Pokémon has finally undergone its long-awaited overhaul. For the first time in several years, "noticeable" is far too modest an account for the direction the franchise has taken with the launch of its latest generation. Pokémon X and Pokémon Y may have introduced fans to a graphically-novel perspective of the Pokémon world, but the change that this generation has manifested pales in comparison to that of its successor; Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are fresh and innovative in more ways than one, incisively correcting the franchise's shortcomings and terminating its repetitive structure once and for all. At last Pokémon has found a way to put a clever spin on its construct, resulting in the delightful pair of games that has captivated fans both old and new.

Graphics: 9/10
   Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are set in Alola, an environmentally-varied region which I find rather pretty to look at. Its landscapes and characters are colorful and sufficiently-detailed, especially when compared with those of its predecessors. The islands of Alola boast scenery ranging from beaches and deserts to forests and snow-capped mountains, ensuring that there is no shortage of variety in the settings they have to offer. In addition to the region's natural beauty, the myriad of structures built within it are both plentiful and divergent, including old wooden buildings and high-tech establishments bearing platforms designated for teleportation. The introduction of Z-moves has both revitalized and added further visual appeal to the battle scene; however, some of these animations (in addition to battles comprising more than two Pokémon) are conducive to lagging in older Nintendo 3DS systems. Finally, the characters' motions and facial expressions are more vivid thanks to the increasingly realistic proportions of their overworld models, and this more than subtly contributes to making them feel more "alive." In conclusion, all of these elements put together are responsible for the exciting and quaintly picturesque world that Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon have to offer. They are aesthetically pleasing games overall, even when the context of their comparison is not limited to other Nintendo 3DS games.

Sound: 9/10
   The musical tracks featured in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are impressively diverse in style. Personal opinion plays an important role in the assessment of this category, and I happen to enjoy a large majority of the musical pieces which are played throughout these games. The sound effects used in Pokémon battles do their job, and the inclusion of certain Pokémon cries that are audible in the overworld is a nice touch. Nearly every settlement in Alola has its own pair of themes which shifts depending on what time it is; the daytime melodies sound lively and upbeat, whereas their nighttime counterparts are calmer and riddled with piano. Additionally, there is more prominent focus on recurring tunes, with certain characters (such as Lillie) and certain locations (such as Melemele Island) being associated with certain leitmotifs spanned across several tracks. The consistent rhythms, some of which have even been remixed into battle themes, are tremendously useful in conveying a specific feeling or atmosphere to accompany a specific person or place, and the differences between them are very important in the portrayal of character development. The various renditions of certain refrains in these games are employed according to the tone of the situation at hand, proficiently creating a mood to match the scene. For example, a cold yet majestic nod toward "Alola Region Theme,"  which plays at the beginning of the game, can be heard around 20 seconds into "The Summit of Mount Lanakila," which is played toward the end. The auditory works of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are well-fitted to the events they supplement, affixing vivacity to them wonderfully and evoking the right feelings at the right times.

Addictiveness: 7/10
   Throughout the course of the main story, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are generally compelling to return to. In spite of this, the preliminary segment of the games is quite lengthy and somewhat tedious, serving as an introduction to the basic mechanics for players who are unfamiliar with them. Although the inclusion of this explanatory phase is understandable, it does not make having to sit through tutorials or attending Trainers' School any more amusing. This prolonged beginning is prone to misrepresenting what succeeds it, as the pace of the games' plot increases significantly once the exposition is over. Following the introductory interval is a reasonably-paced story which effectively draws and captures the players' attention. Although there is a surfeit of tasks and features for players to occupy themselves with after completing the main story, the profusely collection-oriented nature of the goals that follow may not interest everyone, leading the allure preceding the story's ending to diminish for some once the post-game kicks in. In short, how enthralling Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon can be depends on the types of challenges each individual player is interested in and the extent to which the games can satisfy these. As such, I have estimated their replay value to be around average.

