Pokemon Legends: Arceus

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Generally favorable reviews - based on 116 Critic Reviews What's this?

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8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3257 Ratings

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  • Summary: A Bold New Direction. The Pokémon Legends: Arceus game honors past Pokémon games' core gameplay while infusing new action and RPG elements. You'll need to catch, survey, and research wild Pokémon in a long-gone era of the Sinnoh region to create and complete the region's first Pokédex.A Bold New Direction. The Pokémon Legends: Arceus game honors past Pokémon games' core gameplay while infusing new action and RPG elements. You'll need to catch, survey, and research wild Pokémon in a long-gone era of the Sinnoh region to create and complete the region's first Pokédex.
    -Catch Pokémon-
    To catch Pokémon in the Pokémon Legends: Arceus game, you can observe them to learn their behavior, then carefully sneak up, aim your Poké Ball, and let fly!

    You can also have your ally Pokémon battle wild Pokémon that you hope to catch. Just throw the Poké Ball holding your ally Pokémon near a wild Pokémon, and you'll seamlessly enter battle and command your Pokémon by choosing from moves it knows.

    -An Adventure in the Sinnoh of Days Gone By-
    You'll be brought to the Sinnoh region, the setting for the Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games. But this story unfolds in a long-gone era, before ideas such as being a Pokémon Trainer or having a Pokémon League even existed.

    All around, you'll find Pokémon living wild in harsh environments that make for a Sinnoh unlike the region you may remember from the days of the Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games.

    The Poké Balls of old were apparently built a little differently from the ones we know so well. They were made mostly of wood, and steam puffed from their tops when Pokémon were caught.
    -Meet Your First Partner Pokémon-
    As you start off on your adventure to create the region's first Pokédex, you'll be able to choose Rowlet, Cyndaquil, or Oshawott as a partner.

    These three Pokémon arrived with a Pokémon Professor, who encountered them on research excursions to various regions.
    Rowlet
    Category: Grass Quill Pokémon
    Type: Grass/Flying
    Height: 1'
    Weight: 3.3 lbs.

    Rowlet is a Pokémon from the Alola region. It uses photosynthesis to store up energy during the day, while becoming active at night. Silently it glides, drawing near its targets. Before they even notice it, it begins to pelt them with vicious kicks.

    Cyndaquil
    Category: Fire Mouse Pokémon
    Type: Fire
    Height: 1'8"
    Weight: 17.4 lbs.

    Cyndaquil is a Pokémon from the Johto region. It is timid and always curls itself up in a ball. When it's surprised, the flames on its back flare up stronger. When it is attacked, it uses its flames to protect itself.

    Oshawott
    Category: Sea Otter Pokémon
    Type: Water
    Height: 1'8"
    Weight: 13 lbs.

    Oshawott is a Pokémon from the Unova region. With the scalchop on its stomach, it blocks opponents' attacks, then retaliates immediately by slashing. Its scalchop can be used to break open hard Berries as well.

    Arceus
    Holding the key to this tale is the Pokémon known as Arceus. Arceus is said to have shaped all there is in this world. Just how is this mighty Pokémon connected to your journey?

    Category: Alpha Pokémon
    Type: Normal
    Height: 10'6"
    Weight: 705.5 lbs.    … Expand
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Pokémon Legends: Arceus - 13 Minutes Of Gameplay

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 100 out of 116
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 116
  3. Negative: 0 out of 116
  1. Digitally Downloaded
    Feb 2, 2022
    100
    Every time I think I'm losing interest in Pokémon, Game Freak does something to reinvigorate me. The Pokémon Pearl and Diamond remakes last year were fine, though I ended up spending more time just playing the original Pokémon Pearl again. I needed something like Arceus, I think, to get me to once again drop dozens of hours into a single game. This is a brave, bold game into new frontiers for Game Freak, and it confidently promises a new and revitalised future for the series.
  2. Vooks
    Jan 26, 2022
    90
    I’ve dragged myself through Pokémon games in recent years, but not with this one. Pokémon Arceus Legends is the future of Pokémon games. It’s the game we’ve all been waiting for for years, with a new and fun way to catch Pokemon, a story that adds to and pulls from Pokemon lore and a region you can genuinely get lost in. Pokemon Legend Arceus is Pokémon, evolved.
  3. Game Rant
    Feb 25, 2022
    90
    Pokemon Legends: Arceus's gameplay is simple but incredibly rewarding, stripping away much of the tediousness that has plagued recent entries in the series to focus on what's fun. Those who grew up with Pokemon should like it especially, as while it makes dramatic changes to the core formula, it somehow feels truer to the spirit of Pokemon than the older releases.
  4. MGG Spain
    Feb 3, 2022
    83
    Arceus is one of the big games of the year. Perhaps not the best or the most polished, but one of the most fun and relevant to the industry, which is no small thing. The philosophical and mechanical change that it can trigger in the saga is one of its letters of introduction, despite the more than improvable technical section.
  5. Guardian
    Feb 10, 2022
    80
    While Arceus may be a sight that leads to sore eyes, this ambitious reboot sets Pokémon on an exciting new trajectory, finally recapturing a lost sense of adventure. What made those initial Pokémon games special was the way that they embodied a childlike spirit of discovery. The problem was that its creators struck gold on the first attempt – and spent decades repeating the same trick. Now, 26 years after I caught my very first Pokémon, the franchise is new again, and that gleeful sense of excitement is back.
  6. Metro GameCentral
    Jan 26, 2022
    80
    There’s still a lot of room for improvement but this is easily the best Pokémon game for several years and a positive new direction that the mainline games would be wise to follow.
  7. IGN Italia
    Jan 26, 2022
    50
    Pokémon Legends Arceus should have been the next new step for the franchise but it turned out to be a disappointing experience.

