The Pokémon Sun and Moon expansion had descended on the Kidzania microcosm. An 80,000 square foot city located in Westfield where, who runs the world? Why, the next generation of course – children! Luckily for us we had the land to ourselves and got our hands on the trading card game’s new expansion, Pokémon Sun and Moon: Guardians Rising …By day, Kidzania provides an ‘educational entertainment experience’ that introduces children to the working world within its hub city, as they learn the concept of earning via Kidzania specific currency – ‘KidZos’. Here they can simulate diverse adult professions from being surgeons to radio hosts, or shop assistants to tattoo artists.
Why bring us here to delve into the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG)? Well, a piece of Pokémon remains a permanent fixture in Westfield’s hidden city, in the form of a nifty animation studio. Here you can create your very own stop-motion film with your favourite characters – help Ash and Pikachu battle it out against Mewtwo? The story you tell is up to you!
So, what’s new in Pokémon Sun and Moon: Guardians Rising? Is it worth diving into as a newcomer? Or do you just fancy collecting cards and hunting for shinies?
- For the avid gamer or collector, there are over 140 cards to collect in Sun and Moon: Guardians Rising.
- Let’s get OP! – Sun and Moon: Guardians Rising welcomes 12 new Pokémon-GX, a mechanic introduced in Sun and Moon. Pokémon-GX are super-powered Pokémon, which have a potentially devastating single use in-game. The newcomers include Alolan Ninetales-GX, and the Island Guardians: Tapu Lele-GX, and Tapu Koko-GX.
- New Alolan Pokémon – As you will have noticed from the base game Sun and Moon, we have familiar faces with a regional twist, turning energy types on their head. A chilling Ninetales and an electric Geodude are just two examples of the delights of the Alola region. A further array of Pokémon from the video game Pokémon Sun/Pokémon Moon also join the party in Sun and Moon: Guardians Rising, including: Lunala, Solgaleo, Lycanroc, and Kommo-o.
As a newcomer, the two new theme decks present a comprehensive introduction to the TGC that allows you to start playing instantly with a 60 card pre-constructed deck and game mat with the basic rules of play – the set I have here is called ‘Hidden Moon’ and features Lunala. This gives you a helping hand as you learn a solid way to construct a deck and play through the game. As someone who was previously solely a collector, actually playing the game was a rewarding and entertaining experience and I would strongly recommend giving it a go if you have contemplated it in the past – or have stacks of cards collected somewhere (like me). Demonstrated by Esdevium games, I found that the best way of learning is through a trial and error system, as you are encouraged to eventually form your own strategies and preferred deck builds through play. Don’t let the word ‘strategy’ put you off – the game pulls you in very quickly and you’ll soon become a Pokémon master!
So, grab a friend – or, in my case, someone who can stand your company – and experiment with the Pokémon trading card game!
Pokémon Sun and Moon: Guardians Rising – Out now!
Emma Withington – Follow me on Twitter
Originally published May 5, 2017. Updated April 11, 2018.
