Pokémon Sun And Moon Review: 6 Ups And 3 Downs

1. Team Skull

Look up "the absolute worst" in the dictionary and what do you see? Well, nothing, as three word phrases aren't listed in there. But if they were you'd get a definition of Team Skull.

While Sun and Moon has eschewed the traditional model of trainer and rival set off on an adventure, fight Team [Intimidating Word] along the way, and challenge the Elite 4, there's still room for the band of Poké-thugs to pop up causing trouble. This time it's Team Skull, a bumbling, dancing, rapping collection of idiots whose schemes seldom extend further than messing up bus timetables (no, seriously).

They're not the game's main antagonists thankfully, but seem to be a direct pastiche of modern gang culture - specifically a combination of European urbanity and Japanese street life. Even their soundtrack, a bass-heavy indecipherable rap of "yo's" and "damn's" seems like an unsubtle dig at this sort of crowd. Is it deliberate? Is it's meant to be some sort of critique on the yoof of today? Is it lazy villain design? I don't know, but I hate them regardless.

All that said though, gimmicky moves, uninspiring creature design, and some baddies I can't get away with should not detract from what is, ultimately, an outstanding game. Can I go so far as to say that, in fact, this is the best Pokémon game since Red and Blue, and it's probably even worth you picking up a 2DS on the cheap just so you can play it? Yes. Yes I can. I can and I will. Do that. Thanks. Bye.