Pokémon’s newest game Pokémon: Legends Arceus did not disappoint, and it is arguably the best game of the franchise. A completely fresh take on the original formula, a bold move by the Pokémon company. With few things being less desirable, but not enough to overshadow the good. The gameplay, though fun, can get monotonous depending on the player’s dedication. 

During gameplay, you will discover Pokémon inhabiting the harsh surroundings in the region of Hisui. The region Hisui is what is now known as the Sinnoh and canonically takes place generations in the past, evident by both the story and Being a semi open world game and in an vastly uninhabited land, it’s unlike any other game. Poké Balls appear differently than the ones we are familiar with, built of wood and when Pokémon are caught, fireworks erupt from their tops. Opposed to this, the more modern sleek Poké Balls with stars appearing when Pokémon are caught. For your first Pokémon in the game, also known as your starter Pokémon, you are given three options: Rowlet, Cyndaquil or Oshawott. Any of these three will serve as your starting companion as you embark on your quest to establish the region’s first ever Pokédex.

Several things set Pokémon: Legends Arceus apart from the previous games, including lack of held items and abilities. While many older players found the lack of those abhorrent, for the most part, this doesn’t affect gameplay, as new features balance it out.

Shinies, a rare phenomenon in the Pokémon universe, are an alternate coloring of a Pokémon that sparkles. With odds being about one in 4096 in current mainline games, and about one in 8162 in older games. One feature, long desired since the release of Pokémon: Let’s go, Pikachu and Let’s go, Eevee, overworld shines, made their long awaited return in Pokémon: Legends Arceus. With the comeback of overworld shinies, shiny hunting is considerably more enjoyable. It is now slightly easier for the general populace to get a shiny. Additionally, there were many quality of life updates in the new title. You can now evolve Pokémon in the inventory menu anytime, instead of waiting for the end of a battle. With this new feature, you also no longer have to worry about accidental evolution. Another quality of life update allows you to easily access all of your throwable items through a separate menu. With this, throwing Pokéballs is a breeze. Many other beloved quality of life features are also returning, including ride Pokémon and autosave. 

The only large downside in Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the game’s graphic flaws and technical issues, which are sometimes hard to overlook. When a character is too far away from you, the frame rate stutters, and the character models have a hazy fuzz surrounding them. Additionally, there are graphic bugs often in the water, and objects in the distance. Many people also reported bugs such as getting stuck in the water, Pokémon in walls and several others. 

Despite its flaws, Pokémon: Legends Arceus In my opinion is the best mainline Pokémon game to date. The graphics are a controversial topic among players, with many mixed reviews. Despite these games not looking the most appealing visually, the little to no lag makes amends for this. Especially with many players complaining about past games lag, this is a big step in the right direction.The Pokédex is small, but with the high repetition of catching its a comfortable size. Overall, this is by far the best main line game from the Pokémon series. The charming Pokémon and storyline combined with a new look at the Pokémon formula makes for a Pokémon player’s dream. Great reviews continue to stack up as more players get the game; will you be next?