- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release Date: Nov 17, 2017
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- Critic score
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- Unscored
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Dec 4, 2017Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon represent everything Game Freak has worked towards in its 20 years of growing the Pokémon franchise. It has its flaws, as every game does, but they don't detract from the lively world, incredible writing, and sheer fun that the game provides. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are likely the last big games to be released on the 3DS, and Game Freak sees the console out with a game that will be remembered as a shining example of what the series can do when at its best.
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Nov 14, 2017You’d be forgiven for not wanting to jump back into the same world again so soon but, in their own right, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are truly incredible entries to the series that deserve to be sitting amongst the elite Pokémon titles. If you’re ready for another trip around Alola’s beautiful islands, this is the way to do it.
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Nov 20, 2017Ultra Sun and Moon feel like the definitive version of an already fantastic game. With plenty to do after the credits have rolled, and new content sprinkled across the story, this is a fitting swansong for Pokemon on the DS family.
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Nov 14, 2017Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon add some great things to Alola. The games are bigger, longer and better than Sun and Moon.
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Feb 15, 2018Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are the definitive versions of Generation VII. Fans that already made the trip to the Alola region might find that it takes a while to get to the juiciest new additions to the game, but diehard Pokémon fans and those that held off on Sun and Moon will find a lot to enjoy. The games are truly robust experiences, and the new additions help flesh out a game that was already quite strong. I could detail more about the story changes and enhancements, Mantine surfing or Team Rainbow Rocket, but not much else needs to be said. This is a terrific Pokémon experience that has only gotten better.
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Dec 4, 2017Some things are better, some things are worse and some things are just different. So I don’t think that Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon can replace Sun and Moon, but rather they kind of just sit beside them. I don’t know that I’d recommend one set of games over the other; instead, I’m just kind of glad that I played both of them.
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Dec 1, 2017A love letter to Pokemon past and present, that's also an incredible game in its own right.
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Nov 30, 2017It’s still a fun Pokémon game, and the Pokémon formula has been tried and true for years as a very competent RPG. Players that have exhausted the first versions of this game can still find some new things to see and do even early on in the story, and players that skipped out on the first games can most certainly have a great time catching them all. I would suggest picking it up either way. It’s still a great game and with this version, there enough new to keep things fresh for all the players.
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Nov 29, 2017Overall, it comes down to this; should you buy Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon if you already bought and played through Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. The answer is an emphatic yes. There is a lot of new content in these Ultra versions to warrant an all-new playthrough, not to mention the swathes of improvements and other changes to the games. Considering how good Sun and Moon were, these new Ultra versions improve upon those games noticeably.
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Nov 24, 2017Definitely not the Pokémon game that is set to include new, groundbreaking gameplay elements. However, it’s the Pokémon game that expands on the original story of the current generation, a game that is able to offer hours of gameplay to the extent that only the Pokémon series can do; but, most importantly, it is a beautiful farewell to the Alola region and to an era of Pokémon games in pure portable consoles. Looking forward to see the new heights Game Freak is going to reach with the upcoming Switch game.
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Nov 17, 2017While I can't rightly say they're everything that a die-hard Pokemon fan wants, they're very clearly games that rank among the most-polished and most-appealing titles available on the Nintendo 3DS hardware. The attention to detail is so thorough that it's easy to forget these are products designed by a team.
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Nov 17, 2017With the Pokémon series moving to the Nintendo Switch, we'll be entering a new era. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon may be the last purely handheld Pokémon games. It's fitting then that these titles are two of the best Pokémon games made.
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Nov 17, 2017Game Freak reinvented their wheel with Pokémon last year. This year they polished the hell out of it.
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Nov 14, 2017The best Pokémon game ever just got slightly better, with an even more expansive endgame and some welcome, if trivial, new tweaks and additions.
