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Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019)

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Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield[a] are upcoming role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. They are the first installments in the eighth generation of the Pokémon video game series and the second in the series to be released on a home game console, after Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. Announced in February 2019, Pokémon Sword and Shield will be released on November 15, 2019.

Sword and Shield's development began immediately following the completion of Pokémon Sun and Moon in 2016. As with most other main series Pokémon games, they chronicle the main character's journey in the Galar region, based on Great Britain, alongside rivals Hop, Bede and Marnie aiming to dethrone the Pokémon League Champion Leon and defeat Team Yell, a group of fans obsessed over Marnie. Sword and Shield introduce several new features such as Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing, functions that increase size and change forms of certain Pokémon; the Wild Area, a large open world with free camera movement; and raids with co-op battling. They also reintroduce features previously seen in Sun and Moon and Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, such as regional variants and roaming Pokémon depicted in the overworld.

Several new features for the games are also firsts for the series, including, cooperative raid encounters, akin to those seen in Pokémon Go; the Wild Area, a fully explorable open world area with free camera movement and dynamic weather which has implications on which Pokémon species appear at a given time;[1] and "Dynamax" and "Gigantamax" forms for Pokémon.[2][3] The latter two enable Pokémon to temporarily grow to a giant size, with Gigantamax being limited to select Pokémon and feature different forms from the Pokémon's normal appearance.[4] A new mechanic called "Poké Jobs" tasks the player's Pokémon with completing requests, such as assisting in construction or cooking, to gain experience or rare items.[5] In addition, Pokémon native to the game's region will be able to be transferred to the games from the Nintendo 3DS app Pokémon Bank, Pokémon Go, and Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! via the Pokémon Home service.[6][7] Pokémon Gyms make a return after being absent in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon.[8] As is typical with the series, the two games will have version exclusive features between them, such as available Pokémon and, for the first time, Gym Leaders.[4] Some features from previous entries, such as Mega Evolution and Z-Moves, will be absent from the games.[9] A 'Camp' mode is introduced which allows the player to spend some time interacting or playing with their Pokémon and to cook different types of curry which provide bonuses for Pokémon. New customization options for the player character have been added, like outerwear and other accessories.[10] The PC box can be accessed in some areas outside of Pokémon Centers.[11]

Sword and Shield take place in the Galar region, a large, narrow expanse of land and one of many regions in the Pokémon world. Game director Shigeru Ohmori described it as a more modern setting.[12] The region itself is inspired by Great Britain,[13] with its many landmarks resembling places such as the Houses of Parliament and the Cerne Abbas Giant.[14][15][16] The Galar region begins with sprawling countryside towns featuring cottages and Victorian architecture to the south.[15] An Industrial Revolution-like city with steampunk-style elements populates the center of the region.[17] Many of the region's towns and cities feature Pokémon Gyms stylized like football stadiums. Snow-covered mountains dominate much of the northern areas of the region.[12] Encompassing a large portion of the region is the Wild Area, an open world area with numerous Pokémon species roaming. Weather across the Wild Area changes regularly.[1] Like with Pokémon Sun and Moon, Pokémon previously introduced in older games, such as Weezing, gain regional Galarian Forms with new typings and appearances. Some Pokémon, such as Linoone, even gain regional evolutions.[18]

Story

Similar to many previous entries in the Pokémon franchise, players embark on a journey to become the strongest trainer in the Galar region. Starting alongside their neighbor and rival Hop, the player receives one of three starter Pokémon:[19] the grass-type Grookey, the fire-type Scorbunny, or the water-type Sobble. After receiving a letter of endorsement from Champion Leon, they face off against each of the Gym Leaders, including Milo, Nessa, Bea, and Allister, and aim to take part in the Champions Cup, while also facing competition from other rivals Marnie and Bede. This also includes taking care of Marnie's unintentional fanbase, known as Team Yell, a devout group of hooligans determined to stop the player. The Gyms showcase Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon, implemented by the Galar Pokémon League Chairman, Rose.[23]

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