What did you like about Sun&Moon?

[Soki]

Just a general thread to discuss all the things you liked about Sun&Moon

I'm only at half of the game, but so far I'm loving a lot. My absolute favourite thing is that we aren't chibis anymore, and that trainers are visible in battles now.

Also absolutely loving Poké Ride as a replacement for HM's, they're a lot of fun to use. Stoutland's my fav, what's not to love about running around on a huge dog to sniff out items

 

[LuxrayOfTheWild]

• The Alola Region is such a beautiful, varied region
• The characters are so charming and such an improvement after XY. I love their personalities and stories, especially Lillie's.
  
• The soundtrack is incredible with tracks like the Alola Region theme, Vast Poni Canyon, Hau'oli City, and the Champion battle theme.
  
• The new Pokemon are pretty great, especially some like Lycanroc, Araquanid, Kommo-o, and Ribombee.
• Pokemon Refresh is still adorable and has the added benefit of being able to cure status alignments after battles.
  
• Some nice cameos from characters, ESPECIALLY the Queen herself, Champion Cynthia!
  
• The Alolan Forms are a refreshing take on old Pokemon and a fun concept, especially Alolan Raichu, Alolan Marowak, and Alolan Exeggutor.
  
• The game's story is actually pretty great. I'd say its right up there with BW's.
  
• The Island Challenge was executed pretty decently with the Totem battles.
• The character models with more realistic proportions over chibi models in the overworld was such an improvement.
• Other small improvements like trainers behind Pokemon in battles and being able to see move effectiveness and stat changes.
  
• The battles are fun and challenging.
• The difficulty is just right.
• Customization returning was great and there were some cool options.
• The ending is extremely satisfying.
• Poke Pelago is actually a pretty nice feature.
• Poke Finder was a fun little side thing.
• The fact that we actually have our first female antagonist and she was pretty good.
  
• Team Skull is hilarious.
• Defending your title as Champion is a first for the series and I just loved it.
  
• Battle Royale is a fun new battle format.
  
• NO MORE HM'S! Poke Ride is great.

As the 20th anniversary game, it does a great job at celebrating the franchise and giving us a very well developed game full of charm and excitement.

 

[PurplePopplio]

Watching Lillie develop into a stronger character and can stand on her own instead of relying on Nebby or the Playable Character.

 

[PinkIceFox]

• The region was soooo pretty and felt more real than any other region before it.
• Pokemon felt like more than just battle critters. People had pet beds for them in their houses!
• Team Skull was hilarious. I love them and Guzma.
• I love that we don't chibifi our 3D characters now it looks so much better than XYORAS
• SoS battles are nice and felt more real. If only Hoard battles had stayed with them...
• I like POkemon Refresh more than Pokemon Amie. Tending my pokemon after battle helped me feel closer to them!
• Poke Pelago is an amazing thing. I love growing berries there (but hate how long it takes for them to grow.. even with beans).
• I love love LOVE alolan forms! I just hope we get more forms that aren't just gen 1.
• Proof characters actually age! Thank you Blue! (and Red I guess why not Leaf)
• Important characters leave their 'station'. The Trial Captains don't just stand in one spot and go 'Hey! What's up GYM BATTUL'. Makes the world feel more alive too.
• Riding pokemon (or being carried in Machamp's case lol) is pretty awesome too. Any excuse to get rid of HMs is GREAT by me. Hopefully from now on every region takes this route instead.
• The music was so good.
• Pokefinder, while lacking substance' was really a really nice add-on. Hopefully the fact they made it boring wasn't just a way for them to later go "see no one really WANTS anotehr pokemon snap game..."

 

[Alolan Coconut]

• The long cinematic intro. We actually have some visible backstory this time.
• Trainer Customization. The skintone that I have was finaly available and I found the clothes that I like fairly early on. Also the price and its difference between certain items was a good addition.
• Pokemon distribution in general. How cool is it that you can already catch a Bagon within the first 4 routes?
• Not only does the day-and-night system look better, it is also has a better transistion with it sunset and sunrise.
• The character development of Lillie. Both Hau and Gladion weren't impressive as rivals, but their development was opresent, but nowhere near as good as the changes Lillie goes through
• Riding Pokemon was so cool, and way more fun than the general bike.
• The Totem battles were amazing! I had a real challenge in defeating them and the quests you have to do in order to get to them is a decent replacement for Gyms. I don't want to battle the trainer in a Gym - who use the same Pokemon every single time - just to battle the Gym Leader.
• The fact that you can't sit down in a chair or a bench is one of the biggest disappointments in these games.. but the few times that you do sit is beyond perfect.
• Team Skull. No words needed here.
  