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Nov 14, 2017With new buildings to visit, more Pokémon to discover, plenty of extra challenges and mini-games included, and even a new villain to tackle, Pokémon Ultra Sun (and its counterpart, Ultra Moon) is the ultimate version of the already impressive Sun and Moon. Ideal for newcomers and veterans alike, the Pokémon flame is burning stronger than ever with this 3DS release, and it seems that Game Freak is hitting its stride just in time to deliver its first home console adventure on Nintendo Switch next year.
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Nov 14, 2017Ultrasun and Ultramoon aren't new videogames, but a good choice for people who didn't play Sun and Moon. These games are an improvement, with new pokémon, storyline tweaks, a new chapter and other new little characteristics.
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Nov 14, 2017Pokémon Ultrasun & Ultramoon are the new and last chapters of the series for the Nintendo 3DS. You will be back to Alola for a new adventure, offering different twists of the same story told in Sun & Moon. There are new activities and things to do, story is deeper and the post-game is more complex. And there all the legendary Pokémon from the previous generations. Ultrasun and Ultramoon are probably the most complete games of the series up do date, and will keep you busy and entertained for a very long time.
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Nov 14, 2017These upgraded versions not only have everything I enjoyed about Sun and Moon, but augments them in important ways by making small but meaningful changes to the story, expanding the selection of available Pokemon, and even making some small tweaks to the world. Unless you played through both Sun and Moon extensively and have already collected every Legendary Pokemon, it’s easy to recommend to any Pokemon fan.
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Nov 14, 2017Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon are the best entries of the Pokémon series on the 3DS, acting as the series' finale on the Nintendo handheld and representing everything that is good and remarkable about Pokémon. Full of content and creatures to catch and featuring a marvelous audiovisual component, Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon are absolutely essential for all 3DS owners.
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Nov 14, 2017Pokémon Ultrasun and Ultra Moon is an enhanced version of its predecessors and it keeps all of their quality. Unfortunately, there are few new and actually noteworthy features. Also, from a technical point of view, it still has some problems. Necrozma's story could have been managed much better: like this, it's almost a copy with a different ending of the one we saw in Sun and Moon.
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Nov 22, 2017A successful retelling with interesting extras, whose full potential unfolds only near the end of the game.
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Nov 28, 2017Its great to be back in Alola! These enhanced versions wrap up everything in the seventh generation. While Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon suffer some issues with its narrative, the game itself feels complete and as fun as you may remember.
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Nov 20, 2017In short, these last games put an exclamation point at the end of an era, it's undeniable.
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Nov 14, 2017Pokemon Ultra Sun/Moon is the definitive return to Alola. Much more content, new experiences and feelings that are going to be perfect for the fans of the Pokemon games.
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Nintendo Force MagazineJan 7, 2018Ultra Sun is an improvement over the original, although I thought the very narrow gap between releases worked against it. [Issue #31 – January/February 2018, p. 32E]
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Dec 11, 2017There were a lot of strong points in this game, and they outweigh the bad. Mantine surfing, the Ultra Recon Squad, heck, even the new/updated trials! The game took Sun and Moon, which may be story-heavy, but empty in its postgame, and made it into something that can really be called “Ultra”. It’s certainly several steps up from Sun and Moon.
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Nov 30, 2017I can’t say Pokémon Ultra Sun is a must-play for fans, but it won’t be leaving my 3DS anytime soon.
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Nov 23, 2017Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are the great, wonderful entries into the Pokémon franchise that were released last year, but with more. Just to access that more, you’ll need to play the entire game again. In the modern day, this sort of update could’ve, and probably should’ve, been released as a DLC update for owners of the original game, honestly. Nevertheless, if you’ve not played Pokémon Sun and Moon, you owe it to yourself to jump in with Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon.
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Nov 22, 2017Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon are very good third-version games. They expand the story alongside as well as the post-game, and barring some not-ideal motion controls and a slow intro, there's very little to complain about. It may be the same game as last year with a bunch of new stuff on top, but considering this is one of Pokémon's finest generations yet, I have zero problem with more of a good thing.
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Nov 15, 2017As a revisiting of the excellent Sun and Moon, it feels like a good note to close the generation on, but if you had your fill with Sun and Moon, don’t worry – you aren’t missing anything important.
