The next versions of Pokémon are now official after someone let the cat out of the bag yesterday. Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon will usher in a a new generation of Pokémon and be released worldwide, in 9 languages later this year on the Nintendo 3DS.
During the Pokémon Direct there was a trailer played however there was no gameplay or screenshots to be found. Glimpses of the new games’ artwork was shown but nothing more. The trailer did evoke some nostalgia – have no doubt this is the next mainline game and not a ‘third’ Pokémon title.
The only other thing announced was the addition of Pokémon Bank support to Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow. You’ll be able to take your Gen 1 Pokémon to the latest game for the first time since… well a while.
Trailer screengrabs
Sun & Moon Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmzDL1l3Fag
Direct Presentation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee1Yqu_IfSo
Two types of Chinese wasn’t what I was hoping would be the one thing they would tell us about the game.
But I was hoping but not expecting Pokemon Bank for Red Blue and Yellow.
Cannot wait for the Release, Funny because I thought about Pokemon Bank with RBY today but ruled it out
I have to say, that was probably the most disappointing Direct I’ve seen. I usually go in with low enough expectations I enjoy them, but this was the franchise’s 20th anniversary, I just sort of expected half an hour at least, maybe talking about Shuffle/Picross and other spin-off games for a bit, special events and then revealing Sun and Moon with a trailer, or at least some new Pokemon or teasing features.
6 minutes was a surprise, and since the leak was like 80% of the thing, the only real surprise other than the short duration was the RBY Bank thing, and the fact that it was over so suddenly.
From a 20th anniversary I expected a bit more of a celebration, I guess, than 10% greeting, 20% retrospective, 20% RBY mechanics and 40% “new generation reveal” with very little discussion about what was actually coming.