What a time to be alive! Today Pokemon fans were treated to a ton of information regarding the newest games in the series, Sun & Moon. In a trailer that debuted earlier this morning we found out which Pokemon would be available as starters, learned the name of the new region the games take place in, got a glimpse at the Legendary Pokemon, saw some gameplay footage, and ever found out the release date. Check out that trailer right here.
Game Freak and Nintendo really outdid themselves with this trailer. I think it’s safe to say that most of us didn’t expect that much information to be released in one fell swoop, but when it did the internet lost its mind. So let’s attempt to break some of this down.
The Starters
Rowlet
Category | Grass Quill Pokémon
Type | Grass/Flying
Ability | Overgrow
“Rowlet can attack without making a sound! It flies silently through the skies, drawing near to its opponent without being noticed, and then lashing out with powerful kicks. It can also attack from a distance using the razor-sharp leaves that form part of its feathers.”
“Its visual abilities are impressive. The darkness of night is no obstacle to Rowlet! It can twist its neck nearly 180° from front to back so it can see directly behind itself. It has a habit of turning its head in battle to face its Trainer and receive instructions.”
“The move Leafage attacks an opponent by striking it with leaves. Rowlet knows this move from the moment it becomes your partner!”
Litten
Category | Fire Cat Pokemon
Type | Fire
Ability | Blaze
“Logical but also passionate, Litten always remains coolheaded and doesn’t show its emotions on the surface.”
“Litten can attack with flaming hairballs! Its fur is rich in oils and immensely flammable. Litten grooms itself by licking its fur, and then uses the collected fur as fuel for fireball attacks!”
“When the time comes for Litten to shed its old fur, it all burns up in a glorious blaze.”
“The move Ember attacks an opponent by firing a small flame at it. Litten knows this move from the moment it becomes your partner!”
Popplio
Category | Sea Lion Pokemon
Type | Water
Ability | Torrent
“Popplio’s swimming speed is known to exceed 25 mph. It’s better at moving in the water than on land. Still, when it’s on land, it takes advantage of the elasticity of its balloons to perform acrobatic stunts and jumps.”
“Popplio can snort out balloons made of water! Watch it spin water balloons into a playful battle strategy!”
“Both frivolous and hard-working, Popplio can easily get carried away—unleashing enough power in battle to make quite a spectacle! But Popplio’s determined spirit means it can usually be found practicing hard on its balloon skills.”
“The Water Gun move attacks an opponent by firing a jet of water. Popplio knows this move from the moment it becomes your partner!”
*All information taken from the Official Pokemon Sun/Moon website.
If the reaction online is any indication, most people are pleased with the first impressions the starters made. Although most appear to be firmly in the Rowlet camp, with Litten a close second, and poor little Popplio getting the least amount of attention. As a fan of water-type starters, I think I’ll give some love to Popplio when the game releases, but I digress.
The only other thing that jumps out at me is Rowlet’s move Leafage, which appears to be a brand new move to the series. If you’re looking for more in-depth analysis, there is no shortage of Pokemon Sun & Moon coverage out there.
Region/Legendary Pokemon/Release Date
Outside of the starters we also found out the region we’d be exploring in Sun/Moon would be called Alola, which appears to be heavily inspired by Hawaii. There was also a small glimpse at the legendary Pokemon, one which seems to be a lion (Sun) and the other is seemingly a bat (Moon). As with other Pokemon games the legendary creatures (who will don’t know the names of yet) will be featured on the covers of their respective games.
Perhaps the most important bit of information was the reveal of the release date. Pokemon Sun & Pokemon Moon will both be available in North America and Japan on November 18, 2016 and in Europe on November 23, 2016. Each game will also be playable on 2DS, 3DS, and New 3DS when they launch.
One last thing worth looking at before you head back to your life is the great Japanese trailer that released earlier today as well. Have a look and keep it here for all your Pokemon Sun & Moon news.
