First Impressions of Sun and Moon

[Enzap]

As many people are now starting their journeys through Alola, I thought it would be fun to ask how people are liking the game so far. Do you enjoy the new adventure format and features? Anything you feel is missing? Let us know below!

 

[lavandula]

Very beautiful graphics, gorgeous music, challenging battles

 

[Magmaster12]

Based off my first impressions this game seems like everything I don't like in Pokemon games, little post game, under leveled wild pokemon, poor pacing, too many tutorials and the black cutaways annoy the heck out of me, these are the best selling games for the 3DS they couldn't put down a little extra for more animation.

 

[Esserise]

I'm only to Hau'oli City, but I'm liking it so far. Looks gorgeous, and I love the RotomDex's occasional commentary. To name a few downsides, though: 1) Sitting is gone (it's not a huge deal, but I did like it), 2) Movement is Circle Pad-only (which I hate; I swear, if this is because everybody complained about the Roller Skates being bound to the Circle Pad in XY...), and 3) SO. MANY. CUTSCENES.

Edit: My advice to anybody trying to catch a female Shield Dust Cutiefly with a decent Nature on Route 2... give up.

 

[IncineROAR]

I picked Litten in Sun, and I think I'll transfer over another one of the starters from Moon.

The amount of cutscenes are annoying but the removal of the gyms actually give the game a fresh feel. I haven't made it to my first trial or whatever you call them yet so I'm still not yet sure how I feel about them.

 

[Master Cyrus]

Way too much handholding and forced story segments

 

[Zkat]

I'm at the second island and I like it so far, even though it's been kind of easy and there are a lot of cutscenes. Hopefully it will get more challenging later on. I've been switching party members around a lot (because I like so many of the new Pokemon) and I still find myself being a bit overleveled.

Pokemon Refresh is really cute! I maxed out my Torracat's affection when he was still a Litten. (The extra exp is probably why I end up being overleveled, lol.)

Also, I think it's funny how no one in-game takes Team Skull seriously. I haven't seen much of them yet though...

 

[IncineROAR]

I kinda miss Mega-Evolution already.

 

[Proxima Centauri B]

The region is really nice and I like the graphics a lot. Your character's model being normal size is nice.

Im not finding the game terribly easy personally but I havent played that much yet.

The amount of cutscenes surprises me.

Team Skull is sorta funny but I cannot take them at all seriously right now lol.

 

[PokeTrainerTipp]

Great graphics, good music & runs pretty well (I have an old 3ds). I personally enjoy the cutscenes. The challenge, at least for myself, hits a sweet spot. Not to easy and not to hard (I also have boosted exp due to affection but I'm only about a level or two over the other trainers but still got my boy litten KO'd lol)

Exp share also doesn't seem to boost your Pokémon as much as it did last gen. Granted, I'm only in Hau'oli city but so far my Poke Pals and I are having a blast here in Alola.

 

[LuxrayOfTheWild]

After about 12 hours, I have made it to Akala Island and I have beaten Lana's trial. By now I can say this game has been amazing so far. The Alola region is one of the most beautiful regions, accompanied by charming characters and amazing music. The battles have actually been challenging and I can say the Totem Pokemon are great to battle against. I am also really liking features like the Festival Plaza and the Poke Finder. Pokemon Sun has been amazing so far and I feel as if it has not only lived up to the hype, but it does a great job of honoring the 20 year anniversary.

 

[Esserise]

Exp share also doesn't seem to boost your Pokémon as much as it did last gen.

I've heard that EXP is back to being scaled like it was in Gen V.

If that's true, then I say praise, because I always preferred that system.

Edit: lol okay yep, there it is, one of the Trainer Tips signs I read in Heahea City just confirmed it, EXP has Gen V scaling.

Also, for the thread: I'm at the beginning of Akala now, and Melemele Island was on the whole, quite difficult. Granted, I was going through it with only a Rowlet and a Cutiefly, and no Exp. Share, and no Refresh perks. But I still had what I thought was a remarkably challenging time getting through it all.

Also, the customization options so far suuuuuuuuck.

Edit #2: Woah-woah-WOAH, hold the telly-phone! Did I just lose to Sina and not get knocked back to the Pokémon Center!?!? The game just continued regardless of the outcome!?!? Cool!!!

 

[Matleo]

Gengar with Levitate.

 

[Serverus Snope]

Doing a Fairy monotype run. Had to feel the pain of fighting a Magnemite and a leaf-tossing Smeargle with just Popplio. Fortunately, I just now found Cutiefly.

 

[Matleo]

did someone test already Passimian with Schooling?
or Alolan Muk with Power of Alchemy in Schooling form?

(hope they will give it a good ape green form and muk would look nice too but bigger)

 

[Aulos]

Seems pretty good, I'm finding Pokemon catching to be a bit frustrating, though. Low-level Pokemon escape too easily - even from Great and Ultra Balls! And the call for help feature is extremely annoying. I've given up on so many Pokemon and run because they won't stop calling for help and getting more, thus making it impossible to catch.

 

[Blockhead Pippi]

Well...

My first impressions kind of lie in the middle. It's a good game and I'm enjoying it, but I'm finding a lot of parts annoying. For one, the tutorial segment is ridiculously long and tiresome. I cannot help but think of the lengthy tutorials in games like The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. I understand this is to help brand new players to the series or people who haven't played a Pokemon game in years, but as a Pokemon veteran, it's rather exhausting and boring having to have my hand held through this. It also doesn't help that there are a lot of cutscenes in this game.... too much I'd say. It's cinematic and nice, sure, but there needs to be a balance. For instance, after beating Hala, there was cutscene after cutscene after cutscene. And all I wanted was to save and turn off for the night.

I also can't say that I'm all that fond of the island trials. I understand that they were trying to break away from the tired gyms and try something new, but I'm really not used to this. I can't help but wonder if the game is going to be relatively short due to the limited number of islands and trials. Melemele was rather small, though that could just be because it is the starting area.

So, I like it, but I'm not entirely impressed.

 

[pokestar93]

I am enjoying the game, but I have had one very lucky encounter. When I was at Wela Volcano park, the first Salandit that I came across was a female. And to make it even better, she had a Naive nature.

 

[Esserise]

Seems pretty good, I'm finding Pokemon catching to be a bit frustrating, though. Low-level Pokemon escape too easily - even from Great and Ultra Balls! And the call for help feature is extremely annoying. I've given up on so many Pokemon and run because they won't stop calling for help and getting more, thus making it impossible to catch.

If you inflict them with a status condition, I think that stops them from calling for help. Though I obviously don't know if you have an easy way of inflicting a status condition. Still, I hope that helps.

 

[CynthiaLover]

If you inflict them with a status condition, I think that stops them from calling for help. Though I obviously don't know if you have an easy way of inflicting a status condition. Still, I hope that helps.

No, sadly that doesn't work. Only Sleep and Frozen grant that luxury. I've inflicting Poison, Paralysis, and occasionally Burn on a number of Pokemon, and they STILL could call allies. For example, I lucked out and managed to burn a Carbink that I was trying to catch, but it called a Sableye on the next turn no problem. I wasn't able to get rid of the Sableye before the burn damage KOed the Carbink, so I caught the Sableye instead, but I was still miffed about it. Only when Sleep and Frozen are in effect can they not call for backup, as when I put some Pokemon to sleep, they were unable to call for backup, allowing me to catch them. So, no, status ailments other than the completely disabling Sleep and Frozen don't prevent SOS battles (though Paralysis may stall it, but it doesn't prevent it).