A few years back, I was convinced by a friend to buy Pokémon Shield to play together. Unfortunately, it was a huge letdown for me. I found it boring, too easy, and the story was lackluster, even for a kids’ game. The graphics were nothing to write home about either, and I quickly lost interest after finishing the main story. Now that I’ve got a Switch 2 and noticed that Scarlet and Violet have free upgrades, I’m wondering if I should give them a shot or just wait for future titles. Was Shield an outlier, or should I expect similar experiences from other Pokémon games? Is nostalgia the main draw for players?
5 Answers
You might find the older handhelds way more enjoyable. The quality of the series definitely dropped after gen 5, though the 3DS games do have their fans. But if you’re strictly on Switch, you may want to limit your expectations.
If you disliked Shield, I’d probably skip Scarlet/Violet. They have a similar vibe, and let’s be real, the graphics and performance criticisms remain strong. I’d suggest looking into older games which generally have a better reputation.
If Shield was your first Pokémon game, I’m really sorry. Sword/Shield and Scarlet/Violet aren’t great representations of the series. I’d suggest going for DS titles like Platinum, HeartGold/SoulSilver, or Black/White, or you could try Legends Arceus if you think that style might be more fun for you.
Thanks for the tips! Legends Arceus sounds interesting, I’ll give that one a go.
Honestly, Pokémon might just not be your thing, and that’s totally fine! Scarlet and Violet are still pretty easy with mediocre stories. If you’re not into collecting and PvP battles, they might not hold your interest either.
You could perhaps enjoy Scarlet/Violet, especially since they offer a bit more exploration than Shield. But don’t expect a massive overhaul in quality; the story and designs aren’t drastically improved. If you can, maybe try a friend’s copy first before buying!
Sounds like a good plan! I’ll try to borrow or rent one first.
What about Diamond, Pearl, Pikachu, or Eevee? Are they any good?