Generation 8 ofPokemongames were among the most innovative of the franchise, but they also received several critiques, especially on release.Pokemon SwordandShieldwere a very ambitious release, as they were the firstPokemongames to feature a huge area with changing weather conditions and available critters, which likely became the foundation ofPokemon Legends: Arceussemi-open-world Hisui region from a development standpoint.Pokemon SwordandShieldtried to rework the concept ofMega Evolutions and Z-Moves from Generation 7and Generation 6 into something different. Namely, Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing.
In terms of lore, these phenomena are exclusive to the region of Galar, and they were introduced into the games throughRaid Battles and Pokemon Densscattered around the Wild Area. These also came with a different method for catching the defeated powerful critters, which could be caught only after their HP was reduced to zero. Another original addition toPokemon SwordandShieldconsisted of DLCs being released in place of sequels, something thatPokemongames have been doing for a long time now. The Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra DLCs introduced brand-new areas and expanded the games' Pokedex, which was considered limited on release and made for the main criticism regarding Gen 8.
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Pokemon Gen 8: New Additions and Best Features
TheWild Area is one ofPokemon SwordandShield’s best featuresbecause it’s a dynamic environment where players can run into plenty of different species of Pokemon, both as random encounters in tall grass or as roaming Pokemon. There are roaming Pokemon both in tall grass and some other locations within the Wild Area, and one of the most interesting aspects of this is that players can also encounter fully-evolved critters, making it possible to add to their team Pokemon that evolve through trades, for example. Roaming Pokemon also provide better immersion in Gen 8, something that’s a bit lacking in Galar’s otherwise streamlined routes and caves that connect towns with one another.
Online multiplayer Raid battles are also a fantastic characteristic of Gen 8, as they really make for interesting battles where strategy is more of a focal point. Furthermore, Raids are the perfect place to test how well some Pokemon fare whenDynamaxed or Gigantamaxed, and these new forms provide Trainers with temporary buffs to whichever Pokemon they choose, adding another layer to Pokemon Battles and not completely abandoning the concept of Mega Evolutions. Players could also increase any Pokemon’s Dynamax level with the Dynamax Candy that dropped at the end of Raids, alongside a plethora of other items and many XP. Candy and Rare Candy as well, which made it even easier to train all creatures inPokemon SwordandShield.
And yet, one of the most game-changing additions inPokemon SwordandShieldis the ability to change any Pokemon’s Nature with Mints, and also unlocking their Hidden Abilities with Ability Patches, which became available with the Crown Tundra DLC. These two changes, combined with an even simpler and more straightforward breeding system, madePokemon SwordandShieldthe perfect titles to make the competitive scene flourish. The fact that Trainers could change so many crucial aspects of a Pokemon’s essence drastically changed the way some of them worked, with a great example coming from Libero Cinderace, which gained STAB damage on every attack it performed regardless of its type.
Customization inPokemongames has never been better than inPokemon SwordandShield, and Gen 8 achieved this with plenty of options for Trainers to personalize their main character as well as League Cards. While a minor addition, League Cards' amazing capability of becoming great portraits of one’s character was interesting, and they should be explored further in the future. As such, Pokemon Camp should also be mentioned, considering the feature made it possible for Trainers to spend time cooking and playing with their critters in the wilds. All of thesePokemon SwordandShieldfeatures should return in Generation 9as well, either as they were in Gen 8 or remodeled in a way that better suits newer games.
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Every New Pokemon and Regional Form in Gen 8
While Gen 8 is not the strongest, thematically speaking, there are several species of Pokemon that pick up traits from the United Kingdom-inspired region of Galar. Pokemon like Sinistea and Polteageist are clear nods to the Britons' daily rituals involving tea, and Pokemon like Stonjourner, Appletun, and Sirfetch’d are great tributes to other cultural aspects of the real-world United Kingdom. This is the list ofall Pokemon belonging to Gen 8:
These are the Galarian forms available inPokemon Sword and Shield, with most of them beingPokemon that belong to Generation 1, albeit with noteworthy exceptions:
ThePokemonseries has benefitted a great deal with the release of Generation 8, and whilePokemon SwordandShieldwere not perfect games at launch, they arguably became far better with their two expansions. This also breaks the mold in terms of what aPokemonGeneration can offer or even be, proving that relaunching Generations through additional games that don’t shake things much is not the right direction for the franchise, but DLCs could very well be.Pokemon games' DLCsallow players to keep playing the same game and get more content for it without having to purchase a separate title, and that’s a good thing. Ultimately, there’s a lot to Gen 8 that could be used as a springboard for future releases, starting withPokemon Legends: Arceusand its approach to open-world areas.
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