Pokémon Extremely Solar & Extremely Moon is the latest in a protracted line of enhanced model entries within the collection. For these unfamiliar with the time period, “enhanced model” refers back to the typical third recreation launched after a predominant pair with every Pokémon technology: Yellow, Crystal, Emerald, and Platinum are all enhanced variations of their base video games from the primary 4 generations. Nevertheless, I went into the “Ultras” not sure whether or not it was an enhanced model or a direct sequel (a la Pokémon Black 2 & White 2). Because it seems, the Ultras should not sequels: they’re, in truth, the extra full or “enhanced” variations of the unique Seventh technology Solar & Moon.
To that finish, I really feel it’s only honest to open my evaluate by encouraging the reader first to think about Neal Chandran’s evaluate of Pokémon Solar & Moon for reference. He rightly notes most of the thrilling options newly launched within the Seventh gen: island challenges and captains changing gyms and gymnasium leaders, regional variant Pokémon with each aesthetic design change and typing change, the abolishing of HMs with the brand new PokéRide system, and the addition of Z-Crystals and Z-Strikes. I additionally agree with Neal that the aesthetic of the Alola area matches its Hawaiian inspiration properly, each visually and musically.
So, what all does Extremely Solar & Extremely Moon add as enhancements? There are various, although most of them are little frills added to the aspect: the “Mantine Surf” minigame is one such instance. The participant is obtainable the chance to journey from one island to the subsequent by using the Mantine Pokémon as a surfboard, after which makes use of fundamental controls to journey waves, gaining velocity to launch right into a handful of spins and flips (a la Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater) earlier than touchdown. Taking part in the minigame permits the participant to build up factors that may be redeemed at a particular store for priceless objects, together with TMs and Uncommon Sweet.
Different enjoyable options embrace the “Totem Sticker” collect-a-thon, whereby hidden golden stickers may be discovered and given to Samson Oak (cousin of the venerable Professor Oak from the unique Pokémon video games). In return, Oak provides you the Totem challenger types of the Pokémon defeated on the finish of every Grand Trial.
The 2 most vital additions to those enhanced video games are the brand new Fairy trial and the postgame Rainbow Rocket episode. Each are primarily boss rushes, although the latter comes with loads of throwback content material, made attainable via using Extremely Wormholes suggesting a PokéMultiverse. I discovered the Fairy trial re-fights to be each difficult and useful as a prelude to the problem of preventing the league’s Elite 4.
As for Rainbow Rocket, I’d argue it’s the greatest draw for followers of Solar & Moon to choose up this recreation for its extra content material. Alternatively, think about that the eighth technology dealt with its extra content material through DLC as an alternative of an enhanced model launch (Pokémon… Helmet?). I can think about an early adopter who bought a replica of Solar or Moon being annoyed that they couldn’t merely purchase the Rainbow Rocket episode as DLC. It’s, in my view, nice content material, and arguably it ought to have been made accessible to Solar & Moon followers with out having to re-purchase the whole recreation.
Then once more, that’s what the builders had been doing since Pokémon Yellow. Purchase our recreation once more with some enjoyable stuff added on!
In my private journey to go to each Pokémon area in 2022 previous to the discharge of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, I’ve discovered Alola to be one among my favourite areas, proper up there with Kanto and Hoenn. Nevertheless, as I performed my copy of Pokémon Extremely Moon, I couldn’t assist however surprise if what I cherished about this recreation was already so properly established in Solar & Moon that the “enhanced model” I used to be enjoying wasn’t actually all that enhanced. Rainbow Rocket was an amazing add-on, but it surely couldn’t have been greater than two hours of extra content material. With that in thoughts, my rating for this recreation is sort of an identical to Neal’s rating for the fundamental Solar & Moon as a result of whereas this recreation is among the greats, the “Extremely” doesn’t add sufficient to warrant a lift within the remaining tally. It’s simply that, whether or not in base or enhanced kind, the Seventh-gen Alola expertise is a good one.
