Pokémon Moon

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 101 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • grinding
Pokémon Moon Game Cover
The newest Pokemon generation, Sun/Moon for the Nintendo 3DS, tweaks and polishes the series' core concepts and remixes enough ideas to feel fresh without making any wild, polarizing changes to the formula.
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Pokémon Moon is a Sci-Fi turn-based strategy game for the Nintendo 3DS, with both single-player and multiplayer modes. The game takes place in a new world with never-before-seen Pokémon and an engaging plot. Pokémon Moon is also the first game in the series to offer nine language options, including Traditional and Simplified Chinese.

  • Nintendo 3ds
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 101 reviews
story18 positive mentions
grinding20 negative mentions
  • The game introduces a fresh take on the Pokémon formula with the removal of traditional gyms and the introduction of island trials, making for a unique gameplay experience.
  • The graphics and animations are significantly improved, making it the best-looking mainline Pokémon game to date.
  • The new features, such as Ride Pokémon and the ability to see move effectiveness during battles, enhance the overall gameplay and make it more accessible for new players.
  • The game suffers from excessive cutscenes and hand-holding, which can be tedious for veteran players who are familiar with the series.
  • Some players feel that the game is too easy, with the experience share feature making it simple to level up Pokémon without much effort.
  • The story and character development, while improved, can still feel shallow and unengaging compared to previous generations.
  • story85 mentions

    The story in this Pokémon game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and character development, particularly highlighting the engaging narrative and memorable characters, while others criticize it for being overly linear and bogged down by excessive cutscenes. Many players appreciate the shift away from traditional gym battles towards a more story-driven experience, though some feel that the pacing is slow and the plot can feel repetitive or lacking in excitement. Overall, it is seen as a significant improvement over previous entries, with a more immersive and involved storyline, despite some subjective complaints about its length and structure.

    • “The story is actually interesting and involved, rather than an afterthought like in most of the previous games.”
    • “The story is very good and has memorable and very well developed characters.”
    • “This is hands-down one of the best Pokémon games I've played, and the story is arguably one of the better ones of the series.”
    • “So much of the story is centered on her that it leaves little room for Sun and Moon to properly develop.”
    • “I've talked to a lot of people who do love the story and characters, and I guess it's just a 'to each their own' thing, but if you were annoyed at the number of cutscenes in the last Pokémon generation, this is even worse.”
    • “The story gets an incredibly slow start.”
  • gameplay33 mentions

    The gameplay in this Pokémon generation has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the introduction of new mechanics and quality-of-life improvements, such as the island trials replacing traditional gym challenges and the return of features like Pokémon Amie. However, many criticize the repetitive nature, slow pacing, and excessive dialogue that detracts from the overall experience, alongside noticeable performance issues on older hardware. While some changes are seen as positive, the gameplay still retains a familiar turn-based structure that may feel outdated to long-time fans.

    • “Huge changes to the Pokémon formula since Pokémon X & Y, no longer strictly battle and collecting focused (although still present) as they added a variety of mechanics to switch things up a bit and to bring more variety in gameplay.”
    • “Most of the changes to gameplay are positive and add to the diversity of modes available to players.”
    • “The gym challenge has been tossed and replaced with an island challenge, which combines traditional Pokémon battles with new mechanics that make each 'island trial' unique.”
    • “With the repetitive nature of the game, annoying unskippable cutscenes, hit-or-miss music, boring and tedious trials, super linear gameplay, and so many plot conveniences, this is the worst Pokémon generation so far.”
    • “The gameplay also feels slow, with the effects turned on in battle; there are so many redundant things being done, even in the field, even with the text at max speed.”
    • “The core gameplay mechanic appears to be a mini-game where you try to escape from conversations with random characters that you don't care about by pressing 'A' as rapidly as you can.”
  • grinding20 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many criticizing the convoluted Festival Plaza and repetitive tasks that detract from immersion and enjoyment. While some appreciate the introduction of new mechanics and tougher battles that may warrant grinding, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game feels overly simplified and linear, making the grinding experience less rewarding and more of a chore. Additionally, the reliance on unskippable cutscenes and tedious post-game challenges further contributes to a sense of monotony in the gameplay.

    • “Instead of gym puzzles, gym trainers, and gym leaders, Gen VII offers a tedious activity coupled with a battle against a wild (though powered-up) Pokémon.”
    • “With the repetitive nature of the game, annoying unskippable cutscenes, hit-or-miss music, boring and tedious trials, super linear gameplay, and so many plot conveniences, this is the worst Pokémon generation so far.”
    • “It's cool that there are more ways to make your Pokémon happy/friendly, but it gets tedious fast and can be pretty boring after a few times.”
  • graphics19 mentions

    Overall, the graphics have seen significant improvements compared to previous titles, with enhanced visuals that are aesthetically pleasing and a departure from the older grid format. While some users noted minor issues like pixelation and lag on the original 3DS, the game successfully pushes the console's limits, offering a vibrant and immersive experience that aligns well with the Pokémon aesthetic.

