REVIEW: Pokemon Moon

On Friday, November 18, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon were released.

I got both after I got out of school and after pre-ordering them, and I started playing Moon first. The following review is only based on what progress I personally have made in the game, and I will base my review of both on one version and what I know of both versions that was announced by Nintendo before the release and from what would make sense given what I've seen in Moon.

First off, let’s start with the Pokémon. The starters to pick from start out absolutely adorable with the sea lion looking popplio, a water type Pokémon who evolves to become a beautiful Premariana, a fairy and water type who looks like a mermaid and has a very beautiful appearance, then there is rowlet, a grass/flying type that looks like a small barn owl that evolves into the ghost/grass type deciudeye, and then there is the fire type starter litter who evolves into a bipedal tiger looking fire/dark incineroar. I chose popplio who is now fully evolved and I absolutely love her. Other than that some of the original 151 Pokemon such as vulpix, sandshrew, rattata, and famously exeggutor got a new form with the new region known as alolan formes which get new typing so for some as well as some new Pokemon with new typings as well as interesting pokédex entries.

Next, the setting and the game features. The region the two games take place in is known as the alolan region, which is heavily based on Hawaii and the games introduce some new game mechanics which can act in a pretty big way such as in moon when it is day time in real life, it is nighttime in the game and the other way around in Sun, which also affects how some evolution criteria of some Pokemon a little bit more interesting for the ones that evolve at a certain time of day as well as replacement for Pokémon make and a lack of super training which I have enjoyed the surprises that Nintendo has thrown at me, especially being able to cure a pokémon’s status ailments like poison, paralysis, sleep, etc. after a battle. Also they got rid of the usual gym league style of progression and instead added island trial and grand trials which is like the gym leader battle of Sun and Moon, as well as getting rid of the concept of HMs, which were moves that could not be forgotten by normal means as they replaced it with the peg rider, which allowed you to call a pokémon for specific situations like Tauros for rock smash, sharpedo and alphas for surf, machamp for strength, etc.

Next, villains and interesting characters. First the professor of the region, Professor kukui, who is definitely the most interesting way of studying Pokémon moves by letting Pokemon use them on him (which is a little concerning with what could happen with moves like attract and such.) Next is your rival in the game, (if you can call him that.) Hau who I question the status of rival given he chooses the starter that is weak against yours, unlike rivals of the past games, he is a carefree, lovable kind of guy who definitely would be the kind of person I wish I was surrounded by more often.

Overall, I love the game that Nintendo has created. The way that the game mechanics are used, characters, story, and music and art design are amazing as well as surprising. I personally and very proud that the game has brought new things to it as well as the use of the time mechanic and that they brought some loved characters from past games like Red from gold silver and crystal, Wally from Omega ruby and alpha sapphire, Cynthia from diamond pearl and platinum, and maybe some other characters that Nintendo neglected to announce pre release of the games that I can’t wait to see and battle again and personally rate Pokémon Sun and Moon 5 out of 5 master balls. Personally I think that it will be hard for Nintendo to make anything better about the franchise that has been around for 20 years and I hope it never really dies.