5 Things Pokémon Sword & Shield Get Right About The UK & 5 Things It Doesn t

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5 Things Pokémon Sword & Shield Get Right About The UK & 5 Things It Doesn t

Sword & Shield gets a lot of things right about the UK, but it also messes some stuff up. Every generation of Pokémon is based on a region in the real-life world. Kanto was based on part of Japan, Unova was based on New York City, and so on. Nintendo announced as part of its reveal of Sword & Shield that the , with a seeming focus on England. As with any regional inspiration, The Pokémon Company got a few things right, but also a few things wrong. Galar can make some Brits feel right at home, but also has some head-scratching decisions that don't seem to fit. Here are some of the things Galar gets right about the U.K., and some it gets wrong. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY

Right - The train running late

Anyone who has spent significant time navigating the train system in the U.K. (regardless of which transit authority) knows that they seem to be late more than they are on time. Waiting for your train to go to work, a friend's place, or really anywhere is often fraught with delays, cancellations, and no-shows. Galar captures this perfectly with a classic Pokémon route-block. Every generation has strange things that block off access to certain areas until you get a set amount of progression in the game (remember the Psyducks in Sinnoh?). Galar decided to use some Wooloo blocking the train tracks as one of these blockers. How fitting.

Wrong - Where s the coast

If there's one thing British geography is known for, it's coastline. Northern Ireland has its emerald hills, Wales has its breathtaking cliffs. But there's something special about the countless coastal communities and scenic spots around the islands' edges. The almost-8,000-mile coastline of the U.K. has a diverse array of famous spots and picturesque islands. But, none of this seems to be represented in Galar. Sure, Hulbury is a port town near some water, and Circhester Bay gives some bike-surfing fun. But, there isn't much of a typical coastline to speak of.

Right - Curry-mania

Despite originating in India, curry has taken Britain by storm for a long, long time. Theoretically taught to the British during their colonization of India, it has become a staple dish in the British Isles. This translated perfectly into camping system. Players can use berries and other ingredients found in their travels to make a series of curry dishes. There are more than 150 combinations of ingredients in various qualities, and Pokémon seem to love it. Everyone in Galar seems to be obsessed with the Indian dish, too.

Wrong - Royal obsession

If there's one thing people outside of the U.K. know about the British, it's that they have a famous royal family. Along with this royal reality comes a royal obsession. The Brits, especially the English, are crazed about the royal family and its comings and goings. This doesn't seem to play a role in Galar. Sure, the historic sword-bearer and shield-bearer seem to be king-like, but their role is shrouded in mystery and legend. The closest anyone in Galar seems to come to mentioning a royal obsession is the strange Sordward and Shielbert, who are apparently celebrities with a loyal following (or so they say).

Right - Sports

While the people of the U.K. can be obsessive with the royal family, it doesn't come close to their love of football (soccer for the Westerners). The sport is so important to British culture that it would seem to an outsider like their lives depend on it. England actually has more registered clubs than Brazil, according to some numbers. Sword and Shield captured this with its gym challenge. The allusions and references to football love are not subtle — from the cheering fans in stadiums to the green grass pitches, the uniforms and the adoring fans. The gym challenge is a clear translation of football.

Wrong - English focus

While Galar is said to be based on the U.K., it could be argued that it's actually only based on England specifically. Landmarks, terrain, routes, slang, fashion, and more all seem to reference more of English culture than that of Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. One could point to places like Postwick or Route 14 as Scottish or Welsh, respectively, but they could resemble parts of England too. For the non-English countries of the U.K., this could be seen as just another slight in a centuries-long line of English cultural dominance.

Right - Landmarks

Despite the absence of a strong influence from the countries other than England, the game does get landmarks right. The U.K. is home to several iconic landmarks that can be recognized worldwide by almost anyone. Some examples include red telephone booths, Big Ben, and the London Eye. Sword and Shield pay obvious homage to several of these typically-British symbols. Motostoke has a large clock tower, red telephone booths are spotted around various cities, and Wyndon is a straight copy and paste of London, even down to the large Ferris wheel.

Wrong - Pokémon MIA

Every generation of Pokémon is based on a certain region of the real world, and will often include new designs inspired by the culture or geography of that region. In Sword and Shield, players expected to see some of these in Galar. However, many also expected that returning Pokémon (albeit only a few, thanks to Dexit) that seemed "British" would make it into the games. However, several obvious choices in the Dexit cuts. Snubbull and Granbull are based on English bulldogs, the Lillipup line is based on Yorkshire or Scottish terriers, and Swanna could represent England's famous royally-owned swans. Somehow, none of these species (and some other obvious ones) were excluded. However, seemingly unrelated Pokémon were brought in, like Mantine and Delibird.

Right - New designs

Despite the exclusion of fitting Pokémon (and inclusion of non-fitting ones), hit the nail right on the head in terms of capturing British culture. The U.K. is the bearer of many stereotypes, some true, some false. But, Sword and Shield are filled with prime examples of inspired design. Some examples include Polteageist, a little ghosty friend that lives in a teapot; Toxtricity, a punk-rock lizard with an organ that plays like an electric guitar; Cinderace, a football player; Yamper, which looks like the Queen's famous corgis; and the list goes on.

Wrong - Dry season

Speaking of British stereotypes — where's the rain? The U.K. (and especially England) is known for its dreary grey skies and constant rain. In London alone, . So, while there is rain in the Wild Area and on some routes, most of Galar seems sunny and bright. Wyndon especially, which is based on London, should at least see some grey skies here and there. But at any time, the skies are clear and sunny. Of course, sun is nice in a game, but if Game Freak really wanted to capture the mood in the U.K., a little rain could help.