Pokemon the sword and the shield: The island of the armor in the Test
The last Pokémon adventure sparked in the autumn of 2019 is definitely Controversial in the gaming community. Of the one loved, the other hated, it had Pokémon sword and shield is not easy for established Fans of the Franchise. Now, it’s finally here, and we must in the first extension, The island of the armor, again in the Galar Region and come back and new stories to experience. However, can convince the new area, the Kampfdojo and especially the (old) new pokemon?
A new island make a wish‘ I
Even if a lot of Fans problems with Pokémon sword and shield had, I had as a “Pokémon-Noob”, just have some fun would like to have and not necessarily challenging Online Fighting is concerned, there is very much joy with the then adventure in the Galar Region. This is also in our corresponding Test from November 2019 to read. In the first Part of a two-part new DLC pass, we continue our trip now. After a short train journey takes us to the newly discovered island of the armor. On this new companions are waiting for us – but also some familiar faces! In the Test, I ventured into the shieldVersion of the DLCs.
The new island in the armor was, like the already known nature of the zone set up and provides a kind of “Open-World” is. This time there is no defined paths, but we can move quite freely through the Wilderness full of running around Pokémon. It is important always to consider whether we have grown our opponents already, or a different path should be. After a first fight, which welcomes us to the island, we can choose our own path. We will not be forced once again to ride directly to the Dojo on the island – the big Feature of the DLC, which I introduce in more detail later.
This openness of the island to me – just as in the natural zone of sword and shield , simply incredibly well-liked. I love the experience, to see the Pokémon free in the Wilderness wandering. As a result, the pixel world feels much more alive. At the same time, you can find only the real violence of a Pokémon – if we meet at the water front of the island on a giant Wailord, or us on the beach a übermotivierter Kingler followed!
The newly discovered island was waiting for us!
Great variety, but graphically, unfortunately, not a feast for the eyes
Especially good is the variety, which brings the island appealed to me. We cycle through fields, splashing on the beach, in the water or find our way in the maze of dark caves. Even a desert and a swamp on the island – for a diverse natural was taken care of definitely! I found it very appealing that this time not only vast fields were used for Grass, as it was in the nature zone in the main game yet. The island feel bigger and more open. So, indirectly, even a little, the feeling that you have more than just a new area to get treated.
Graphically, I would want to me but still one or two more steps to finishing touches. Especially in comparison to the actual adventure in the Galar area, I had hoped for a more engaging graphic – or at least one which corresponds to the quality of the basic adventure. In comparison to the original areas, the new island is open, however, graphically, some of the wishes. The walls of the pasted caves act, by a mud of pixels, almost like mud rather than solid Rock.
Many loving Details, like the shining stones, in caves, or colorful mushrooms from the base game are missing. In the extensive meadows of the individual trees are found rarely in the desert you can see nothing except sand storms. Well, it is clear that one can expect when the Switch is not an absolute graphics miracle. In the case of the long time lag between the base game and DLC but I would have definitely expected more. I very much hope that Part 2 – land of the Snow to the crown – still can fix!!! Because of the underlying Soundtrack was rather repetitive and not very varied.
A strange rival – if only for a short time
Suitable to each of the new Pokémon adventure is also in the DLC , The island of the armor , a new rival as a Central Antagonist to. Even if Hop, friend and neighbor from the base game, also receives its small appearance, the spotlight belongs to the addition of Saverio. Saverio is a fanatic with a Team full of psychic-type Pokémon, and a bunch of circle of Poké balls around his head. In the sword-equivalent of meet players here on Sophora, a trainer with a penchant for poison-type Pokémon.
We meet Saverio, for the first time after our arrival at the station and he confused us immediately, with other aspiring students of the dojo, which he was supposed to pick up. Of course, he’s challenging us to a fight, which he owed to our strong Team immediately loses. As revenge, he tries to sabotage us and to send us in the wrong direction. But let’s be honest: a Level 58 Abra, and a Level 60 Slowpoke? It would take more to defeat the CHAMP himself. This also brings me to a point that had bothered me just kind of: no one really knew on the island know who we are and what we have done in Galar already.
Just in the Galar Region this has been achieved in wonderful that the players are also welcomed to the main Story of the NPCs, often as a Champ or an autograph is requested. The more strange it felt to be back as a Youngster, considered, especially with two legendary Pokémon in your Luggage. Well, finally, Pokémon, logic does not have to be necessarily! Rival Saverio is here to us throughout our adventure, three times on the way, but unfortunately, never a proper challenge. The difficulty here can be a little bit higher, I’d want very a worthy new opponent. Maybe it is time to overthrow me in a Online battle (and failing miserably!)
