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Pokemon’s Legends Arceus, a Whole New Game with Endless Possibilities
By Max Fried
On January 28th, 2022, the newest Pokemon game was released to the public on Nintendo Switch. This game was called Pokemon Legends Arceus and involved the player (you) traversing and exploring the new Hisui region. Fans themselves have not been too thrilled over the past few Pokemon games, but this one seems to excite them greatly. Reviewer Chris Scullion said, “That excitement had been missing and now it’s back. I legitimately haven’t had this much fun with a Pokemon game for about 20 years.”
The New Mechanics
Pokemon Legends Arceus has several new mechanics. These include a new caching system, diving and crouching, balms, and frenzied Pokemon, considered “boss battles,” solid and agile battle styles, riding Pokemon, crafting, and alpha Pokemon. Reviewer Matt S. said, “Even compared to the relatively experimental Pokemon Sword and Shield, Arceus takes the series in a dramatically different direction.”
The new catching system involves the player pressing X to switch to items. Then, the player can switch to the Pokeball and aim it at the Pokemon. The player will see a circular shape and a dot at the center to aim. Once the Pokeball is desired, the player will be able to catch the Pokemon by pressing ZR. However, the player can also press ZL to focus on a Pokemon. If there is an x above the Pokemon’s head, the player must switch back to Pokemon and battle it. Lastly, to increase your chances of catching the Pokemon, the player can throw the Pokeball at an angle it cannot notice the player. This can be done by crouching in tall grass or going behind the Pokemon.
Diving and crouching have never been part of a mainstream Pokemon game before. By pressing Y, the player can dive out of the way of an attack from a Pokemon. Also, by pressing B, the player can crouch in tall grass, hiding it from the Pokemon. The reason for diving would be another new concept: Pokemon can attack the player. The edges of the screen turn red to signal if the player is in danger. If the player is knocked out, it will send the player back to the last checkpoint.
There are three types of Pokemon in Legends Arceus, normal Pokemon (like in every Pokemon game), alpha Pokemon (overpowered versions of a select amount of Pokemon), and wild Pokemon (boss battles that the player has to fight within the storyline). With fierce Pokemon, the player can now throw manmade items called balms to weaken the frenzied Pokemon, turning it back to normal.
A new battling system is also included in Legends Arceus. This involves solid and agile moves. Both of these are different versions of a typical move. These are introduced in Jubilife city at the training grounds. The person who teaches how to use these is Zisu, who also teaches Pokemon new moves. Solid and agile movements use more action but do different things. The strong style increases the power of the activity, and the agile one lowers the power.
Lastly, there are rideable Pokemon and crafting. While rideable Pokemon have been in a game before, now the player can ride new Hisui pokemon. However, crafting is an entirely new system to Pokemon. Using a portable crafting bench given to the player early in the game, the player can craft items such as pokeballs. The player can do this by using several materials found in the wild.
The New Pokemon
Like Pokemon Sword and Shield, the Hisui region also includes new forms of Pokemon known as Hisui pokemon. The Pokemon who got a Hisui form are Decidueye (grass and fighting), Typhlosion (fire and ghost), Samurott (water and dark), Qwilfish (dark and poison), Lilligant (grass and fighting), Sliggoo, and Goodra (dragon and steel), Growlithe and Arcanine (fire and rock), Voltorb and Electrode (electric and grass), Sneasel (poison and fighting), Avalugg (ice and rock), Zorua and Zoroark (normal and ghost), and Braviary (psychic and flying). Also, there are new Pokemon that were never in any other form. These include; Wyrdeer, Basculegion, Kleavor, Ursaluna, Sneasler, and Overqwil. Lastly, the starters in the Hisui region are Rowlett, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott.
The Storyline (spoilers)
In Pokemon Legends Arceus, the player works for team Galactic in an older, original region of Sinnoh called the Hisui region. In this game, there is only one village, and this is known as Jubilife village. Once the player arrives in the Hisui region, he/she is met by professor Laverton. The professor takes the player to Jubilife village and enrolls the player in the Galactic survey corps team. Bypassing the trial, the player joins and solves various problems while exploring his/her new home. While on his/her adventures, the player meets both the diamond and pearl clans. They warn team Galactic that several Pokemon across Hisui have become frenzied and that by using balms, the player must defeat them. Once the player is done, he/she eventually finds out that a commander of team Galactic, Kamado, is against the player and that Volo, who had been a supporter of the main character, had also been evil. After defeating them, the player can obtain Dialga and Palkia, which were some of the legendaries in the Hisui region. Lastly, after getting every Pokemon in Hisui’s Pokedex, the player can catch Arceu
Other Details
Some other things in the Hisui region are pastures, star ranks, Pokedex pages, requests, and mastering moves.
Pastures are the new substitute for Pokemon boxes in the Hisui region. They can hold both regular and alpha Pokemon.
Star ranks can be earned by catching, discovering, and completing a pokemon’s Pokedex page. To achieve a Pokedex page, the player must find enough about a Pokemon to get a 10/10. The ranks are 0, the first, and 10, the last. The player must catch and discover Pokemon to earn points to advance a rank. Once the player has gained enough points, he/she will have to report to team Galactic to advance a rank.
Requests are little side missions given to the player by side characters. The characters that provide these requests can be found in Jubilife village or the wild near your camp.
Lastly, mastering moves can be done when a Pokemon has reached a certain level with that specific move. Once a motion is mastered, the Pokemon can use the agile and strong battle styles for that move.
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