>>47307864Not factoring the dexcut (which honestly I don’t really give much of a shit about since the games already had a big collection of Pokémon as is), SWSH were good games mechanically and terrible games structurally.
- Introduced significant QoL improvements such as TRs, candies, mints, trade and rare Pokémon in the wild and raids, Brilliant Pokémon, and egg move transferring. It also expanded on the weather system where wild Pokémon were more common or available under certain weather.
- Many overworld items such as stones and evolutionary items were relatively easy to get and could respawn.
- The DLC added a convenient way to farm Ability Patches as well as Dynamax Adventures for several Pokémon. Alolan and past regional forms were also handed out through trades and gifts.
- Introduced several new type combinations and even expanded on rare ones. The games have a plethora of Pokémon diverse in type.
- The Watt system is extremely convenient, especially in the DLC where you can purchase supplements and an easy way to generate money through Luxury Balls.
But that is where the good ends.
- The most bare bones and empty plot out of any game in the series. The gym challenge, Hop’s inferiority complex which the game rubs your face into, and the legendary wolf mystery were the only plot in the game. Gym leaders and major NPCs had little to no relevance in the story and no significant personalities outside of a one dimensional archetype (Milo is a farmer, Nessa is a model, etc.) Bede and Marnie barely even have characters and don’t have much of a role. Team Yell is a complete joke and the only thing they are good for is to be a monotype villain team. Both Rose and the royal twins have pathetic motivations for destroying the region. The DLC is hardly any better, with Mustard, the version exclusive monotype rivals, and Peony having surface level development. Leon is shoved down your face but unlike Steven or Cynthia, plays an insignificant role.
