PC BOX 8

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PC NAVIGATION

Generation 8

Generation 8 was a huge shakeup to the franchise. Gone are the trios, the sequels, and the "alternate stories" of the GBA, the DS, and the 3DS. Generation 8 is on the switch now, and that means paid DLC and day-one-patches. Generation 8 consists of Pokémon Sword, Pokémon Shield, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Pokémon Shining Pearl, and Pokémon Legends Arceus. Sword and Shield are set in Galar, which is basically Pokémon England, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are remakes of Diamond and Pearl, and Legends Arceus is a new franchise that Nintendo was experimenting with.

Sword and Shield did not get the warmest reception upon release, and I can see why. The Switch isn't the most powerful console, but even so, the graphics are lackluster. I do like Sword and Shield for the story and characters, and I feel like it got too much negative reception. Gone are Mega Evoltions and Z-Crystals, replaced with Dynamaxing, which allows one Pokémon to grow to enormous heights for three turns per battle. Is this stupid? Yes. Is it stupidly fun? Yes. Sword and Shield included paid DLC which added two new areas, new legendaries, and Pokémon that cannot be caught elsewhere in Galar. While not my favorite games, I feel as though they're perfectly fine.

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl disappoint me. Not only is a 2 gigabyte patch necessary to play the game, I cannot stand the graphic style and the lack of innovation with these games. In addition, similar to my complaint with OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire, Pokémon Platinum was the definitive way to play Generaton 4, and that did not get a remake. I will not buy these games on principle.

Legends Arceus, by contrast, is a complete breath of fresh air. Set roughly in the 1800s Japan, where people and Pokémon do not get along, you are tasked with completing the Pokédex. The drastically different setting and battle style is what makes this game such a standout to me, along with the fun characters and story. Genuinely a rival to Generation 5 for my love. The Gimmick here are Alpha Pokémon who are. Really big. They have better stats and the chance for special moves but the appeal, really, is their size.

Games

Pokémon Sword (x1) Pokémon Shield (x1) Pokémon Legends Arceus (x1)

Shiny Pokémon

As much as I think Sword and Shield got too much hate, I absolutely hate Shiny Hunting in this game. There is a Method Hunt, it's just stupid. Pokémon will have a chance to have a glowing energy, and these Pokémon will have increased odds. KO'ing Pokémon will increase the chance of causing them to glow, along with the Shiny Chance. Unfortunately the chance to increase glowing Pokémon only increases to a 3% chance, and this method only affects Pokémon you can see in the Overworld. I hate this method. I use Sword and Shield mostly as a hub for GO Shinies.

Legends Arceus, on the other hand, is a Shiny Hunter's dream. Not only is there the Shiny Charm, not only does completing Research Tasks increase the odds for that Pokémon, but there can be huge hordes of Pokémon in the overworld that can boost your odds all the way down to 1/128! AND there's a noise to indicate where a Shiny is!