  And lastly;
• The general fun I had with these games. Not only did I enjoy just playing it, but the actual humour they put in the dialogue was simply briljant at times.

 

[Hidden Mew]

There is a lot about these games that I really like. I love the Alola region. It feels so vibrant, unique and fleshed out. They really put a lot of effort into making the region feel alive through both the setting and the characters and that made me love it even more. It was just beautiful to look at and explore.

I love the characters, especially Lillie and Hau. Lillie was just a complete delight and her storyline stole the show for me. She had really great development and seeing her friendship with the player character was grow over the course of the game was genuinely touching. Hau turned out to be a lot more likable than I thought he would. He came off as so endearing and likable with that huge grin on his face. He had some good character moments to show that he wasn't just happy all the time and that made him more interesting and likable. While Gladion doesn't get as much time to develop on screen as the others do and I'd probably rank him as my least favorite out of the main three characters you interact with, I liked him and he had some good moments to develop as well. The characters are by far a massive improvement over the X/Y cast for having more distinct personalities and better development. They actually do come off as a group of friends, particularly the player character with Lillie and Hau, and that does wonders for me to like them.

The Trials were great. They felt similar enough to a Gym battle, in regards to how you have to battle a couple of Pokemon right before a Totem Pokemon, but unique enough to be its own thing at the same time, which I think was the best route to take. That made it easier for long time fans to get into the Trials and also potentially less confusing for anyone who started with Sun/Moon and wants to try out some of the older Pokemon games. I'm so used to breezing through Gym battles, but there were a few Trials that were actually difficult for me due to what Pokemon I had on my teams and the use of the S.O.S. feature along side the Totem Pokemon. They were challenging, but not to the point where I felt too overwhelmed. The Trials also worked in helping to flesh out the Alola region further and giving it more of a unique identity. I think it also helped to make the captains and kahuna more interesting since they weren't standing in the same building all the time and some of them would show up.

I really like a lot of the new Pokemon. While some people are disappointed by the number and I can totally understand that, I don't mind that given how many of the new Pokemon I like. Some of them have become new favorites already like the Popplio, Rockruff, Rowlet, Mudbray and Salandit lines. As cool as it would be to have more Pokemon in a new generation, as long as the designs keep staying pretty solid, then I'm okay with that. I basically felt the same way about the sixth generation too.

I like the concept of Alola forms. It seemed like a neat way to give attention to older Pokemon without giving them a Mega Evolution. I do hope that we'll more regional forms for other generations in the future.

I actually kind of liked the Zygarde Cell collecting bit, or at least I liked how that was basically just a sidequest without taking up a lot of focus. Some might be more disappointed about that, especially if they wanted more follow-up to X/Y, but I'm glad that it was just something to do on the side. I wanted the games to focus primarily on its own storyline instead of doing that and wrapping up X/Y at the same time. Plus, it gives more of a reason to explore the region to find everything and I do love seeing how beautiful the region is.

The storyline was pretty solid, I thought that it was paced well and it had a really good conclusion, especially for Lillie's character.

Team Skull was an absolute delight. They were such a welcome bit of fresh air by being so hilariously stupid instead of a huge threat to the world. I'm glad that they didn't go that route since I wouldn't have been able to buy it. I still question how they took over an entire town when they seem to be immensely incompetent thieves to begin with. Still, they were so wonderful and magical. Their dialogue and poses still crack me up every time. The Aether Foundation did have some unique twists in them and I did like how they and the Ultra Beasts factored into the storyline.

Pokemon Refresh was just fantastic. Some might say that it's just Pokemon Amie without the mini games, but I think that's a good thing. I love Pokemon Amie and the mini games were fun, but at the same time, the games kind of felt tedious, especially when I was only good at the berry picking one. While they probably removed the mini games due to how they were already pushing what the 3DS is capable of, I think that helped to make Pokemon Refresh better. It just cuts right to the chase with being able to pet, clean, heal and feed your Pokemon, which I think makes the feature less tedious and more enjoyable. I thought that I'd get tired of cleaning my Pokemon, but now I do it so often that I feel kind of sad when the option isn't there after a battle. It helps to make the games more immersive as well as feeling closer to your Pokemon by caring for them. It's probably my favorite new feature introduced in these games and basically a good example of how to improve an already great mechanic. I just pray that they keep Pokemon Refresh for future games.

