Whether you are a fan of the first hour with the game boy versions, or you have discovered the series recently, Pokémon remains a mythical franchise in the world of video games. At the beginning of the year, a new opus joined this great family, Pokémon Arceus. But what is this new game worth?
Pokémon, a timeless franchise!
Pokémon, a series that has made us dream for more than 20 years and is not ready to bow out. Indeed, the saga, well known for its many video games is also available in other formats. Many adaptations have emerged. Whether you like anime, manga, video games, smartphone games, trading cards or goodies, you should be able to find what you are looking for. And this is also the case for Pokémon. Indeed, more than 1000 Pokémon have been referenced over the years. Pokémon type fire, water, plant, shrink, darkness, dragon, flight, … and so on. And this is also the case for developments. Each Pokémon has several evolutions. There are so many different possibilities that you'll always have a new Pokémon to discover! Shiny Pokémon have also appeared, to add new challenges to the millions of players who travel the different lands every day. For those who prefer to sit quietly in front of their screen to enjoy the series, you can follow Sasha's adventures in different animes. The first, Pokémon, released in 1997, is a monument of japanimation. Many suites have emerged over the years. The last date of 2019 is still being released. Films have also been made, adapting original stories. Whether you prefer to be an animated film with Pokémon, the movie: Secrets of the Jungle (2020) or rather live action with Detective Pikachu (2019), again, you should be able to find your happiness. For those who are more paper format, do not panic. Several books have been published. Kurokawa has published several series such as Pokémon Sword and Shield as well as Pokémon: The Great Adventure. Finally, let's talk about the world of video games! The lucky ones among us discovered the saga with Pokémon Green, Red and Blue, the first version released in 1996 (in 1999 in Europe) on Gameboy! More than a dozen games have emerged as a result. And the franchise has not said its last word. Indeed, a new opus, Pokémon Scarlet and Purple, is planned for the end of 2022. The opportunity to expand your pokédex with species still unknown?
Pokémon Arceus
As for Pokémon Arceus, you'll be transported into the Sinnoh Story to complete the region's first-ever Pokédex! Indeed, you may know this region as Hisui, a beautiful region, with many breathtaking landscapes. To start your adventure, you will have to choose a character. Either Lucia or Aurel. Mysteriously fallen from the sky, you will eventually join the galaxy group, in the body of researchers. Your goal? Complete the Pokédex and pass on all the information in your possession to your superiors. At this time, humans and pokémon do not coexist serenely. It's up to you to tame these strange creatures and teach humans how to live with them. On the Pokémon side, you will encounter many Pokémon that will be familiar to you. Psykokwak, Pikachu, Fantominus and even an Eevee, if you are lucky enough to find it, at the right time, in the right place. On the side of your objectives, the different parts of the map will be unlocked as you progress. However, being an open world, you will have something to walk around, even being of low level. To accomplish all these goals, you will have different possibilities. Indeed, you will have to catch a certain number of pokémon, fight them, use specific techniques. You will also have to make items, teach new techniques to your Pokémon, find berries and other ingredients to make potions, recall or any other item necessary for your progress. Many tasks await you as you discover.
Major changes?
One of the biggest changes in this new game is the addition of an open world. Indeed, many franchises have started to add this new element, such as Zelda Breath of the wild for example. Pokémon was no exception to the rule and we must admit that it is quite satisfying. Indeed, walk in the Obsidian plains, the various marshes or even in the village of Rusti-Cité as you see fit. You are free to go wherever you want. On the side of your objectives, again, you are the master on board. Whether you prefer to do the main quest in one go, or choose to take care of the inhabitants' problems through side quests, you can advance through the scenario however you want. But that's not all. Remember the hours of games to evolve your Pokémon in order to defeat the various winners of the arenas. Well, in Pokémon Arceus, you won't have arenas. However, rest assured, there is indeed fighting. You can first face Pokémon once you leave the village. Whether it's to catch them or just to increase the XP of your Pokémon or improve the Pokédex, you will have a very large choice of battles to start. You will also be able to face NPCs who will want to evaluate your level. Finally, a new kind of combat has appeared since you will have to appease the pokémon of several clans. As we said before, you'll have goals to achieve in your Pokédex. This will allow you to acquire xp and rise in rank in the galaxy group. This will allow you to access places that are still unexplored. In short, many quests and objectives will be offered to you as the adventure progresses. If you want to complete Pokémon Arceus 100%, it will take you several hours of games to get there.
A little-exploited scenario
Although the novelties are very appreciable, one point is still less good than the others… the scenario. Indeed, although the latter is still pleasant to discover, it remains simple, bland. Indeed, the story is not very advanced and flies over a world that could have been much more interesting. Although it will take hours of games to fully complete this opus, it will be necessary above all that you have not tired of it. Find new Pokémon, manage to catch them, a few fights from time to time… and we start again. The mini games available or the different side quests that do not require catching Pokémon are interesting, but do not allow to break the monotony of this game. It is true that in a Pokemon game, it is normal that the goal is to catch some. However, the simple fact of catching pokémon is not very interesting after several hours spent on its switch. It lacks a little extra that would have allowed Pokémon Arceus to go from a good game to an excellent game. However, we can hope that future games will have a more developed scenario than the one we just tested. In addition, Pokémon Arceus remains a very enjoyable game to discover. Whether you like this franchise, or want to discover it, we can only recommend you to discover this new adventure. However, don't expect a complex, mysterious scenario. For those who would like to discover a more difficult game, we invite you to test Ghost of Tsushima.
