By Jack Teal
Akihabara News (Tokyo) — The highly anticipated release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus has delivered the rejuvenation fans were hopeful for. The new changes revolutionize the series, which had relied on the same formula since 1996.
The shedding of old systems defines this title. In shifting from the beaten path to an open world, from turn-based battles to combat in real time, from a recycled cookie-cutter gym challenge to a series of boss fights, this is an authentically new game.
The revolutionary changes finally help realize the dreams of longtime fans: that is, traveling across the land, searching far and wide, and teaching Pokemon to understand the power that’s inside.
The crux of the new structure is that of the trainer’s relationship with their Pokemon. Pokemon are no longer soulless captives to fight at the trainer’s will; they are instead dynamic creatures of the Hisui region.
Pokemon can be seen acknowledging the presence and actions of their neighbors in the environment. Rather than an upfront challenge from wild creatures which fight until they’ve fainted, reactions are variegated and in accordance with the personalities of each type. The changes remind the player that these Pokemon are living creatures.
The region of Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a sight to behold. The Hisui region is modeled just as its main-series counterparts are: fantastical altered versions of our reality. Hisui is designed after Hokkaido, and human geographers might note nods to Hokkaido’s indigenous Ainu culture.
Public opinion has been favorable towards this revolutionary installment. Metacritic rates it at 85%, and GameSpot at an 8.75/10. Players of the new title have come together on Twitter to upload fan art, wisecracks, and to share their experiences.
One Twitter user, @GaoRush, tweeted: “Amazing game, probably the quintessential Pokemon title. It’s rough in some places but for the first outing of its style, the people at Game Freak and Monolith went above and beyond what I had hoped. This needs to be a sub-series going forward.”
The subpar formula reused in Pokemon Sword and Shield spurred fear among longtime fans that they’d already seen the best of Pokemon. Although reviews of Pokemon Legends: Arceus don’t top the charts, the reinvention of the Pokemon series is a gift from Game Freak, the developers who’ve been there from the beginning.
This success ensures fans that the vast world of Pokemon is still far and wide, and there is much more to learn from Pokemon.
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