Pokémon Sun and Moon

Did You Know?

• A Pokémon Sun and Moon-themed New Nintendo 3DS XL was released on 28 October 2016.
• Early purchasers received a special Munchlax holding Snorlium Z via a wireless distribution event.
• The games launched with support for nine languages.

Plot

The games take place on the tropical Alola Region, a group of islands. The leading scientist is Professor Kukui, named after the Hawaiian state tree. Team Skull is the villainous group, while the Aether Foundation studies Ultra Beasts from another dimension. The player moves from Kanto to Melemele Island with their mother, meets a girl named Lillie and her Pokémon Nebby, and obtains a Starter Pokémon from Professor Kukui.

They embark on the Island Challenge, a coming-of-age custom involving trials and battles with each island's Kahuna. The player encounters Team Skull, led by Guzma, and enforcer Gladion, as well as the Aether Foundation led by Lusamine. At Aether Paradise, an Ultra Beast emerges from a wormhole. After defeating Team Skull, Gladion reveals Team Skull worked for the Aether Foundation, kidnapping Nebby to summon Ultra Beasts.

The player battles through Aether Paradise, defeating Lusamine, who is Gladion and Lillie's mother. Lusamine and Guzma open an Ultra Wormhole, overclocking Nebby's powers and transporting them to Ultra Space, unleashing Ultra Beasts on Alola.

Development

Game director Shigeru Ohmori stated the title Sun and Moon was inspired by the two celestial bodies' metaphorical representation of human relationships. Hawaii was chosen as the basis for the region due to its clear nights and plentiful sunshine. Development started after Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire was completed. For the franchise's 20th anniversary, the games were developed comparatively from scratch with more radical changes.

The first Pokémon of the seventh generation designed was Jangmo-o. Pokémon from Red and Blue were the only ones to receive Alolan forms, as a special surprise for long-time players. Designers focused on motions of full 3D models from X and Y to create livelier creatures. Pokémon Go did not affect development, though it improved public awareness. Ohmori noted they redesigned the system to push the 3DS further.

With a team of around 120, the games took about three years to develop. Kazumasa Iwao, responsible for battle systems, later directed Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Reception

Pokémon Sun and Moon received a score of 87/100 on Metacritic, indicating generally favorable reviews. OpenCritic assessed the games received mighty approval, recommended by 95% of critics. The move from the gym system received widespread praise. Famitsu gave the pair a 38/40 rating.

IGN's Kallie Plagge gave a 9/10, praising the streamlined battle interface. Alex Donaldson of VG247 remarked the story drew him in deeper. Alex Olney of Nintendo Life called them the best Pokémon games ever produced, praising Alola's design. Chris Tapsell of Eurogamer said they were the best generation in more than a decade.

However, Tapsell noted the first few hours included too many tutorials. Jeremy Parish of USGamer assessed Z-Moves as underwhelming and taking too long. Polygon's Allegra Frank criticized linear gameplay and lack of content beyond the primary storyline, though the games had the most memorable Pokémon journey in years.