Pokemon Gen 8 Discussion Thread of Hopes, Speculation, Expectations, Dreams, Rumors, and More

[Deleted member 249]

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POKÉMON (Untitled Generation 8)
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo/The Pokemon Company
Release Date: Late 2019
Platform: Nintendo Switch

We actually have some idea of what we can expect from Pokemon 8 when it finally launches:

• We know it is a Nintendo Switch game
• We know it launches in "late 2019"
• Game Freak has said this game will be made for "fans of the series"
• Game Freak has mentioned the game will be "like the handheld games", stating that they expect each player to play it on their own Switch system
• The Pokemon Company says Pokemon 8 will be "an evolution and iteration" of Pokemon
• Game Freak specifically name-dropped Pokemon X/Y and Sun/Moon as points of comparison; it is unknown if they mean the new games will literally follow in their footsteps, or if they were named as the most recent handheld games for Pokemon 8 to be compared to
• The Pokemon Company promises Pokemon 8 will have "far better graphics than any other game in the series before"
• Pokemon 8 won't take any cues from Pokemon GO, unlike Let's Go! Pikachu and Let's Go! Eevee
• Pokemon 8 is the "core series Pokemon RPG" that Game Freak and The Pokemon Company teased at E3 in 2017
• Game Freak's Junichi Masuda hinted that Pokemon from the upcoming Let's Go! Pikachu and Let's Go! Eevee can be transferred into Pokemon 8
• Pokemon 8 will have "lots of new Pokemon"
• 300 people are now working on Pokemon
• Game Freak has started to ramp up for the game's development as of September 2018.

• We can expect Pokemon 8 to be compatible with Sun/Moon via Pokemon Bank
• Pokemon Let's Go! Pikachu and Let's Go! Eevee have one brand new Pokemon. Presumably, this Pokemon is a Gen 8 creature that you can forward into Pokemon 8
  • This also further ties into the idea that Pokemon 8 will be compatible with LGPE.
• We can expect Pokemon 8 to have a brand new region
• We can expect Pokemon 8 to have brand new Pokemon, moves, and mechanics
• We can expect Pokemon 8 to have a brand new campaign along the lines of traditional Pokemon games
• Direct connectivity between Pokemon 8 and Pokemon GO may not be possible

This is all we know and can reasonably assume about next year's Pokemon game. What are your hopes, expectations, and desires from the new game? This is going to be the very first mainline core Pokemon game on a home console- what do you think it will be like?

Let's try and keep shitposting and unnecessary antagonism out of this thread. I'm not too happy with the current direction of the franchise myself, but I am holding out in hope that Gen 8 will usher in a new era for the games that makes me happy. Let's make this thread the hub for Gen 8 discussion.

 

[Fj0823]

Hopefully no more buggy dance animations

 

[ILikeFeet]

please have good level design

that's all I ask

 

[Deleted member 249]

please have good level design

that's all I ask

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I agree. Give me region design like Hoenn or Sinnoh, please. Let me get lost a bit, make dungeons intimidating again.

 

[Delio]

A whole year of speculation. Good god!

 

[NeonBorealis]

Just give me more new pokémon with fun designs and a region like Hoenn and I'll be happy.

Oh, and give is a good online like the PSS.

 

[DTC]

Octopath style map where you can go to all non story maps and the gyms can be done in any order (scailing based on how many badges you have)

 

[FrostyLemon]

For me, I would like to be able to control the camera freely and have more emphasis placed on exploring environments.

 

[Deleted member 249]

Octopath style map where you can go to all non story maps and the gyms can be done in any order (scailing based on how many badges you have)

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This would be amazing (and Octopath itself already shows how it can be done), but do you really expect Game Freak to adopt something like that for their game?

 

[Delio]

Anyways give me good pokemon, new and cool battle mechanics,good online for the love of god and im good.

 

[chrisPjelly]

I wouldn't mind more sidequests. Watching the anime marathon, I want DUMB SHENANIGANS involving some npcs. Would certainly go a long way in making towns feel more lively.

