Pokémon Sword & Shield’s Train Rides Could Use A Battle System

While there are many ways to explore Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Galar region, there are some areas that feel lackluster during gameplay. Sword and Shield is a different Pokémon experience than previous titles thanks to the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch console. Simple graphics and topdown gameplay were exchanged for a full 3D world and new exploration concepts. For example, the Wild Area introduced a sprawling, open-world environment unlike any area in previous games. However, it’s the smaller details in Sword and Shield that come up short – especially when utilizing the train system to travel around Galar.

The railway system that connects the main map of the Galar Region is a mandatory experience for those progressing through Sword and Shield. The stations can be found in Wedgehurst, Motostoke, Hulbury, Hammerlocke, and Wyndon. A pass or card isn’t required unless players are attempting to travel to the Sword and Shield DLC The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra. However, the player receives the needed passes for these locations automatically after purchasing the DLC for either game. While these mandatory train rides could have been an opportunity for players to face off against other riders, instead the train rides are short and empty of content.

In past generations of Pokémon games, transportation has been used as an opportunity to introduce a puzzle for players to solve, or a way to engage in challenging battles with NPC opponents. For example, the Battle Subway in Pokémon Black and White allows players to engage in battles similar to the Battle Tower challenges. In Red, Blue, and Yellow the player can board the S.S. Anne and explore the ship’s many decks. It is possible to find items, battle with NPCs, and engage in conversations with other passengers.

Pokémon Sword & Shield Could Introduce An Optional Train Battle System

While there are plenty of instances where trains, boats, and other forms of transportation feature in the Pokémon games without battle systems, the lack of content is felt in Sword and Shield due to how often the player must travel using the railways. Many of these train rides have replaced longer routes, but don’t add anything to exploration or the growth of a player’s team. Instead, there is a heavy reliance on the Wild Area to train a party. It makes travel feel short and unremarkable, especially with so many routes in Sword and Shield lacking content and possessing small maps.

Adding an optional battle mode to the Galar railways would be a fun and interesting way to add a unique detail to Sword and Shield gameplay. Players could collect a special currency during these encounters to trade at the ticket counter of any railway station, allowing them to purchase rare items like evolution stones or hold items. The battle system could gain a new mode after players have beaten Pokémon Sword and Shield, activating harder opponents, or even bringing back NPCs from previous regions for players to challenge to a battle.

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