Ride Pokemon are just great. Not only do they continue to make Alola feel unique, but they are an awesome replacement for HMs. I don't think that I had as much problems with HMs as much as most other fans too, but I do love riding around on Pokemon instead. It's so much fun to ride around on Taruos, Scoutland, Mudsdale and fly on Charizard. Plus, I love that I don't have to worry about getting a team member that can learn Surf or Fly. It would usually be pretty easy to find a Water Pokemon that I like for both teams, but getting a Flyer could sometimes be a bit tricky. Much like Pokemon Refresh, I hope that they keep the general concept of Ride Pokemon around for the future.

Poke Pelago is a pretty fun feature. While it can take awhile to grow berries or level up other Pokemon, I love that the features basically allow for Pokemon not within your party to still do something. They can still go on adventures and get stronger without being on your team. I'm sentimental like that. I always imagined that they were doing something more than being in the PC anyway, but seeing it within the game is nice and it's a nice way to help get your Pokemon stronger so you can fill up the Pokedex.

Sun/Moon are far from perfect and I'll address some of the problems I had with them in the other thread, but overall, they were solid fun games and that's basically what I was hoping for them. I love the new Pokemon, the characters are great, the Alola region is beautiful, the trials are fun and the storyline was pretty good. I'm not sure where I'd rank them with the other games at the moment, but I do think that they are a significant improvement over X/Y and possibly the best start to a generation since B/W. There is enough detail and Easter Eggs thrown in to make them feel like anniversary games, but it still tells its own storyline with its own characters quite nicely.

 

[Arceus the Dragon]

I like how we got the new concept Ultra Beasts. Zygarde getting some role even if small and forms being available is good. Trials were a nice change despite my preference to gyms. To be actual champion and defend my title is the best in my opinion. New type combos Dragon/Normal and Dragon/Fighting introduced for the Dragon type is neat. Obtaining a Gengar in the wild instead of trading is great. Getting a Alolan Golem from in-game trade is also good.

 

[Blockhead Pippi]

Oranguru.

Literally Oranguru. I have been waiting for the longest time for a "proper" ape Pokemon. I realize that we have Slaking and Darmanitan, but Slaking is technically a sloth and Darmanitan didn't really look ape'ish enough for me to the point where I kept forgetting its existence. When I first saw Oranguru, I went absolutely bonkers over it. And I've not been disappointed, Oranguru is a spectacular Pokemon. Yeah he's made for double battles which I don't participate in, but I still love him all the same.

Plus Oranguru is funny as hell. The Oranguru in the clothing boutique saying "Gu do it!" and the one watching the man behind the trailer are the best things in this game.

 

[Peachy]

I love so much about Sun and Moon:

• The overworld is the best it's ever been in any Pokémon game. They managed to let go of the chibification and still look like Pokémon.
• The new background designs are so varied and pretty. And getting rid of the circles really makes it look like the battles are happening right there.
• The animations for the new Pokémon and Alolan forms are amazing and so varied.
• The music in this game is so goooooood. Other than like 1 or 2 tracks I absolutely adore the soundtrack.
• Even with how intrusive I felt the story was a times, the cinematics were really well done in MS. Along with the camerawork in most of the cutscenes.
• I can actually remember personality traits for most of the characters! For as little time as some of them got they managed to use their time well and make them all seem fun!
• I really enjoyed the island challenge. It was so refreshing playing through a Pokémon game and having something other than Gyms. The totem pokemon were interesting challenges and some of them were actually challenging.
• Alolan forms. I still think it was dumb limiting them to Gen 1. But... they really made me like some of the Gen 1 lines that I had written off as boring. I have a new love for Muk, Golem, Raichu, Ninetales, and Marowak. So I guess they were good for something. Dugtrio and Persian can still rot in hell though.
• The PC being the champion and having to defend their title was a really interesting concept.
• Killing HMs was such a good decision. It really frees up team-building for the story and let my use types that I used to have to miss out on.
• Poké Pelago. I really like this feature. It doesn't have much but it's kept me coming back to the game each day and has the best berry growing method the series has ever had.

