Pokemon LEGENDS: Arceus

The world of Pokemon is all about trainers exploring new worlds, catching Pokemon, battling the best trainers, and becoming a true Pokemon master. For two and a half decades, the world of Pokemon continues to expand further for all the trainers who dream the impossible dream, but what if the world of Pokemon looks like before humans and Pokemon bond each other? Step back in time in an ancient civilization and witness the world of Pokemon as you've never witnessed before in the latest Pokemon adventure that takes back centuries ago in the land that will soon be known as the Sinnoh region.

Pokemon LEGENDS: Arceus

Pokemon LEGENDS: Arceus is a brand new Pokemon adventure where players go back in time and experience the majestic beauty of the Hisui region, a region that will be known centuries later as the Sinnoh region from the Diamond and Pearl games. That's right. This game is set centuries before Diamond and Pearl, even the characters you will meet in the game could be ancestors from familiar Diamond and Pearl characters, so there's a connection between the two timelines. 

In this different kind of Pokemon adventure, you are a member of the Galaxy Expedition Team, a team that specializes in surveying Pokemon across the region. At the start of your journey, you have been given a choice of three starter Pokemons that came from different regions such as Cyndaquill from the Johto region, Oshawott from the Unova region, and Rowlet from the Alola region. These three starters look familiar to you but when they reached their final evolution stages, they're not the ones you're familiar with.

As a member of the team's survey corps, your mission is to explore the different flora and fauna of the region and when told, you'll do what every Pokemon fan does best; catching. However, this isn't an easy task because with most Pokemon behaving differently in different areas, it's important not to rush while approaching near to it and catching it. You can try battling with it using your Pokemon and lower its HP before catching it, that's a classic method that surely comes in handy in a different setting.

At times, there are wild Pokemon coming to attack you, which is unheard of for a Pokemon game, so watch your step. If some wild Pokemon trying to attack you from all sides, it's best to either use your Pokemon to battle it or catch it. It's worth the risk but if you have taken too much damage, you'd better rush back to your base camp to heal yourself and your Pokemon. Aside from healing yourself, your base camp can be an essential place to craft various items. Of course, if you're itching for crafting materials or new recipes for cool items, you can visit the general store and craftworks for supplies and recipes. It pays to be prepared for more.

As you progress through the adventure, you might run into terrifyingly powerful Pokemons along the way. They're known as Alphas and they're bigger than normal and have glowing red eyes. When you encounter them, it's either fight or flight because their attacks are insanely powerful, which might come in handy when you got the guts to catch them.

The battle system in Pokemon LEGENDS: Arceus is different than most Pokemon games because there are two ways to use a Pokemon move such as Agile Style and Strong Style. The former cuts down power in favor of usable speed, making the user's next turn come sooner, while the latter cuts down action speed for added power. Use these styles efficiently because this will turn the tide of the battle in your favor.

Of course, personalization is included in this game and while you're not on an adventure, you can buy various clothing to personalize yourself. You can even go to the Photography Studio to show your style and your favorite Pokemon as well. It's one way to show the world how much you're enjoying this different kind of adventure.

In addition to the familiar Pokemon you will catch in the game, Pokemon LEGENDS: Arceus marks the debut of new Pokemons such as Wyrdeer, Basculegion, and Kleavor. Familiar Pokemon favorites such as Voltorb, Zorua, Zoroark, Braviary, and Growlithe have been given their Hisuian regions, giving the impressions of what they look like in the land that time forgot.

Although it's set in a different timeline from the Diamond and Pearl saga and features a different kind of gameplay mechanics compared to past installments, Pokemon LEGENDS: Arceus showcases a different kind of Pokemon adventure fans will never forget. 

If you've enjoyed last year's Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you can give this new kind of Pokemon adventure a try. After all, both these games are set in the same place but with different timelines. It's the Pokemon adventure that time forgot but you'll never forget the awesome experience this game delivers. Consider this your true calling.