Pokémon Sword & Shield: Where It Should Go From Here

The Truth About Pokémon Sword And Shield

Naturally, the games were hotly anticipated since their very first Nintendo Direct reveal, reviewed very well overall and sold like hotcakes. That’s just the Pokémon effect for you.

Like any other titles, though, Sword and Shield have its detractors. With the announcement that the National Pokédex would be missing (as would hundreds of fan-favourite critters), controversy surrounded the game in the run-up to its launch and beyond. Game Freak added beloved critters like Politoed and Kingdra back in The Isle of Armor and many more are returning with the Crown Tundra, but this move did not go down well at all.

Technically, as well, Sword and Shield is less than impressive. Titles such as Luigi’s Mansion 3 has pushed the envelope with the Switch in terms of animation and visuals, as have several third-party titles, but Sword and Shield wasn’t the visually and technically impressive debut on the system that the franchise deserved. If players were expecting a bold new twist on Pokémon, or a technically stunning title, Generation VIII has fallen rather short on both counts.

There’s no denying that it’s a solid entry that’s as fun as ever, or that the whole Pokémon raising and battling experience doesn’t feel a lot smoother and more accessible than before, because it absolutely does. Perhaps it’s more than Sword and Shield just feel guiltier than ever of the series’ long-standing shortcomings.