Pokemon Legends: Arceus Review

Reviewed by Rebekah Valentine on Nintendo Switch.

"Pokemon Legends: Arceus is an ambitious revamp that successfully revolutionizes the defining Pokemon experiences of catching and battling, but is unfortunately set in a drab, empty, and at times tedious world."

[Vailskibum]

This is the first Pokémon game in a VERY long time that actually gives me hope

[RichardDuron]

I'd at say they are at least going down the right path. They are just doing it rather slowly.

[OnionBun]

It sounds like it was a step in the right direction but needed better execution on the world density

[utmostkibbles]

The world design definitely gives the impression of a game that was on a really accelerated release schedule and was trying to keep costs low in case the game flopped. Hopefully the positive reception sees them continue this line of games with more polished content and a bigger budget with more time, as this is a fantastic foundation.

[sebastianrodriguez]

Regardless of all opinions, one thing that seems that everyone seems to be happy about is that they FINALLY tried something different.


Edit: come on. Stop mentioning Mystery Dungeon, ect. That's clearly a effing spin off. Arceus feels like a main line game. The entire way we do things in the game, though they may be the same things, is done differently.

[synysterpain]

This sounds like a beta to a better game to eventually come out.

[stevejoyce]

Have no problem with IGN giving this a 7 but maybe shouldn’t have also given sword&shield a 9

[aamirrassiwala]

The biggest problem with this game is a lack of progression and the worlds feel empty. There should have been more trainer battles and some kind of interaction between the pokemon like in snap.

[whateverthisis]

It'd be cool to get a pokemon game on the same level as breath of the wild, with it's perfect and awe inspiring open world. I'm surprised such a big brand didn't attempt something on that scale

[timothysusee]

This is the first step into the future of pokemon. They got the gameplay down now they just need to get the mechanics and scenery. Can't wait to see the next version like this blow out out the sun

[marcusblixenkrone-mller]

This is a very exciting new direction for the franchise. Hopefully they keep refining this formula.

[CaptainEggcellent]

This seems like a proof of concept. Like, the next Pokémon game will be amazing.

[patadeurso]

I'm literally flabbergasted that someone at IGN had the audacity of doing a genuine and honest review.

[Tofuey]

Cannot believe one person made this game in unity over the course of 6 months.

Imagine what they could do if they were a multi billion dollar franchise.

[KhaosKontroller]

This really looks like baby's first open world. Open world Pokemon is a perfect idea, but you can't achieve that potential with the low budget and short development time Game Freak operates with. But that was obvious from the moment this was announced.
That on top of the lack of voice acting and proper cutscene animation and direction just makes this look like a low budget indie title, and not the new installment in a series that consistently sells millions of copies.

[altervisi]

Hopefully they can improve the game world, optimise, improve graphics and build on what is here for a strong sequel, easily the most significant and ambitious switch up from GF which is nice to see

[GCDeadshot]

She didn't hold back with this honest review, Thank you!

[houndnobleman]

The poor environmental aesthetics are a real shame. Otherwise, this looks quite enjoyable.

Edit: These comments have convinced me to turn my back on humanity.

[captainmorgan]

No trainer battles or some form of gym progression. No play. The whole point of these games is developing a strategy for BATTLING. The dead open world is to be expected from game freak, but they took out the one thing that's actually fun in Pokemon games.

[MyBenjamin]

If one of these games took place in the modern pokemon world with proper landmarks, dungeons, cities and gyms, it would be fantastic. Nintendo sold us a functional alpha mode for their next game