Pokémon The 5 Best Things About Unova & 5 That Needed Improvement
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Pokémon The 5 Best Things About Unova & 5 That Needed Improvement
Like any Pokémon region, Generation V's Unova has some great features — but it's also subject to more than a few flaws. For a long time after its initial release, 's Generation V was widely-criticized and in many cases, vocally hated. However, over the years, fan opinion on the Unova region has come around, with many now appreciating it for all of its great features and characteristics. The actual physical Unova region itself also receives, with some appreciating its diversity while others hate its linearity. Like , Unova has some great features but also some flaws. Here are some of the best parts, and a few that might have needed a second pass by the developers. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY Needed Improvement Wasted Space
The Unova region is a large circle, with the player progressing around it throughout the events of Black & White and Black 2 & White 2, . However, the large central area and the "corners" around the circle are considered wasted space by many fans. The middle of the large, circular map, is home to the EntraLink, but not much else. It seems like the routes that form this large circle connect the various towns but don't really venture into the center. Likewise, the corners of the map include small bits of life, but are otherwise unused as well. Pretty Great Castelia City
Generations III and IV began to explore adding widely-diverse areas to their respective regions, introducing new climates and aesthetic differences from town-to-town that were immediately noticeable. However, this really began to explode in Generation V, with Unova having some wildly intricate areas and huge towns, taking advantage of new technology. As a result, Unova is home to the first enormous city, which would become a staple of the series. is filled with towering skyscrapers, countless areas to find, and just a vast overall presence in the region. Needed Improvement No Water
A staple of the Pokémon series is the water routes, which force the player to traverse over long stretches of sea or ocean from one destination to another, battling swimmers and Water-type Pokémon along the way. They're in almost every game, with some having more than others. Unova, though, doesn't really have that much water to traverse, aside from a few spots. This is strange, as a prominent feature of Unova is its huge rivers, many of which are spanned by massive bridges instead of Surf-based routes. While water-routes can be annoying, their presence is sorely missed here. Pretty Great Half of the Region Isn t Used
As the player travels around the circular Unova region collecting badges in Black & White, they might be surprised to find that they're headed toward the Pokémon League and Elite Four only about halfway around the circle. There are still a few towns and cities that haven't been visited, and can't be yet! This is because several routes, towns, and areas are reserved for the post-game content. This is a fantastic idea, as it gives the player after finishing the League, rather than making them travel through the same areas all over again. Needed Improvement Half of the Region Isn t Used
While leaving part of the region for the post-game can be seen as a definite positive, it can also be seen as a detractor from the overall region. Leaving half of the map closed off makes it feel strange, like there's a ton of useless towns without much to offer since they don't have gyms. Luckily, the sequel games, Black 2 & White 2, begin their journey in a separate area, so these towns are given some more focus. But, their exclusion from the main story of the first games is a strange choice, to some. Pretty Great Bridges
As mentioned earlier, the Unova region is home to several massive bridges that span from one city to another or across large rivers. Each of these bridges is different, with their own unique design aesthetic and changing camera angles to show off their beauty. The addition of these bridges is a much-appreciated one, as players seem to love them. They're all different from one another and, while they lack trainer battles for the most part, they are gorgeous to run across. Needed Improvement Routes Are Short
One problem that the bridges provide is that the routes leading up to them are very short. Since the focus is on these large structures, the area between the nearest town and the start of the bridge, typically one of the routes, is very small. As a result, there is a lot of space that is wasted across the region for the bridges. Rather than having a plethora of areas to hunt wild Pokémon or explore, there's just bridge space. Pretty Great Routes Are Alive
While some of the routes may be short, one can't deny that . Most of the routes in the Unova region live and breathe as real areas that have a life all their own, rather than just being some assorted patches of grass connecting two towns. It probably helps that the Unova region is a lot more urban than regions past, but the routes themselves are terrific. Needed Improvement Linearity
It's no secret that the Unova map is a bit lazy (its circular shape has been mentioned here more than once, even). The designers seemed to just draw a circle with a little tail for the player's starting point, like a board game. This has led some to feel that the Unova region is a bit linear. Even if not for the map, the games themselves just push you through in a straight line to your goal, rather than allowing you to find things on your own. Pretty Great Music Soundtrack
There are a few features of the Unova region that many feel put it above all the other regions, but one of the most obvious is its soundtrack. The music in Unova is absolutely fantastic, with some of the series' best hits calling it home. Nimbasa City and Driftveil City are two of the most standout tracks from the games, but the soundtrack overall is upbeat, fun to listen to, and inspirational. is typically nice, but Generation V's is just uncontested.