Michael Gatch

Gamefreak's first big deviation from a very successful formula, while still utilizing the parts that made Pokemon so great. Graphics: not stunning but they do not detract from the experience. Gameplay: The flow between battle and open world is seamless. No more waiting 10 seconds everytime you encounter a pokemon. As someone who started with 1st gen and quit playing due to pacing issues after gen 3, to pick it up again recently the pace feels much faster than any game since gen 3. Setting/Design: The designs of the region/Pokemon have a old world theme to them, the rest are as you would know and love. Except Garados flying though the sky like a Boeing 747 Story: while I have not finished the game yet. It is not the same story that has been in every Pokemon game past gen 2. No boring badge hunt. Instead we are filling out the pokedex to gain stars within the faction. Best Feature: everything to experience is contained in one game not two titles with Pokemon missing from each. Summery: I think this is the best thing that can happen to Pokemon. It feels like a step forward for a franchise that has stuck a new coat of paint on the same game for the last 20 years. I hope this sticks and become the new standard for the main line of Pokemon games