Pokémon Sun and Moon

  • November 18, 2016
86%
Game Brain Score Based on 40 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Pokémon Sun and Moon Game Cover
Prepare to say goodbye to sleep and society as catching, training and caring for your Pokémon take over your life.
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"Pokémon Sun and Moon" offers a new adventure on the tropical islands of the Alola region. As a Pokémon Trainer, players catch, battle, and trade various new Pokémon, aiming to become a Pokémon Champion. This game introduces unique features, including Z-moves and Alolan forms, enhancing the classic Pokémon gameplay.

  • Nintendo 3ds
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews
story4 positive mentions
  • Pokémon Sun and Moon offer a fresh and engaging experience, successfully balancing nostalgia with innovative mechanics like Z-Moves and the new Trial system.
  • The game features stunning visuals and a charming world, making it the best-looking mainline Pokémon game to date, with a compelling soundtrack and great character design.
  • It serves as an excellent entry point for newcomers while still providing depth and enjoyment for long-time fans, with plenty of side content and exploration opportunities.
  • The game suffers from linearity and hand-holding, which can detract from the overall experience and challenge for seasoned players.
  • Some performance issues, including frame rate drops and graphical limitations on older 3DS systems, can hinder gameplay.
  • The story is often criticized for being simplistic and lacking depth, with some characters and writing feeling underdeveloped or clichéd.
  • story10 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its compellingly dark narrative and strong storytelling, enhanced by beautiful visuals and an amazing soundtrack. However, some players noted pacing issues and a lack of depth, describing the story as linear or merely passable, with certain elements feeling nonsensical or uninteresting. Overall, while the game offers a rich blend of content and rewards exploration, it also faces criticism for some outdated mechanics and inconsistencies in storytelling.

    • “It's got content coming out of its ears, a much more interesting story, and rewards exploration in a way no other title in the series has.”
    • “Nostalgic and familiar yet innovative and refreshing, strong storytelling, great starters and new Pokémon.”
    • “Brimming with story and side content, impeccable polish and presentation in both visuals and audio.”
    • “The story stumbles around the end of the second act; multiple baffling annoyances return, and the games take steps back from the previous games in the franchise.”
    • “The adventure is linear and the story is merely passable.”
    • “Still has a simple story, even if it does hold your interest.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    Gameplay in the latest installment features a mix of new mechanics, like z-moves and ride Pokémon, which enhance the experience while streamlining older features for accessibility. While some players may find the narrative too easy and miss certain classic elements, the battle mechanics remain engaging and fun, maintaining a balance that appeals to both newcomers and hardcore fans. Overall, the game successfully integrates experimental elements while preserving the charm of its characters and world.

    • “The new mechanics, such as Z-moves, range from good to great, but the lack of some older features might annoy a few players.”
    • “Battle mechanics are as fun as ever, characters and the world are charming, and it does experimental things with the formula. The fun additional features and ride Pokémon lift the move limitations.”
    • “It crams so many little details and streamlines even some of the older mechanics in such a way that it both makes it easier to get into for newer players and makes more sense within the world of Pokémon.”
    • “Gameplay tweaks make the main narrative a little too easy, and there are some performance dips.”
    • “The game crams so many little details and streamlines even some of the older mechanics, making it easier for newer players to get into, but it also feels less challenging for veterans.”
    • “While the new mechanics are well-balanced, they may not satisfy the most hardcore fans.”
  • graphics6 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the updated visuals and improved character designs, while others criticize the limitations imposed by the 3DS hardware and poor graphical performance. The game features a polished presentation and a compelling aesthetic, but some players feel that the overall design lacks depth and innovation. Despite the graphical upgrades, concerns about linearity and ease of gameplay detract from the overall experience.

    • “Graphical upgrades make trainers and Pokémon look better than ever before.”
    • “Impeccable polish and presentation in both visuals and audio.”
    • “Updated beautiful visuals enhance the overall experience.”
    • “However, poor graphical design, a heavy focus on linearity, and a lack of difficulty make Sun and Moon unable to become the evolution which the Pokémon series desperately needs.”
    • “Obnoxiously linear, poor graphical design, poor performance, mind-numbingly easy, too much hand-holding.”
    • “Graphically held back by the 3DS, significant nerfs to fishing and shiny hunting, you'll either love or hate the SOS feature and Team Skull.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, particularly on older 3DS systems, and a lack of polish in certain features. While some appreciate the visual quality achieved on aging hardware, others criticize the game for being overly linear, easy, and for removing previously enjoyed mechanics, leading to a less satisfying experience.

    • “It managed to optimize the game while also making it look as good as possible, even on the aging hardware of the original models of the 3DS, without sacrificing any more performance than could be afforded without it becoming a mess to work through.”
    • “Gameplay tweaks make the main narrative a little too easy, but overall, the optimization enhances the experience.”
    • “Perhaps it pushes the 3DS too hard in performance, leading to some scaling back of features that worked in prior games, but the optimization efforts are commendable.”
    • “The performance of the game is terrible, especially on older 3DS systems; the story stumbles around the end of the second act; multiple baffling annoyances return, and the game takes steps back from the previous games in the franchise, such as with the removal of super training, DexNav, and horde battles; the online and multiplayer hub is a total mess; the Poké Finder segments are disappointingly undercooked.”
    • “Obnoxiously linear, poor graphical design, poor performance, mind-numbingly easy, too much hand-holding.”
    • “Perhaps pushes the 3DS too hard in performance, with some scaling back of features that worked in prior games.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its incredible quality and contribution to the overall atmosphere. The soundtrack is described as one of the best in the series, enhancing the compellingly dark story and beautiful visuals. While some noted that the soundtrack may feel a bit stretched thin at times, the overall impression is overwhelmingly positive.

    • “The soundtrack is incredible and is the best in the series so far.”
    • “Fantastic music that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Good soundtrack, if not stretched a bit thin.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted as laugh-out-loud funny at times, adding to the overall enjoyment alongside its impressive visual overhaul and engaging gameplay elements like the battle royale mode and new Pokémon entries.

    • “The incredible visual overhaul and superb battle royale make this game a joy to play, but it's the laugh-out-loud funny moments that truly stand out.”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments that keep the experience entertaining.”
    • “With its clever writing and hilarious character interactions, this game delivers some of the best comedic moments I've seen in years.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by a great ambiance complemented by fantastic music and thoughtful practical additions that enhance the overall experience.

    • “The atmosphere is great, complemented by fantastic music and thoughtful practical additions.”
    • “The immersive environment truly draws you in, making every moment feel alive.”
    • “The combination of stunning visuals and an evocative soundtrack creates an unforgettable atmosphere.”
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Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

86% average critic score

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