    • “Graphics and sound have been greatly improved!”
    • “The visuals are also very nice for a 3DS game, while still fitting in with what a Pokémon game is supposed to look like.”
    • “The graphics are a step in the right direction with fully animated protagonists and NPCs as opposed to the classic big-headed sprites of previous games.”
    • “Let's start with the worst aspect, the graphics.”
    • “Honestly, I hate the island trials and the basic graphics feel kind of off as well.”
    • “The graphics cause the original 3DS to lag some; however, they're still amazing graphics and great games!”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its coolness, atmospheric qualities, and significant improvement over previous generations, while others find it hit-or-miss. Many players appreciate the witty dialogue and comedic timing that accompany the music, although some still consider certain tracks irritating. Overall, the music is generally viewed as a positive aspect, enhancing the gaming experience despite some criticisms.

    • “Their music is cool and the dialogue from their members are witty and funny.”
    • “The jokes, the comedic timing, the music!”
    • “Graphics is awesome and I really like that the music is more atmospheric (reminds me of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon sometimes, really like it).”
    • “With the repetitive nature of the game, annoying unskippable cutscenes, hit-or-miss music, boring/tedious trials, super linear gameplay, and so many plot conveniences, this is the worst Pokémon generation so far.”
    • “The music is hit-or-miss, which detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The music lacks variety and fails to engage the player.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by witty dialogue and amusing animations, particularly from characters like Team Skull, who transition from annoying to hilariously entertaining. Players appreciate the cleverness of the characters' interactions and the absurdity of their antics, such as their comical schemes. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted charm that enhances the gaming experience.

    • “Seriously, these guys are just hilarious, from their animations, the way they talk, to the boneheaded ideas they have, like stealing berries.”
    • “And speaking of laughing, Team Skull will forever be immortalized as my favorite villain team ever.”
    • “At first, Team Skull was annoying, but ended up being funny after a while once you get over the initial ridiculousness.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization is notably better on the new 3DS system, with users reporting slight performance drops and lag during battles on older systems. While some players experience issues, particularly in non-1v1 battles, many feel these do not significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “My only grievances are that there should be more Alola Pokémon (because they are so good) and there are performance issues during battles that are not 1v1.”
    • “I read reviews of performance issues but I have a new 3DS, so I can't really complain about that.”
    • “Lag - if you do not have the new 3DS system, you will experience slight drops in performance in certain battle situations.”
    • “It doesn't dampen the overall experience for me personally, but be aware that it's optimized far better for the new 3DS systems and you may notice some bad framerates if not playing on the newer system.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience in the game; while some players find the story and character development heartfelt and engaging, others criticize the lengthy introduction and perceived boredom, which detracts from the overall emotional impact. The game attempts to evoke strong feelings through its narrative and surprises, but the pacing issues may hinder some players' connection to the story.

    • “It's interesting, it flows well, it evokes emotional reactions in you, and it has several great surprises.”
    • “It's well made and compares to the others in features and length, but it tries to tell a heartfelt story with more character development than past entries in the series.”
    • “The introduction takes way too long and is especially boring and pointless to anyone familiar with Pokémon games.”
    • “There are too many boring characters that keep you from actually playing the game.”
    • “The story feels drawn out and lacks the emotional engagement I was hoping for.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Replayability in the Pokémon series is influenced by nostalgia, but the inability to transfer teams and use newly caught Pokémon in older games limits the replay value for some players. Overall, while nostalgia enhances replayability, the restrictions on team transfers can detract from the experience.

    • “Nostalgia value and replayability are the norm for the Pokémon series.”
    • “This process makes it difficult to transfer teams across the games, which harms the replayability of older titles by not allowing you to use newly caught Pokémon.”
    • “This process makes it difficult to transfer teams across the games, which harms the replayability of those older games by not allowing you to use newly caught Pokémon.”
    • “Nostalgia value and replayability are not up to the norm for the Pokémon series.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users note that while "Sun and Moon" are not entirely free from glitches, they perform better than previous titles like "X and Y," maintaining a stable frame rate during battles on older hardware.

    • “While no Pokémon game is free from its share of glitches, Sun and Moon don't drag the frame rate down on my old 3DS during battles, which is a redeeming quality.”
    • “The game frequently crashes, making it frustrating to progress.”
    • “I experienced numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its impressive graphics and immersive, atmospheric music, which evokes a nostalgic feel reminiscent of titles like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon.

    • “The graphics are awesome, and I really like that the music is more atmospheric; it reminds me of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon sometimes, which I really enjoy.”
    • “The immersive atmosphere draws you in, making every moment feel significant and engaging.”
    • “The combination of stunning visuals and haunting soundscapes creates a truly captivating experience.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The game features significant character development, aiming to deliver a heartfelt narrative that surpasses previous entries in the series in both depth and emotional engagement.

    • “It's well made and compares to the others in features and length, but it tries to tell a heartfelt story with more character development than past entries in the series.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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