Unless you’ve been living under a rock, paid no attention to social media, or don’t really listen to those around you for the past 11 months, then chances are you’ve heard about the newest games in the long running franchise of Pokémon: Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. Long term fans have been hyped for the November release of the newest generation since its announcement in the beginning of 2016. But what’s the hype? Why is everyone going crazy for these new games? Fans of the franchise have been anxiously waiting for months for the November 18th release of Sun and Moon, though the trailers that have been released since then have made fans even more excited. Even those who were introduced from Pokémon Go seem to find an interest in the new games. Though, many of those fans know little to nothing about the legitimate series, the storylines, and all the new implications since the first generation. Pokémon Sun and Moon marks not only the seventh generation of new creatures being introduced, but the 20th anniversary of the franchise. So, to celebrate the momentous occasion, Nintendo and GameFreak have set out to make this new generation memorable but introducing new game mechanics, a new story, a bunch of new Pokémon we’ve never seen before, and some we have seen but in a new light.
20 years is a big milestone for any videogame franchise, and most developers create special games for these kind of milestones. Pokémon is no exception. It is also an understatement saying that Pokémon is making these games special. If anyone was a fan of the first generation, then one of your favorites may have gotten a brand new look. That’s right, generation seven gives a few of the first generation Pokémon new looks and types. And let’s say that some of the new looks are cool, some ridiculous, and some sport new typings you’d never expect from that Pokémon. For instance, if anyone is a fan of the Ground type Marowak, get ready to evolve your very own Cubone into the new, Fire type, Alolan Marowak (Alolan being from the Alola region based on Hawaii). Spotting a new color scheme of black body and white skull, and the bone held in its hand now with two blue flames. That would be an example of a cool new look for an old Pokémon. But what about a ridiculous new form? Well, if anyone has seen the duel Psychic Grass type Exeggutor, then Alolan Exeggutor is one that’ll make heads tilt. Now spotting the duel typing of Grass Dragon, Exeggutor is no longer the short plump coconut tree with four heads. It is now the considerably taller, long necked palm tree with three heads and a fourth head on its tail. One look and anyone would go “What the heck?” at this new Alolan Exeggutor. Now that the cool and ridiculous new looks are out of the way, there is only the different typings for some of the old pokemon we’ve known and loved. For instance, the Fire types Vulpix and Ninetails, and the Ground types Sandshrew and Sandslash both have typings you’d never expect for them. All four are now Ice types, with Ninetails getting the duel typing of Ice Fairy and Sandshrew line getting the duel typing of Ice Steel, and all four now spotting icy designs in contrast to their previous ones. There are quite a few other Alolan forms, but that’s for another day.
Every new generation, Gamefreak releases a Pokémon game with a certain amount each time. For instance, every odd generation, about 150 are introduced. While every even generation, around 80 are introduced. Though it is not known how many new Pokémon will be introduced in this seventh generation, many new and interesting ones have already been confirmed, making the pervious list of 721 Pokémon stretch even farther to that 800 mark. Fan we’re a little bummed out upon finding out previous generations would be in the game before the post-game, which usually happens on every even generation where we get 80 new monsters. But hopes have been brought back seeing that the reason the old generations would be in the game before the post-game is because of the new Alolan forms. Though it is still a mystery until the game is released. But, the new monsters we have been introduced to have done everything but disappoint fans. The designs are creative, the duel typings unique, and the names even harder to pronounce (which is a staple for the Pokémon franchise). There hasn’t been a single Pokémon announced that fans have been disappointed about, except for the mixed reviews on the Water type Bruxish that resembles a fish from Hawaii, the Dragon type Drampa, and the Fairy type Comfy who resembles a lei. But fans have been dying over the new legendaries, starters, the island guardians, and the mysterious new Pokémon Type: Null. The legendaries and starter Pokémon are a staple for any Pokémon game. Though the three starters you can chose from are in both versions of the game, it is the legendaries that dictate which one fans will buy. If one was going to buy Pokemon Moon, they would be able to catch the legendary Pokémon Lunaala, the Moone Pokémon and the first to spot the duel typing of Psychic Ghost. But, if one was to buy Pokémon Sun, they would be able to catch the legendary Pokémon Solgaleo, the Sunne Pokémon with the duel typing of Psychic Steel. Though the legendaries are important to any game, the starters are just as important. It is the Pokémon you chose to start your journey with and who you raise to be its strongest. So it is important who you choose, because you can only pick one and you can’t go back. This generation, we are introduced to the three starters of the region. The Water type Sea Lion Pokémon, Popplio. The Fire type Fire Cat Pokémon, Litten. And the Grass Flying type Grass Quill Pokémon, Rowlet. It is the decision between these three that many have to make, and this generation is just as hard to pick which one is right for you. Choose wisely. I mentioned that the game has island guardians. That is indeed true. There are four, as far as we know, different islands your trainer can travel to in the game. On each island is a special Pokémon called the island guardian. The one we first hear about is the island guardian of Melemele Island, the duel Electric Fairy type, Land Spirit Pokémon, Tapu Koko, the first to receive a two-word name. The starters, legendaries, island guardians, Alolan forms, and all new Pokémon have given fans a reason to go crazy for this new generation.
The story line for most Pokémon games are general and linear. You start a journey, fight an evil group, save the world, collect eight gym badges, then go on to beat the Elite Four and become the best Pokémon trainer in the game. Sun and Moon flips the script a bit. We do not know much about the storyline, but what we do know is that there are two groups, Team Skull who are presumably the bad guys set out to steal peoples Pokémon, and the Aether Foundation who seek to help Pokémon hurt by Team Skull. We also know that the Elite Four and gyms are not existent as of yet in the game, but we do know one is being built. But, even though the Elite Four and gyms is not a thing, the new Island Trial Challenges and the fight between the Trial Captains can presumably be treated as a gym battle. We will just have to wait and see.
Every generation has introduced a new game mechanic that usually follow through the next games. Generation two introduced genders for Pokémon as well as breeding and a day and night cycle. Gen three introduced a new way of battling, double battles, where two Pokémon fight beside each other on either side. Gen four players were able to connect to the internet and trade with other trainers all over the world. Gen five introduced a new triple battle and rotation battle system. Gen six introduced the popular mega evolutions, giving certain Pokémon in their final form to be able to temporarily evolve again with the use of a special stone. Gen seven is now introducing Z Moves, which is a special move a Pokémon can use once a turn if it is holding a special crystal. Most of the generations also included new types, moves, abilities, and items.
Saying fans are anticipated for the release of Pokémon Sun and Moon is a large understatement. So far, Pokémon Sun and Moon has gotten more pre-orders than any other game in history, making it one of the most anticipated games of the year. And the demo released on October 18th made fans even more excited. But, will the hype created by Nintendo and Gamefreak live up to the expectations? We’ll just have to wait and see.
