Aug 012016
Today, The Pokémon Company released a new trailer and a ton of unexpected details about Pokémon Sun and Moon, starting with Alola Forms.
Alola Forms
Certain Pokémon from other regions, such as the adorable Vulpix pictured here, have adapted to Alola and taken on new forms. Vulpix, for example, moved to Alola’s snowy mountains and became an Ice-type.
Alola forms were revealed for Exeggutor, Vulpix and Ninetales, and Sandshrew and Sandslash.
New Pokémon
Several new Pokémon were also announced: Fomantis and Lurantis, Gumshoos, Minior, Mudbray, and four forms of Oricorio. Oricorio is a bird Pokémon that changes form based on the nectar it drinks, which gives it a different form for each island.
Pokémon with different forms are becoming more common in the series. The addition of region-specific forms is especially interesting, and I wonder how the National Pokédex will handle it. (Will Vulpix and Alolan Vulpix have different numbers and entries?)
But the news doesn’t stop with new Pokémon and Pokémon forms!
Ride Pokémon
Alola features Ride Pokémon, which you can call on to reach otherwise-inaccessible areas. The trailer shows them swimming and flying, so maybe this eliminates the need for the Surf and Fly HMs.
The Island Challenge
For years, Pokémon games have simply tossed kids into a mission to become Pokémon trainers because that’s how the Pokémon world works. In the Alola region, however, this is actually a rite of passage.
You travel to each of the four islands to overcome the trials there, guided by Trial Captains. Trials include more than just battling. At the end of a trial, you’ll face a Totem Pokémon, which is larger than normal and can summon allies.
Each island ends with a Grand Trial where you fight the island’s kahuna.
The kahuna of Melemele Island is Hala, the guy fans mistook for a Pokémon professor early on. Hala is also the grandfather of Hau, your rival.
Z-Moves
Finally, Pokémon Sun and Moon have added Z-Moves, powerful moves that can be used once per battle. Z-Moves are made possible through a Z-Ring set with Z-Crystals. Z-Crystals can resonate with each other, although the full details haven’t been revealed yet.
Check out all of these things in the trailer!
Forms, Trials, Z-Moves… it’s quite a lot to take in.
Will Grand Trials take the place of Gyms? If so, why are there only four? Is there more to explore beyond the four islands? One thing’s for sure: Pokémon Sun and Moon are making definite changes to the Pokémon formula.
What do you think about the latest Pokémon Sun and Moon news?