Nintendo and the Pokemon company have released
a 13 minute trailer that shows off some new features for
Pokemon Legends: Arceus, as well as how it will play.
As previously stated, Pokemon Legends: Arceus takes place a couple of years in the Sinnoh region's past, back when the region was referred to as the Hisui region. In the center of Hisui is home to Mt. Coronet, which is surrounded by various areas with distinct ecosystems, such as the grassy Obsidian Fieldlands.
In these areas, players can collect various resources, which they can use to create helpful items, such as Poke Balls, lures, and healing items. The player can find these resources while exploring the place or catching Pokemon. The player's own Pokemon can also help them on collecting certain materials, such as stuff hidden in breakable rocks, or items hidden up in tall trees.
Additionally, as you would expect, you can also find Pokemon wandering about. Different Pokemon will be exploring these areas depending on the day, as well as the weather. If you spot a Pokemon, you can try to catch it with a Poke Ball, or engage it in battle. Many Pokemon have different temperaments, meaning you'll have different ways of approaching them
First, there are some Pokemon - like Bidoof - who are friendly, and won't mind if you approach them. These one can be easy to catch because of this!
Some are a bit skittish - like Starly - and will try to run away if they spot you, meaning you'll have to sneak up on them from behind if you want to catch one of them. Using certain items, like berries, may distract them, giving you a better chance to catch them!
And then there are aggressive Pokemon. If they spot you, they become angry! They'll also become angry if your attempt to stealthily catch them in a Poke Ball fails. While they're angry, they will try and hit you with their attacks, and all Poke Balls you throw at them will fail to capture them. If one of the wild Pokemon's attacks hits your trainer, they'll take damage! If the trainer gets hit too many times, they will black out, and lose whatever items they were currently holding.
If you want to catch an aggressive Pokemon who's attacking you, you'll have to avoid their attacks, then toss a Poke Ball that contains one of your partner Pokemon at them to begin a battle! Once you weaken the wild Pokemon, then you can attempt to catch them.
Pokemon Battles play out to how they have before in the past, where your Pokemon and the wild Pokemon exchange blows to each other, one after the other. As stated above, you begin a battle by tossing a Poke Ball that contains one of your partner Pokemon near the wild Pokemon you want to fight. If you manage to actually hit the wild Pokemon with your partner's Poke Ball, it may surprise the wild Pokemon, giving you an additional turn to act.
New to Pokemon Battles are styles. There are two types: Strong, and Agile. Strong makes a move more powerful, but you may end up losing a turn. Agile has your move come out quicker, and may even allow you to attack again, but the attack will be weaker. Regardless, using a Strong or Agile style will drain more of a move's PP (Power Points). If PP runs out, then you can no longer use that move until you fully heal your partner Pokemon.
There are also Alpha Pokemon. These ones differ from regular Pokemon by
being stronger than the others, as well as having glowing red eyes. They also appear to be the only wild Pokemon capable of using the Strong or Agile styles when using a move! Alpha Pokemon will be tough to capture, but if you somehow manage to do so, you will have a powerful ally by your side!
As you catch Pokemon, you will report your findings to the professor of the Survey Corps you belong to. Of course, it's not enough to just catch them. Sometimes you also need other info, such as witnessing the Pokemon using certain moves. As you send in your reports, your Survey Corps Rank increases, and you receive funds, which you can use to buy items and materials.
The various areas can be wide and daunting to traverse, but you'll receive some help from some friendly Pokemon! Wyrdeer helps you traverse quickly on foot, while Hisuian Braviary will help you slowly glide through the skies. Basculegion, meanwhile, helps you trainer get across oceans and seas much quicker.
The main town your character is living in is Jubilife Town. Here resides the Galaxy Expedition Team, a group of people from various regions who have come to study and live in the harsh region of Hisui. Jubilife Town serves as the main hub world for the game, and is where your character receives missions and requests. Missions will advance the story, while requests are optional quests. Completing either of them will give you a reward.
In addition to the Galaxy Expedition Team's base and your own home, there are other notable buildings of interest as well, such as clothier, where you can customize your trainer's appearance; the craftworks; and the trading post, where you can trade Pokemon with others.
As you advance through the story, you will have to face off against Noble Pokemon. Initially peaceful - or at least keeping to themselves - something has caused them to become frenzied and go on a rampage! To calm them down, you'll have to throw balms at them, which contain the Noble Pokemon's favorite food. This won't be easy, as the Noble Pokemon will also be trying to attack you!
As you continue to throw balms at them, the Noble Pokemon will eventually drop its guard, allowing you to have one of your Pokemon directly fight it! If you manage to drain the Noble Pokemon's HP (Health Points) to zero, it will become exhausted for a bit, and any balms that hit it during this will significantly calm it down.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus, will release on January 28th, 2022.
