Pokémon will be following you again, I repeat, Pokémon will be following you again! There was tons of big and exciting news to come out of today’s Pokémon Presents, an info-dump about Pokémon’s latest projects delivered by The Pokémon Company. With plenty more information about upcoming releases, the thirty-minute presentation left fans around the world buzzing about the new Pokémon projects.
Of course, there was plenty of new information released about the upcoming remakes Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. One of the most exciting reveals during the Pokémon Presents is the fact that Pokémon will once again be following the player within the game! This throwback to the Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver games is a long-awaited feature for fans and has plenty of players filled with excitement.
Most of the other in-game features revealed are throwbacks to the original Pokémon Diamond and Pearl games, such as contests, secret bases, Pokémon Gyms, and the return of Team Galactic as the game’s antagonist. There will also be character customization, improved graphics for Pokémon encounters, and so much more! For more information about Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you can check out the full trailer below.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are now available for preorder on the Nintendo eShop and will release on November 19th, 2021.
Then come the updates about Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the upcoming ARPG set far in the Pokémon past. This game, being the first open-world ARPG released by The Pokémon Company, will function in a way non-traditional to other Pokémon games. The game is set in the Hisui Region, an ancient version of the Sinnoh Region. As the trailer explains, it is the player’s job to team up with the Galaxy Expedition Team, a research team that has tasked the player with completing the Pokédex. Throughout a series of missions assigned to them, the player will slowly piece together the mysteries of why they were given their job in the first place.
Beyond this, there is a number of new content that helps make the game unique as well. Pokémon variants will be returning in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, with Pokémon such as Stantler and Growlithe getting a Hisui-themed design. New Pokémon evolutions will be added into the game as well, such as Basculin now having the ability to evolve into Basculegion.
In a game as unique as this, of course, there is a whole new combat system for players to try out. When it comes to catching a Pokémon, there is more diversity in how the task can be completed. Some Pokémon can be caught stealthily; other times, the Pokémon may try to run away or engage the player in combat. Speaking of combat, there are also several new Pokémon battle mechanics being incorporated into the game. Speed and power will now play a larger role in Pokémon battles, and new ‘styles’ will be an added element in battles. The Strong Style will increase a Pokémon’s power but lower their action speed, while the Agile Style will lower a Pokémon’s power but increase their action speed.
And there’s still so much more to unpack! If you want to learn more about this upcoming game, check out the full trailer below. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is now available for pre-order in the Nintendo eShop and is set for release on January 28th, 2022.
Phew! That was a lot to unpack! If you’re interested in learning more about these upcoming Pokémon titles or seeing more of what The Pokémon Company has in the works, you can check out the complete Pokémon Presents announcement for yourself. And stay tuned for more updates about these exciting upcoming releases!