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Pokemon Ultra Sun Review
While evaluating Pokemon Ultra Sun (& Ultra Moon), I came to realize that it is not right to analyze these games based upon the hype that built up to their release. If one does this, they will likely be disappointed because the pre release hype felt the same as the hype for Sun and Moon, but Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon ultimately have less new content to deliver and fulfill the buildup of hype. That is not to say that these games have nothing to offer, after all Sun and Moon definitely didn’t meet the expectations of the pre release hype it generated, but ultimately I think it is important to evaluate USUM for what it actually is - a third version pokemon game. Many fans have come away from playing USUM feeling disappointed but I think this is not a problem of the performance of the game itself, but rather a problem of expectations on the part of pokemon fans. The last time a traditional third version pokemon game came out was the release of Pokemon Platinum in 2008/9. At that time, the process of hype buildup that we have all come to expect from pokemon games did not exist. The release of Platinum was really more incidental than intentional (meaning that the Pokemon Company expected the game not to sell as well and correspondingly put less effort into developing it). However, that does not seem to be what happened to USUM, giving it a marked advantage over previous third version installations. Rather USUM feels like the Pokemon Company actually made significant efforts to improve SUMO and turn USUM into the games SUMO should have been. USUM is a third version pokemon game (it is not a wholly new plot and gameplay experience like the sequels to Pokemon Black and White), but that being said, it is the most improved third version pokemon game that has ever been released, and it has much more to offer than Platinum or Emerald did.
Who Should Play Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon:
I would say that the average player of pokemon should forego playing USUM if they have already played SUMO. If you are an average pokemon player who has not played SUMO, you shouldn’t. USUM are far and away the better games, and essentially play the same as SUMO, making buying SUMO unnecessary. However, if you are a pokemon fan, you should play USUM and treat it as every other third version that you played; going into the game with the expectations of a third version pokemon game.
Pokemon Ultra Sun Synopsis and Substantive Review (Spoilers) STOP HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED:
As the opening scenes of USUM unfold and you find your character lying in bed, you begin to be filled with a sense of dread, because the introduction to SUMO was unbearably long and tedious and allowed the player little freedom and mobility, and from this point USUM appears to be the exact same thing. While the beginning of the game (from getting out of bed to getting to the Verdant Cavern) plays out in almost the exact same way, USUM have improved upon the speed and monotony of the original games. For example, the player already has their starter when they go to save Nebby on the bridge, allowing for a shorter amount of time that the player must wait through opening scenes before getting to battle. Once again Hau picks the weaker starter and battling with him is a cakewalk. At this early point in the game we are introduced to the Ultra Recon Squad (in Ultra Sun; Dulse and Zossie) but they really serve no purpose at this point but to pique the player’s interest by explaining that things are so different from their world. Of course, most players already know the backstory and exposition of the URS from watching the trailers, so this dialogue is pretty pointless. Then you get your first major plot change of the game in the form of two lines of dialogue by Kukui after the player experiences a solar eclipse. In retrospect, this makes no sense as the URS will later tell you that they have contained Necrozma at the top of Megalo Tower, so there is no explanation for this eclipse. By the time you find yourself battling Ilima at the Marina, you begin to feel as though USUM are a bit more challenging than SUMO, (though this could be because I picked the weakest starter - Rowlet).
Trial #1 is exactly the same as in SUMO, with the exception of the fact that you meet the URS briefly after its completion. Once again, their dialogue is pretty much filler. Following this you retrieve Nebby from the meadow, but this time by going into a cave where you are introduced formally to the URS for the first time. Again, in retrospect from the end of the game, things are a bit confusing at this part, as the URS explains that Nebby is from Ultra Space and that it should be protected, while later in the game they confess to needing Nebby to regain the light in their world (this is made even more incongruous when at the climax of the game you find out that they have the other box legendary, in Ultra Sun - Lunala, thus making you wonder why they need the other box legendary). From here on the rest of Melemele Island plays out in the same way until you have beaten the Kahuna and it is time to travel to the next island. Here, Gamefreak got something right. Instead of putting you on the boat with Kukui, Hau, and Lillie and forcing you to watch the same cutscene, they give you the option to use Mantine Surf to travel to Akala Island. This at least gives the illusion of freedom and makes you think that you are not trapped in a game where everything you do is literally guided by red flags on the bottom screen forcing you to carry out the story in a linear fashion.
Exploring Heahea Beach on Akala Island is the closest you get to having the traditional freedom of an RPG game, until, however, you leave, then you are forced to watch the same cutscene and dialogue as SUMO while meeting Olivia and Mallow. After this you walk a couple steps before being stopped for another cutscene/dialogue (also exactly the same as the one from SUMO).
(It should be noted here, that the dialogue and cutscenes are not the problem; they make for a more aesthetically pleasing way for the game to deliver the necessary information to the player. It is just incredibly patronizing to have to watch the same scenes only one year after you first saw them.)