Come on into the Ring…
As a great Innovation of the first DLC Parts waiting for us on the island in the armor of the new Dojo of the upper main mast rich. This is in the whole country for its excellent Training of the former Champs, Delion, well-known and also puts us under his wing. To prove to us for the Dojo, we meet three small introductory tasks: There are three valid (to catch really fast) Flegmons to find a few small Items and to lead a fight against the aforementioned rivals Saverio. These tasks were really easy, and in just a few minutes met. The Flegmons is still the biggest challenge!
In the Dojo, then added, we get our first new Outfit, the yellow battle suit, in combination with the hairstyle, you can really see! At all could convince me of the fashionable additions of the DLC in principle. But I digress again from the thoughts back to the battle training! As the absolute winner of the introduction, let’s do also the same with our Training.
The Highlight of the introduction of the Grand reunion with favorites of the first Generation was for me: Either bulbasaur or squirtle were waiting to be in our Team! What I was pleased, the turtle of my confidence again. In the basic game, Fans were unfortunately empty, here was the only fire-type Pokémon charmander represented! The two complete a squad of around 100 recurring friends of the previous adventure. With the new Expansion of my Pokédex entries, I had to do so, definitely a lot to!
Since the Dojo is the main feature of the DLC, replaced it, therefore, but, unfortunately, all arenas, which we knew from the base game. This I found very sad. The Dojo has its charm, but the arenas of the Galar Region were, for me, one of the absolute Highlights of Pokémon sword and shield: The captivating music and the Cheering of the Fans in the large stadium. What you saw at the beginning, yet critical of, was missing to me here now, definitely. The hope is dying last, that it might create in part 2 of the DLCs back in an Arena in the game (and I will be again cheered on the big screen! Why else?!)
… together with our new battle partner!
We have mastered the first entry-level tests in the Dojo successfully, we get also a reward of a very special kind: the fighting-type Pokémon Dakuma! This we will take under our wing and into the wide world. Dakuma, however, absolutely different. The small, first, shy-looking Teddy bear is afraid of our first meeting, in front of us and it applies in the first place, to win his friendship. Very) a lot of fights and a lot more Pokémon curries are (needed. Who could with this Feature already in the basic game, little to start, is this, unfortunately, is new, does not have great pleasure!
Dakuma is in the absolute center of the DLCs. He can the sword to the basic version of the game – so, or sign a other development. According to the first approach, he wants to be first to Level 70 trained. This hard Training took me a little more than two hours, and brought some of them a little Frustration. I’m just not a big Fan of fighting-type Pokémon, and the Karate-Setting was the poor Dakuma just too forced. So it made me a little bit of fun to drag him with my experienced Team up to level 70. However, this was really my subjective Problem, and I’m sure that Fans of the combat Settings will have a lot of fun with Dakuma.
The hurdle is the Level 70 is taken only once, it is for us to the final test under master rich Mast: We will visit either the tower of the Unlichts or the tower of water. The Location, in which we ride the best, is revealed, then one of two types of Dakumas development Waluosu. Depending on the tower, he adopts either the type-Darkness-fight or water fight. The respective developments were really powerful and were able to stomp the opponent literally into the ground!
Dakuma and I had, however, definitely not an easy relationship over the course of the DLCs. I would have much more proper story quests want, instead of a blunt Grind. With the story quest, it was after the introduction of the Dojo, however, is more or less over.
CONCLUSION
Pokemon the sword and the shield: The island of the armor stirred up among the Fans a lot of expectations, but unfortunately only partially meet. The new area, which really is reminiscent of a large Open-World, I think the construction is very good. I hope that future titles based on this open and lively world – was a Highlight of the DLCs. Also about the New and Altzugänge for the Pokédex, I was very pleased, if also most about to be able to my own and of course all the best squirtle in his arms.
The graphics may not, however, convincing, and full Details in the presentation is a lack of love. The Story is unfortunately very short, and offered itself to me as a Non-expert, just four hours to game time. The tasks are very repetitive and almost remind us of a kind of Grind. Not that I would not catch like 150 diglett’s, but it doesn’t have to be camouflaged in a paid DLC, as the story quest, sold. Then maybe a little more story, please! Also, the Absence of my beloved arenas with their incredible game sense, as well as the pack of music clouded my game experience a bit. The difficulty is this time easier to get than in the sword and the shield itself. This is also, of course, to our already highly trained Team, which we take from the main game. A small negative connotation the well-known Pokémon in the new livery left. You asked more than once: “Why not equal in the base game like that?!”. Because even if to me, Pokémon, sword and shield of the smaller Pokédex rarely noticed, you realize just when the pokemon then there are, how much they in the original adventure were missing.
I very much hope that Part 2 of the DLC packs – The snow land of the crown – take me a little longer to convince can. The Setting looks promising. I am looking forward to it!
What Pokémon sword and shield: The island of the armor is? The first part of the DLC pass of Pokémon sword and shield. The adventure continues on the island of the armor with both old as well as new Pokémon and a new story.Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Tested: Shield Version
Developer / Publisher: Game Freak / Nintendo
Release: 17. June 2020
Link: Official Website