 

[Esserise]

The setting is like, a whole oxygen tank's worth of fresh air. Smashing our adventure up across a chain of islands rather than a singular landmass was very inventive way of setting these games apart from what we've had before. And it's so immersive, with the Alola Forms, the wild Pokémon cries in the overworld, the rustling grass and trees and the shadows of flying Pokémon in the sky, the proportional world scale (although I did lob a criticism at this as well in the other thread), and the Trials and customs - Alola really feels like a world unto itself. Unfortunately it starts to feel a bit lifeless in the post-game, but man, while you're going through the main game, it is absolutely sensational.

I love the story. In fact, I have a lot to say about the story on its own, so I'll probably dedicate this post to that, and then make a later one for the more mechanical stuff. SPOILERS ABOUND. Anyway, I love how the story is interwoven with our island challenge - it feels like they shouldn't be able to intersect something as earthy and personal as our Trials, and our run-ins with the local gang, with things as out-there as Ultra Space and secret experiments and wormholes, and yet, somehow the contrast works. In my opinion, at least - it added a texture of unpredictability. I think it's the particular threads that tie it together - the Aether Foundation may be very modern, high-tech, and megalithic in comparison to the island challenge, but their aim is toward Pokémon conservation, which would be a crucial task in a region like Alola. I feel like that grounds them a bit more, and smooths out the differences. We also have a linking thread in the form of Nebby, since it's connected to both the UBs and the history of Alola. And even the Ultra Beasts themselves seem like somewhat of a foil to the Alola Forms - Pokémon develop differently in Alola's environments, and I think it's an interesting contrast to put them up in the same world as these Pokémon that developed in a completely different dimension.

As I'm sure I've made clear before, I am a devout Gen V zealot, but something about this story works better for me. I suspect it's the lighter tone - Gen V is darker and more psychological, but in hindsight, I almost feel like it's held back by its medium, to a degree. The recent Pokémon Generations episode sort of opened my eyes to this. I think Gen V's story would work excellently as an anime series. But when it's sewn into a video game engine, I feel like it can't express everything it wants to in quite the clearest way. Whereas Alola's story isn't so serious or so introspective as that, so I feel like it slots into the format a little easier, making for a more satisfying consumption of the story, though not a more satisfying digestion, if that makes sense.

Specifically in terms of the characters, I just love them all. The Trial Captains and Kahunas all get some room to work with (even though I'm not very satisfied by Mina's contribution to the game). I like Hau well enough. He's nothing amazing, but he's a nice bit of optimism to have around, and I don't really have anything against "friendly" rivals. I really like Gladion - I feel like they do just about enough with him. There's a little room for more, I suppose, but he doesn't feel lacking to me. Kukui's great fun, and I really like that he has his own personal goal aside from anything related to the Pokédex (the final battle at the League was a genius fusion of character, narrative symmetry, and fanservice), and his whole Masked Royal schtick is actually funny, unlike Sina and Dexio's Masked Hero personas, since he's actually a likable and prominent character to begin with (incidentally, I like Sina and Dexio more in this game than in XY - they aren't much more than they were, but the little bit of personality that they give them here does help). The Gen V cameos, all from characters that I was a fan of, are greatly appreciated. Enough has been said about how fun and entertaining Team Skull are, but what I really appreciate about them is that they're not another team with global or universal ambitions. They're just anti-tradition punks who failed the island challenge. That alone weaves them in more closely to Alola and makes them feel like an organic product of the region. In fact, can I just say thank god for the climax of these games. I was sick of the world-ending catastrophes that we kept having to stop - the climax of SM is far more personal and therefore more worth investing in. Lillie just wants to try to lead her mother back to reason, and Team Skull wants you to save Guzma. That's the whole reason why you go to Ultra Space. Not to save the world, but to save two families. I vastly prefer this.