See all 123 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 780 out of 1161
  2. Mixed: 145 out of 1161
  3. Negative: 236 out of 1161
  1. Sarcedavalos
    Feb 3, 2022
    10
    Realmente el cambio que necesitaba Pokémon, con problemas técnicos y gráficos evidentes, pero sin descuidar la jugabilidad y la emersión queRealmente el cambio que necesitaba Pokémon, con problemas técnicos y gráficos evidentes, pero sin descuidar la jugabilidad y la emersión que de el título.
    Estoy de verdad muy enviciado a este juegazo y espero que en un futuro la saga aprenda de los errores y aciertos de Legendas Arceus.    … Expand
  2. Asteri4
    Jan 30, 2022
    10
    Of course that's not my true rating, but until people will be allowed to vote 0, which isn't realistic for any game, I will have to give aOf course that's not my true rating, but until people will be allowed to vote 0, which isn't realistic for any game, I will have to give a fake vote for balancing.
    It's an addictive game and really fun, despite technical blunders.    … Expand
  4. Marcos1996
    Jan 29, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pokémon Legends Arceus is a great game amazing open world feels like a true RPG catching Pokémon is better than ever Pokémon models are great the Pokémon battles are amazing This game is a new positive direction to the Pokémon franchise also the Exploration is amazing and is very rewarding the ranks are nice. Arceus is a great visual game with the mechanics of the game not being repetitive at all. The story is great and the unique pokemon to the game are the most coolest things you ever saw Overall Pokémon Legends Arceus is one of the best Pokémon games ever that I recommend buying.… Expand
  5. SurTails101
    Feb 9, 2022
    9
    Didn't expect much from just looking at the previews of the game. I thought I would wait for critics to come out. I didn't expect to succeedDidn't expect much from just looking at the previews of the game. I thought I would wait for critics to come out. I didn't expect to succeed and yet it did (by switch standards).

    Got the game one day after release and been addicted since then. The core gameplay is very fun. It's very effective. My only complaints are that it's a bit strange that you always have to head back to jubilife village before heading to another zone. Also, I would love the combat to be perhaps just a bit more interactive, not that I dislike the classical turn base stuff, but maybe something Paper-Mario-esque, hell even better: like the tales series, though that could be asking for a bit much

    On the graphical side, I think people are a bit harsh. Though, I compare this to Shin Megami Tensei V. The games run at similar performance (30 fps with the occasionnal stuter). I do believe SMTV looks better though. Not a huge complaint here, knowing the limitations of the switch. Game is still charming and doesn't look too bad.

    Music is great. Enjoying the themes.

    Game progression seems much more fast paced. I have never been a huge fan of the whole exp share thing, but I think they got it right this time as the game just seems more difficult that other pokemon games (alpha pokemons, 1 vs 2-3 aggro encounters)

    Writing this review with over 50 hours in.

    9/10 for me. Hope Game Freak build onto this further. The Pokémon Franchise is looking to have a great future finally. Wish they would had focused dev resources on this and delayed BDSP by 1-2 years instead...    … Expand
  6. FenFox14
    Feb 3, 2022
    8
    Not prefect, there's some graphical issues and lack of voice acting

    But all around refreshing change for gameplay. Gamefreak made a good    Not prefect, there's some graphical issues and lack of voice acting

    But all around refreshing change for gameplay. Gamefreak made a good Pokémon game since gen 5    … Expand
  7. Matt2790
    Apr 13, 2022
    6
    El juego que se ha estado pidiendo por años, pero que de todas formas no termino siendo bien ejecutado. Las mecanicas son interesantes yEl juego que se ha estado pidiendo por años, pero que de todas formas no termino siendo bien ejecutado. Las mecanicas son interesantes y renovadas aunque terminan cansando por su poca variedad jugable. Al final termina pareciendo una lista de tareas para hacer que luego de unas cuantas horas termina cansando. Las "misiones secundaras" son de lo mas simplista y lo peor del juego sin dudas. La historia me parecio de lo mas sosa y poco elaborada. Graficamente y tecnicamente debio haber sido pulido mucho mas. Es un gran paso de GameFrak por ofrecer algo renovado, pero falto mucho trabajo.… Expand
  8. Nestrooo
    May 5, 2022
    0
    the best pokemon game period. It may not be the best representation of the series, but it's sooo good. the catching mechanics are verythe best pokemon game period. It may not be the best representation of the series, but it's sooo good. the catching mechanics are very refreshing, the action focused boss battles are a unique take on the formula of the franchise, the story is actually interesting and the characters are straight up drippin. i also really like when the funny animals go swoosh.… Expand

See all 1161 User Reviews

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