Released on November 18, 2017, Pokemon Sun and Moon is the latest entry of the popular monster catching franchise. Featuring new and old Pokemons along with a Hawaiian inspired setting, will the game tweak its formula enough to keep the long running franchise fresh or rehash its same old ideas and release a game that gamers have been playing for past few decades. Let's find out what reviewers have to say about the game.
IGN gives the game a score of 9/10 calling the game an engaging adventure that switch up the formula and improve on its predecessors. The site praises the game's change in its formula of battling every gym trainer to reach the top of the Pokemon world. Pokemon Sun and Moon has addressed this by introducing the Island challenge which is a new way of approaching the formula. Instead of battling every gym trainer, the game lets the players embark on a variety of battles and non-combat challenges such as scavenger hunts and quizzes that culminate in a fight against a stronger foe. This new feature is similar enough to its previous games, avoiding alienating veterans while also inventive enough to make the game feel like new. The reviewer also praises the setting of Alola Island calling it the most inspired region in Pokemon so far.
Nintendolife gives the game a perfect score of 10/10 calling Pokemon Sun and Moon the best Pokemon games from Game Freak, the company responsible for the series. Everything from the game's side quests and to the presentation, the game is a sheer joy from start to finish. According to the reviewer, Game Freak has struck the perfect balance of creating a perfect balance of including new mechanics and features while still making the game familiar to veterans. "It's got content coming out of its ears, a much more interesting story, and rewards exploration in a way no other title in the series has. Whether you're a Pokémon fan new or old, this is an absolutely essential purchase."
Polygon gives the game a lower score of 8/10 praising the game's new changes without sacrificing its original spirt. However, the site says that it doesn't hold up to some of it's series -defining predecessors due to its lack of content. Nonetheless, Pokemon Sun and Moon is still a testament so to why Pokemon is still special and will always have its legions of fans despite being twenty years in the industry.