I like what they did with the box mascots as well. Their lack of lore in-universe actually makes thematic sense unlike Xerneas/Yveltal, whose millennium-long naps are, frankly, a storytelling cop-out. Solgaleo and Lunala, much like our own sun and moon, are not from this world, and yet they are still objects of fascination/worship, and they exert an influence on our world. In turn, their distance from the Pokémon world feels more justified. Of course, in lieu of any ancient history about the two of them, we instead get Nebby as the central focus, which I thought was a cool twist. On some level, it actually made me regret spoiling it for myself, which is an impressive feat when it comes to me because I ingest spoilers with fervent vigor. But yeah, having the Legendary Pokémon slowly evolve over the course of the story, and to have it be an ally all along rather than a tool of destruction that we rescue from peril - it was a good change of pace. And speaking of traveling companions, I also loved the Rotom Dex's commentary throughout the main story, although sadly, it turns into repetitive white noise in the post-game. I understand why that's the case, but why not do something like, you know, since there's no National Dex, upgrade our Pokédex in some other way? By the time we beat the game, we probably don't need the Town Map down there anymore (whereas I did appreciate that during the main game), and Rotom isn't offering any valuable dialogue. So why not revamp the lower-screen display for the post-game, somehow?

Anyway, back on track. To wrap this "Part 1" up, we have Lillie and Lusamine. Beginning with the latter, I'm very satisfied with what we got for our first female main villain. There are certainly a few wobbles - she's a little over-the-top (though, not many of our main villains aren't), and her desire to lash out at Alola comes pretty much out of nowhere, and her cryostasis collection of Pokémon feels like it could stand to be explained in further detail. But aside from that, her circumstances (which are NOT "I was poisoned by an alien jellyfish and now am crazy") are very tragic, and sympathetic. Nevertheless, her transgressions and her spiky rejection of her family are her own mistakes. And we see the consequences of that in the form of Lillie, which I thought was clever - giving the villain children so that their otherwise offscreen past could feel more tangible. It's one thing to, for example, read about how Lysandre grew jaded and cynical, or to be told that by him, but it's something else entirely to have the effects of the villain's personal crisis manifested in the form of a relative, who is also your friend. It certainly makes more sense of why we'd get involved with the villain - we're friends with Lillie and thus, want to help her with her problems. Whereas something like stopping the bowlcut astronaut cult or halting the doomsday meteor feel more like things that we just sort of fall into doing by chance. Lusamine is actually a big part of the reason why I'd love to see a Kanto sequel featuring her and her daughter - I'd love to see what she's like when she's reformed and rehabilitated. To see a bit more of her as she was before her life dissolved. I don't think I've ever come out of a game asking to see more of a villain, or at least not to the extent that I'd like them to go with Lusamine. So, great work there in my opinion,

Which leaves Lillie. Perhaps the series's most pronounced character arc, and definitely one of the best. Seeing her grow from a shy, dependent child into somebody brave and responsible and willing to stand up for herself, was so, so rewarding. In some ways, she reminds me a lot of Bianca (another character that I feel was very well-developed), but I think there's a key difference between the two. Bianca's journey is all about figuring out the direction that she wants her life to go in. There is of course some degree of self-discovery involved in that, but Bianca starts off as someone who is damned well going to make her own choice. Lillie starts off a bit behind in that regard - she's not so much concerned for herself. She just wants to help Nebby and to not be a burden on other people. And while she does eventually find a direction for her life just as Bianca did, it is secondary to her own personal empowerment and her development to a point where she actively wants to shape her own existence. And I love that she remains as dutiful as before - just as she took care of Nebby before, now she's taking care of her mother. I love that that carries over. She was so worried at first about relying on people or seeming selfish, and yet all along, people have relied on her in turn, and she's been there to support them. Which is an intriguing contrast with her opposite, Nihilego - a being that empowers those around it in order to protect itself. Meanwhile, Lillie always helps us out by healing our party, and shelters Nebby, and eventually helps to heal her mother from the toxins left in her system by the fusion with Nihilego, and she never does any of this for her own sake... it's really great stuff.

 

[Team Gaara]

~SOME MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD~

First and foremost, Lillie~ I love her! After coming off two generations of sht female characters as friends (Bianca and Shauna) I was not happy when I first heard Lillie wasn't into battling and was just an assistant to Kukui. But she's literally more of a character on her own than Kukui's assistant. She doesn't begin as a trainer, but due to the plot, she doesn't just sit around whining about being weak and doing nothing about it she gets off her ass and does something about it. We literally watch her grow right in front of us and it's really her who smacks that good sense into Lusamine. She's just such a cute and wonderful character~ I was actually really sad when she left at the end of the game, but it just makes her feel that much more real~