 

[Nocturnowl]

Gen 8 will finally deliver a slick male only Peacock pokemon.

Oh and hopefully add complexity and openness back to the level/world design.
Let's Go existing almost makes me hopeful that the gloves might finally come off ever so slightly this time.

 

[DarkSora]

Hard mode plz.

Stop with the hand holding and give us a challenge for God's sake.

 

[Vuapol]

They're not going to do it, but I'd love having a jackass rival again. Having an option for a harder difficulty would also be much appreciated.

I agree. Give me region design like Hoenn or Sinnoh, please. Let me get lost a bit, make dungeons intimidating again.

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Seconded. Hoenn and Sinnoh were my two favorite regions, so anything that takes cues in their vein would be right up my alley.

As a side note, on my phone Hoenn autocorrected to horns.

 

[Deleted member 24079]

I know nothing but I'm ready for the fake leaked starter designs

 

[delete12345]

A whole year of speculation. Good god!

Click to shrink...

Possibly will keep riding after Smash Ultimate DTs end.

 

[Deleted member 249]

Gen 8 will finally deliver a slick male only Peacock pokemon.

Oh and hopefully add complexity and openness back to the level/world design.
Let's Go existing almost makes me hopeful that the gloves might finally come off ever so slightly this time.

Click to shrink...

To be fair, this is something TPCi itself has said, that with LGPE existing for a broader audience, Gen 8 will go back to appealing to the core, long time fans.

Seconded. Hoenn and Sinnoh were my two favorite regions, so anything that takes cues in their vein would be right up my alley.

As a side note, on my phone Hoenn autocorrected to horns.

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Hoenn and Sinnoh are actually very well designed regions in terms of actual layout and structure. They're well thought out, wide linear, and the gating gives you a great illusion of freedom and agency.
As for your phone, it knows, lol.

 

[okayfrog]

I'm not asking for much, just give me the same game I've played for the past 20 years.

 

[Maxina]

Dream/Hopes:
-Plenty of offline/online competitive game modes
-Wonder trade/GTS isn't trash
-Proper anti-cheating to prevent hacked pokemon from being used in online competitions
-Multiple difficulty modes for new trainers and veterans alike
-Ambitious gameplay changes, and effort in the graphics/art style design
- Plenty of new Pokemon (At least 100 imo)
-Ability to capture every pokemon available between the two versions
-NO MORE GEN 1 PANDERING
- More evolutions/ alternate forms for pokemon Gen 2-7

Expectations:
-Hopes and dreams crushed

 

[Hero of Legend]

I'm down for this thread! :D

I just want a proper HD game that feels like it was made for powerful HD hardware, and most importantly is trying to bend the rules and not play it so safe, like you-know-what. :P

Also, for the love of god, UPDATE THOSE DAMN CRIES! They somehow made the cries even worse, specifically the updates they did to the early gen Pokemon. What's the point when they still sound so low bit, but aren't the actual 8-bit cries anymore? They're like terrible bootleg cries now.

Nintendo EAD Kyoto were truly innovative in this area by fully modernizing the cries... on the DAMN N64!!! What's freaky is that Genius Sonority was evidently going to do just that for Pokemon Battle Revolution, observe:



But bizarrely they reverted back to the standard low bit cries in the final game. Man Wailord's cry gives me awesome chills! Talk about ferocious! :D

 

[Slamtastic]

I'm not asking for much, just give me the same game I've played for the past 20 years.

Click to shrink...

Congratulations on getting exactly what you want.

 

[Nocturnowl]

To be fair, this is something TPCi itself has said, that with LGPE existing for a broader audience, Gen 8 will go back to appealing to the core, long time fans.

Click to shrink...

They did indeed!
I just hope that their view of the core is the same as, well, the core.

 

[Deleted member 249]

They did indeed!
I just hope that their view of the core is the same as, well, the core.

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The way they keep trying to placate people with Gen 8, I hope it is haha. Of course, the core itself is divided on exactly what it wants from the next game.

 

[DTC]

This would be amazing (and Octopath itself already shows how it can be done), but do you really expect Game Freak to adopt something like that for their game?

