We're in the middle of November and the rainfall is getting in tune, but the two new versions of Pokémon promise to take you to the sun (aha). As usual, you play as a young boy who moves to a new part of the world. This time, it's the Alola Archipelago, a set of four large islands that smell like vacations. If there is anything new, it is first in this setting, which contrasts quite clearly in terms of atmosphere with the previous opuses. In Alola, it's all about palm trees, tourism, flower shirts and coolness. The sea is everywhere, of course, but that doesn't prevent the game from developing different environments, such as a volcano, a town with big western accents or a tropical jungle. And there, budding Trainers embark on the Tour of the Islands, a local initiatory journey intended as usual to understand the links between Humanity and Pokémon.
CAPTAINS & DEANS
The heavenly side of the decor is not the only exotic and innovative element brought by Alola. The course of the Tour of the Islands thus modifies quite a bit the well-known structure of the game. Forget the traditional arenas, obtaining badges against the Champions. From now on, in order to progress, you will have to confront the Captains and the Dean of each island. The first – in variable numbers depending on the island where you are – are sort of intermediate bosses, who will each impose a Trial on you in their “dungeon”. Even if there are a few variations (we'll let you discover them), it's essentially about killing several wild Pokémon, ending with a Dominant, an evolved version and boosted stats of those you've already defeated. Once the Captains have been removed, you can then face the Dean of the island in a duel almost equivalent this time to those of the Champions of yesteryear, before sailing to a new island. WITH CASTERS
From this change stems a certain reinforcement of the linearity of the adventure. Pokémon has never been an ultra-open RPG, it has marked out its adventure since the very first games and it would be completely out of place to sue it on this issue here. However, it is important to point out that Sun and Moon now leave almost no room for maneuver in your progress. However, this allows in particular to reinforce the narrative component of the game: more cutscenes, a much more present staging despite the absence of recorded voices, and much more dialogue. But you will have to accept being constantly taken by the hand, gently guided towards your next objective. More broadly, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon still facilitate a game that is far from complicated (with Pokémon Centers everywhere, NPCs who will not hesitate to heal you, or fights that can be avoided in various ways). However, Game Freak didn't just focus on making their game easier; the studio also tried to make it simpler, and the nuance is important.
Speaking of ease, Game Freak has added another string to the bow of Trainers, in addition to Mega-Evolutions (which will reappear at the end of the game): these are Z Abilities. To put it simply, each Captain defeated will give you a Z Crystal corresponding to an Attack Type. Give this Crystal to a Pokémon that has an attack of this type, and it will benefit from a surplus of power, associated bonuses or even outright transformation into something more devastating. The difference with the Mega-Evolution however lies in the balance of such a feature which can only be used once per fight, on a single ability therefore. To meditate facing an opponent who could have several threatening Pokémon… However, Game Freak did not apply to only make his game easier (especially since he rebels at the end); the studio also tried to make it simpler, and the nuance is important.MAKE THE ADVENTURE FLUID
Thus, these Sun and Moon versions benefit from a few well-thought-out adjustments that make the game experience smoother. Thus, during battles, as long as you have the opposing Pokémon or have already beaten it, the game tells you the level of effectiveness of your attacks. Ideal for avoiding sticky notes. In the same way, CS, bicycles and other objects or means of transport are now replaced by Pokémon-mounts, which you will obtain as the adventure progresses, and which it is possible to call at any time. (wearing a particularly filthy outfit). The result is initially much more coherent and faithful to the spirit of the saga, but it also has a practical side: we no longer block attack slots with the CS and we stop lugging around rollerblades, bicycles or other Object Finder with you. The ergonomics of the menus has also been globally redesigned and the game is much more readable than X and Y. WORK ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP
With games that are easier, simpler to understand, but also generally rarer, Pokémon Sun and Moon seem to push the player towards the Trainer's relationship with his Pokémon. The Poké-Détente will thus allow you to caress your creatures, to give them Poké-Beans which they love or to take care of them after their fights in order to increase the gauges of Affection, Satiety and Cheerfulness which will offer them different bonus during the fight, even possibilities of evolution. Distributed in small doses, this feature manages not to be too heavy. On the other hand, the Pokémon Pension (which now only takes care of reproduction) is completed by the Poké-Loisir. This is a relaxation center for your creatures stored in the PC boxes, which you can develop based on free-to-play mobile app mechanics. By taking a look at it from time to time, you could develop the potential of your creatures and even attract wild Pokémon.We will welcome with much less enthusiasm the numerous slowdowns when the wild creatures call for reinforcement.
Because, with an expanded Pokédex and several hundred creatures of all generations, hunting is also one of Sun and Moon's priorities. First, because of the new Pokémon that appear, quite sporadically and with a design that is not always the most convincing, it must be admitted. But also with the return of the first generation creatures in their specific form from the Alola archipelago. Species that will have mutated both physically and at the level of their type, and which will constitute a nice challenge for the most nostalgic. We will thank in this case the new Pokédex, much better done and much more precise as to the habitats of the different critters. But we will greet with much less enthusiasm the many slowdowns when the wild creatures call for reinforcement. The engine is also starting to bring the console to its knees, and it's time to take a look at it, despite the modeling still being spot on.
