Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Double Pack - Nintendo Switch

Game so far is great! However, redeeming the preorder bonus code was a hassle. Additionally the directions provided for redeeming the preorder bonus was misleading. The instructions mentioned to redeem the code through the Nintendo EShop however doing so prompted an error code that the code was not recognized. The correct way to redeem the code is through the in game menu by entering the code through Mystery Gift.

I originally was going to buy then separate but as a major Pokemon fanatic since I was born, the dual game was a bonus. The extra content, while may not seem like much, is really awesome to have for the price instead of buying everything separately. Well worth the money!

So, it arrived late compared to it saying itd be here the day of release. As well, all the promotional codes with this bundle? Did not work, so thats nice. Aside from that stuff, the actual game is really good! It doesnt matter imo that they cut alot of the dex, there is alot more gameplay!! The curry making is fun, the story is very cute, and it is a great game for people new to the franchise! I myself have played many Pokemon games and am not holding the company to a standard, so I did enjoy this game alot.

I really dont like the term entitled gamer, but the overall harshness of the reviews that Ive read from various sites for this game seem to make this term more and more valid. I too am a fan that has played since the original Blue and Red (and Green for the Japanese), and let me begin by saying that you should really take these reviews with a much bigger grain of salt than is deemed healthy and, if given the chance, at least play the game FOR WHAT IT IS. Heres the thing that I dont understand: while there are definitely tie-ins between previous generations of Pokemon, each separate generation was honestly meant to be particularly stand-alone, with the exception of the very first two whose regions were intertwined. Each region presented its own story and features. This game is no different, though some people seem to really take offence to the fact that the option to get their past gems is not there. Full disclosure: a lot, if not most, of my favourite Pokemon are not present, but that does not hinder the fact that the game is, in and of itself, enjoyable. Is it the best? Well depending on what aspects youre looking for, that depends. I personally dont think so, but thats because I have a bias of one particular generation which I thought was perfect. Anyway, allow me to list a couple of reasons as to why I believe this game should not be getting as much hate as it does. Whether or not your agree with me, or whether or not you think my arguments even pertain to the issue at all, is ultimately up to you. First, I am blown away by the graphics. I dont mean the sharpness or how well they render, because the Switch handheld will still have its limitations. What I mean as that the inspiration of European architecture captured and fully incorporated into the Pokemon world just absolutely amazes me (I had similar reactions to the very obviously French inspired themes of X and Y). You see Big Ben, you see the wonderful castles, you see the London Eye, each Pokemon Gym is like a full blown (not quite Olympic) stadium. Even the fairy-tale inspired forest area with lit up mushrooms leading up to the Fairy-Type gym (how fitting) has me grinning as widely as possible. Dont even get me started with the Wild Area where youre able to pan the camera around (oh my god, a first in Pokemon, and it is breathtaking). Second, the ease of progression stems from multiple sources. There is a consensus that each Pokemon game is progressively getting easier to beat the main game, which is true. What I dont understand is why this is a problem. Heres the thing about this game, I have never had to use more potions and revives in my Pokemon career, and this is because this game gives you a choice, which I dont think people seem to understand. The older games were very simplistic in their graphics, which is largely due to the limitations of the hardware at the time, but that adds to their charm. Thus, if they arent going to wow an audience with graphics, the next focus would be on the mental aspect of the game itself. Let us not forget just how hard the puzzles in the first two games were to solve, and because they were done in areas where random Pokemon spawns could occur, it just made them all the more difficult. This in turn made it all the more satisfying when you were finally able to beat them. You will not get that same level of satisfaction while playing this game. Its a choice, you can choose to explore more, or you can go straight through. There is also the fact that because its a choice, the more hardcore fans of the games feel as if its a let down that the newer, more casual players, and those just getting into Pokemon, are not forced into the same mental hurdles that they had to endure when they were younger. Funnily enough, this is so much like real life that its just sad. The further we progress technologically, the easier everything becomes. That fact that I ordered this game off Amazon as a pre-order saves me so much hassle, instead of the good-ole days of waiting outside on release day, hoping that one copy would still be in stock by the time I got to checkout. I find it inconceivable that people absolutely hate that Pokemon itself is advancing in the same route. Dont get me wrong, sometimes the convenience of everything is a turn off, but it just makes me appreciate it more. Third, the hardcore fans are asking for the impossible. I dont think they realise how much work went into compressing the game data of Gold, Silver, and Crystal back in the day that they were able to contain both regions in its entirety with all 251 Pokemon at the time. Now, there are over 800 in total. Combine that with each needing its own animated sprite in multiple settings, in multiple positions, with multiple different interactions with the Pokemon and NPCs around them, as well as with the new Dynamax gimmick that gives even more sprites, there is only so much you can cram into the game, and yes, this is still a thing in 2019. Not to mention, Nintendo has always been the company to aim for polish than quantity: to take out things to make sure what actually IS offered is as near perfection as it can get. That being said, this game wasnt perfect which was why I hesitated to give it 5 stars despite me enjoying the game immensely. Below are a couple of the things I really like, and some things that I dont. I really didnt want to include a list of stuff I didnt like because theres enough of the hate online, but I felt it fair. Like: - Very noticeable European inspired landscape - Wild Area (Youll see what I mean if you play the game) - Gym challenges (definitely not challenging, but its a nice change from the pure linear progression) - Overworld sprites of Pokemon in the wild - Ease of access to Pokemon boxes Dislike - The aesthetics of the starters (I dont know, I didnt feel particularly drawn any single one of them) - Horrid level cap of CATCHING Pokemon based on the number of your gym badges - Slightly too linear for my liking So really, my main gripe with the other reviews is that they measure this game up to its predecessors too much and refuse to see past that and view the game in its own right. Ive not yet completed the main story yet, but I am enjoying the progression.

I cant give this game a good review as it does not let you transfer all Pokémon to the game. Got to catchem all is not possible. Not thrilled that we cant farm berries either. Some other issues as well. This is a Switch game and not a 3DS game so it should have been better. I give it two stars in hopes they dont make these mistakes again.

Just felt like telling everyone that if you preordered to get the backpack you should have received an EMAIL with the code. The code will NOT work in the eshop either! It has to be used in the mystery gift option that unlocks after playing for a little bit. All you would need to do is go to MYSTERY GIFT > Get a mystery Gift > Get with Code/Password Type your code and you should get it Will also need to get to a clothing shop in order to change your bags, hope this helps!

I love this game and will totally change this to a five once i get that code. Its the main reason i even bought it off amazon. Calling/emailing again tomorrow but would love it if they just responded.

All the talk prior had me down before game release. Glad I purchased the game anyway! Super fun and very happy with it! DYNAMAXING!!!

Perfect deal if you want both games.

Its got its issues but overall its a fun game.