Galarian Ponyta Sprite Galarian Ponyta (x6), Ponyta (x4), Swinub Sprite Swinub (x2), Litten Sprite Litten (x2),
Vanillite Sprite Vanillite (x3), Goomy Sprite Goomy (x7), Bellossom Sprite Bellossom (x1), cottonee Sprite Cottonee (x1),
Trapinch Sprite Trapinch (x1), Espurr Sprite Espurr (x1), Bounsweet Sprite Bounsweet (x3), Karrablast Sprite Karrablast (x1),
Escavalier Sprite Escavalier (x1), Shelmet Sprite Shelmet (x1), Accelgor Sprite Accelgor (x1), Cutiefly Sprite Cutiefly (x1),
Ribombee Sprite Ribombee (x1), Maractus Sprite Maractus (x1), Audino Sprite Audino (x1), Liepard Sprite Liepard (x1),
Togetic Sprite Togetic (x10), Togekiss Sprite Togekiss (x2), Pumpkaboo Sprite Pumpkaboo (x1), Sawk Sprite Sawk (x1),
Wailmer Sprite Wailmer (x1), Mime Jr Sprite Mime Jr (x1), Beldum Sprite Beldum (x2), Smoochum Sprite Smoochum (x1),
Yamask Sprite Yamask (x2), Galarian Yamask Sprite Galarian Yamask (x2), Milotic Sprite Milotic (x1),
Krookodile Sprite Krookodile (x2), Galarian Zigzagoon Sprite Galarian Zigzagoon (x1),
Galarian Linoone Sprite Galarian Linoone (x1), Dratini Sprite Dratini (x1), Munchlax Sprite Munchlax (x1),
Palpitoad Sprite Palpitoad (x1), Alolan Dugtrio Sprite Alolan Dugtrio (x1), Starmie Sprite Starmie (x1),
Pawniard Sprite Pawniard (x1), Bisharp Sprite Bisharp (x1), Tentacruel Sprite Tentacruel (x1), Golurk Sprite Golurk (x1),
Pincurchin Sprite Pincurchin (x1), Alolan Sandshrew Sprite Alolan Sandshrew (x1), Alolan Sandslash Sprite Alolan Sandslash (x1),
Sableye Sprite Sableye (x1), Alolan Persian Sprite Alolan Persian (x1), Stufful Sprite Stufful (x2),
Sudowoodo Sprite Sudowoodo (x1), Galarian Darumaka Sprite Galarian Darumaka (x1), Roggenrola Sprite Roggenrola (x1),
Scraggy Sprite Scraggy (x1), Scrafty Sprite Scrafty (x1), Solosis Sprite Solosis (x1), Wooloo Sprite Wooloo (x1),
Nickit Sprite Nickit (x1), Impidimp Sprite Impidimp (x1), Yamper Sprite Yamper (x1), Onix Sprite Onix (x1),
Bronzor Sprite Bronzor (x1), Bronzong Sprite Bronzong (x1), Krookodile Sprite Snover (x1), Roselia Sprite Roselia (x1),
Grubbin Sprite Grubbin (x3), Vikavolt Sprite Vikavolt (x1), Noibat Sprite Noibat (x6), Noivern Sprite Noivern (x1),
Dreepy Sprite Dreepy (x1), Drakloak Sprite Drakloak (x1), Dragapult Sprite Dragapult (x1), Snorunt Sprite Snorunt (x1),
Swablu Sprite Swablu (x1), Altaria Sprite Altaria (x1), Silicobra Sprite Silicobra (x1), Vulpix Sprite Vulpix (x2),
Larvitar Sprite Larvitar (x4), Pupitar Sprite Pupitar (x1), Tyranitar Sprite Tyranitar (x1), Cufant Sprite Cufant (x1),
Copperajah Sprite Copperajah (x1), Eiscue Sprite Eiscue (x1), Milcery Sprite Milcery (x1), Jangmo-o Sprite Jangmo-o (x2),
Perrserker Sprite Purrserker (x1), Centiskorch Sprite Centiskorch (x1), Butterfree Sprite Butterfree (x1),
Swoobat Sprite Swoobat (x1), Cleffa Sprite Cleffa (x1), Clefairy Sprite Clefairy (x1), Rhydon Sprite Rhydon (x1),
Croagunk Sprite Croagunk (x1), Galarian Slowpoke Sprite Galarian Slowpoke (x6), Slowpoke (x2),
Timburr Sprite Timburr (x1), Axew Sprite Axew (x1), Fraxure Sprite Fraxure (x1), Cubchoo Sprite Cubchoo (x1),
Charmander Sprite Charmander (x1), Charmeleon Sprite Charmeleon (x1), Charizard Sprite Charizard (x1),
Squirtle Sprite Squirtle (x3), Galarian Farfetched Sprite Galarian Farfetched, Tapu Koko Sprite Tapu Koko (x2),
Giratina Sprite Giratina (x1),

Wurmple Sprite Wurmple (x1), Dustox Sprite Dustox (x1), Murkrow Sprite Murkrow (x2),
Honchkrow Sprite Honchkow (x1), Magikarp Sprite Magikarp (x2), Glameow Sprite Glameow (x2), Sprite Gligar (x2),
Gliscor Sprite Gliscor (x1), Mantyke Sprite Mantyke (x1), Toxicroak Sprite Toxicroak (x1), Cherubi Sprite Cherubi (x1),
Starly Sprite Starly (x2), Staravia Sprite Staravia (x3), Staraptor Sprite Staraptor (x1),
Wormadam Sprite Wormadam (x1, Alpha), Sprite Mothim (x2), Basuclin Sprite White Basculin (x1),
Spheal Sprite Spheal (x1), Sealeo Sprite Sealeo (x1), Carnivine Sprite Carnivine (x2, 1 Alpha),
Ralts Sprite Ralts (x2), Kilia Sprite Kirlia (x2, 1 Alpha), gardevoir Sprite Gardevoir (x1)
Machop Sprite Machop (x1), Duskull Sprite Duskull (x1), Combee Sprite Combee (x2), Misdreavus Sprite Misdreavus (x1),
Floatzel Sprite Floatzel (x1), Hisuian Sneasel Sprite Hisuian Sneasel (x1), Roselia Sprite Roselia (x1),
Monferno Sprite Monferno (x1), Rowlet Sprite Rowlet (x1), Hisuian Sprite Hisuian Decidueye (x1),
Zubat Sprite Zubat (x1), chatot Sprite Chatot (x1), Rotom Sprite Rotom (x2), Ursaring Sprite Ursaring (x1), Graveler Sprite Graveler (x1), Golem Sprite Golem (x1) Swinub Sprite Swinub (x1), Bibarel Sprite Bibarel (x1),
Pachirisu Sprite Pachirisu (x1), Yanma Sprite Yanma (x1), Yanmega Sprite Yanmega (x1), Kricketot Sprite Kricketot (x2),
Parasect Sprite Parasect (x1, Alpha), Skorupi Sprite Skorupi (x1), Porygon Sprite Porygon (x1),
Drifloon Sprite Drifloon (x3), Drifblim Sprite Drifblim (x3), Gastly Sprite Gastly (x2), Hippowdon Sprite Hippowdown (x1),
Shinx Sprite Shinx (x3), Floatzel Sprite Luxray (x1, Alpha), Riolu Sprite Riolu (x1),
Piplup Sprite Piplup (x1), Dewott Sprite Dewott (x2), Hisuian Samurott Sprite Samurott (x1), Barboach Sprite Barboach (x1)