Pokémon Presents August 18, 2021: Information and Reactions

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus each had a lot to prove. All three were announced at the same day – in February, earlier this year – and after a couple of short trailers, that was it. No update on the remakes, with their distinct chibi art style, or for the “premake” Legends and the new things it was doing. After almost literally half a year, that ended in the largest Direct produced by The Pokémon Company by a sizable margin. While a number of other projects got updates, these three were the main event. So here’s what we got. We’ve also collated additional information from the official Pokémon website that was not included.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Returning features: characters, Team Galactic, the Style Shop, Contests, the Underground (now called the Grand Underground) and mining puzzles, the Battle Zone island, and Secret Bases
- Sticker customization is much more complex, and there are more stickers
- The Union Room has online connectivity
- You can walk with any Pokémon behind you
- Waterfall has an overworld effect; presumably that means the return of HMs
New features:
- Character customization
- Overworld Pokémon
- Pokémon Hideaways: a new underground environment containing Pokémon, which appear depending on the Pokémon statues you put in your Secret Base
Apparently, Barry, the Sinnoh rival, no longer has a set name
On the map on the official website, two areas – specifically, New Moon Island and Seabreak Path (which were used to give away the event-only Darkrai and Shaymin) – are missing; presumably any gifting of those Pokémon (if any) will simply be done directly
A Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Nintendo Switch Lite releases November 5

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

An open world action-RPG set in the region of Hisui, long before it becomes known and populated as Sinnoh
The goal of the game is to to learn about the region by completing the Pokédex, but specifically as a surveyor into a region with minimal human habitation
- Increasing the Pokédex goes beyond catching the Pokémon; it involves fulfilling specific requests, seeing Pokémon use different moves repeatedly, and doing “other” things
- The work you put into the Pokédex causes your rank in the Team to increase, which directly impacts which areas of Hisui you can explore
As in other games, different weather conditions impacts which Pokémon appear, though it can also affect behaviors of some Pokémon
Judging by statements on the official site, it seems that the game dispenses with the multiple shaking “checks” of Poké Balls; catching either works immediately or it doesn’t
Jubilife Village is the main hub world, featuring the Galactic Expedition Team who act as the main institution (and whose logo is somewhat similar to Team Galactic’s)
Characters:
- The default player character names are Akari and Rei. The character not chosen will appear as a supporting character
- The requisite Professor is Laventon
- Members of the team includes Cyllene (who seems distinctly Cyrus-esque) and Kamado (who is Professor Rowan’s ancestor)
Other areas include base camps to prepare, where you can buy or craft items
The crafting uses Apricorns, the fruit used to make Poké Balls in Pokémon Gold & Silver
One of those types, the Heavy Ball, throws a shorter distance
Pokémon can physically assault the player directly, who now has their own health points. At certain times, their eyes will glow red, and they’re be much more aggressive
- Players can also take damage from falling from heights
Catching Pokémon involves sneaking up to them and throwing a Poké Ball in real time. Some Poké Balls release steam, which obscures the player from wild Pokémon, though players can also hide behind terrain like rocks
- Pokémon will react in different ways towards player encroachment
You can send out your own Pokémon for more traditional moves, but the Speed stat now informs whether the Pokémon can attack multiple times in a row – like the ATB of older Final Fantasy games
Legends features a new mechanic: Style. Attacks can be executed in a Strong or Agile Style that alters how strong or fast it is
Pokémon can still carry up to four moves
There are entirely new Pokémon:
- Wyrdeer (Normal / Psychic): an evolution of Stantler
- Basculegion (Water / Ghost): an evolution of Basculin possessed by the souls of dead Basculin
Hisuian forms of other Pokémon also exist:
- Braviary (Psychic / Flying)
- Growlithe (Fire / Rock)
Players can glide on a Braviary, swim on a Basculegion, and ride on a Wyrdeer
Ranked Battles will not be included
The game looks better optimized than it did in the original trailer, with a smoother frame rate and more characters on screen
A Hisuian Growlithe Kimono outfit exists for pre-order bonuses