Click to shrink...

no

i expect a decent game with some small changes to the formula that removes a good feature from the past game for no reason

 

[Papertoonz]

I'm very intested to see what country the new region is based on

Gonna be intresting to see what they go with

 

[ffdgh]

Lasting content and returning missing features.

 

[Ghos]

Spoiler

 

[Aleh]

My main hopes:
Controllable camera and bigger maps, back to cel-shading. Following Pokémon, rideable Pokémon, and roaming Pokémon like in Let's Go, but improved so that it looks more natural when they walk around and stuff. Even more story focus, but better pacing and I guess skippable cutscenes.

 

[Deleted member 249]

no

i expect a decent game with some small changes to the formula that removes a good feature from the past game for no reason

Click to shrink...

What feature is left to remove now. Seriously
Unless they remove following and riding Pokemon from LGPE for no reason whatsoever.

I'm very intested to see what country the new region is based on

Gonna be intresting to see what they go with

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Weren't there rumors that Game Freak's crew had been spotted in Spain?

 

[VectorPrime]

Is hoping for some in-depth postgame content too much to ask?

 

[Deleted member 249]

Is hoping for some in-depth postgame content too much to ask?

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No, if they are serious about making a game "for the core fans", an in depth post game is a must.

 

[Vuapol]

Oh, I almost forgot: lengthy postgame. Say, something like Hoenn's BATTLE FRONTIER.

Yes, I'm still salty about Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby, why do you ask?

 

[Betty]

I want a true next gen Pokemon experience.

But I expect something that doesn't look all that different graphically or in world geometry design to Let's Go.

So at least give me something closer to Black & White in terms of enjoyment rather than Sun & Moon.

 

[Slamtastic]

What if in gen 8 they finally decide that not everything in battle (poison damage, weather status, leftovers) needs a text box sentence accompanying showing it with graphics?

 

[oofouchugh]

Just please less text than Ultra Sun/Moon, those games are a complete slog to get through. Also bring back the PSS and let me burn down the Festival Plaza as the opening to the game.

 

[Maple]

Less linearity.

Give me optional places to explore between towns. I want to be fighting trainers on some route, only to venture around off the route and stumble upon a massive cave that I can get lost it. Filled with trainers to battle, random items hidden throughout, rare/shiny Pokemon to discover, etc.

I recently tried replaying Moon and just couldn't. Everything is on rails and just so scripted. It doesn't even feel like a world.

 

[Farrac]

A-already? Oh dear, I can't take this anymore.

Spoiler

Subbed

 

[RockmanBN]

No more "bad organization" as the main threat. Please do something else.

 

[Deleted member 249]

Here's a question: how many people would like voice acting in Gen 8? It would also let them ensure young kids who have not learned to read can play the game.

What if in gen 8 they finally decide that not everything in battle (poison damage, weather status, leftovers) needs a text box sentence accompanying showing it with graphics?

Click to shrink...

I'm not sure they will ever get rid of this lol. Even Black/White had this, didn't it?

 

[Jadentheman]

Unreal Engine 4or BOTW engine, open world

 

[Deleted member 3815]

All I want is;

• Less Gen 1 pandering,
• The return of Cross gen evolution,
• A dark type gym,
• Lighten up on the hand holding,
• A ghost/Normal type Pokémon
• To reach the same level standard that gen 4 and 5 set.

I'm down for this thread! :D

I just want a proper HD game that feels like it was made for powerful HD hardware, and most importantly is trying to bend the rules and not play it so safe, like you-know-what. :P

Also, for the love of god, UPDATE THOSE DAMN CRIES! They somehow made the cries even worse, specifically the updates they did to the early gen Pokemon. What's the point when they still sound so low bit, but aren't the actual 8-bit cries anymore? They're like terrible bootleg cries now.

Nintendo EAD Kyoto were truly innovative in this area by fully modernizing the cries... on the DAMN N64!!! What's freaky is that Genius Sonority was evidently going to do just that for Pokemon Battle Revolution, observe:



But bizarrely they reverted back to the standard low bit cries in the final game. Man Wailord's cry gives me awesome chills! Talk about ferocious! :D

Click to shrink...

