Following the launch of Pokémon Sword & Protect final 12 months, Recreation Freak introduced the Growth Go, promising two new story-driven expansions for the primary all-new Pokémon RPGs on the Swap. The primary growth, The Isle of Armor, was a enjoyable addition to the mainline story, however had loads of issues that made it much less memorable than the bottom sport. With the second a part of the Growth Go, The Crown Tundra, Recreation Freak and The Pokémon Firm hope to ship the extra thrilling content material gamers crave. I used to be given the possibility to look at greater than half-hour of footage and study concerning the soon-to-be-released second growth.
One among my foremost criticisms of the Isle of Armor was that it felt nearly aimless in the way it delivered the story. You got a unfastened narrative when you launched into a collection of fetch quests, however finally, the story felt tenuous at greatest, solely serving to push you thru the mundane missions on the best way to the ultimate encounters. In distinction, the Crown Tundra is extra story-centric than the Isle of Armor, and provides you just a few totally different quests to embark on. You begin out on an journey with Peony, a former Galar gymnasium chief, as you find out about Dynamax Adventures and work to uncover the mysteries of the brand new Legendary Pokémon Calyrex and its affect on the world. On prime of these storylines, you even have the mission of studying extra about and battling the Galarian variations of the Legendary fowl trio from the first-gen video games: Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.
Gamers can entry the Crown Tundra as quickly as they attain Wedgehurst in Sword & Protect’s foremost story. When you journey to the Crown Tundra, your Pokédex updates with the extra creatures discovered within the space and also you meet the eccentric Peony, who’s gearing up for an expedition into Pokémon dens to search out the Legendary Pokémon hidden within the Galar area. You journey to the city of Freezington, situated within the west of the Crown Tundra. There, you encounter Calyrex. The footage cuts out, however Peony comes working out, saying he heard a battle. Calyrex wastes little time, possessing Peony and talking by him and setting the participant up for the search surrounding the brand new Legendary monster.
From there, the footage I am watching leaps to the second journey, which focuses on the Galarian types of the Legendary birds. This quest, referred to as A Legendary Tree of a Legendary Three, begins with a cutscene round an enormous, pink tree. Moltres and Zapdos get away right into a struggle, earlier than Articuno crashes the occasion. Nevertheless, earlier than lengthy, they understand you are watching, they usually disperse to totally different components of the Crown Tundra. The Pokémon Firm likens the strategies of encountering the Legendary trio to the way you encountered the Legendary canines within the Johto area.
Choosing up on the path of the Legendary trio, I watch as a participant makes an attempt to trace down the Galarian Zapdos, which appears impressed by an ostrich, within the Rolling Hills. The participant makes an attempt to return at it from behind, however every time, the Zapdos notices the participant and flees. There is not any approach the participant can sustain with the pace of the Zapdos on foot, in order that they bounce on their bike and try to chop the Legendary fowl off, however it’s simpler stated than achieved, since its pace combines with craftiness. As soon as the participant lastly catches as much as the fleet-of-foot fowl, a battle ensues.
Just like the Isle of Armor, the Crown Tundra is structured like one big Wild Space, with Pokémon roaming free throughout a number of biomes, together with snowy mountainsides, huge fields, and winding caverns, during which you are free to discover. Due to this, you’ll be able to camp all throughout the world. Within the video, I get to see the energetic persona of Galarian Slowking as he trots round camp, taking part in fetch. Galarian Slowking can show beneficial in battle, because the Poison/Psychic-type Pokémon can have a capability referred to as Curious Medication, which removes stat adjustments from all allies when it enters the battlefield.
Subsequent, I am given a take a look at one of the vital anticipated new options: Dynamax Adventures. Because it seems, the Crown Tundra is dwelling to a ton of Legendary Pokémon from throughout the complete collection’ historical past. The catch? You must enterprise deep into mysterious Pokémon dens and battle by hordes of Dynamaxed Pokémon with the intention to discover and catch them. In Dynamax Adventures, you crew up with three different trainers as you’re employed by branching paths of Max Raid Battles utilizing a Pokémon you borrow from the expedition crew; sadly you can not carry your personal Pokémon into these dens.
After you win a Max Raid Battle, you select whether or not you wish to swap your borrowed Pokémon out for the one you simply caught, or keep it up. You must be strategic together with your selections, not solely should you have in mind what varieties are on the highway forward (you’ll be able to pan up on the map for planning functions), however HP and standing results carry over into subsequent battles. Within the Dynamax Journey I watch, the trainers battle by a gauntlet of Haunter, Cramorant, and Tauros earlier than reaching the ultimate battle in opposition to Uxie.
Some paths offer you encounters with different characters, like this Scientist, who can swap out your drained Pokémon for a contemporary one
If 4 Pokémon are knocked out over the course of the Dynamax Journey, the trainers are kicked out and should begin over once more. When you’re profitable in your expedition, you’ll be able to select one Pokémon from the journey to maintain. You additionally purchase a number of objects, such because the Potential Patch, a brand new merchandise that adjustments a Pokémon’s current skill to a uncommon skill.
When you full the story of the Pokémon Sword & Protect, The Isle of Armor, and The Crown Tundra, a brand new post-game problem unlocks in the primary sport of Pokémon Sword & Protect. Leon points a problem to all gymnasium leaders within the Galar area to mix their powers to grow to be much more formidable foes for would-be champions, and the Galarian Star Event is born. The Pokémon Firm claims that is the toughest problem in Sword & Protect so far, as gamers crew up with different trainers they’ve encountered over the course of their journey to tackle gymnasium chief duos, in addition to different expert trainers they’ve encountered on their journey together with Hop and Mustard. Within the demo I noticed, I watched the participant coach crew up with Hop to battle a crew of Milo and Nessa, adopted by a crew of Gordie and Bea. I am undecided what different challenges await on the finish, or if there’s an final reward to conquering these challenges, however I am excited to as soon as once more check my coach expertise in opposition to the robust solid of leaders from the Galar area.
Pokémon Sword & Protect: The Crown Tundra is on the market tomorrow as part of the Growth Go. For extra on the primary a part of the Growth Go, The Isle of Armor, head here. For extra on Pokémon Sword & Protect, take a look at our review. To study all concerning the behind-the-scenes particulars that went into making Sword & Protect, take a look at our exclusive coverage hub.