Other games:

Pre-orders for Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus are all available
Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends will all get Pokémon Home compatibility in 2022.
The mobile version of Pokémon Unite has a release date: September 22
- A pre-registration campaign is now out on the app store that will provide new items
- Mamoswine, Sylveon are planned for future updates
Pokémon Cafe will be rebranded as Pokémon Cafe Mix, adding new Pokémon, puzzles, and costumes. Scheduled sometime “this fall”
Pokémon Masters EX is celebrating its two year anniversary with some additions
- Starting August 18 players can get a hundred free Sync Pairs
- A new villain-themed story arc is planned for September, and three Legendary events are returning
- Logging into the game after this presentation gets you three thousand gems
On August 20, Pokémon GO (now celebrating its fifth year anniversary) will begin introducing Galar Pokémon: Woollo, Skwovet, Falinks, Zacian, and Zamanzenta, along with Hoopa

The Direct:

Wolfman’s Soapbox: I’m pretty happy with what I’ve seen – certain about Legends, which is naturally the most interesting of the three main projects. It’s fascinating to see Pokémon’s take on things like crafting, home bases, and other staples of open world games. Not because those things are inherently interesting – a decade of constant use in the games industry will take that right out of anything – but because they’re being applied to Pokémon, one of the most chill series out there.

There’s definitely a shadow of Breath of the Wild over the game – not that that’s a problem with me, of course. The emphasis on survival, the rugged Japanese terrain, of course the gliding; it’s an odd but so far pleasant mix. And, unsurprisingly, there’s a ton of Monster Hunter in here, too. It feels like Pokémon really could have always used something “like” this, something that tries to get at the sense of exploration and discovery that the mainline games can’t fully do. I’m doubtful the game will hit that perfectly (which is, ultimately, fine. Perfection is far from everything), but I’m intrigued. Which is enough.

…Also did anyone else think that Galarian Braviary was a fusion of Braviary and Noivern? Or that my new gross fish boy Basculegion combined Basculin with… some Pokémon that looks more like a giant gross eel? It’s not just me, right?

AShadowLink: I remain cautiously optimistic about Legends: Arceus. The current known core gameplay loop of studying Pokémon in the wild seems like it could get old quite quickly, but I can’t exactly judge it at this stage. The new battle system also seems like it could become tiring, I don’t think they needed to fix what wasn’t broken.

Growlithe being a Fire/Rock type is unfortunate, because that typing is terrible– just ask Magcargo. I guess I won’t be able to really use one of my favorite ‘mons all that much this Gen, I do hope he’s a rideable mount though.

I feel like I’ve been a little negative, so I’d just like to reiterate that I’m cautiously optimistic about the finished quality of the game. It has promise, it just needs to deliver above and beyond what I may be expecting from it at this stage.

Hamada: Let’s just get my obligatory Mystery Dungeon mention out of the way right now: I wish a new installment or remake showed up, but don’t mind their absence considering all the other announcements. Anyway, the Presents beginning with a look at Pokémon Unite’s upcoming plans was great. I’ve been really enjoying this game and was pleasantly surprised by Mamoswine’s reveal. Sylveon’s another good choice (Cart Boy will remember that), but I can think of a few Eeveelutions I would’ve preferred.

As for the main events, my indifference toward Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl hasn’t changed much. A polished version of an art style I don’t care for, following Pokémon, and Trainer customization are glaringly similar selling points to Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee, games that aren’t exactly remembered fondly. I’m really looking forward to replaying Platinum in November, though.

As for Legends: Arceus, I’m really excited. I’m cautious given the January release date and lack of information regarding the contents of the main story, but excited. The art style is nice, the violent Pokémon are hilarious, and the new specimens look fantastic. Basculegion? An evolved form for one of the franchise’s most forgettable creatures, complete with an awesome backstory involving dead Basculin and possession? Instant classic. The same goes for Wyrdeer and the Hisuian forms of Braviary and Growlithe, of course. Overall, the presentation was solid and much-needed, a day with new Pokémon reveals is always a good one for me.