Pokémon Sun and Moon Reviews

Pokémon Sun and Moon is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Unscored
Nov 15, 2016

Long story short: these are the most ambitious sequels this franchise has ever seen. Are there problems? Of course. Am I pleased with the end result so far? Absolutely. Pokémon Sun and Moon is a refreshing rethought on what it means to play a Pokémon game.

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9 / 10
Nov 21, 2016

Pokémon Sun and Moon come away feeling like a totally fresh experience for the series. After 20 years of memorable Pokémon experiences, Game Freak has brought out something that feels completely new, while still delivering on the core Pokémon experiences people crave. There's something for every kind of Pokémon fan here, whether they're looking to catch them all, or if they just want to be the very best. Pokémon Sun and Moon don't just feel like another entry in the long running series, they feel like an opportunity to let the series soar to new heights, and, boy, does it ever.

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9 / 10
Nov 26, 2016

Aside from some disappointing story elements and frame rate dips in battles, Sun and Moon encapsulate 20 years of series strengths and introduce enough freshness to keep the series running strong.

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Nov 23, 2016

The most creative that Game Freak has been with the franchise in quite some time, and players who had grown tired of the iterative approach the developer had been taking may well find this one a Renaissance for the series.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 29, 2016

Pokémon Sun and Moon is a safe and enjoyable entry in the franchise. It doesn't reinvent the wheel but focuses on polishing the rough edges and making the entire thing shine. It has enough new features to make it a fun adventure without feeling too familiar, and that's important. Some nagging flaws, like a poor frame rate and annoying Pokémon reinforcements, drag down the experience a little, but die-hard fans and curious newcomers alike should still have a great time. Pokémon Sun and Moon offers over 800 monsters to collect, so you'll be catching them all for a long time.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 28, 2016

Pokemon Sun and Moon mixes up its tried and true formula to create something distinctly refreshing. A must buy for Pokemon fans and those who want to get into the series.

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Rudy Lavaux
Top Critic
9 / 10
Dec 8, 2016

The most advanced, most detailed and deepest Pokémon experience to date can now be found in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Perhaps the last big mainstream first party Nintendo franchise to grace the Nintendo 3DS as the next generation is almost upon us, it is an indispensable addition to anyone's game library, even those just remotely interested in Pokémon.

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Nov 21, 2016

Pokemon Sun and Moon provide a fresh experience to the series and plenty of content for everyone to enjoy.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 14, 2016

Both a spectacular jump-on point for newcomers and a strong entry for series veterans, Pokémon Sun and Moon is everything you’d expect, and maybe even a little more. I’m happy to say that, even 20 years after it’s inception, Pokémon remains one of the best RPG series’ out there.

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8.4 / 10.0
Nov 24, 2016

Pokémon Sun and Moon brings a lot of changes to the main series. It’s easier to play and gives new users yet another chance to be part of a 20 year old franchise. Having said that, the story is dull ─Team Skull makes the anime Rocket Team look like a superior enemy─. Online multiplayer, on the other hand, is well organized but the local variant feels too simplistic. This is a typical case of "one step forward and two steps back." Some of adjustments are a success but the game also has many imperfections the developers should learn from in order to make a better Pokémon game.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 15, 2016

While I had a good deal of fun with Pokemon Moon, I couldn't shake the feeling that not everything was sound about it. The story didn't keep my attention as much as I would have hoped, the journey was easy to get through and some of the battles had slowdown.

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6.2 / 10.0
Nov 16, 2016

Pokémon Sun and Moon observe the Pokémon tradition, changing it in minor ways while keeping the formula intact where it matters. However, poor graphical design, a heavy focus on linearity, and a lack of difficulty make Sun and Moon unable to become the evolution which the Pokémon series desperately needs.

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8.5 / 10.0
Dec 9, 2016

This doesn’t mean that there aren’t significant issues that will upset most of our veteran gamers. Frame rate drops and the exclusion of significant features do hurt this game, but fans who have been waiting for an entry that significantly changes things up will be pleasantly surprised.

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9.5 / 10.0
Nov 16, 2016

Game Freak proved that even after 20 years of creating Pokemon games, they're still not out of ideas and refinements.

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GamingBolt
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Nov 22, 2016

Pokemon Sun/Moon deliver what might be the best game the franchise has had in 20 years, but incredibly enough, and in true Pokemon fashion, they manage to disappoint along the way nonetheless.

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4.3 / 5.0
Nov 20, 2016

So after smashing out this game over the weekend, I found myself quite engaged with the gameplay, story and fun characters. Sure it’s Pokémon but there’s a true sense of progression that when linked to the entertainment factor creators not the best Pokémon experience but one that succeeds with both newcomers and fans alike.

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4.5 / 5.0
Nov 21, 2016

With a zest for life and a fresh impression, Pokemon Sun and Moon feels like a new introduction to the series, and not a weary inclusion to simply capitalize on the brand. Whether you are devout follower, a jaded former trainer, or a fledgling enthusiast, now is the perfect time to embrace the Pokemon splendor, pause the real world, and take a paradise vacation to the Alola region.

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9.5 / 10.0
Nov 26, 2016

Pokémon Sun and Moon is a breath of fresh air in a series that was perhaps becoming a bit stale. With the new region of Alola being divided the way it is, there is a great emphasis on variety and diversity.

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4.5 / 5.0
Nov 30, 2016

Pokémon has been a classic series for twenty years and with 2016 being its 20th, Pokémon Sun and Moon is a perfect way to celebrate such a milestone. It still holds all the charm and fun from the original titles yet creates an entire new world to explore. It’s a must-have for fans and a worthy place to begin for newcomers. The future of the Pokémon series shines bright like Pokémon Sun and beautiful like Pokémon Moon.

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NZGamer
Top Critic
9.8 / 10.0
Dec 8, 2016

Matt received a physical copy of Pokemon Sun from Nintendo for review.

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