In the latest trailer for the next entries in the storied Pokemon franchise, Pokemon Sun and Moon, multiple new features, Pokemon and characters were introduced, one of which will look very familiar if you’ve been hoping for a sequel to Pokemon Snap for the last decade. Check out the trailer below, then get hyped with us as we break down its many reveals!
Making the most out of its two minute run time, we’ll start with the new Pokemon. Following up on Thrusday’s reveal, Alolan Raticate was shown, with a pair of puffy cheeks to go with the new Dark/Normal typing and the Gluttony/Hustle abilities it shares with its previous form.
But how did it get so fat? Its environment, of course! According to The Pokemon Company,
Raticate in Alola live in urban areas, leading to a higher-calorie diet than that of Raticate elsewhere. This means they have tough bodies but have gotten a lot fatter. They stockpile huge amounts of food in their nests and prefer fresh fruit and high-class ingredients. Alolan Raticate is the Totem Pokémon of the trial that takes place in Verdant Cavern on Melemele Island in Pokémon Moon.
Next up is Jangmo-o, a determined Dragon type with the Soundproof and Bulletproof abilities. A determined warrior who is constantly seeking to become stronger, could this be the first in a line of this generation’s main Dragon type?
The Scaly Pokémon Jangmo-o has the pride of a warrior and never neglects its training in its pursuit of becoming stronger. This Pokémon uses the scales on its head as a weapon both offensively and defensively. It lives in harsh locales, like canyons, where it can train.
Last on the list of standard Pokemon is, Type: Null. No, that’s not a new typing, but the name of the new synthetic Pokemon that’s made up of different parts. Sporting a fin, an armored head with a helmet that keeps it under control, and other various limbs to make up its body, its easily one of the most openly morbid designs the series has produced. With the Battle Armor ability, which keeps it from receiving critical hits, we’re expecting this one to give us trouble as we progress through the story and face off with Team Skull’s enforcer, Gladion.
Type: Null is a Synthetic Pokémon which was constructed to synthesize the strengths of various Pokémon, making it adaptable enough to complete a mission that requires a Pokémon as strong as the Pokémon of mythology. The mask fitted to this Pokémon’s head is a piece of equipment designed to control its power. Type: Null is the partner Pokémon of a newly revealed character—Gladion, the taciturn enforcer of Team Skull, who places a high value on being strong in battle.
After all this time, it seems like the evil team finally has a unique, menacing Pokemon to fight with. Nothing against a sea of Rattatas and Zubats, but it was hard to take them seriously.
If these are the new Pokemon, what are the Ultra Beasts? That’s what the Aether Foundation hopes to find out. This new organization led by Lusamine, Faba, and Wicke, is researching these otherworldly creatures alongside their employees. Knowing that they could pose a threat to humans and Pokemon alike. what direction will they take the story into once they’re introduced? Could we be getting a more detailed story again like in Black/White? I wouldn’t even be surprised if Aether has some ulterior motives of their own…
But perhaps the most important reveal of all was the Pokemon Finder, a new camera based mini game that might look familiar to those N64 gamers who have been clamoring for a certain photography based sequel. Using your Rotom Pokedex, trainers will be able to view the environment through its lens, taking pictures of Pokemon in the wild and unlocking new upgrades with the points they score for good shots. While not a full-on Pokemon Snap follow-up, it’s great to see its game play be adapted into the main series.
Rounding out the trailer was the differences between each version and a side quest that explains how we’re going to come across those Zygarde Complete Formes. While the two versions have always had variations in their character roster, Sun and Moon takes that further with each version being scaled 12 hours apart from each other. So it will be night time during the day in Moon, while Sun follows the normal flow of time. This effects certain events in the game as well, such as some Totem Pokemon being different between each version. Either way, trainers will eventually come across Dexio and Sina, Professor Sycamore’s two assistants from X and Y, and help them gather Zygarde Cells throughout the environment, to eventually compile enough to give the legendary Pokemon its true form.
With so much news, there was plenty to love. But what was your favorite part of the trailer? Let us know in the comments!