With every passing generation in Pokemon, the series evolves and the core gameplay shifts in different ways. Pokemon Sword and Shield made some drastic changes to the Pokemon formula, and while some of the changes were great new additions, others seem to be a step in the wrong direction for the series as a whole. While there are some glaring complaints fans have with the new games, there are some other changes that were lost in the generation that may have been overshadowed by some of the more glaring issues. For the next generation of Pokemon games, there are several features and mechanics that need to come back to make the series as fun and engaging as it used to be.
Returning to the "Gotta Catch 'em All" Mentality
Addressing the elephant in the room first, the most controversial change in Pokemon Sword and Shield was the removal of a large number of Pokemon from previous generations. While there hasn't been a Pokemon game that let players catch every single Pokemon in one game, players have been able to transfer Pokemon from previous titles to the game to complete the National Pokedex. Sword and Shield, however, will not allow players to transfer Pokemon in that are not a part of the Galar regional Pokedex - making it the first Pokemon game where players could not "catch 'em all" even with outside game help.
Game Freak is launching Pokemon Home early in 2020 which will serve as a method for players to transfer Pokemon to Sword and Shield as well as future Pokemon titles on the Switch. However, even with this functionality, players will still not be able to transfer non-Galar Pokemon into Sword and Shield. Fans are upset about this for a number of reasons - namely that every fan has a favorite Pokemon - and since nearly 400 Pokemon did not make the cut, there's a good chance that at least one beloved Pokemon is left behind.
In extreme cases, some fans have had Pokemon since Generation 1, as there has always been functionality to bring Pokemon from the previous generation forward. Others work on having a "living Pokedex" so that they can get a head start on the National Pokedex every generation, but unfortunately those players are sure to be disappointed this generation. Pokemon needs to have every previous Pokemon. It rewards long-time players of the series and gives players a goal to chase that keeps growing along with the series.
Social Features and a Shared World
Sword and Shield feature some new social mechanics, including a new shared-world mechanic in the form of the new Wild Area in the Galar region. The Wild Area lets players explore a vast area and even interact with players through both Raid Battles and by interacting with player characters that are also wandering around. While the other players in the Wild Area are little more than NPCs that give items, it's nice to see other characters that are fully customized as it really shows that player's personality.
The Wild Area is a great venture into something new that the Pokemon games really need. But while it features some great mechanics, like a rotating schedule of encounters, it doesn't quite scratch the social itch that many Pokemon fans want. The Y-Comm feature is a hassle at best, especially compared to previous social features in the series. By not having a Global Trade System to search for the Pokemon players need, players are tasked with matching up with someone random and hoping they have the needed Pokemon.
Otherwise, players are forced to search through third party sites to find someone to trade with. If players have someone to trade with, they have to both use the same Link Code and hope that someone random in the world isn't using the same four digit code at the same time. Overall, it's a nuisance that really needs an overhaul moving forward in the series.
Bringing Back "Dungeons" and Puzzles
The Pokemon games have long had challenging locations that put players to the test with both battles and puzzles. Whether it's navigating through a dark cave or flying around a building with warp pads, older games had locations that many call "dungeons" that serve as larger challenges for players to take on. Early examples are areas like Mt. Moon or Silph Co. in Generation 1, or the diving puzzles or Sky Tower of Generation 3. These areas serves as large set pieces for players to explore.
Sword and Shield have nothing like this except perhaps the Wild Area but that is mainly just open fields. The two caves in the Galar region are nothing more than a nearly straight line that leads to the next area. There isn't even really a Victory Road that serves as the final test of the trainer. Dungeons gave players challenging activities to take on in-between taking on every gym leader and helped make certain parts of the map unique or interesting. Unfortunately, Sword and Shield lack a sense of challenge in the routes - save for high level Pokemon in the Wild Area - and that needs to change.
Combat Variety and Mega Evolution
In Sword and Shield, unless players were underleveled, there were few moments that truly felt challenging. Pokemon could learn from The Legend of Zelda and Mario franchises by adding more difficult challenges for players to take on. One way to do this would be to add more combat variety to spice up everyday encounters. Players should encounter more challenging trainers, because battling the same archetypal trainers with the same type of Pokemon time and time again gets old, and it's causing the series to grow stale. Trainers could even start scaling to player level to make every area feel dangerous, but at the very least adding more variety to trainers would be a good start.
Mega Evolution and Z-Moves added some unexpected elements to battles as it could drastically shake up how players approached the encounters. Unfortunately, Mega Evolution and Z-Moves are not in Sword and Shield, and players are left with this generation's gimmick: Dynamaxing. This mechanic causes Pokemon to turn into giant versions of themselves with new moves and more HP. Unfortunately this mechanic does little in the grand scheme of things and with the proper team, players an easily one-shot Dynamaxed Pokemon without using Dynamax themselves. The mechanic either needs an overhaul or just needs to be removed going forward in the series.
The Endgame
With the lack of National Pokedex in Sword and Shield, many fans were expecting the endgame to have some substance in its stead. However, Sword and Shield features only two main endgame activities: the Battle Tower and Raid Battles. While the Raid Battles are great for farming powerful Pokemon with up to four other trainers, they are not always the most engaging activities (even when the Y-Comm matchmaking works). The Battle Tower is also rather lackluster as it is par for the course in terms of what Pokemon players have had in the past. While the Battle Tower features a new ranked system, it is just more of the same in terms of a gauntlet of battles.
The Generation 3 games were perhaps the most successful in terms of endgame content. Pokemon Emerald featured a whole Battle Frontier with high-tier trainers, Pokemon, and activities. Each building in the Frontier featured a different type of challenge, so players could shake things up instead of just diving into the same Battle Tower time and time again. Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green featured a whole new section of the map to explore, featuring plenty of new content. In Generation 2, players could revisit Kanto after defeating the Johto league which was also one of the best features in a Pokemon game.
A Sense of Adventure and Curiosity
This last point is perhaps the biggest and most important to many players. Pokemon is all about setting off on a journey to explore a new region and find fascinating and fun Pokemon along the way. Some players strive to be the very best (like no one ever was), while others look to complete the Pokedex and find every Pokemon out in the world. At the end, it all boils down to the call to adventure, and rewarding players for their curiosity in the world.
In the Galar region, there is little to explore outside of the Wild Area. There are several hidden secrets scattered around the region, but nothing like there have been in the past. There are no hidden caves that encourage players to learn Braille to find legendaries. There are no towers that players must race through on a bike before it collapses. There is no hidden trainer at the top of a mountain waiting for a worthy challenger. Players now aren't rewarded for venturing off the critical path, and it makes it feel like the adventure isn't worth it at the end of it all.
The Pokemon franchise made a lot of changes when giving into Generation 8 with Sword and Shield, and while some features were great additions, many older features and concepts were removed to the detriment of the series as a whole. Overall, the series needs a fresh start, and if that does happen, then perhaps some gameplay features will get some much needed updates to make the series the best it's ever been.
Pokemon Sword and Shield are available now exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.