FA+
Shop
Pokemon Conquest Review
13 years ago
General
NaNo Novel: Here Falls The Thunder
So, I finally got the same, sat down, spent a few hours playing it, and I've come to the following conclusion:
This is an excellent first step for Pokemon into the strategy franchise. Really, these Pokemon spin-offs thus far have been extremely solid, if somewhat niche titles (Ranger, Mystery Dungeon, Trozei), but this is definitely something that will likely get more attention simply because it's a strategy game on a handheld.
The game gives you enough elements that it feels like you're playing a strategy game. Recruiting 'Warriors' (Generic generals) and battling 'Warlords' (the major officers), enhancing the Link (basically the replacement for leveling up). You can set the game to delegate the task to another person in your army for each kingdom you conquer as well. Overall, it's a very solid game.
Much like how Mystery Dungeon simplified the Rogue-like genre with a Pokemon twist, Conquest takes the strategy/simulation genre and simplifies it, while still keeping it just complicated enough that fans will appreciate it.
So far I only have a few complaints:
- Pokemon having one attack. It's justified in that, since Pokemon do not level up; instead having a Link value with a Warlord/Warrior which improves their ranks as it goes up, they can't really learn new moves. However, there is an in-game thing that lets you change abilities. Why not attacks too?
- Recruitment. Basically, you usually cannot recruit most major officers the FIRST time you fight them (except for Motochika and Motonari via the Wi-fi download), but the game doesn't make that obvious. Just hints at "special" requirements.
- Swarm Passwords. This is a BIG complaint. So, if you pre-ordered the game from GS there are a set of universal passwords which unlock a swarm of Pokemon. To give context, pokemon can be found in the wild in certain nations, each one specializing in certain types. A swarm replaces the ENTIRE encounter with a certain pokemon. (So, instead of 4 random pokemon, you encounter, for example 4 Eevees). What the game DOES NOT tell you, is that a swarm only occurs ONCE, usually occurs the MONTH after the password goes through, and that the password is only good for ONE use on your game file. That's right. If you screw up on the swarm, that's it.
HOWEVER, most of the pokemon you get via a Swarm CAN be encountered in the game normally. The passcodes just let you encounter them much sooner and in greater number. (For example, Beldum can ONLY be encountered in a swarm, so far, and Riolu can only be found normally post-game). But nothing in the game, nor the manual tells you the restrictions on the passwords.
This aside, if you're a fan of strategy games, Pokemon, or both? I'd definitely recommend it.
This is an excellent first step for Pokemon into the strategy franchise. Really, these Pokemon spin-offs thus far have been extremely solid, if somewhat niche titles (Ranger, Mystery Dungeon, Trozei), but this is definitely something that will likely get more attention simply because it's a strategy game on a handheld.
The game gives you enough elements that it feels like you're playing a strategy game. Recruiting 'Warriors' (Generic generals) and battling 'Warlords' (the major officers), enhancing the Link (basically the replacement for leveling up). You can set the game to delegate the task to another person in your army for each kingdom you conquer as well. Overall, it's a very solid game.
Much like how Mystery Dungeon simplified the Rogue-like genre with a Pokemon twist, Conquest takes the strategy/simulation genre and simplifies it, while still keeping it just complicated enough that fans will appreciate it.
So far I only have a few complaints:
- Pokemon having one attack. It's justified in that, since Pokemon do not level up; instead having a Link value with a Warlord/Warrior which improves their ranks as it goes up, they can't really learn new moves. However, there is an in-game thing that lets you change abilities. Why not attacks too?
- Recruitment. Basically, you usually cannot recruit most major officers the FIRST time you fight them (except for Motochika and Motonari via the Wi-fi download), but the game doesn't make that obvious. Just hints at "special" requirements.
- Swarm Passwords. This is a BIG complaint. So, if you pre-ordered the game from GS there are a set of universal passwords which unlock a swarm of Pokemon. To give context, pokemon can be found in the wild in certain nations, each one specializing in certain types. A swarm replaces the ENTIRE encounter with a certain pokemon. (So, instead of 4 random pokemon, you encounter, for example 4 Eevees). What the game DOES NOT tell you, is that a swarm only occurs ONCE, usually occurs the MONTH after the password goes through, and that the password is only good for ONE use on your game file. That's right. If you screw up on the swarm, that's it.
HOWEVER, most of the pokemon you get via a Swarm CAN be encountered in the game normally. The passcodes just let you encounter them much sooner and in greater number. (For example, Beldum can ONLY be encountered in a swarm, so far, and Riolu can only be found normally post-game). But nothing in the game, nor the manual tells you the restrictions on the passwords.
This aside, if you're a fan of strategy games, Pokemon, or both? I'd definitely recommend it.
