Why Pokémon Sun And Moon Remains Unfinished

For a dedicated Pokémon enthusiast, completing the main story is a rite of passage. Across decades of releases, from the original Red and Blue to the modern Sword and Shield, each generation has been conquered. Yet, one title remains conspicuously absent from the list of completed adventures: Pokémon Sun and Moon.

The Alola region, inspired by the Hawaiian islands, presented a vibrant and tropical setting. It introduced new mechanics like Z-Moves and regional variants, promising a fresh take on the classic formula. However, for one player, these very changes created an insurmountable barrier.

This is not a review of the game's quality, but a personal account of why this specific entry stands alone as the only one never finished. It is a story about gameplay evolution, personal preference, and the emotional connections formed with digital companions.

The core Pokémon experience is built on a reliable foundation: travel to a new region, collect eight gym badges, defeat the Elite Four, and become champion. Pokémon Sun and Moon dismantled this structure entirely. In its place, the Island Challenge was introduced, featuring trials instead of traditional gyms.

This shift was more than cosmetic. Trials often involved unique puzzles and interactions, but they lacked the straightforward, badge-focused progression many players found satisfying. The absence of gym leaders, iconic figures who serve as major milestones, made the journey feel less linear and goal-oriented.

The pacing also differed significantly. The game featured extensive cutscenes and narrative hand-holding, particularly in the early hours. For players accustomed to a quicker start and more autonomy, this slower, more cinematic approach could feel restrictive.

• Traditional eight-gym structure replaced by Island Challenge trials
• Reduced emphasis on pure combat and increased focus on puzzles
• More frequent and lengthy story cutscenes
• A different, less familiar progression rhythm

Beyond structural changes, an emotional attachment became the primary obstacle. The author's favorite Pokémon is Raichu, the evolved form of the series mascot, Pikachu. In previous games, Raichu was a reliable and powerful partner. However, Pokémon Sun and Moon introduced a new mechanic that altered this dynamic.

The Alolan Raichu, a regional variant, is a Psychic/Electric type. While unique and visually appealing, it is not the same Pokémon the author had grown attached to over years of play. The original Raichu, a pure Electric type, was not available in the Alola region's wild Pokémon pool.

I don’t want to go to Alola if my Raichu can’t come with me.

This sentiment captures the core of the issue. The journey felt incomplete without a trusted companion. The inability to bring a familiar friend into this new world created a sense of disconnection. The Alolan variant, while interesting, could not fill the void left by the absence of the original.

Every new Pokémon game carries the weight of its predecessors. Pokémon Sun and Moon arrived after the critically acclaimed Pokémon X and Y, which successfully transitioned the series to 3D graphics. The expectations for innovation were high, but so were expectations for the core experience to remain intact.

For the author, the combination of a disrupted progression system and the emotional barrier of the Raichu issue created a perfect storm. The game's other strengths—its rich world design, memorable characters like Lillie and Professor Kukui, and the introduction of the Pokémon Refresh mechanic—were overshadowed.

The experience highlights a critical challenge for long-running franchises: balancing innovation with tradition. While Pokémon Sun and Moon was praised by critics and sold millions of copies, its deviations from the formula resonated differently with this particular player, leading to a stalled journey.

This account is not an indictment of Pokémon Sun and Moon. The game is celebrated for its narrative depth, tropical aesthetic, and the introduction of the Ultra Beasts. Its post-game content, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, further expanded the Alola story.

However, it serves as a reminder that gaming is a deeply personal experience. What one player sees as a refreshing change, another may perceive as a departure from what makes the series special. The specific combination of gameplay alterations and personal attachment to a single Pokémon created a unique point of friction.

For this player, the Alola adventure remains a beautiful, sun-drenched memory of what could have been. It is the one chapter in a long and storied history that remains unopened to its conclusion, a testament to the power of personal connection in gaming.

The story of an unfinished Pokémon journey illustrates how game design choices can impact player engagement on a fundamental level. The shift from gyms to trials in Pokémon Sun and Moon represented a significant break from a 20-year-old formula.

Furthermore, it demonstrates the importance of player attachment to specific elements. The inability to use a favorite Pokémon in its familiar form can be a powerful deterrent, even in a game filled with new and exciting features.

Ultimately, this experience underscores that even within a universally beloved franchise, individual playthroughs are unique. The Alola region, for all its beauty and innovation, became the one destination left unexplored to its end, not due to a lack of quality, but a mismatch of expectations and personal preference.