Is it any good?
In just two days’ time, Pokémon Legends: Arceus launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch. Taking the series in an entirely new direction, the game is arguably one of the most exciting Pokémon releases in years, but also one that leaves us with plenty of questions.
Reviews for the game have gone live today, including our own, so we’ve gone ahead and rounded up a selection of quotes and review scores from a number of different outlets. Below, you’ll see just how well the new title has gone down with the media ahead of this week’s launch.
Before we dive in, we’d naturally like to encourage you to check out our very own review:
- The Nintendo Life Review: Pokémon Legends: Arceus – One Of The Greatest Pokémon Games Ever Made
Right, now you’ve read through our final verdict, let’s see what other critics had to say.
We’ll kick things off with VGC, who awarded the game a maximum 5/5:
“Pokémon Legends is the breath of fresh air the series has needed for so long. It may not have been apparent from the trailers, but this is one of the most entertaining, engaging and engrossing games in the entire history of the Pokémon series, and is highly recommended to both long-time fans and complete newcomers.”
GameSpot went for an 8/10 score, describing it as one of the series’ most “daring and inventive” moments:
“Some of the new ideas in Arceus have rough edges, and it’s slow to start before you get access to many environments and mounts. This is an awkward first step, and it was a big adjustment for me, a longtime fan of the series, to make. Once Pokemon Legends: Arceus finds its stride, though, it’s the most daring and inventive the series has been in years, breaking apart the staid core and creating something new and exciting from its pieces.”
It received another perfect score from Comicbook, who called it a “must-buy Pokémon game”:
“Pokemon Legends: Arceus is easily the strongest Pokemon game made in recent memory and should provide unforgettable memories that rival the first time a player first encountered a favorite Pokemon or conquered their first Pokemon Champion fight. It’s a must-buy Pokemon game destined to land on many “top games of the year” lists and should bring countless new and lapsed fans to the franchise.”
The folks at PC Mag weren’t quite as impressed, giving the game 7/10:
“Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the most ambitious Pokemon game yet, offering the catch-and-fight Pokemon experience across wide open lands, with the most direct interactivity seen in any game in the series. Unlike what Breath of the Wild did for Zelda, though, Arceus doesn’t reach quite as far in its mix-up of the classic formula, and so doesn’t succeed nearly as much.”
And finally, Game Informer offered the title an 8.75/10:
“Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a worthwhile spin-off adventure, even if some of the concepts aren’t fully developed. With an enticing gameplay loop, fun side activities, and a story I’m glad I saw through to the end, Pokémon Legends: Arceus sets a solid foundation for what I hope is the next evolution for the series.”
Pokémon Legends: Arceus launches on 28th January, available to buy either digitally from the Switch eShop or physically at retail. Will you be playing it this Friday? Let us know in the comments.
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Pokemon Legends Arceus
Keyword: Round Up: The Pokémon Legends: Arceus Reviews Are In