IAN KAHLER
kahlerid@lopers.unk.edu
Pokemon is the biggest media franchise of all time, with estimations of over $92 billion in revenue since its inception in 1996. From a TV series to merchandise and the ever popular video game series, Pokemon’s power will seemingly never go away. Since the Nintendo Switch’s release, fans have been hoping for a core Pokemon role-playing game (RPG) on a home console, and with the recent release of Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, fans have been finally satiated with the huge world of Galar.
Prior to release however, the creators of the video game, Game Freak, had been under scrutiny from the gaming community and fans of the series. With the new additions from Sword and Shield, there are currently 890 total Pokemon across all games. And with the jumps from the original handheld games to full HD graphics on the Switch, Game Freak’ had to cut characters. Half of the total cuts included fan-favorites that have been around since the franchise’s inception.
While not a deal-breaker for some, it’s a major cut to the overall Pokemon roster. This lead to online petitions and worldwide trending hashtags on Twitter prior to Sword and Shield’s Nov. 18 release.
Separate from the controversy, Sword and Shield stand amongst the rest of the core Pokemon RPG games as additions that any Pokemon fan should play. With new Generation 8 Pokemon and a new sprawling area called the Wild Area to explore, its an experience unlike any other Pokemon game. New battle mechanics like Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing, make your Pokemon gigantic in size gives battles a dynamic feeling that gives longtime fans of the series something new to enjoy.
Still, the jump to fully realized 3D and new HD graphics isn’t perfect. Connecting your game to the online service ruins the framerate of the Wild Area, making your game to as slow as 10 frames-per-second as the game struggles to load the Wild Area. Thankfully, the rest of the game runs smooth and looks fantastic, leaving us to think the Wild Area was an afterthought and should have been in development longer.
Besides the significant cuts and some technical hiccups, there are still new and returning Pokemon. Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield are absolutely worth trying out if you have ever played a Pokemon and are craving a RPG to sink your teeth into.
