Pokémon Legends: Arceus Mods Make Graphics Better For The Switch

Fans of Pokémon Legends: Arceus have started releasing mods to improve the graphical quality of gameplay, elevating exploration in the Hisui region to match the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch. Since before the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, fans of the Pokémon series have been pointing out areas in the open-world-inspired game that don’t hold up to other popular titles for the Switch. This same criticism was given to the trees in Pokémon Sword and Shield, which were scrutinized for being simple and small, and many hoped the new game would greatly improve overall graphical quality.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus offers a big change from the original, pixelated games like Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. A top-down view without angle changes has been replaced by an over-the-shoulder position with adjustable vantage points. Pixelated Pokémon and character sprites are now fully rendered, 3D models, but in comparison to other Nintendo titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, there are still areas that seem to lack a polished look. This can be particularly noticeable when grasses in various locations cut out or drop frame rates, or when Pokémon flying high overhead stutter through the sky until players get closer to them.

However, in an article published by Kotaku, a YouTuber going by PurpleThunderNE showcases a string of fan-made modifications created for Pokémon Legends: Arceus by fans to improve gameplay. The mods include improvements to certain areas of water flowing in the Hisui region, Poké Ball effects, and texture overhauls, among many other options. The mods also include changes to Ride Pokémon like Hisuian Braviary, as well as to the swim mechanics to give players a greater swim distance. While it is possible patches to address some of these issues in Pokémon Legends: Arceus may come in the future, the ability to overhaul problematic areas quickly could be appeal to many playing the game.

While the graphics in Pokémon Legends: Arceus may be rough in spots, the final release of the game does have many appealing changes that create an immersive experience for players. Many of these improvements are especially apparent in the overworld Pokémon spawning mechanic, which allows players to interact with Pokémon in real-time instead of relying on transitioning to a battle screen. While a basic version of this mechanic was used in Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Wild Area to create atmospheric exploration, the more detailed Pokémon models and overhauled battle progression of Pokémon Legends: Arceus create a unique feel for a Pokémon game.

Players may want to be careful when considering the use of player-made mods in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, as it is likely Nintendo will release patches to prevent their use in future updates. This could lead to potentially corrupted game data, forcing players to start their adventures in the Hisui region over. Despite the risk, using mods in Pokémon Legends: Arceus could be a great way for players to add personal touches to their games and remove frustrating graphics issues that could impact enjoyment during gameplay.

Source: Kotaku, PurpleThunderNE/YouTube

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