A nice surprise for all Pokemon fans! At the latest Pokemon Presents, held on Wednesday August 18, 2021, The Pokemon Company unveiled what was, until its release, the most eagerly awaited game for fans of the Japanese saga. Pokemon Legends:Arceus is its name, and was released on January 28, 2022.
Why was this probably the most eagerly-awaited game for fans? Because it was presented as anopen-world game, something gamers have been looking forward to for quite some time (and not only...). This opus takes place in the Hisui region, in a very different era from previous opuses, since you'll be traversing the region's lands in feudal times.
As far as catching Pokemon is concerned, you'll have to rethink your strategy, as shown in the trailer, and move forward discreetly, even if it means hiding in the undergrowth, to avoid scaring off our favorite monsters before you can hope to catch one. As for combat, it seems to be much more immersive and should give you a hard time, for all those who intend to tackle the game. Note the ability to climb on the backs of certain Pokemon to gallop, swim or fly... And a way of moving that is reminiscent, on dry land at least, of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
As for staters, you can start your adventure with Brindibou, Héricendre or Moustillon, and try to capture the Legendary Pokemon Arceus. It's a great program, whatever happens...
And a software that the editorial team was able to test on the day of its release. What's it really like? We give you the lowdown!
Our review:
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the dream game for all Pokemon fans... A small revolution, even. The reason? A slightly different mechanic from previous releases, as close as possible to what trainers can do in the manga or anime. Here, you're on a real adventure, and the game makes this clear, since you're left to your own devices (once you've been trained and taken in hand), just you and nature. And that's the beauty of the game: its focus on the environment and Pokemon through a semi-open world which, while it may disappoint some gamers who wanted a complete and absolute open world, keeps the player from going off in all directions.
An attractive, uncluttered piece of software and a fine tribute to Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Graphically speaking, the game is pretty, in line with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild ( not to say graphically identical), and makes for a relatively pleasing experience for the eyes, especially in portable mode. In terms of gameplay, it's also a pleasant surprise. But let's start with the software's most interesting mechanic: Pokemon capture. So, to capture a Pokemon, the mechanics differ somewhat from previous softs: no more wandering through tall grass to come across a Pokemon you can't see. Here, each monster is identifiable, and you'll have to be clever to catch them. Some are easy to capture, while others are directly confrontational.
Hide in tall grass, surprise Pokemon from behind, distract them with berries, provoke a fight... Every situation has its own way of approaching a Pokemon to capture or defeat it. And that's what makes this software so interesting, because strategically speaking, each capture approach varies and offers a certain diversity in the game's mechanics. This is pleasant at first, but after several hours of play, it can quickly become tiresome. So it all depends on how you play.
Make your own Pokeballs
Another interesting new feature is the crafting of everyday items (Pokeballs, potions, reminders, etc.). You can now make your own Pokeballs and other everyday items by harvesting resources scattered across the game's various maps. Berries, pebbles and other mysterious plants... You'll need to have a substantial stock to be able to manufacture the items you need, as these run out relatively quickly (if you don't look for resources regularly, anyway). It's a pleasant, well-thought-out mechanic that should appeal to the widest possible range of players. And if not, you can always buy everything you need in a Pokemon store.
Next, the battles: in reality, they differ very little from what you'll find in previous Pokemon games. The only slight novelty lies in the possibility of choosing, depending on the attacks used, whether they should be fast (and do little damage) or powerful (and be slower to launch). An interesting mechanic on paper, but one that doesn't really add up in practice. It's not a bad idea, but it's not necessarily useful. Note also that your Pokemon level up by gaining XP with each action (capture, battle), and no longer evolve automatically, since you can now choose, once you've reached a certain level, whether or not to evolve your Pokemon, once the game suggests it.
Completing your Pokédex, a task that takes on its full meaning here
Another new feature is the secondary missions. In the course of your wanderings, certain NPCs will offer you, for a fee, to carry out certain missions, such as capturing Pokemon or just showing them a monster. These missions bring a breath of fresh air to the franchise, even if the quests may seem daunting to some. These quests are accompanied by missions entrusted to you by Professor Lavender to build up your Pokedex, which are compulsory in order to rank up your trainer and gain access to more areas of the map. These involve catching the same Pokemon several times, beating it several times, making it launch a specific attack or encountering a different version of it. All of which means you can gain experience quickly.
Although there are a number of things to criticize about the game, such as its open world, which isn't really an open world, or the off-putting nature of some of the missions, Pokemon Legends: Arceus is nonetheless a fine piece of software, accessible to all, and promising a fine evolution of the franchise in the years to come. All you have to do is get it, folks!
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Trailer 4:
Dates and Opening Time
Starts January 28, 2022
