There's no denying the core plot of Arceus isn't too far from something you'd find in a Monster Hunter game, but what it really lacks in originality, it makes up for with heart. Although this isn't quite the amount of storytelling present in games like Pokémon Black and White, Arceus poses some interesting questions about what it really way to catch Pokémon, and how they fit in to the broader world. The idea of warring clans which have inherently different beliefs rooted within the same God is something that's never been discussed in Pokémon before, and it makes sense within Arceus given the setting and search for Sinnoh's origins. Relationships between these clans and Team Galactic start off fragile at best, but you'll slowly improve bridges between the cultural differences and beliefs that every faction harbors. None of this would've been possible with no diverse and likeable cast of characters to do something like a lens into all these clans, and while I would not describe them as deep or intricately written, it's satisfying to watch them grow and evolve past their misconceptions to unite against a greater threat.
If you are going into Arceus believing that it's just Breath from the Wild, but Pokémon, then you're in for a rude shock. Firstly, Arceus isn't truly open world. As you'll progress, you'll unlock zones to understand more about, all of them home to different types of Pokémon and Noble Pokémon. Each is relatively sizeable, but not to the point it seems like a chore to explore or traverse their environments. These areas are created easier still to understand more about with the addition of new base camps you are able to fast visit, and the brand-new mountable Pokémon you'll unlock over the course of the story. May it be the opportunity to mount Wyrdeer while you bolt across the landscape, or gliding with the open skies with a Hisuian Braviary, each one adds something unique to the gameplay loop, and flipping together on the dime makes traversal seamless and satisfying.
While it's freeing so that you can explore these open areas at your own pace, it is a shame that there isn't really a great deal to see while you get it done. Besides the swathes of untamed Pokémon to catch and battle, the number of times I saw something which piqued my interest can be relied on one hand. There's simply not a whole lot going on here, leaving the areas feeling relatively uninteresting and mundane. It does not take advantage of the core allure of open world games leaving these areas feeling somewhat unfinished.
Fortunately, while exploration is lacking, it's hard to deny that catching and battling Pokémon when you fill up the Pokédex is easily the most addictive it's ever been, that is largely because of the research system. While you catch and battle Pokémon, you'll complete Research Tasks to complete the dex entry for your specific Pokémon. Whether it be seeing them use a specific move, defeating them with a particular type, or simply catching them, you're always making progress on Research Levels while you play. It leaves every expedition feeling enjoy it was worthwhile, even if you spend all your time catching random Pokémon and collecting crafting materials. Which reminds me, the opportunity to craft items is something that's wholly new to Arceus, and it is more than a surface level inclusion. A lot of the resources you'll collect when you are on expeditions may be used to craft various kinds of Pokéballs, medicines, and much more. Not only does this help you save money that you'll without doubt need for other goods, but also supplies a real feeling of self-sustainability as you explore the world.
A large amount of what makes filling out the Pokédex so satisfying is the simple act of catching Pokémon, which behaves quite differently in Arceus. When you can still catch Pokémon in the cathartic ways of old in battle, Arceus also allows you to throw Pokéballs outside of battle to catch them. Similar to another person shooter, you take aim and throw, with hits from behind having a higher catch rate than other throws. You can use stealth to control this to your benefit, and various type of balls incentivize different positioning and throw arcs to help make the most from them. Something similar to the Leaden Ball travels much shorter compared to Feather Ball but includes a higher catch rate overall. You may also use other thrown what to stun Pokémon, or even lure them nearer to you with certain foods and berries. It's a surprisingly robust and versatile system that incentivizes taking things slowly, while also understanding what that you can do together with your items at any given time.
Battling is mainly much like other games within the franchise, with one key difference – the addition of Agile and powerful Style move variations. When a Pokémon masters a move, they may be utilized in an Agile or Strong format, costing extra PP, but modifying how they behave in battle. Agile Style typically does less damage but moves the casting Pokémon forward in the turn order, while Strong Style does more damage, but moves Pokémon during the turn order. Some moves also gain accuracy benefits alongside the speed and power that's inherit to each respective style. Many of the early game battles are quite easy if you manage your items properly due to the EXP Share, but it was refreshing to find that the game got a lot more challenging as my party grew in power. Because enemy Pokémon can also make use of styles, you need to know which style is advantageous for you at any given time.
As you complete the primary story, you'll battle the frenzied Noble Pokémon in what could be considered boss fights. These encounters will have you dodging for the life inside a mad rush, as you constantly look for openings to weaken these Pokémon down with throwable food, eventually opening themselves as much as attack from your own Pokémon. Each one of these encounters is unique from the last, providing a significantly needed change of pace, and serving up some of the best moments Arceus has to offer.
In relation to actual content, there's a great deal here to sink your teeth into. Besides the roughly 20-hour main story, there's a plethora of side-quests to interact with. Most of them just boil down to bringing someone a particular Pokémon or item, but there's several standouts in some places that expand upon the planet and characters you interact with between expeditions. There's also the ever- present allure of filling out your Pokédex, and without spoiling anything, Arceus provides an end-game victory lap around Hisui that culminates in a fantastic final encounter.
One thing that Arceus undeniably fumbles is its visuals, detail, texture work, and overall visual polish. For the most part, character models, buildings, battle animations, and new Pokémon designs look great, but everything surrounding it's lifeless, muddy, and flat to check out. While there's some visual variety in every of the explorable areas, the textures used to produce the landscapes are completely lacking in detail. Enhance several weird visual quirks and inconsistent performance in docked mode, and it's simple to seem like many of the game's potential is hamstrung due to these shortcomings. The Switch definitely isn't as powerful as other current hardware, but that isn't a reason if you have lookers like Metroid Dread and Mario Odyssey on the same console. Thankfully, it runs remarkably well in handheld mode, and the OLED screen helps a little in bringing some of the duller textures to life.
