Pokemon Direct – January 2020 – Mystery Dungeon & DLC!

This week we got the first Direct of this year, decade even. This one being exclusively Pokemon. You can watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5afasEAiN0

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX

They started in strong with revealing a remake of the original two Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games. Which released on the GBA and DS and Red and Blue Rescue Team respectively. Mystery Dungeon games are roguelikes where if you die in the randomized dungeon you lose all the items you were holding. The Pokemon ones utilise similar mechanics from their main series and are set in all Pokemon worlds. Always a handheld series, it has gone on for sometime but now they’re remaking the first with a new graphical style.

While March is a busy month for many gamers, they’ve decided to release this on 6th March. Shortly after the direct, a demo released on the e-shop. I’ll post my thoughts on it soon.

Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansions

An expansion pass has been revealed for Pokemon Sword and Shield. You can find my review of Pokemon Sword here. As a replacement for a third version, they’ve created post game DLC.

It’ll feature large areas like the Wild Area. New rivals, older Pokemon including most legendaries, Galarian forms and tonnes of clothes. The pass will release in two parts: The Isle of Armor in June, and The Crown Tundra in Fall. New Pokemon exclusive to the expansion pass content were revealed. Like Kubfu and Calyrex, I can’t say I’m a fan of them. The Isle of Armor is focused on the theme of Growth and you’ll take an apprenticeship. With apricorns and tutor moves being implemented into this game. While The Crown Tundra is about exploration and will contain a new den exploring co-op mode.

The overall content of the expansion pass is the same for both versions of the main game. There are still version differences in the game such as Pokemon and the new rival. You’ll need a different expansion pass for them.

I’m not sure what to think of it as I caved on Pokemon Sword and felt it was fun but lacking. So paying over half price for more might push it. Touting new moves when they’ve cut so many feels gauche. Though at least The Crown Tundra looks promising. I’m not sure if the Gigantimax forms of the starters are locked to the expansion but if they are it’s pretty appalling.

The expansion pass  is available for pre-purchase at a cost of $29.99 (US), $45.00 (AU) and £26.99. If you haven’t bought the game it’s now in a digital bundle with the expansion pass. New clothes for your character are a purchase bonus.

Pokemon Home

Pokemon Home is the new Pokemon storage system. Set to be the gate between Pokemon Bank on 3DS and the Switch games (and Pokemon Go). It now has a released date of February 2020. This will be a paid service just like Pokemon Bank. The most concerning part of Home is as you can see in the chart, once in Home they can only get out into Switch games. If the Pokemon you put in there isn’t compatible with any Switch games then you’re out of luck.

What can you do now?

As part of the Gigantimax events, Coalassal, Lapras, Appletun and Flapple are more likely to appear in the Wild Area dens.

Pokemon Sword and Shield have had a new update, that allows you to meet your upcoming rival in the DLC at Wedgehurst Station. With the chance to catch a Galarian Slowpoke.

The Mystery Dungeon demo is also out and the save will transfer to the full game. As turn based roguelikes aren’t for everyone make sure to try out the demo to see for yourself.

Let us know your thoughts on this Direct!

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