So, before I start, I am aware that this game is under a lot of bad rep. Though I do agree with a lot of the fans complaining, they will no have a big part in the review. Even though I believe all reviews are based on personal opinions, like most of my reviews. Please be aware, there are SPOILERS in this review. If you haven’t played and want to, or haven’t beaten it yet just be aware.

The story is alright. Honestly the bad guys (Team Yell) don’t really SEEM like they’re bad. I never felt like they were out to destroy the world. Honestly, it just seemed like they were so into Marnie. Every time I’ve interacted with them as part of the story, they always used phrases like “borrow this” and “I”m just practicing my chant”. Nothing really seemed malicious…You really don’t see who’s really the evil villains until the very end of the game. Even so, were they really evil? I mean yea. Do I think they’re spoiled rotten royal pains in the ass? You betcha!

I honestly think the Wilderness is my favorite part of this game. I really liked it in Let’s Go Eevee/Pikachu. I really like that there are some Pokemon that are a little too high level running around. Why do I like this? Because it was fun being chased by a big HUGE Bewear that is screeching at you. Camping is also a lot of fun. Playing with your Pokemon, visiting random people and cooking just makes it feel real. Now, I am a HUGE fan of Cooking Mama, and cooking made me feel like I was playing it.

The reintroduction of Gyms made the game feel like my childhood. They did get changed up a little bit, but to me it’s a welcomed changed. They added some little trials at the start of the gym. Each gym had little puzzles or little strategy testers before you can fight the gym leader. I am a little sad that each gym leader has like 3 Pokemon though. I was sitting here like “I’m sorry what? I’m allowed to have 6 and you have 3? That doesn’t seem very fair to you…” Of course they respond with a full heal and I rage.

Don’t forget to talk to the Poke-ball man for your free fancy ball 😀

So boy, these Dynamax raids and fights are something else. As much as I adore new mechanics I feel like it’s kind of boring compared to what could be in the game, or what shouldn’t be in the game. I do like that you can invite your friends to the raids and how they will fill up the party with random NPC’s to fill it up and give you a chance at catching the pokemon. Something I found kind of strange but I think I understand it, is you can only throw a ball once to attempt to catch it. If you fail it is GONE. But Long Meowth kind of fills the void that Elgeym left in my heart.

To be honest, I rather enjoy this game. I’m glad it came out, though I am very sad that there’s not all of the Pokemon in it and I can’t really relive my childhood on this game, it doesn’t make it inherently bad. Recently, Pokemon games have been kind of a hit or miss for me. Either it’s an amazing game and I love it or it’s just a pokemon game.

With that being said, I enjoyed the game, I sat and played for hours when it launched. I laughed a few times and after I got through the gyms the story got kind of stupid..

Sword and Shield is going to get a 8/10. Though I really enjoyed it, it’s not really hitting the real nostalgia mark. I might just be getting to the point in my age where the new forms of X Pokemon are just stupid or what but I still liked the game enough to sit down for literally hours farming Pokemon and progressing through the story.