The main game was already more than lavish, but Pokémon fans can expect even more stuff with the first download expansion for “Pokémon Sword & Shield”. In addition to a number of new pocket monsters for your Pokédex, there is even an increase in dynamism in the completely new play area.
“Pokémon Sword & Shield” (Our test) drop some, especially with regard to the limited Pokédex. High level criticism. Because even if by far not all Pokémon were included in the basic game, the term little can only be used to a limited extent with a number of more than 400 copies. With the first of two download extensions “The Isle of Armor” developer Game Freak brings another 100 Pokémon into play, which you can capture and train on the so-called Armor Island in the northeast of the Galar region. You can find out what else awaits you in the new area and whether the purchase is worthwhile below.
Ready for the island
As soon as you have downloaded “The Isle of Armor” on your switch (in the eShop you have to make sure to select the right version for your edition, i.e. shield or sword), you can travel to the new area via the station in Brassbury. The armor island consists entirely of a natural zone, the principles of which you already know from the main game. So you can explore the area completely freely, put on wild Pokémon to your heart’s content or visit the raid-like Pokémon nests, in which you face dynamically-optimized versions of the pocket monsters together with real teammates or with CPU-controlled trainers alone.
The area is diverse with forests, caves, beach areas or desert sections and quite nested, so that in between you can easily lose your bearings for a short time. In addition to a number of Pokémon already included in the main game, you will find more than 100 other species on the armor island, including special region variants, but not only from Galar, but also from Alola. The latter is primarily available as a reward for another Poké Trainer for whom you are looking for its runaway Digidas in the natural zone. Only if you follow the story missions can you also get the battle Pokémon Dakuma, which celebrates its first appearance in the game with “The Isle of Armor”.
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