Nathan Torbert

Everyone seems to hate on these games due to the graphics and frame rates and etc. etc. However, after playing the game to completion (including post game and finishing the dex) I can 100% tell you that this generation keeps my love of Pokémon into my adult life. X and Y got me back into the games when I was 13 after not playing since diamond and pearl originally came out. Ever since then I've loved the series, but sun and moon really killed it for me. I could not stand sun/moon or even the sequels, as I found the level of hand-holding too much this late into the series, and sword/shield were... fun? However this generation completely fixed it for me. Now, yes the graphics are rough and the performance was definitely overlooked, but the story is incredible, the Pokémon are fresh, and the starters (as dopey as the quaxly line is) really breathe the life into the game that I personally feel has been missing for a while. Honestly a great reintroduction to those that have been out for a bit as it turns the old formula on its head by removing all borders. Some criticism I've seen in regards to level scaling completely make sense as I was also unhappy with that aspect, but with the sheer amount of things to do I was thoroughly impressed with how they kept a semi-linear path for you to pursue based on the levels. You can still forge your own path and pick a storyline to focus on, or do what I did and spread it all out and take it all in together. Again, I understand the criticism at the end of the day, but these games deserve more praise than a one star bombing. Just remember that these games were once 2D and full of pixels, but now they're on the cusp of greatness (even though it feels like they should be there already but I digress, there's a lot of Pokémon to make look pretty) and at least the tutorial is a little more optional this time around , looking at you sun and moon, you were truly awful. In any case, definitely try to get to the end of the game, this entry deserves that much. My end result was a solid 4/5 stars and I can't wait to see what comes next.