Gen 7 was a weird time for the franchise. Honestly, looking back at the 2016 release of Pokemon New Pokemon Sun and Moon, it feels like a fever dream compared to the traditional gym-crawl we were used to for decades. No more gyms. No more HMs. Just Alola. It was a massive pivot.
People forget how much of a risk Game Freak took by ditching the eight-badge structure. It changed everything. Suddenly, you weren't just a kid fighting leaders in colorful buildings; you were taking on the Island Challenge, facing "Totem" Pokemon that could actually wipe your team if you weren't careful. It was refreshing. Maybe a little too hand-holdy at the start, sure, but refreshing nonetheless.
The Alola region itself was based on Hawaii, which gave the developers a chance to play with "Regional Variants" for the first time. This was the birth of Alolan Exeggutor and that fabulous Alolan Dugtrio with the blonde hair. It changed the competitive meta forever. It wasn't just a new coat of paint; it was a fundamental shift in how we viewed the Pokedex.
The Mechanical Shift of Pokemon New Pokemon Sun and Moon
One of the biggest gripes people had with the older games was the HM slave. You know the drill. You had to carry a Bibarel or a Tropius just to cut a bush or move a rock. Pokemon New Pokemon Sun and Moon finally killed that mechanic. Poke Ride replaced HMs entirely. You could just call a Charizard to fly you around or a Tauros to smash rocks. It freed up your party slots, allowing for more creative team building. That was a huge win for player agency.
Z-Moves were the big "gimmick" here. While Mega Evolution (introduced in X and Y) changed the physical form of a Pokemon, Z-Moves were about raw, explosive power. One big hit. If you timed it right, you could blast through a defensive wall. If you messed up, you wasted your one shot. It added a layer of prediction to the VGC (Video Game Championships) that was genuinely stressful.
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The story was surprisingly dark for a handheld Nintendo game. Lusamine wasn't your typical cartoon villain. Her obsession with the Ultra Beasts and her strained relationship with Lillie and Gladion felt... heavy. It was a domestic drama wrapped in a monster-catching RPG. The Aether Foundation looked like a sanctuary, but the basement told a different story. Type: Null, a literal "synthetic" Pokemon created to kill gods, is still one of the grittiest pieces of lore in the series.
Regional Forms and the Meta
The introduction of Alolan forms meant that older, "forgotten" Pokemon like Rattata or Sandshrew got a second lease on life. Dark-type Alolan Muk became a staple in competitive play because of its amazing typing and the "Gluttony" ability combined with a Figy Berry. It was a tank.
Then you have the Ultra Beasts. These weren't exactly Pokemon. They were aliens from another dimension. Names like Nihilego, Pheromosa, and Buzzwole sounded weird because they were supposed to be weird. Their "Beast Boost" ability meant that every time they knocked out one of your Pokemon, they got stronger. It made them snowball threats that demanded an immediate answer.
The Festival Plaza Problem
Look, we have to talk about the Festival Plaza. It replaced the PSS (Player Search System) from the previous generation, and boy, was it a downgrade. The PSS was simple. It was a bottom-screen menu that let you trade or battle anyone instantly. Festival Plaza forced you into a separate hub world. It was clunky. It felt like a step backward in an otherwise forward-thinking game.
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But even with the clunk, the "New" aspect of Pokemon New Pokemon Sun and Moon—specifically the Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon follow-ups—fixed a lot of the pacing issues. They added the Ultra Warp Ride, which let you hunt for Legendaries in different dimensions. It was an shiny hunter's dream. You could literally find a shiny Mewtwo or Ho-Oh just by flying through a wormhole.
Why Gen 7 Still Holds Up
If you go back and play it now, the lack of a 3D effect on the 3DS is noticeable, but the art style is gorgeous. The colors pop. The music, with those tropical drums and heavy bass lines, is some of the best in the series. Malie City’s theme? Absolute perfection. It captured a specific vibe that later games like Sword and Shield or Scarlet and Violet sometimes struggle to replicate.
The difficulty spike at the end of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon is also legendary. Ultra Necrozma is arguably the hardest boss fight in any mainline Pokemon game. It has boosted stats across the board and hits like a truck. If you didn't have a Focus Sash or a Zorua disguised as a Poison-type to bait out Psychic moves, you were probably going to lose. Many players did. It was a rare moment where the game didn't pull its punches.
Looking Back at the Alolan Legacy
What did Pokemon New Pokemon Sun and Moon actually leave behind? It gave us the concept of regional forms, which is now a staple in every new generation. We have Galarian forms and Paldean forms because Alola proved it worked. It gave us a more cinematic approach to storytelling. It proved that Pokemon could survive without the traditional gym structure.
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It also introduced the Rotom Dex. Love it or hate it, having a talking Pokedex that constantly blinked on your bottom screen was a bold choice. It made the world feel more lived-in, even if it did tell you to "save your game" every five minutes.
The Battle Tree was the endgame. It brought back legends. Seeing Red and Blue (the original protagonists) all grown up was a massive "wow" moment for long-time fans. Red didn't even speak. He just sent out a level 70-something Pikachu and wiped the floor with you. It was a perfect nod to the history of the franchise while the rest of the game was busy reinventing the future.
Practical Steps for Players Returning to Alola
If you're dusting off your 3DS to jump back into Pokemon New Pokemon Sun and Moon, keep a few things in mind. First, the 3DS eShop is closed, so you can't buy the digital versions anymore. You'll need physical cartridges. Second, Pokemon Bank is still functional for now, meaning you can move your Alolan teams up to Pokemon HOME and eventually into the newer Switch titles.
- Focus on the Island Scan: This is a daily mechanic that lets you find non-Alolan Pokemon like Charmander or Deino. It’s easily missed but vital for filling out a unique team.
- Check the QR Codes: You can find QR codes online for every Pokemon in the Dex. Scanning them gives you points for the Island Scan and registers their location in your Pokedex.
- Don't skip the side quests: Alola is full of small, weird tasks, like the "seven mysteries" of the trainer school or the guy who wants you to find his Pyukumuku. They add a ton of flavor.
- Prepare for the Totems: Bring Pokemon with "Protect" or status moves. Totem Pokemon get a stat boost at the start of the battle and can call for help, making it a 2-on-1 fight.
The transition from the traditional 2D-style grid to full 360-degree movement was finalized here. It paved the way for the open-world experiments we see today. While it has its flaws—long cutscenes being the main one—the heart of the Alola region remains one of the most creative periods in Pokemon history. It wasn't just a sequel; it was a total reimagining of what a Pokemon journey could look like.
To get the most out of your Alola experience today, prioritize building a team that utilizes the unique typing of regional forms, like Alolan Marowak (Fire/Ghost) or Alolan Raichu (Electric/Psychic). These combinations offer tactical advantages that aren't available in other regions. Additionally, ensure your 3DS firmware is up to date to maintain compatibility with Pokemon Bank as long as the service remains active, as this is the only way to preserve your Gen 7 ribbons and memories for future generations.