Pokémon Sword & Shield: 10 New Details You Need To Know
2. Your Rival, Hop
As well as a new Professor and her assistant, Sword & Shield brings with it a new rival for you to battle with throughout Galar. This is Hop, who’ll be starting out with you, meaning Sword & Shield is set for a fairly traditional storyline.
Hopefully you will be battling with him throughout too. While Hau was a nice change of pace, many fans are hoping for a return to a more bitter rivalry with more at stake; your Gold & Silver rival was literally a criminal, for example.
Hau did at least fit in with the relaxing island vibe of the Hawaii based Alola, but he was still too much of a pushover. While Britain is also an island, it’s far less laid back and sun spoilt than Hawaii, meaning Hop and Hau will be very different.
That said, while not everyone loved Hau, he certainly was a change up of the usual tried and tested rival story. Though everything seems on the level with Hop, the games may yet spring a surprise on us.
Another member of Hop’s family is set to play a big role in the story too.