Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Nintendo is releasing a new Switch game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which reinvents the typical narrative and play style of its predecessors such as Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Sword and Shield. Besides the play style changes, new Pokémon such as Arceus, whose description on the official site seems to suggest that it is the Pokémon “God”, will be added to the game.
Potentially the next Breath of the Wild
Nintendo has been attempting to diversify the Pokémon experience by venturing into different kinds of gameplay – take the augmented reality mobile game Pokémon Go and the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game Pokémon Unite for example.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus may still be a role-playing game like its predecessors, but its semi-open world element is reminiscent of massively successful games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Monster Hunter World.
Watch a sneak peak of the beautiful landscapes in Pokémon Legends: Arceus here:
Video credit: The Official Pokémon Youtube channel
Pokémon Legends: Arceus will focus on world exploration, and the teasers released promise exciting world building and attractive aesthetics. The new elements of the game are also reminiscent of Genshin Impact, where the player can craft items and explore the vast, open world across land, air, and sea.
Image credit: Legends Pokémon
In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, players can ride the Pokémon that they’ve captured across land, use them as a vessel to cross vast waters, and even soar across the sky with their help.
Image credit: Legends Pokémon
Besides capturing Pokémon and having battles, as is the norm for Pokémon games, the Pokémon you encounter in the game can and will attack your character, causing you to take damage. This added feature creates new challenges for the player as they have to exercise stealth and precaution while traversing the land.
The main story of Pokémon Legend: Arceus
Pokémon Legend: Arceus is set in an older era in the Hisui region, back when people did not live harmoniously with Pokemon. The Hisui region later becomes what older players may be familiar with – the Sinnoh region that was featured in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
Image credit: Legends Pokémon
In the game, you will be playing as Akari or Rei, whose main objective is to complete the first Pokédex in the Pokémon universe. When you begin your journey, you will receive a device called the Arc Phone, which will guide you through missions. The name and shape of the Arc Phone resembles the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, suggesting its importance in revealing Arceus.
New Pokémon and the Pokémon ‘God’ Arceus
Pokémon Legends: Arceus will be featuring new Pokémon found only in the Hisui region, including Wyrdeer, Basculegion, and Kleavor.
Image credit: Legends Pokémon
There will also be several Pokémon that old players may be familiar with, but they will bear new Hisuian forms with unique characteristics. These Pokémons can only be found in Hisui.
Where to get Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon Legends: Arceus drops on 28th Jan 2022 and you can preorder it for USD59.99 on Nintendo’s official website.
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Cover image adapted from: Legends Pokémon and Legends Pokémon
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