Story: 8/10
   The comparatively unprecedented type of narrative these games harbor divides its attention between a number of subjects including the effects of negligent parenting and those of inferiority complex. It may be that none of these "big words" are used in-game, and perhaps the method by which these issues are addressed is indirect, but it is definitely there, and it is deserving of praise in that it manages to retain effectiveness despite the fact that it does not spell everything out. Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version may have introduced fans to the concept of negative parental influence through the story of N and his manipulative father, but unlike Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, they did not delve into any of the potential consequences which this kind of impact can have on an affected child's character. Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon explore two possible outcomes by introducing a pair of siblings whose behavioral traits are vastly dissimilar yet both rooted in their mother's callous and possessive nature. Both grow up under specific instructions on how to act and what to wear. This results in one of them becoming apprehensive, irresolute, and trapped in a state of infantile dependency while the other becomes bold, determined, and severely defiant in retaliation. Meanwhile, the notion of inferiority complex is illustrated as the feelings of self-doubt in the antagonists become gradually clearer as the story progresses, their aggressiveness beginning to seem more like compensation and their base beginning to seem more like a refuge. Finally, the system of trials that the player's character must go through in order to stand above all other Trainers in Alola is refreshingly enjoyable, breaking free from the monotonous formula of defeating eight Gym Leaders and replacing it with a new procedure crafted to challenge more than just battling skills. This template consisting of seven trials and four Island Kahunas to overcome is but one of the aspects of these games which amplifies how realistic the existence of separate, unique cultures within the Pokémon world are. The real table-turner, however, is the copious amount of intercultural blending which is described to take place in Alola, breathing warm, welcoming life into the fictional setting and giving older fans nostalgic tidbits to smile at. The combination of old and new is a recurring theme in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon; it is reinforced by the games' setting, inclusion of new forms for old Pokémon, and plot. The strongest resounding is evident in the player's final status as first-ever Champion of Alola, a region which clings to its traditions while simultaneously incorporating new ones to call its own. Just as the foreign mores (such as the Pokémon League) which are increasingly accepted as customary with the passage of time, the player's character is celebrated proudly as one of Alola's own people despite having come from a faraway region, making for an ultimately feel-good conclusion. 

Depth: 9/10
   Regardless of whom each specific goal appeals to, there is no shortage of things to do in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. Conquering the Pokémon League warrants players the ability to partake in the Ultra Beast subplot and challenge the Battle Tree, which is home to numerous characters who have appeared in previous Pokémon games. Additional aspirations include completing the Pokédex and Shiny hunting, aims not every fan is set on pursuing due to their time-consuming attribute. EV training and IV breeding are other vexing, laborious activities which some fans take part in, and although not everyone takes the time to fully comprehend Pokémon's metagame, there is no denying that it is there to be experimented with and that those who dedicate their time to doing so are more than sufficiently busy, as discouragingly difficult and patience-trying as it appears to be.

Difficulty: 7/10
   Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, along with all other main series Pokémon games, are flexible in terms of difficulty and can be as elementary or strenuous as players choose to make them. Players may choose to embark on the Nuzlocke Challenge or one of its variants and restrict themselves from certain privileges such as using healing items, restoring health at Pokémon Centers, leveling Pokémon up via Rare Candies, or turning the Exp. Share on. Players such as myself, on the other hand, may choose to purchase a plethora of healing items, stop by a Pokémon Center every two minutes, make use of every Rare Candy they get, and have the Exp. Share on nearly all the time, resulting in a mere 72 hours being needed to complete the main story. As I did with their addictiveness, I am going to estimate these games' difficulty level to be about average. The majority of obstacles there are to overcome during the main story are relatively uncomplicated (aside from the sheer level of smart-ass Shady Mansion's puzzle expects from the player), but there is a somewhat abrupt elevation in the level of opposing Trainers' Pokémon once Poni Island is reached, and the Elite Four present an unexpectedly satisfying challenge.

Overall: 8.1/10
Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are nothing short of wonderful. The franchise has expertly corrected its more infamous flaws, including the need for "HM slaves" (which has been eliminated due to the introduction of Ride Pokémon), and it has improved upon its setup with finesse. I find Pokémon Moon to be a very pleasant experience, and I am happily surprised by the creative twist that the developers have decided to implement. I highly recommend playing these games, especially to players who have been waiting all this time for Pokémon to "shake things up."

Verdict: Stellar.

I have been playing Pokémon Moon, but I'm actually not liking it as much as you did, clearly. 

The beginning of the game was way too slow for me and it has put a damper on literally the entire game; I'm honestly not sure if I want to finish the game anymore, because of the excessive handholding forced upon you at the start. Also, [Spoiler]the RotomDex is as annoying as Navi

This was an excellent review ^^

You make me envious of those able to get their hands on the newer Pokemon games lol  

CPT Axis :  
Just wanted to give you a heads up, I think your post got cut off because of the layout. Everything after the word "Navi" doesn't show up on the Thread's page, but it shows fine in the Reply page. 

Maybe it's just me, but I just wanted to let you know in case it's not.

Mynamescox44 : Thank you for telling me that, I can't see it myself when I look at it outside of the reply page. I'll change my layout to see if that works, if not I'll request it to be removed.

Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

I hate you I was going to review this but noooo.

Kidding, great review, probably better than the review I would have submitted heh. At least let me do the guides... ;~;

CPT Axis : Fair enough! I have my own set of things I'd prefer to stay the same as well, so if you liked the idea of Gym Leaders and all that then it's understandable why Moon isn't exactly your cup of tea.

Mynamescox44 : Thanks!

Lexatom : I'm awful at strategy, so the guides are definitely all up to you ;~;. It's not like you can't write your own review because I have one, though, is it?

-Drew- :

My review won't be as good as yours so I'm not doing it LOL.