of his character development occurs late in the playthrough, I had a lot of enjoyment watching him change over the course of the story.

    The main source of enjoyment of this game, however, is how amazing it feels to dynamax Pokemon, and have intense battles with your team. While the difficulty is easier in this game than usual, unless you go out of your way to grind for exp, your Pokemon will be fairly on-par with the gym leaders. The game also begins to ramp in difficulty during the later part of the story, but it's nothing a seasoned player can't get over.

    In terms of graphical issues, some of the objects in the wild area are a lower texture than one might like. It can be a bit jarring at first, since the player's eyes go towards it when observing a new area, but eventually it blends into the scenery. Another fault, however, is that the game's frames do drop in the wild area when either a lot of pokemon are being loaded, or a lot of player characters. Because the speed of the game is tied to the frames, it is also jarring when it happens. I, personally, don't notice it as much after playing the game for a significant time, but it's an issue nonetheless. The frame drops, I hope, can be solved by a later update, if Gamefreak decides the problem is big enough.

    Overall, if I could, I would rate the game about 8.6, but since I can't do decimals, a 9 is the closest I can choose. I think the graphics to present a fair problem, which is why I docked .8 from the score, and the lack of a significant story, as well as postgame content, is the reason for the other .6 loss. I've played every single Pokemon game in the past, except a few twin versions, of course, and Sword is definitely one of my favorites, probably number 2 or 3. I absolutely had a blast while playing this game, from start to finish. I love the new Pokemon designs, and some of the designs I wasn't extremely fond of grew on me quickly. I think this game is definitely worth playing for any Pokemon fan, as long as they're willing to take the fun gameplay over graphics. While there is still a lot of room for improvement, Pokemon sword is still an amazing entry to the series, with a number of fantastic music tracks to boot.    … Expand
  96. HankSco
    Nov 17, 2019
    10
    Grandisimo juego de pokemon, llevo jugadas 10h y me lo estoy pasando genial. El diseño de los nuevos pokemon esta trabajado y la zona salvaje es una gran idea. Además de mejoras que eliminan perder el tiempo con tonterias, por ejemplo los taxis voladores para poder ir a cualquier ciudad visitada antes sin tener que esperarte a conseguir la MO Vuelo, o los combates de la hierba que soloGrandisimo juego de pokemon, llevo jugadas 10h y me lo estoy pasando genial. El diseño de los nuevos pokemon esta trabajado y la zona salvaje es una gran idea. Además de mejoras que eliminan perder el tiempo con tonterias, por ejemplo los taxis voladores para poder ir a cualquier ciudad visitada antes sin tener que esperarte a conseguir la MO Vuelo, o los combates de la hierba que solo combates si tu quieres. Los escenarios de las ciudades e interiores son preciosos y muy currados. La historia es simple pero resulta entretenida. Solo necesitaría pulir un poco graficamente la zona salvaje y poco más. Un juego de 10.… Expand
  97. Napolethanos
    Nov 17, 2019
    8
    Il gioco è bello e godibile , anche se ha dei problemi come per esempio le animazioni riciclate il pokedex nazionale limitato senza aver in cambio un miglioramento grafico.
  98. Squish
    Nov 17, 2019
    9
    Really people... you guys are this salty to the point you rate it this low. If you’re a true fan of Pokémon you’ll enjoy the content they give. Half of you guys probably didn’t even buy the copy if anything just based it off the gameplay/videos online... The graphics are actually pretty decent, yes it’s recycled animation but if you think about it. They’re is a boat load amount of PokémonReally people... you guys are this salty to the point you rate it this low. If you’re a true fan of Pokémon you’ll enjoy the content they give. Half of you guys probably didn’t even buy the copy if anything just based it off the gameplay/videos online... The graphics are actually pretty decent, yes it’s recycled animation but if you think about it. They’re is a boat load amount of Pokémon they had to animate from the different evolve forms to different moves etc, just even the interacting animations as well. The game itself is also geared for the younger coming generations.. not just you mid age people lol it’s not supposed to be over complicated and if anything they probably made it simple for the younger kids that only have switches who never played Pokémon before. The story is mainstream but it’s supposed to be a kids storyline.. I’m 20. I played Pokémon on the game boy, ds, and 3ds growing up. My sister is 5 years older so she showed me the classics early on. I still love it to this day. It’s distressing and relaxing. I find it a leisure play through. Just enjoy finding Pokémon to catch and battle friends or strangers online.

    People get over it.. and enjoy the game ^.^    … Expand
  99. Muscmrk
    Nov 17, 2019
    8
    I can understand how people are upset with game freak, but I think the game itself is really good. Game freak may have completely lied but if you just look at the game on it’s own, It’s a really fun game that doesn’t deserve the hate it’s been getting. Most of the complaints I’ve been saying has been related to what game freak promised not being delivered, and even cutting some content forI can understand how people are upset with game freak, but I think the game itself is really good. Game freak may have completely lied but if you just look at the game on it’s own, It’s a really fun game that doesn’t deserve the hate it’s been getting. Most of the complaints I’ve been saying has been related to what game freak promised not being delivered, and even cutting some content for no other reason than laziness, which I can understand is really upsetting but as someone who wasn’t following that whole mess and didn’t even know about it until I started playing, I had a great time.… Expand
  100. Igdebubwe
    Nov 17, 2019
    8
    I saw the negative reviews on this game and although i do agree that this game is worse than some previous instalments it is not deserving of reviews in the red.
    Before Reading my review keep in mind that i have only played the game for 10 hours and have only defeated 3 gym leaders.
    The game is fun and addicting exactly what you would expect from a Pokemon game.On handheld, the game    I saw the negative reviews on this game and although i do agree that this game is worse than some previous instalments it is not deserving of reviews in the red.
    Before Reading my review keep in mind that i have only played the game for 10 hours and have only defeated 3 gym leaders.
    The game is fun and addicting exactly what you would expect from a Pokemon game.On handheld, the game looks great.
    The main problem i have with the game is how fast your Pokemon level up.After the 2nd gym i had a level 47 flygon and was battling against level 24 Pokemon.It was too easy.
    All i can say is if you buy this game and don't want to destroy every Pokemon you see.Don't use dynamax crystals as they level up your Pokemon incredibly quickly
    Overall a great entry in the series    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Best Switch Game of 2019
1
#1 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 87 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 87
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 87
  3. Negative: 0 out of 87
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 30, 2020
    80
    Sword & Shield stumble in a few areas and history may not be kind to them, but they're setting up a future that I'm excited to see. [Issue #44 – January/February 2020, p. 73]
  2. GameCritics
    Feb 6, 2020
    75
    I enjoyed my time with Pokemon Sword and Shield, but I ended feeling conflicted. I appreciate many of the changes and felt that it generally respected my time, but I almost felt like a passive participant. The more complex gym challenges had a meatier role, but the narrative shouldn’t have been shoved to the side. Overall, I would recommend it to players who want to have a Pokemon experience, but this one won’t stick with me the way the older ones have.
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  3. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Jan 14, 2020
    78
    Pokemon Sword/Shield is uncharacteristically user-friendly: now there’s no need to backtrack half across the world to heal your entire team of pokemon or to get to a particular city, for example. [Issue#242, p.66]
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