On that note, the story itself is my favorite is DPPT, which I never thought another game would be able to reach. Or at least, I wasn't really expecting it with Sun and Moon based on the pre-release info about Team Skull being the villainous team, but I am so glad I was proven wrong~ :3

Amazing story aside, as with Gen 6, I loved pretty much every new Pokemon here. There's a few I'm not too crazy about, but overall we got the glorious paper bag Pokemon, Mimikyu, awesome Legendaries in Magearna, the box Legends, Zygarde's new forms, and the Tapus, my new fave Grass-type, Lurantis (after Leafeon, of course, sorry Lilligant) and I also really loved the Starters and their evos, too~

The Island Trails were fun and I liked that they allowed you to defend your Championship, even though I never really was bothered by you not doing so in past games~ It made sense~ But here, it's really fitting seeing as you're the first Official Winner of the Pokemon League Challenge~ (Kukui is a Champ in my heart <3)

How could I forget: INCREASED DIFFICULTY! I was so mad that BW and XY were so damn easy~ Gym Leaders capping at 3 Pokemon. The E4 at 4. Like???? How do you come off of Champion Cynthia and then make the following gens such a cakewalk? I was incredibly pleased that the E4 went back to 5 Pokemon (even if the order still isn't fixed, which I am not a fan of) and they were actually hard. As were the Totems. I actually ended up losing to some of them (Wishiwashi and Mimikyu destroyed me, along with Kahuna Olivia). I wanted Challenge Mode back, but the amped up difficulty is just as good!~

I may come back and edit this with more later, because there was just so much I loved about these games~ :3

 

[Sakuraa]

Sun and Moon are probably the most enjoyable mains series games I've played in a long time. I don't think I've liked a game this much since the Gen 4 games, which were also my first. Here are some of the big things I liked the most.

Plot and characters. This is the first time in a long while that I've been really into a plot in a Pokemon game. From the very beginning, everything is so story driven and I actually like how everything fits together. It doesn't feel like something tacked on, but rather than the world was built around it. Also, I love nearly every character. They all feel so alive and there isn't anyone that feels "just there". Lillie especially is my favorite. Her development is probably one of the best instances of character growth in the entire series, going from an easily frightened girl who depends on everyone else around her to a brave person who makes her own choices and solves problems herself. Minor thing, but I really liked how the main characters' ages are canonically confirmed within the story. After Serena/Calem's ages were never mentioned (as far as I know) it was nice to get that information directly presented as part of the story. With that said, I really like how the main PCs are 11. I've never cared much for the older PC's myself so I was glad that Elio and Seline were back in the 10-12 range. Just a personal preference.

Island Trials. Such a wonderful change up from the boring old gym challenge. I was so bored on the routine of, walk in a gym, beat the trainers, beat the leader, repeat for next gym. Trails actually gave me something fun and engaging to do and it was different for each trial. Whether it was looking for food ingredients, listening to sounds, or taking photos, I was immersed in the experience, which is more than I've felt with gyms in a long time. Also, Totem battles were super intense and actually difficult. They got stat boosts at the start of battle, held berries that benefited them, and called partners to make the battle even more of a challenge.

Difficulty. Going on with the last note, I LOVED how this game was actually challenging. AI was much better than XY where opponents just spammed boosting moves, but never attacked. In Sun/Moon, characters used moves that made sense for the Pokemon they were battling. I remember battling Kahaili's Crobat where it specifically avoided using any contact moves on my Togedemaru so as not to be hurt by Iron Barbs and instead opted for Swift. Kahunas and other major trainers used items. They healed their Pokemon when afflicted with status. It actually made me struggle to win most battles which I had none of in XY.

Z-Moves. I know I'm unpopular in this opinion, but I vastly prefer Z-Moves to Mega Evolution. More specifically, I like they way they were handled in the game. The fact that they can be used by all Pokemon rather than a select few is already a major plus for me. But I also like how they are based on the power of the moves you and your opponents have, so it never feels too over powered. Plus it also means your opponents can use them against you early in the story. With Megas you had to be at a point where characters could have fully evolved Pokemon and they had to be of those select few which could Mega Evolve. Lastly, minor thing, but I also like how you have to do specific poses do to activate the moves. They could have just made them require one generic action like Mega Evolving, but the fact that they made a much of different poses for this just makes it them much more fun to use for me

Customization. I know I've spoken a lot about the things I dislike about customization this time around, but I actually do like a lot of the improvements they made. They added a whole new skin color option, gave the option to remove the hat, included glasses, and makeup and hair accessories for girls. They also made it so most of the clothing is available in all colors (even if you are limited in those colors) and added more interesting colors for both eyes and hair (even if some of them are locked until post game) which do add a lot of variety.

