It’s launch day in Europe for Pokémon Sun & Moon, so chances are that most people who’ve been eagerly awaiting its release have already picked it up, or at least put it on their Christmas list.It’s certainly caused a big buzz throughout the gaming community, reaping high praise from critics and fans alike, but we wanted to dig into some of the wider activities that open up to you as you play.
For one thing, we were instructed not to take Pokémon Sun & Moon online until its US and Japanese launch on 18th November, 3 days after the review embargo lifted. As is normal, we assumed that this would be because the servers weren’t ready yet, but it also let Nintendo see those who had pirated the game and slam them with the ban hammer. Whether a happy coincidence or a devious digital sting operation, we must admit to feeling just a little hint of schadenfreude at this.
So we can now talk about online activities, as well as things like the Battle Tree that is unlocked after completing the main game – a feature that was hinted at during trailers with the main draw being the ability to battle Red and Blue. The Battle Tree is essentially equivalent to the Battle Towers in the previous games, though it’s certainly no Battle Frontier as seen in Pokémon Emerald. Satisfaction here is dependent on how invested one is in near endless battles against AI opponents matched in strength.
Since reviewing, I’ve had some more time with Poké Pelago, building it up with facilities to grow plants, train Pokémon, find new items, and even attract new Pokémon with special move sets to the party. The more beans you invest and the more Pokémon caught, the further you can develop the facilities.
It makes great use of the Pokémon in your boxes, though you should probably also ensure that those training aren’t needed for battles as it takes them out of the running until they’re done. Most importantly, boxed Pokémon are no longer confined to endlessly wait until you require them for battle, making catching them all seem more important and worthwhile.
Though I will say that Mega Evolutions return in Sun and Moon with no new additions – a startling revelation, I’m sure – there’s other end game Pokémon hunting that would venture into spoiler territory, so I’ll avoid touching on that here.
There are multiple ways to trade Pokémon in Sun and Moon. Quick Link allows you to link with someone nearby in no time at all, but the bulk of the Online functionality is handled by the Festival Plaza. While not immediately obvious, the Festival Plaza is home to many previously seen features for communicating with other players.
Trading can be done either by Linking directly with players online, navigating the GTS, or Wonder Trading; all features that act the same as the previous Generation of Pokémon games. You also have a pager with which you can signal to players that you’re online and open to trading or battling.
Battle is separated into Link Battle, Battle Spot, and Download Rules. The latter allows for certain battle conditions to be saved to your game for challenging others, while Link Battle allows you to connect to other players to fight Single Battles, Dual Battles, 2v2 Multi-Battles, or the new four player Battle Royal matches.
Battle Spot is where you can fight against random players in either unranked or ranked battles, as well as partake in Online and friendly competition modes. Free Battles were the only option over the weekend, but with Pokémon Global Link now live ranked mode is now available for those with a Global Link account, though it is worth noting that Battle Royal is a casual mode that has no ranked support.
As far as stability is concerned, I’ve so far had no problems with any of the modes on offer. I was even able to change the battle music with ease and the connections were very stable. Where games with online capabilities often suffer server troubles at launch, Pokémon Sun & Moon don’t batter an eyelid when communicating with the wider world.
You also have Missions, which are challenges where you talk to the correct people in the Festival Plaza for that category. These net you Friend Points which can be spent in the many shops and attractions in the Festival Plaza, which are customised by you as you level up the Festival Plaza itself. I saw these as a bit of a distraction, but there may be a few buildings that net you rarer items as you increase the rank of the hub.
Pokémon Sun & Moon aren’t just fantastic games for those who have a long standing love for the series, but also for those who want to come back and see how much it’s changed over the years. It’s just as fun offline and, with more modern features online, makes socialising a thoroughly rewarding experience. More features will be unlocked as time goes by, but there’s plenty to sink your teeth into already.
