Review: Pokémon (Sword / Shield)

Pokemon Sword Shield Featured

Discover the new generation of Pokémon in this opus (Pokémon: Pocket Monsters). Become a Pokémon trainer, choose your starting monster, and go on an adventure in the new Galar region and discover the mystery behind the legendary Zacian and Zamazenta.

Pokemon Shield Boxart

Pokemon Sword Boxart

Pokemon Shield Expansion BoxartPokemon Sword Expansion Boxart
Release date: 15 November 2019

Developed by: Game Freak Inc.
Published by: Nintendo
Available on: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite

Game Type: Role-playing
Average time of one game: 1 hour

Estimate of the total duration of the game:
About 40 hours for the main story.
More than 100 hours if you plan to do everything, raise Pokémon to maximum levels, etc.

Topics: Fights, adventures, history

Business model: Need to buy the game once, and then it is possible to buy extensions to get additional content and Pokémon.

Number of players:
1 local player
4 players online.

Available in physical (cartouche) or digital (download on console)

To buy digitally, Pokémon Shield, click here.

To buy digitally, Pokémon Sword, click here.

This supports Shared Screen. Thank you!

Possible configurations of the Nintendo Switch:

Nintendo Switch Handheld modeNintendo Switch Tabletop modeNintendo Switch TV Mode
Age3+ 7+ 12+16+18+Comments
New players Needs to know how to read for a few years.
Intermediate players
Experienced playersFull of challenges, quests for all types of players.
Replayability

The game is almost infinite. When the main adventure is over, there are still multiple quests to complete, hundreds of Pokémon to raise, and many challenges. It’s multiplied if you play with your friends and online.

Difficulty

Orange Green Gauge

It will take perseverance to get to the end of the adventure. After that, many challenges with all levels of difficulty will be available.

Violence, fear, nudity?

Monsters fight each other in many battles. Never blood. When monsters lose, they are knocked out and can always be cared for. Attacks of fire, ice, electricity… are used.

Language level used

Enough developed. Suitable for children from the end of primary school, or secondary or more.

Positive message

The vast majority of the inhabitants are very helpful and kind. Only the bad guys, and the rivals, provoke a little. This episode contains more ethnic diversity than the others. It is always possible to choose whether to control a girl or a boy at the beginning of the adventure.

Minimum reading level required

Asked to read for a few years.

Additional costs ?

It is possible to buy extensions called to extend the adventure. It’s optional though.

Minimum level of execution on the controller required

Very easy. Just menus to browse. No reflex required.

Principle of the game

Watch out Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are the same games. They have some small differences among the Pokémon available and in the story, but only one game is needed.

This is a role-playing game in which players assume the role of a Pokémon trainer trying to become the champion. To become the champion, he must get the best Pokémon and make them triumph in battles. Players explore galar’s fictional region and engage in turn-specific battles with other coaches.

Local game modes

Just one game mode where you go through history.

Online gaming modes

Requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to be able to play on the Internet with friends or other people.

Extensions (DLC)

One year after the game’s release, Nintendo released an extension to add additional content to the original game (Pokémon Sword or Shield).

This expansion is called Pokémon (Sword or Shield) Expansion Pass or Pokémon (Sword or Shield) Expansion Pass in English.

The expansion pass gives you access to two new areas, newly discovered Pokémon and quests for self-development and exploration.

It costs about 38 CAD plus taxes to extend the original game.

If you already have Pokémon Sword or Shield and want to buy the extension digitally, you can buy it here. (This way you support Shared Screen and allow it to continue operating. Thank you! )

Be careful if you decide to buy the Pokémon Sword extension, you should check that it is for Pokémon Sword. The same goes for Pokémon Shield. They are sold in a very similar way and you have to make sure that it is for the right version of the game that you buy the extension, otherwise it will not be compatible.

Game – Extension

It is possible to buy the game AND its extensions in one go by buying:

this:
Pokemon Shield Expansion Boxart
or this:
Pokemon Sword Expansion Boxart

These packs have been available since November 6, 2020 at a price of $120 plus taxes each.

Conclusion

Pokémon Sword or Shield is a role-playing game with immense content that can keep you busy or busy for many hours.

The game is entertaining and enjoyable to browse, especially for newcomers in the series.

More information about the game:
Official Pokemon Sword page on Nintendo’s website

Official Pokemon Shield page on Nintendo’s website

Recommendations

If you like this game, you’ll also like:

Pokemon Let's Go Eevee Boxart OR Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu Boxart

The two games are also the same between them. You have to choose whether you prefer Eevee or Pikachu.

About Marc Shakour

Former video game programmer, columnist, teacher, competitor ... Marc has always been very familiar with the world and industry of video games. He decided to help neophytes about it, to discover new universes, worlds and fantastic creatures.

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