 

[Kharixi]

• Customization.
• Effectiveness tags on moves.
• Poké Pelago.
• Pokédex info updating even with traded and gift Pokémon.
• Return of battle intro animations.

And probably more.

 

[~ Blazing White Yang]

- Alola has very quickly became my favorite thus far for its rich natural environments, unique culture, and a Pokemon roster that looks and feels very inspired.

- I was surprised by how much I liked the cast this time around. The way that the story is told could use a bit more of a focal point in my opinion, but the characterizations all around really sold it for me despite that.

Spoiler: Story / Character Spoilers

That little house on Route 2 was one of the first 'mysteries' of the game for me...I told myself I'd come back to see how the story of that successful little boy who ran away from home would pan out, if it ever would...Imagine my surprise when I see Guzma standing in the doorway on your first visit back to that house in the post-game. I was completely floored! I never would've guessed. I thought this was some side-quest or whatever but no! And I also thought I would never like this character because of the thuggish exterior, but I turned around after getting to know him here. I even respect that he still wants to beat us down. It feels more like competition than him being deplorable.

And Kukui...Man I thought he would just be this super-chill young Professor, like a Sycamore on perpetual vacation, but I think he's the most well-developed of any. He more actively guides you around the Region than most Professors, he's really passionate about this Region, he has a silly hobby outside of his duties, he acts as a father figure to Lillie, he's married...He even stands between you and your shiny new throne at the end of the game, and his team is fucking great. I love this guy.

Gladion is another favorite, though I had a feeling I would like him...From the very beginning he seemed like a Team Skull 'outsider', and a character with some difficulty in his past. I really respect the way he tries to endure and assume so much responsibility in his situation, despite the family and Aether being in such tatters. Since he plans on 'cleaning up' the Foundation as the new President, I would love to see what exactly becomes of him in the future.

- The difficulty in this game, at least in regard to Battles, was a pleasant surprise. SOS Battles make Wild Encounters more of a concern, and even a little more lifelike. Totem Battles like that Power Herb Lurantis or the Sitrus Berry Wishiwashi in Rain gave me a run for my money, especially when they summon their allies. The return of scaled Exp. also works really well alongside the new Exp. Share, keeping you from getting too strong too quickly. They definitely heard the complaints. I swear they've done something to the AI for Trainers as well...

Spoiler: Story Spoilers

Lusamine for example made switch-ins on almost every turn of my first Battle with her because I had some kind of advantage .__. She shocked and completely destroyed me!

Then there are those occasional randoms who use competitive Battling Items, like the guy on Route 3 with Stealth Rock/Yawn/Red Card. Was not expecting to see anything like that so early in the game! The Battle Tree and Royal Dome also come out swinging, with fully evolved Pokemon, Megas, Z-Moves and a greater tendency to switch Pokemon right from the start (when previously, they'd start you off in easy sets with NFE Pokemon). Overall I think they've heard the complaints about the game being too easy. I'm pretty satisfied with the efforts here.

- Regional Variants. I wish they had used more than just Kanto's Pokemon to explore this concept, but its still one that I really like. And it makes so much sense that I'm surprised I never once thought of it as a possibility...Pokemon growing and changing based on differences in habitat makes the world feel all the more alive and dynamic. As an idea it just really excites me for the huge amount of potential behind it, and how much more you could diversify the species. I hope we continue to see more variants over the years.

- Pokemon Refresh. Such a great improvement overall. The food is more plentiful, the scenery is more variable, the grooming feature is adorable, and it all just works together to flesh out the original idea.

- Poke-Pelago. There's just something incredibly charming about having my Pokemon hang out and do chores while I'm away. And I think its an excellent farming mechanic, too. Berries, Stones, EVs, Egg Hatching, friendship level...I like to earn things actively, but it's nice to have those things steadily growing whenever I'm busy.

- The Ultra Beasts. As if the Regional Variants and the new roster of Pokemon weren't enough, these guys are just fascinating.

