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Pokémon Day Celebrations and Deals
Commemorating the Game That Started It All
Oh, would you look at that. It’s Pokémon Day, an annual celebration commemorating the game’s launch on this very day in 1996. Fun fact: Pokémon was first a video game, but it was quickly adapted as a trading card game and anime, both of which are arguably equally as responsible as the Game Boy titles for its success in becoming a global craze.
Tuning in to Pokémon Presents
Today, we’re celebrating all facets of our fandom by tuning in to the latest announcements from Pokémon Presents and highlighting a few of the best Pokémon Day deals. Right now, for example, Walmart is discounting Pokémon Legends: Arceus for the Nintendo Switch to $39.99 ($20 off), which nearly matches the title’s lowest price to date. Check out the deal here.
Discovering the World of Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a prequel to Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond (which we’ll get to in just a moment). It’s an original open-world adventure akin to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet that takes place in the same region of Sinnoh. Unlike most Pokémon games we’ve enjoyed this generation, however, Arceus ditches the turn-based battling system for a new take that balances it with real-time action-based combat. Your pokémon can attack with different styles that give them speed and power advantages in battle, and if you strategize correctly, you can sneak in extra attacks before your opponent can respond. Read our review of Pokémon Legends: Arceus to know more about the game.
Deals on Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond
Arceus represents a refreshing change of pace for those who felt the classic formula was getting a little stale, but we also promised you some good deals on Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond, didn’t we? A physical copy of Pokémon Shining Pearl for the Switch is going for $39.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and Walmart right now, and you can get Pokémon Brilliant Diamond for the same price at Walmart in both physical and digital formats. Check out the deal for Pokémon Shining Pearl on Amazon and the deal for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond on Walmart.
Relive the Nostalgia with Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond
Nintendo faithfully recreated the two older DS titles with upgraded 3D graphics and quality-of-life improvements that make it easier to build your team. The Switch games take place in the Sinnoh region, which features Turtwig (Grass-type), Chimchar (Fire-type), and Piplup (Water-type) as starters. Chronologically, it makes sense to play them after Arceus, but I wish I’d played them first. These games, whether you have played the original ones or skipped them, are definitely worth a run-through.
Explore the World Through the Lens of New Pokémon Snap
If the mainline Pokémon games don’t sound appealing, Walmart is also taking $20 off New Pokémon Snap for the Switch, dropping it to just $40. The 2021 release builds on the success of the original N64 title, which has you taking on the role of a photographer set in the world of Pokémon. The peaceful gameplay doesn’t feature any battling — instead, you explore lush jungles, rainforests, and other natural habitats to capture snapshots of pokémon doing their thing. Grab your discounted copy of New Pokémon Snap here.
