Pokemon SunandPokemon Mooncame out in November of 2016, with their next iterationPokemon Ultra SunandPokemonUltra Moonreleasing a year later in November of 2017. It is normal for the main pair of Pokemon games to receive an updated release, usually as the third singular title likePokemon YellowtoPokemon’s RedandBlueorPokemon CrystaltoPokemon GoldandSilver.
This wasn’t the first time an updated version of the main game came out as a pair, though.Pokemon BlackandWhitehad a sequelinPokemon Black 2andWhite 2that continued the story, doing more than any third title ever has. Usually, a third title release will rehash the same story, while also adding neat new features, game mechanics, and Pokemon for the player to experience.Pokemon Black 2andWhite 2broke new ground in this way.
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Pokemon Ultra SunandUltra Moonare very reminiscent of what aPokemon CrystalorPokemon Emeraldcould be compared as, and that is an enhanced upgrade of the original game.Pokemon Crystal, for example, had a centralized focus on Suicune within its narrative and introduced the now-staple Battle Tower.Pokemon Emeraldhad Rayquazaas the narratively focused Legendary Pokemon and introduces the Battle Frontier, a battler’s paradise. With only a year between the release ofPokemon SMandUSUM, it’s no surprise there are similarly minor changes between them.
Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon New Features
Pokemon SunandPokemon Moonwere the third main Pokemon games to be released on the Nintendo 3DS. Before them, there werePokemon XandYin 2013 (with no follow-up third title) andPokemon Omega RubyandAlpha Sapphirein 2014.Pokemon SunandMoonfeature four islands for players to travel through and explore. Introduced in these games are many new features and even changes to the originalPokemonformula such as replacing Gyms with the new Island Challenge.
Pokemon SunandMoonhave also added the Rotom Pokedex, a talkative Pokedex with more functionality than ever before. It also provides the player with a map that shows the player’s location, points of interest, and will often recommend destinations based on the conversations players have with NPCs. The games also introduce new Pokemon forms such as the Ash-Greninja form, as well as region-variant Alolan Forms. Some Pokemon have an alternative Alolan form that completely changes their look and typing, such as Sandshrew, Vulpix, Meowth, and Marowak, to name a few.
One major addition to thePokemonseries is the introduction of Ultra Beasts. These pseudo-legendary extradimensional Pokemon originate from Ultra Space. They appear throughout the story, and eventually, the player can capture them after becoming champion. Once the player became a Pokemon League Champion, they can take part in champion defenses, where trainers the player met along their journey will randomly come and attempt to dethrone the player.
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Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Changes
Pokemon Ultra SunandPokemon Ultra Moonare very similar games to their predecessors.ThoughPokemonUSUMandSMby and large share the same plot, there are a handful of key differences contained. Though debatable if these alterations or additions are enough to warrant what might be considered a second purchase, the additions are very much in line with what a fan might expect from the third addition to a pair ofPokemontitles.
Among these changes and features, there have also been many tweaks to the story. InPokemon USUM,the player receives their first Pokemon on Route 1 from Professor Kukui before saving Lillie, for example. The player and Hau will travel from Melemele Island to Akala Island using the newly introduced Mantine Surf mini-game instead of hitching a ride on Professor Kukui’s boat. There are many other minor story tweaks but the major beats are more or less the same, with some of the bigger changes appearing towards the end, such as Gladion leaving as opposed to Lillie and Lusamine leaving in the end, for example.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moonare available now for Nintendo 3DS.
