As is the case with a lot of big franchises, it’s tough for the team to really win with 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pokémon. If they make radical changes, fans complain that the essence of their beloved series has been tarnished. If they play too safe, they’re accused of resting on their laurels. Since the first generation of games, several mechanics have been tweakꦜed or removed entirely, but the core Pokémon experience remains the core Pokémon experience.
In Generation VII, the formula was shaken up a little with the removal of HMs, the Island Challenge replacing the traditional gym challenge and so on. How much did follow-up 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pokémon Sword and Shield change the game? Here are some im💮provements you might not have known came about with Generation VIII.
10 Mimikyuဣ’s Disguise Ability Was Nerfed
As long-time fans꧙ will know, Game Freak do tend to (eventually) nerf certain Abilities that are a little too powerful. The likes of Talonflame’s Gale Wings and th🎶e infamous Mega Kangaskhan’s Parental Bond took big hits, quite rightfully. On the chopping block this generation was Mimikyu’s Ability, Disguise.
With this Ability, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the cunning♋ little Ghost/Fairy Pokémon could absorb a direct hit for free, losing its Disguise but keeping its HP intact. This gave it an extra turn to set up, but the issue was Focus Sash Mimiky💦u, which essentially had two free turns. Now, it takes a little damage when its Disguise is broken, preventing the Focus Sash combo from working. It’s probably a healthy change, though Mimikyu fans may disagree.
9 Animations Have Take🍨n Steps Forward
In recent years, Pokémon has made some big advances in terms of character models. As beloved as some of the older sprites are, there’s just something about seeing a 3D model of one of your favorite Pokémon in motion. It’s like the first time we stepped onto the lawn of Peach’s Castle in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Mario 64.
At the same time, though, the games have struggled a lot to make the battles themselves feel dynamic, in terms of attacks connecting. Things aren’t nearly as dramatic as they are in the anime in th♕at sense. There’s still a long way to go in that regard, but there’s no denying that some characters and Pokémon alike have a lot more life in them this time around (just don’t look at the new animation for Double Kick, it’s hilariously bad), whether some of these animations were 'recycled' or not.
8 We Have A Dark-T𝔉ype Gym A🦂t Last
How long have fans been waiting for a Dark-type specialist to hit the scene? Well, since the Dark type was introduced in Generation II, that’s how long. The idea of a Dark gym has been discussed at length by fans, an🌳d it’s strange to think that it took until 2019 for one to be implemented.
Did Piers live up to the hype, after༺ all this time? That’s a matter of opinion, but we’d certainly say so. He has an interesting ꦇbackstory, a real stake in the campaign itself (more on that later), a unique gym challenge and just the right level of edginess.
7 ꧋ A More Accessible Town Map ♛
Now, it’s true enough that Pokémon isn’t exactly the most challenging RPG series around. There’s a fair amount of backtracking invoꦍlved, but your next destination always tends to be clearly explained to you and hไighlighted.
Some of this accessibility and user-friendliness is derived from the more convenient Town Map. As your objective change and you have choices of destination (particularly in the post-game), you’ll be glad that your Town Map is now right there in the main menu by itself. A subtle but s🃏uper handy little decision.
6 🌸 Aegislash’s Base Stats Have Been Nerfed
Since the Honedge line was added to the mix in Generation VI, Aegislash has been regarded as 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:one of the best competitive Pokémon ever. This is mostly a result of two factors: its unique Blade/Shield mechanic and its fantastic base stats♒.
With its Stance Change Ability, Aegislash can tank a hit in its very defensive f൲orm, switch to Balde Forme to deliv🎶er a powerful blow of its own, then switch back with King’s Shield and repeat. In truth, it was just a little too bulky/powerful, which is why its base stats have been nerfed from 150 Defense and Special Defense/Attack and Special Attack to 140. Another well-deserved nerf.
5 There’s No Need To Wait Super Long To Fly ꧅
In previous Pokémon titles, the player had to make a lot of progress before being granted access to Fly (fast travel, essentially). While this makes sense (again, the earlier games in particular were heavy on backtracking), it could be quite frustrating. In another effort to streamline the experience, Swoౠrd and Shield dropped the requirements to gain this ability.
In Generation VIII, those ever-handy Flying Taxis are available (almost) whenever you need them. Just open up your trusty Town Map and pick a location yꦯou’ve already visited.
4 ༒ The Y-Comm’s More Convenient Online Functionality
Now, we all know that online functionality has never been Pokémon’s strong point. A central part of the experience, for serious battlers, but not something Game Freak (or Nintendo themselves generally) have ever really beꦫen too hot on.
The Y-Comm and its at-a-glance stamp system is far from the best system of its sort ever. Still, as far as the franchise itself goes, it does the job better than just about everything else Pokémon has offered🦹 to date. You can see online players and the kind of gameplay ☂they’re looking for and can hop straight in and join them.
3 Fossil📖 Pokémon That Aren’t Rock-Type
If there’s one thing that long-time fans will tell you about Fossil Pokémon, it’s that they’re really not all that good as a rule. This is mostly because they’re lumbered with the Rock typing, which is a rough one. Only the very best Rock-types (such as Tyranitar) really make their mark on the m🐻etagame.
Beyond Kabutops on rain teams, Cradily’s stalling shenanigans and those darn Lord Hel꧂ix memes, Fossil Pokémon didn’t get much attention. This time around, though, things are a little different, as the four new Fossils boast interesting typings. Arctozolt is Electric/Ice, Dracozolt is Electric/Dragon, Arctovish is Water/Ice and Dracovish, which is currently tearing up the metagame, is Water/Dragon. It’s a little odd that it’s taken so long to let the Rock thing slide.
2 Gym Leaders Are All Important to the Overall Pl🐻ot
If you’ve finished the main story of the game, you’ll know that each of the Gym Leaders has a legitimate reason tꦍo hop back into the frayꦆ. Not simply for the purpose of a more difficult rematch, but to serve a greater purpose.
Previously, Gym Leaders have been a little throwaway (some much more so than others, of course), rather one-dimensional, buꦍt we learn much more about them and their backstory over the course of Sword and Shield. Simply reading their League Cards will tell you much 🌳more than you may have expected.
1 Early-Game๊ Pokémon Are (Arguably) Much More Interesting
Yes, this one’s also quite subjective, but there’s a reason why lots of players tend to swap their teams arou💜nd as they progress further ♕into the game: Early route Pokémon are often all kinds of underwhelming.
For the main game, almost anything goes, and you can beat down the Elite 4 with a Raticate and Pidg🌞eot if the fancy takes you. however, Generation VIII offers an array of interesting and powerful Pokémon right from the start of🔥 the adventure. You can get started on your Corviknight, Orbeetle and the like as soon as you set out.