Spoiler: Post-game Spoilers

The post-game hunt with Looker and Anabel is the single most intriguing part of the overall story to me. Fallers? Police dealings with the Beasts from 10 years ago? Lusamine's missing husband? Ultra Wormholes in the OG Pokemon Universe? I only wish that the main game had explored all of this in more detail.

- The Box is basically perfect now.

- Customization being back, now with more hair options for guys and the ability to remove our hats!

- RED! Seeing him all grown up was just a really pleasant surprise Love the new look, and the new Battle theme just became my all-time favorite. It's incredibly majestic.

 

[Almonds]

The Poke Pelago. It's a great way to EV train pokemon and hatch eggs when you don't have time to play the game. Also, Berry farming and collecting Stones/Shards are cool features.

The updated box system. Going straight to interacting with the boxed pokemon is nice. That, and I also like how they implemented IV-checking in the PC. That's a really convenient feature because I can just check them right then and there.

Returning characters with updated designs.

 

[Isaac Gravity]

- Music takes top spot here. Vast Poni Canyon for example was pure platform adventure game hype.

- While I have my issues with a particular part of the the story (Poni) and its nowhere near tightly contained or paced as BW overall, it was still solid overall on its own.

- The cast while many could use a bit more padding or suffered a bit too much from "imply but don't show" were still treats. Rowan is always gonna be my favorite Professor but Kukui... man that guy was just hands down the best character in the game! The last battle with him was just so fitting given how the game starts with him guiding you, continually motivating you and finally being the last (and rightful) obstacle you must pass. His team was pretty tough too!

- Team Skull, hands down the best (local) evil Team in the main series. Skull had the best dialogues (humor and serious. No seriously, some of what the later Grunts in Po Town say when it came to their failures or just that moment where the locals in Malie Garden were jeering our favorite Grunt duo made me sorry for them), had grounded motivations. They were just a treat.

- Poké Pelago

- I appreciate the type effectiveness being shown so long as we've encountered them. I'm not as young as I used to be and, at this point, there's too many Pokemon to remember every single type flow for ones that aren't either: my favorites, threats to my favorites or ones I simply remember.

 

[Like_Fahrenheit]

The Elite Four have 5 Pokemon on their teams! I was put off at first with Unova's E4 having four Pokemon, but they made up for it with two new members when you re-battled them. But Kalos' E4 never got new Pokemon. I never liked this.

 

[Guzma]

• The Pokemon. GF's been on a roll Pokemon design-wise ever since Gen V, IMO. This gen continues it.
  
• The starters. I think that this is overall my favorite starter trio ever. The Rowlet line is the best one, obviously - all three of the stages are winners, with Decidueye being the most badass Grass starter ever. Popplio is also a great Ugly Duckling story - I like how the goofy/adorable little sea lion pup becomes a gorgeous mermaid opera star. Litten's line, while still good, is the weak link up until Incineroar, who's got a huge amount of personality in its animations and design. Plus, having the first Ghost and Fairy-type starters and the Fire/Dark-type starter we all hoped Tepig would be is amazing.
  
• The characters. I could just go on and on about how well-fleshed out the major characters are and how cool the minor ones are. In particular...
• Team Skull. I LOVE these guys. They're the most hilarious villain team in the entire franchise, with "brilliant" plans like stealing all the bus stops "so the bus drivers could chill." Guzma in particular is my favorite character in the franchise now. "Y'all are stupid!"
• Poke Ride. NO. MORE. HMS.
• The story. After how weak Gen VI's story was, I was worried we'd never get a story on par with Gen V. I am very pleased that this game proved me wrong.
• Did I mention the starters?

 

[smalllady]

• Improved story and graphics.
• WAY more memorable characters, plus a more solid group of buddies (Player Character, Hau, Lillie, Gladion).
• Even though there weren't enough new Pokemon, overall I liked what they consist of. The starters, in particular, are probably some of the best.
• Pokemon Refresh and Poke Pelago. Thank god they gave Pokemon in the PC something to do. And I like being able to heal status ailments immediately after battle instead of just rummaging through the bag for a Full Heal.
• The cutscenes themselves aren't at all bad. They just needed to either space them out more or reduce the number of cutscenes.
• Poke Rides. They're more convenient than HMs.
• And of course, it only took them 20 years to change the stale gym formula. Better late than never, I suppose.

 

[Gengarzilla]

I haven't played them, nor do I plan to, but defending your Champion title is a pretty cool thing.