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Nov 15, 2017Do not expect anything too new about Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and you will enjoy a very extended version of Pokémon Sun and Moon with a huge Pokédex, a bigger story and many smaller tweaks. The original was a brilliant title and this one shows it still is.
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Nov 14, 2017Pokemon Ultrasun and Ultramoon is basically an enhanced version of Sun and Moon. The changes are very welcome but if you have played the previous games, perhaps the new features are not enough.
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Nov 14, 2017These are the definitive editions of one of the best episodes of the franchise, delivering a better, bigger and more complete game.
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Nov 14, 2017Even though a lot of content in Pokemon Ultrasun and Ultramoon has been recycled from the previous entries, there's still a lot of new things to see and new places to explore, and, more importantly, a great deal of fan-service that will delight long time aficionados of the franchise.
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Nov 20, 2017If you already devoted a conspicuous amount of time on the previous game in the series, you'll have to be patient, and wait for the real fun to begin, since all the new (and good) stuff is carefully handed out bit by bit. Therefore, we recommend Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon only if you skipped the previous two titles. Or if you have a bone to pick with Necrozma.
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Nov 14, 2017Unless you can't live without a few new pokémon, Pokémon Ultrasun is a must have if and only if you still haven't played neither Sun or Moon. Postgame content is meatier but most of the game looks and plays too similar to Sun or Moon.
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Dec 4, 2017They feel worth it to me, but I’m a Pokémon lifer.
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Dec 5, 2017Pokemon Ultra Sun has plenty of content to offer to those who spent hours with Pokémon Sun & Moon. Though its main campaign isn’t very different from what we played in his predecessor, Game Freak cut a lot of things to make it more direct. Also, this entry has a lot of post-game content for players that want to be the very best.
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Apr 2, 2018Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon is still fantastic, especially since the original was a major shake-up to the decades-old Pokémon formula. The update may be overly samey to someone who has already played Sun & Moon, but it does improve upon the base game in several ways. The new version is a must for newcomers to either this current generation or to Pokémon in general.
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LEVEL (Czech Republic)Feb 16, 2018Pokémons improved in a visual and gameplay way. Devs could let go the monster management, but otherwise the changes are definitely for the better. If you have a weak spot for Pokémons, this is your game. [Issue#282]
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Jan 21, 2018Compared to the original version, you barely can find any difference in Ultra Sun/Moon. The good part is, USUM keeps the advantages of SM, while the bad part is, many previous faults can still be found in USUM. This is an expansion with no sincerity.
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Dec 18, 2017This is a solid entry from Pokemon. If you have last year’s game, you can pass on this title, but if you’re looking to dive into the Poke-verse? This is the best way to take the plunge.
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Dec 15, 2017Pokemon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon is not a bad game by any means, and those that skipped on Sun and Moon should definitely give it a try. However, it doesn’t have anything ultra surprising in store for its players.
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Dec 7, 2017For players that skipped Sun and Moon, there is more than enough new stuff here to make this the ultimate way to play. Returning players will definitely be left with a strong sense of deja vu, but if they finished everything last year's game had to offer and were hungry for more they could still get their money's worth here, especially if they're up for a big dose of nostalgia.
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Dec 4, 2017As tiring as it is to have to play through the first 15 hours with very minimal changes to gameplay and story, the wait is worth it, and the game continuously gets better as you keep going.
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Dec 1, 2017In an age of downloadable content and add-ons, of game updates and expansions through online changes, it's just disappointing to see the game not support players who have already played Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon's story in any way other than a few small changes. For those players, it really is the definition of the oft-used review phrase "just keep at it, and eventually it gets really good."
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Nov 28, 2017Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon is a far superior version than Pokémon Sun and Moon with improved mechanics and some fun features plus new enemies to keep you invested. It’s definitely a title for fans but is also one that is accessible by newcomers, especially if you want to know what the Pokémon craze is all about. At the end of the day, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon takes this franchise to new heights with fun gameplay and decent graphics.
