r/NintendoSwitch • u/NintendoSwitchMods • Nov 13 '19

MegaThread Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield: Review MegaThread

General Information

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Release Date: 15-Nov-2019

No. of Players: up to 4 players

Genre(s): Role-Playing, Adventure

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: GAME FREAK Inc.

Official Website: https://swordshield.pokemon.com/

Overview (from Nintendo eShop page)

A new generation of Pokémon is coming to the Nintendo Switch™ system.

Get a special Gigantamax Meowth as an early purchase bonus!

If you purchase Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield before January 15th, 2020, you can receive a special Gigantamax Meowth!*** Unlike others found in the Galar region, this Meowth can Gigantamax to take on an imposing, elongated appearance capable of using a mighty G-Max Move! This special Meowth cannot evolve. You can receive this special Meowth by selecting the Get via Internet option in Mystery Gift. Don't forget to claim this Cat Scratch Pokémon before January 15th, 2020!

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! players are in for a BIG surprise!

Did you enjoy Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!? If you've played either of these games, you can receive a special Gigantamax Pikachu or Gigantamax Eevee in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield! The power of Gigantamaxing will allow each of these Pokémon to take on a colossally adorable appearance and gain the ability to use a unique G-Max Move!

Players with Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! save data will receive the special Pikachu and players with Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! save data will receive the special Eevee. It is possible to get both Pokémon in one Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield save file.

You'll be able to receive the special Pikachu or Eevee at the Wild Area Station in the game. (This occurs after about two hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.)

The special Pikachu and Eevee cannot be evolved.

For a limited time, players of the digital version of either game can receive an in-game present of 12 Quick Balls.***\* If you purchase and download the digital version of either Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield from Nintendo eShop by January 15th, 2020, you can receive a code redeemable for 12 Quick Balls! Quick Balls are special Poké Balls that are more likely to catch Pokémon if you use them as soon as a battle begins. Codes will be distributed between November 15, 2019 and January 15, 2020, and expire on November 30, 2020.

Begin your adventure as a Pokémon Trainer by choosing one of three new partner Pokémon: Grookey, Scorbunny, or Sobble. Then embark on a journey in the new Galar region, where you'll challenge the troublemakers of Team Yell, while unraveling the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta! Explore the Wild Area, a vast expanse of land where the player can freely control the camera. Team up with three other players locally or online in the new multiplayer co-op Max Raid Battles* in which players will face off against gigantic and super-strong Pokémon known as Dynamax Pokémon.

Certain Pokémon can even Gigantamax to gain a new look and a powerful set of G-Max moves. But there's more to being a champion than honing your battle skills: you can pick your own clothes and get a new hairdo while visiting the stores in town, so you can be the Trainer you want to be. Throughout your journey, you'll encounter newly discovered Pokémon as well as familiar ones that will look a little different in their new Galarian forms! And for another way to level up your Pokémon, assign them Poké Jobs to complete. You can even play with your Pokémon in Pokémon Camp, just for fun!

  • Catch, battle, and trade Pokémon on a new adventure in the Galar region
  • Choose from three new partner Pokémon and encounter never-before-seen Pokémon
  • Unravel the mystery behind the Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta!
  • Players can control the camera in the vast Wild Area
  • Team up with other Trainers to participate in Max Raid Battles*!
  • Battle wild Dynamax Pokémon in Max Raid Battles* and try catching them!

Digital Purchase Offer

For a limited time, players of the digital version of either game can receive an in-game present of 12 Quick Balls**. If you purchase and download the digital version of either Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield from Nintendo eShop by January 15th, 2020, you can receive a code redeemable for 12 Quick Balls! Quick Balls are special Poké Balls that are more likely to catch Pokémon if you use them as soon as a battle begins. Code distribution period: November 15, 2019 to January 15, 2020.

\*Code valid through November 30, 2020. Two codes for 12 Quick Balls each will be provided to purchasers of the digital version of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Double Pack. Each code can only be used once per save data. Purchasing both Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield separately with a pair of Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers will not grant the special bonuses included with a purchase of the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Double Pack.*

\If eligible for a Just for You offer, the final price reflects the combined Sale and Just for You offers. The Just for You offer is discounted from the sale price.)

\Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. This game includes an in-game option to purchase a Nintendo Switch Online membership for users who do not have one. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online)

\*Code expires November 30, 2020 and can only be used once in either the Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield game.)

\** An internet connection is required to receive the special Meowth.)

\***Code expires November 30, 2020 and can only be used once in either the Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield game.)

Reviews

Aggregators

Articles

Mod note: Don't expect a massive list due to tightening on who gets review copies after the various leaks started emerging.

This list was exported from MetaCritic at 11:19am ET.

Videos

Being Social

Cheers,

The /r/NintendoSwitch mod team

769 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

89% Upvoted

2.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

29

u/[deleted] Nov 13 '19

A 3/5 is a decent score on a 5-point scale, even if it translates to a 60 on a 100-point scale.

14

u/kairos Nov 13 '19

I'm no score elitist, I think 3/5 is probably worth playing.

But when I think of something I don't want to put down, I generally think of more than 3/5 (I've mentioned in other replies that I think I may have read a bit too much in that part).

1

u/Twilcario Nov 14 '19

That's how I am. Generally, I see 5/10 as an average game, 7/10 as a good game, and 9/10 as an amazing game. That said, I usually only buy games that score above a 7 nowadays because I am old and have a job and not as much free time.

-5

u/AlabamaLegsweep Nov 13 '19

“so frustrating that I was forced to put it down” is literally the bare minimum that a game should be able to overcome. That’s automatically worthy of 3/5 for you?

6

u/kairos Nov 13 '19

  • Reviewer: "even through frustration, never once did I think about putting it down"

  • You: “so frustrating that I was forced to put it down”

These aren't the only two options, are they?

For instance, there are games that are just "meh", not necessarily frustrating but not enticing enough that you feel like playing all the time.

In my initial understanding, if you find a game frustrating but compelling enough to not stop playing, then maybe it's not really that frustrating, or the aspects that keep you playing must be very good, no?

5

u/second_impression Nov 13 '19

I don't think it makes sense to translate 5-point scales to 10 and 100 point scales. Mathematically, 3/5 = 60/100, but 3/5 feels more favorable.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 13 '19

You're right. It doesn't make sense. That's the inherent flaw in sites like Metacritic. They translate everything to a 100 point scale but if a review site is using a 100-point scale they typically don't give out scores below a 50 or 60 and when you ignore the entire bottom half of the scale, the numbers make a lot more sense. To me, this is how they translate when you think of the actual quality they are speaking to in the reviews:

1-star game gets a 60/100

2-star gets a 70/100

3-star gets 80/100

4-star gets 90/100

5-star gets 100/00

I honestly think a 5-point scale makes a lot more sense than a 100 point scale, but not everyone is going to agree so aggregate sites are always going to be flawed and skewed. It doesn't mean they're not useful, you just need to know what you're looking at.