‘Pokémon Sun’ And ‘Moon’: Middle Stage Starters, New Features, Demo Revealed

Pokémon is still enjoying its twentieth birthday! All facets of the multimedia franchise are celebrating, and developer Game Freak is working on capping the year off with the brand’s next generation.

> BUY NOW: Pokémon Sun

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are scheduled to be released next month. Set in the new Alola region, Pokémon Trainers will encounter undiscovered Pokémon as well as variations of iconic Pokémon from Red and Blue. A plethora of new features will be introduced, too, so you’ll have plenty to learn, whether you’re a veteran traveler or a newcomer.

The Pokémon Company International released a new trailer detailing several of the novel components you’ll see in Sun and Moon:

The Pokémon are obviously the star of the Pokémon franchise, and we were greeted with three new critters: Dartrix, Torracat, and Brionne. These three Pokémon are the middle stage evolutions of Alola’s starter trio, and it shows in their designs.

> BUY NOW: ‘Pokémon Moon’

Next, we learned of the new Festival Plaza, where Trainers can meet and greet fellow Trainers via local play or the internet. You’ll receive Festival Coins by fulfilling requests from the Plaza’s attendees, which can be spent on new items. The more Festival Coins you earn, the more your own Festival Plaza will level up, allowing you to receive greater rewards. Maybe you’ll even host your own missions!

Poké Pelago is another Sun and Moon innovation. Have you ever felt bad dumping your Pokémon in a PC Box? Your neglect will now become a positive, as your pets can explore a chain of islands. The more Pokémon you deposit, the more isles become available for them to play on. Best of all, they’ll find items for you, and they’ll even train themselves.

Mega Evolution, which was Pokémon X and Y‘s biggest addition to the series, is making the generational leap. Their prevalence will be lessened, however, as they will not be permissible in official competitions. Speaking of, the Pokémon Global Link will be refreshed with new rules and features, including the ability to rent a pre-made team.

Finally, following the precedent set by Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, a taste of Sun and Moon is coming soon: Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon Special Demo Version will grant us early access to Alola on Oct. 18. As an exclusive bonus, this trial is the only way to obtain the anime’s Ash-Greninja. And yes, you will be able to migrate the frog over to your copy of Sun or Moon. (It’s kind of awkward to see Ash acknowledged in the games, however.)

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon will arrive on Nov. 18 for the Nintendo 3DS family.

Which starter will you choose?