Battle Revolution was rushed to meet its deadline as the game was originally going to have story mode and mini games but it got cut.

 

[GiantBreadbug]

I've been (what I consider to be) respectfully vocal about my disappointment with certain trends the series has been taking up, but I will remain cautiously optimistic for this. I used to entertain fantasies of a massive, interactive, lively, and dynamic overworld as a huge step forward for the franchise. But at this point I'll be satisfied if they can just make a challenging, engaging game that's fun to play offline for more than 15 hours with good area design, single player content with some degree of longevity, and a decent chunk of new Pokemon to find. Oh, and it would be awesome if they could stop removing good features. Or, if I may be so bold, bring some of them back like DexNav, Secret Bases, PSS, good battle facilities (like Battle Subway or PWT), etc.

 

[udivision]

Spoiler

Click to shrink...

you're mean

 

[TriggerShy]

Elephant Water type starter is my hope.

 

[Delio]

What if in gen 8 they finally decide that not everything in battle (poison damage, weather status, leftovers) needs a text box sentence accompanying showing it with graphics?

Click to shrink...

It just needs to be faster tbh. They wont get rid of that i dont think.

 

[Deleted member 42686]

-Better level design(already said)
-Full new pokemon experience, instead of a few new pokemons and a bunch of old ones
- Regional variants was a nice idea but lazy explored
-Better story(B/W) level
-Buffs to a bunch of pokemons who cant keep the meta and nerfs the abusive/most used ones. This one is kinda mandatory, need to happen to a lot of pokemons and includes abilities
-Less cutscenes
-Less time in tutorials and at the start of the game
- Do something about the models faces. Looks lame and feels like they're afraid of not pleasing fans
- Make training to level 100 less painfull
- Make Battle Tower and similars less cheap and cheesy
- Fully control of camera and zoom
- Keep customization and further expand it, but take away player animations before entering a battle. Serves to no purpose
-Faster battles. Everything is so slow, even when you turn off battle animations
- No Hoenn design

 

[Slamtastic]

Here's a question: how many people would like voice acting in Gen 8? It would also let them ensure young kids who have not learned to read can play the game.

Click to shrink...

On one hand it's 2018 and a console game, so it certainly should have it...

...but on the other hand, TPC handles the TV anime so if we ended up with that quality it would be a monkey's paw.

 

[woopWOOP]

I want lots of new Pokemon and Pokemon Bank connection. Simple, but that'd make me pretty happy and excited already.

Other wants and mostly dreams:
- Plenty of different trainer customization options. A simple body type selection would be neat. Buyable trainer outfits that represent trainer classes from that game and maybe older games too. I wanna run around as a gen1 bug catcher! Throw in outfits of all the evil teams for good measure.
- Battle Royale or another 4-player free for all mode. I love it! It's the only reason I played online in S/M. Please don't take this away from me, Gamefreak!
- Not dropping Mega Evolutions, Z-Moves and "Alolan" forms like they're old news. I'm sure there's a shiny new gimmick they want to focus on, but it'd be nice if more monsters (outside of the new gen and gen 1) would get specific Z-moves and new Mega Evolutions or "Alolan" style alt forms. Spread the love a little! I'd even love things like giving previous generation monsters gen4-style new (alternate?) evolution lines or gen2-style baby forms. Still waiting for that miltank/tauros pre-evo, dangit!

 

[AppleKid]

unnecessary antagonism

Click to shrink...

How much evidence is there to not be at least skeptical if you feel let down by everything post-BW2 though?

Have their been any recent interviews of GF responding to some of the common criticisms of the series' current direction (lack of difficulty, limited exploration, poor level design, etc)

 

[Deleted member 249]

Honestly, I don't want a B/W level story. I don't want a story. Give me the starting framework, and then let me go on my adventure. Have smaller stories in towns I visit via sidequests and NPCs, and maybe some Team Rocket level threat, but nothing more. Basically, handle it like Gens 1 and 2 did.