After this you are forced into another cutscene/dialogue with Sina and Dexio, but at least this time it includes a battle to change things up. However, this scene could have easily been cut from the game as Sina and Dexio no longer give the player the Zygarde Cube. One good thing that was added at this point is the ability to explore in the Tidesong Hotel. It’s not much, but it’s something. When you finally get free you are able to explore around until you reach the ranch where you are forced to meet Mallow once again, and get Stoutland registered in your ride pager. Then you walk for about 15 seconds before you face off with Hau in your fourth rival battle. After he is easily beaten you make your way to the entrance of Brooklet Hill where you meet and battle Gladion for the first time. His dialogue is exactly the same although this time he has a Zoroua on his team rather than a Sneasal.
Trial #2 is almost exactly the same, with the exception of a change in the Totem Pokemon at the end. You may find this Totem challenge to be a bit more difficult than the challenge in SUMO. After the trial you get to relive the same forced introduction to the Battle Royal even though you will likely never use it again. Then its up the Volcano to Wela Park to take on Kiawe’s Trial.
Trial #3 is exactly the same as it was in SUMO with the exception that the Totem has changed from a Salazzle to an Alolan Marowak. This trial too seems a bit harder than the original. Afterwards you meet the URS once again and see them talking to Colress. At this point you would expect Colress to deliver some lines of dialogue that really set the plot of the game off on another foot, but he doesn’t. HIs dialogue is exactly the same.
Trial #4 is a marked improvement from SUMO. Rather than sniffing out the items for Mallow’s meal on Stoutland, the player interacts with pokemon to gather the ingredients. When the meal is being made, all those pokemon come to attack you in the order you encountered them. This allows you to watch a very amusing scene of Sudowoodo charging at the player. The Totem Challenge remains the same with Lurantis as the Totem pokemon, however, you will find this time that it is actually quite challenging to beat Lurantis because the game has set up an ingenious strategy between Lurantis and the Keckleon it calls as its ally. After completing the challenge you go to the dimensional research lab hoping that there will finally be some major dialogue changes as this part of the game is especially relevant to Necrozma and the Ultra Beasts who are the focus of the story. Once again you will be thoroughly disappointed, the dialogue is exactly the same, not even the books on the shelves have changed. When you get to Kokoni City, you will actually be presented with a rather amusing side quest after you meet Looker for the first time. This side quest involves finding 5 ditto that are disguised as humans and defeating them. Eventually you’ll make your way to the Ruins of Hope, where after battling Plumeria for the first time, you will face off against the Kahuna Olivia. Then, just as in SUMO, you travel with Hau to the Aether Paradise. The events at the AP play out exactly the same except for the arrival of the URS after you have defeated Nihilego. But again, the URS squad does little to flesh out anything we don’t already know about Ultra Space.
You arrive at Ula’Ula Island in exactly the same way as before, and after beating Hau in another rival battle, you search through Maile Garden to find Kukui. This has been slightly tweaked from SUMO and you no longer have to cross the nugget bridge remake to find Kukui. You explore the library with Lillie and Acerola and will be pleasantly surprised to fin new books on the shelf which give some interesting bits of information.Then you take the bus up to the Hokulani Observatory. Here, both the preparation for, and the experience of the trial are vastly different from SUMO.
Trial #5 definitely feels like Gamefreak invested more effort into it. While the base formula of battle 3 pokemon and then the Totem remains the same, you have to solve a puzzle involving charjabug first. The Totem has also changed, which makes watching the intro scene more bearable. When you return to Maile Garden to find Kukui once more, you get to relive Guzma’s intro scene and battle him. The only notable change here is that Guzma makes a remark to Hau that visibly gets Hau contemplating whether he chose the right path in starting the Island Challenge. Gamefreak does a good job of fleshing this out throughout the rest of the story. As you near the Tapu Village, you can visit the Power Plant, where you will surely be disappointed that you cannot enter it and instead are relegated to the same building as SUMO. You will surely be screaming internally, “GF stop putting power plants into the games if you’re not gonna let us explore them”. At the oasis you briefly meet Hau and he explains the doubt that Guzma has instilled in him. After meeting Acerola at the Aether House you go to the Abandoned Super Market to complete her trial.