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Nov 26, 2017There’s a couple of fun new features implemented in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and it’s the definitive edition for newcomers, but overall there’s not enough to make it worth playing through again for veterans.
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Nov 21, 2017These games are practically the same as they used to be with a few extras, which is great if you haven't played them, but if you have there is not much to gain from these new versions.
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Nov 17, 2017If you missed out on the originals from last year, or if you're dying to revisit Alola, Pokémon Ultra Sun And Ultra Moon are must-haves.
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Nov 16, 2017If you skipped Sun and Moon last year, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are must-buys. Sci-fi storytelling, plenty of new content and adorable critters all included, but feels too soon a release to make the most of the innovation.
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Nov 14, 2017Though they aren't very different from their predecessors, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon make enough changes to stand apart as the definitive version of the seventh generation games. An overly complicated story is offset by charming details that bring even more life to the most vibrant Pokemon region to date, and small fixes iron out the shakier parts of the original journey. If you make it through Alola a second (or even first) time, you'll be rewarded with a fun-filled and uplifting Pokemon adventure with its own share of spoilery surprises in store.
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Nov 14, 2017The definitive edition of Pokémon Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon encapsulate the elements of what made the first set of games great—and also carry forward some of the games’ flaws. Players may be retreading the same island paths as before, but a new selection of Pokémon, shiny new tokens to hunt, additional mini-games, and a brand new story add fun surprises for fans of the originals to find.
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Nov 22, 2017Pokemon Ultra-Sun and Ultra-Moon are inherently good games since they're base on the ones that came out one year ago, but the new content is not enough to justify buying them. On the other hand, if you haven't bought last year's opus, they are the choice to make.
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Dec 4, 2017The most definitive and complete versions yet. Although we do enjoy all the enhancements and quality of life changes to the games mechanism, it’s still reuses a lot of content from the predecessors.
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Nov 24, 2017Releasing another version of this game doesn’t feel like it adds anything to the Pokemon franchise as a whole, and just makes me want a new Pokemon game on my Switch all the more. It’s still a very, very fine game, but as a product release, this one is quite disappointing from Nintendo.
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Nov 15, 2017Ultra Sun and Moon‘s new features are great, but nothing groundbreaking.
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Nov 28, 2017Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are fine games by virtue of being Pokemon games. They have the same fun battling and collecting mechanics you’d expect and offer an opportunity to re-explore the gorgeous and lore-rich Alola region. But their butchered retelling of Sun and Moon’s story and the addition of the obnoxious RotomDex should once again have you questioning why you would pay full price for almost the same game a year later.
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Dec 15, 2017Personally I’m hoping this release was simply a way to hold the fanatics over until the Switch Pokémon title rears its head in a year or two. Until then, I’d recommend playing Ultra Sun/Moon in bitesize chunks because it can wear pretty thin and quickly become a grind when playing through it rapidly. It should be enjoyed a little at a time or saved exclusively to be played on the go as a fun little time killer. The challenge and fun are waiting right there at the end for those who want to power through for it. It’s just a shame there are so many little things that pile up against the experience, like the pokémon-infused pokédex that never stops asking the same questions over and over or the lack of Pokémon-worthy music.
| This publication does not provide a score for their reviews. | |
| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
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Nov 15, 2017Anyone who skipped Sun and Moon has no excuse not to buy their Ultra successors. Returning players should know they're in for a slow start but should consider buying the new games anyway.
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Nov 17, 2017Pokémon returns for a 3DS victory lap in this generous, definitive retelling of the Alolan story. [Recommended]
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Nov 16, 2017In spite of all the niggling problems, for Pokemon fans, those who skipped Sun and Moon or kids looking for their first Pokemon experience this is a fantastic package.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 782 out of 1088
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Mixed: 105 out of 1088
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Negative: 201 out of 1088
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Dec 29, 2018
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Nov 17, 2017
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Nov 17, 2017