The First Look at Pokémon Generation 8: Pokémon Sword and Shield

On the morning of the Pokémon series anniversary, a special Pokémon-themed Nintendo Direct has revealed the first information and footage for the newest installment in the Pokémon series. Called Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, are coming to the Nintendo Switch

These games take place in the all-new region of Galar, a land with diverse geographical features. The trailer shows that the region has misty forests, sprawling mines, open grassy expanses, and snowy towns. The region also features a large city that seems to be steam-powered, which is a first in a Pokémon game.

The trailer shows just a bit of gameplay. The wild encounters and Pokémon catching is back to the series standard, with random encounters and the absence of the catching mini-game featured in Let’s Go. We also see the protagonists capture and use Pokémon from all different regions, like Pikachu, Hoothoot and Wishiwashi.

The graphics of the game seem to be a mix of the graphical style of Pokémon Let’s Go and Pokémon Sun and Moon. The game looks visually similar to Let’s Go, but features the more dramatic camera angles utilized in Sun and Moon. The world is also as detailed as the areas in Let’s Go, with little touches like advertisements being seen on the walls of buildings.

Of course, with a new region comes new Pokémon. The trailer does not disappoint, revealing the three Pokémon the player can choose as their first partner: The Grass-type monkey, Grookey, the Fire-type bunny, Scorbunny, and the Water-type chameleon, Sobble. A bit of the Pokémon’s personalities are shown with the reveal, with Grookey being acrobatic, Scorbunny being energetic, and Sobble being nervous.

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are slated to release in late 2019, but the series director promises fans that there is more Pokémon related news to come throughout the year.

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