Why Fans Were Unhappy with Pokemon Sword and Shield

As a longtime fan of the Pokemon franchise, it’s hard for me to admit that Pokemon Sword and Shield left me disappointed. While the game certainly has its merits, there are a few key issues that have left many fans feeling let down.

Pokemon Sword and Shield was Visually Disappointing

One of the biggest criticisms of Sword and Shield is the lackluster models and animations. For a game supposedly showcasing the Nintendo Switch’s capabilities, it’s disappointing, to say the least. The animations and models don’t look all that different from those in previous games. In some cases, they even look worse.

But it’s not just the lack of visual improvement that’s the problem. The animations themselves are often repetitive, lacking the personality and charm that we’ve come to expect from the series. 

It’s a shame because the Pokemon themselves intend to be the stars of the show. They just don’t shine as brightly as they could due to the lackluster visuals. At some point, it felt like playing an old Pokemon game with slightly improved visuals. 

Lackluster Roster in Pokemon Sword and Shield

Another issue that has left many fans upset is the limited number of available Pokemon. With each new generation, we expect to see a roster of new creatures to catch and train, but Sword and Shield disappoint in this regard. Not only are there fewer Pokemon than usual but many fan-favorites have been left out entirely.

To make matters worse, the developers said that they didn’t have enough time to include most of the Pokemon. Fans are well aware that Game Freak has a massive team and resources at their disposal. It’s hard to believe that they couldn’t find a way to include more creatures in the game.

It’s also worth noting that the game’s story is somewhat lackluster. Sword and Shield’s main villain feels more like a caricature than a real threat. The game’s pacing of its storyline is off. Some sections of the story drag on for too long, while others are over before you know it. It isn’t a terrible story, but it will not stick with you once the credits roll.

There Were Too Many Issues

All of these issues contribute to a sense of disappointment that permeates the game. It’s not that it is a bad game, per se, but it’s not the game that fans were hoping for. 

The lack of effort put into the models and animations, combined with the limited roster of available Pokemon. All of it feels like a step backward for the franchise.

At the end of the day, Pokemon Sword and Shield just don’t live up to expectations. The game intended to be the groundbreaking future of Pokemon on the Nintendo Switch. While there’s still plenty to enjoy here, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the game could have been so much more. 

Many fans are upset with the direction that the series is headed. It remains to be seen whether Game Freak will be able to win them back in the future. We can only hope that Game Freak will finally take the time they need before releasing a new game.