Trial #6 The only difference here is that the Totem Mimiyku briefly appears in the form of Acerola before you battle it. Before the battle, though, Totem Mimikyu appears to be the same size as a regular Mimikyu. It is only once you engage in battle that you can tell it is a Totem. You will then return to the Aether House to find that Acerola’s nephew has had her Yungoos stolen making it necessary for you to retrieve it from Po Town where Team Skull has set up their HQ. Everything along the way to Po Town remains the same for the most part, with the exception of one new building (that serves no purpose) and a scene where the player meets Faba again. This scene acts as the only bit of exposition we get concerning why Faba will turn evil and aid Team Rainbow Rocket. He complains about how he should be the president of the Aether Foundation. Po Town is literally exactly the same. After Po Town you return to find Lillie has been kidnapped from the Aether House by Team Skull. This serves to put Hau’s original lines about not being able to defend her into the context of his new character development. Then Gladion shows up and in his rage battles you. Then he demands that you and Hau come with him to AP to save Lillie. Before you leave you will have battle Kahuna Nanu. The AP sequence remains the same up until you get to Lusamine’s chamber where she reveals that she is not opening an Ultra Wormhole because she is obsessed with Nihilego, but because her ego and obsession with protecting all pokemon has made her believe she can defeat Necrozma in Ultra Megalopolis. Guzma goes with her into the Ultra Wormhole. Thereafter the URS explains how Lusamine used them and their technology for her own self aggrandizement in fighting Necrozma, but that they had originally worked with Lusamine in the hopes of sending a strong trainer to resolve the Necrozma problem in their home world. They mention that you can open a wormhole to chase after Lusamine by going to the Altar of the Sunne.
The time that elapses in between the AP climax and the events of the Altar is pretty much the same, except for the fact that you go to Exeggutor Island alone and have to interact with the Exeggutor before obtaining the flute. You also complete the same de facto 7th Trial with Kommo-o as the Totem pokemon. The events at the altar play out the same until after you have evolved Nebby into Solgaleo (or Lunala), when suddenly Guzma falls from an Ultra Wormhole, right in front of you, shortly followed by Lusamine. This constitutes the start of the major plot differentiation between SUMO. After Lusamine and Guzma appear at the Altar, Necrozma appears through an Ultra Wormhole. The box legendary attempts to protect you but eventually succumbs to Necrozma and gets fused with it. You then battle one of the two Necrozma fusion forms and easily win. This defeat causes Necrozma to flee into Ultra space hurt and weakened and taking Alola’s light (or at least Poni Island’s light) with it. In this process it opens several Ultra Wormholes which segways into the slightly tweaked scene of Tapu Koko fighting the Ultra Beast (either Burst or Assembly), however, this time it is Hau who appears to command Tapu Koko, showing that he is not the same pushover as the Hau from SUMO. You are also treated to four new scenes of UBs arriving through the Ups and the prelude to their showdown with the Kahunas. The URS arrives and Lusamine and Guzma explain what happened as you all stand in the dark atop the altar. The URS offers for you to be able to travel to Ultra Megalopolis to confront Necrozma via riding on their Lunala (or Solgaleo). You mash the A button through an extremely long instructions session for the Ultra Warp Ride and then you travel into Ultra Space. You will probably find that Lunala is incredibly difficult to control (and unresponsive) as you use the gyrometer in your 3ds to navigate. You’ll probably end up in an obscure world once or twice before you make it to the white wormhole and arrive at Ultra Megalopolis.
Once there you will meet the other two members of the URS and they will provide about 8 lines of dialogue which serve as pretty much all of the exposition for Necrozma’s plot. They mention how Necrozma used to share its light with their world and many others throughout Ultra Space, but that they got greedy and Necrozma lost its light and became enraged. (It is also worth noting here that this dialogue from the URS changes depending on which game you’re playing. In Ultra Moon the part about them being greedy is completely left out.) You make your way up Ultra Megalo tower and find the respective Necrozma fusion sitting on top bathed in light. It is unclear why Necrozma returns to Ultra Megalo tower where it was previously imprisoned before Lusamine arrived, but GF just decided to say “screw it”. When you approach the Necrozma fusion it becomes engulfed in light and transforms into Ultra Necrozma, a Level 65 psychic/dragon type that is made purely of light, with some of Necrozma’s parts stuck on it. While Ultra Necrozma looks like something from Yu Gi Oh, it is still a very cool design, albeit an impractical one because when they eventually implement following pokemon it will take up the whole screen because of its size. The battle against Ultra Necrozma is actually quite challenging and you may find that you only defeat it by poisoning it and continuously reviving your pokemon until it dies. It’s signature move, Photon Geyser OHKOs almost everything. The fact that Ultra Necrozma basically mega evolves via a Z Crystal is not explained, despite the seemingly logical continuity in the lore of Necrozma fusing with both box legendaries making more sense for it to transform into this angelic being made out of light. Once you’ve defeated Ultra Necrozma it disappears into ultra space leaving behind the respective box legendary and returning the light to Alola. The opposite two members of the URS makes one more appearance and gift you a Poipole (UB Adhesive). Then you choose which legendary you want to ride back to Alola. For God’s sake you pick Solgaleo as it can actually be controlled somewhat normally (despite the wonky glitches in its animation that this sometimes entails).
