10 Improvement: Expanded Map
It’s always exciting to find a new area to explore in the post-game. This has been done in previous installments, but never to this extent. The Expansion Pass not only adds new Dynamax dens to explore, but entirely new environments, such as coastlines and islands.
If the Wild Area seemed akin to The Legend of Zelda’s Breath of the Wild, then the Isle of Armor almost seems like Pokémon’s answer to Black Flag in the Assassin’s Creed series. With small islands to which players can swim, lagoons to navigate, and a winding forest to fight through, the DLC outdid itself. And there’s even more to come in the fall.
9 Decline: Diglett Mini Game
Very early into exploring the island, players come across a trainer who’s lost 151 Alolan Digletts. They’re identifiable by the three little hairs on their heads, sticking out of the ground. They’re scattered across the new area. It’s a pesky mini game that takes players on a goose chase all around the Isle of Armor.
In exchange, he gives away Alolan Pokémon. While that may seem worthwhile, it’s a lot of work to collect them. What’s worse, it’s not even the only way to get these Alolan variants; there are often trainers around the Isle who will trade them to players for their Kantonian and Galarian counterparts.
8 Improvement: More Pokémon
One of the main game’s biggest downfalls was “Dexit,” the controversy that exploded over the exclusion of scores of Pokémon, including many fan favorites and series staples. The DLC rectified this situation by adding over 100 Pokémon back into the game.
Even better, some gained new Gigantamax forms, which also can be acquired through the addition of Max Soup. Those special Pokémon include the new starters as well as the originals from gen one, Venusaur and Blastoise.
7 Decline: Pokédex Fees
It’s easy to find out which Pokémon are in the area: the Pokédex is a surefire way to identify them, and the internet is a treasure trove of guides for players. For some reason, the Expansion Pass decided to add a new, convoluted method.
Trainers are stationed around the island claiming they’ve seen an exciting, amazing Pokémon and they want to show it off. Players have to pay them 100 watts to see a Pokémon available on that day, in that area, during that weather pattern. But there are easier, free methods.
6 Improvement: Bonus Items
With a new expansion comes new items, and this DLC is full of it. In addition to a pre-order bonus of uniforms, the Expansion Pass added a slew of new clothing items, accessories, and hairstyles, which can be found in boutiques son the mainland or even in the salon that can be added to Master Dojo.
There are plenty of hidden items scattered around Isle of Armor that players can pick up through the subtle sparkles on the ground. They also added new currency, such as the Armorite Ore that plays an important role in the game, and even brought back classic items like Apricots.
5 Decline: Digging Pa And Ma
As if the Digging Duo on the mainland wasn’t bad enough (if they have so much skill and stamina, why do they turn up one item at a time?), players get to meet the extended family on the Isle of Armor. Unfortunately, they’re not nearly as useful. Whereas the Digging Duo can turn up hard-to-find specialty items, that’s not the case with Digging Pa and Ma.
In exchange for valuable Armorite Ore, Pa digs up Watts (which can be found much more easily than Armorite Ore through den raids). Meanwhile, Ma hides around the Isle, digging up Armorite Ore…in exchange for Armorite Ore. But if her shovel breaks, you get nada.
4 Improvement: More Interactive
The Wild Area was all-new terrain for both The Pokémon Company and its players. Fans were astounded by the expansive environment, which had never been seen before in a Pokémon game. The Isle of Armor does one better by introducing even more detailed areas.
Fans latched onto the hysterical Sharpedo animations, where it tunnels through the water to strike trainers at high speeds. In the Forest of Focus, Emolgas stand atop tree branches and descend on unwitting passersby. These new elements helped bring the game alive, breathing life into a decades-old franchise.
3 Decline: Watts For Master Dojo
The DLC places too high a value on Watts. They are used for much more on the Isle of Armor than on the mainland. Here’s a brief list of what trainers will have to turn them over for: the makeshift Cramorant machine, recipes for the machine, and last but farthest from least, the Master Dojo improvements.
Even if trainers brought over hundreds of thousands of Watts accumulated from den battles on the mainland, they will get wiped when Honey makes them fork Watts over for these improvements, which are worthwhile but play out like a frustrating mini game.
2 Improvement: Buddy Pokémon
It was the best part of Pokémon Let’s Go, the franchise’s most recent installment. It was a highlight going all the way back to Pokémon Yellow, too. Now, it’s back: the buddy Pokémon. Online, players were sharing screenshots of their partners, who are permitted to wander the Isle upon completion of the Master Dojo trials.
It was a surprise addition to the Expansion Pass that had not been included in marketing materials up until its release. So, one can imagine the delight of fans everywhere when they could walk around with their favorite Pokémon. It is easily the best improvement on the main game.
1 Decline: Armorite Orbs
This is an instance of another new currency with too high a value. Armorite Orbs, which are even harder to collect than Watts, get used for a multitude of purposes in the DLC. This was not the case in the main game.
Players can trade Armorite Orbs for new moves, EV resets, and even more Armorite Orbs. There were already multiple currencies in play that the game could have used for some of these, such as money or Watts. It does not add to the series to make Armorite Orbs so important.
NEXT: Pokémon Let’s Go Johto: 5 Reasons We Want To See The Games (& 5 Reasons They Shouldn’t Exist)