When you arrive back at the altar you learn that Lillie and Lusamine reconciled their differences, and Lusamine and Lillie take the box legendary back to AP to care for it in its weakened state. The next thing to do is visit Mina’s house in Seafolk village and begin her trial.
Trial #8 The trial starts out with a battle against Mina. She then instructs you to go collect different colored petals from the various trial captains. When you go to find Ilima in Hauoli Cemetery you meet Hau and he tells you how he thought about what Guzma said and decided that he did make the right choice and that he beat his Grandpa and wants to beat you the player. He insists that the two of you will soon battle again. Ilima is easily defeated and from there each trial captain basically offers to take you to the next one without you having to travel or do any searching. You battle Mallow and get her petal, and then Lana just gives you her’s for some reason sparring you a battle. You battle Kiawe and his Hiker substitute and he gives you a petal and takes you to Sophocles. You find Sophocles upset because Molayne, his cousin is leaving the observatory, and putting Sophocles in charge. When you beat Sophocles he takes you to Acerola who also gives you the petal without a battle. Then you return to Mina’s house to fight the Totem Ribombee. After this you make for Exeggutor Island for your last Grand Trial against Hapu. Once you’ve defeated her, you are told to go to the Elite Four on Mount Lanakila. In between this time and the Elite Four you do have the ability to travel throughout ultra space. Of course you will face the same last battle with Gladion before you ascend the mountain and he will deliver the same dialogue when you beat him. He also mentions that Lillie was going to the Mahalo Trial, where you first met her. Here is your chance to capture the box legendary in the same place you were when you saved them on the bridge. One significant improvement that GF made was adding a Victory Road. Though it is small, it incorporates a tolerable amount of trainers and pushing strength blocks around with Machamp to give it that old fashioned feel.
As you head for the summit you arrive at a new area, a crater on the side of the mountain buried in snow. There you find a weakened Necrozma collapsed on the ground. Though there is no cutscene at this point, you will admire the cinematic nature of the setting for the final encounter with Necrozma. When you approach Necrozma you are prompted to share the light of your Z crystals with it to help it regain its strength. If you agree, you will be sent into battle with Necrozma, where you’ll finally have your chance to capture it. Once you catch it, Colress will appear and give you the two items he created that allow Necrozma to fuse with the box legendaries. You also obtain Ultranecrozium Z so that you can transform Necrozma into its final form. Then it’s the Elite Four, but you notice before you go in that you still have not had the battle Hau promised. Just as in SUMO Kukui guides you through the process and you battle the four members, with Molayne replacing Hala as a steel type trainer. When you make it to the champion’s chamber Kukui says the same dialogue and explains that the final trainer you have to beat is him. At this point you’re disappointed, but his next line of dialogue is “just kidding” and Hau walks up the steps. This is the ultimate fulfillment of Hau’s character development and it is actually done pretty well.
Upon defeating Hau at the E4 you go to the festival at Iki Town where the Credits begin. Fortunately you don’t have to watch a repeat of the exact same scenes. You will see new scenes of Plumeria and Guzma disbanding Team Skull, Gladion leaving on a boat to a faraway region, Sina and Dexio at the Ather Building that Houses the Zygarde cells, and Faba up to something devious. And with that the game is concluded.
I don’t want to say too much about the post game, except for that the hype building it up made it seem like much more than it really is. The post game is actually quite short. And GF had a huge missed opportunity in not putting all the legendaries in their original locations. Rather, they are assigned to one of four generic dimensional settings, which really makes it quite boring and less special when you battle them. I picked Ultra Sun because I wanted to see Ho-oh atop the Brass Tower in 3D, but I was sorely disappointed.
*Two Miscellaneous positive points:
- Collecting Totem Stickers is far better than collecting Zygarde cells and it feels much more rewarding even though the Totem sized pokemon you receive will probably just end up in the PC.
- Mantine Surf is pretty fun, and it increases in difficulty depending on which Island you are traveling from. The only problem is that it makes you unlock new tricks by getting high scores. Most players will not have the patience to do this and they should have just given you all the tricks from the beginning. But the best part of Mantine Surf is that the BP you get from it can be spent on the Move Tutors, who unlike ORAS sell their moves for reasonable prices (the highest price is 8 BP).
*One miscellaneous negative point:
- The much anticipated and hyped recreation of Lt. Surge’s gym is an absolute joke and a waste of time.
I would give Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon a 7.9/10 objectively speaking. It is my opinion that if these games had introduced 4-5 new Alolan Forms, they would have lived up to the hype and gotten a better rating. But, put in the context of previous third versions (BW2 excluded as they were better than USUM and were sequels), USUM carries the highest rating of them all at 9.1/10. The main story should take you roughly the same amount of time as it took you to complete Sun and Moon - about a week and a quarter. The post game will last you 2-3 days if you pace yourself.
