10 Things We Love About Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon

If you were one of the millions of people to play Pokemon Sun & Moon and have now purchased and played Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, odds are you may have noticed they are virtually identical storylines for roughly ninety percent of the Main Story. Because of this, most people have since had negative reviews for these games. However, even though they are much like the first, Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon were still great in their own right. And that’s exactly why we have decided to examine the ten things were absolutely loved about Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon.

We wish could say that some of our selections aren’t the newest additions to the games, but we would be lying if we did. It just so happens that all of these greatest things about Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon had to do with what were added to the Alola Region this second time around. If at anytime you would like to express your thoughts on this article, you can do so in the comment section below each and every page found throughout. Whether you too loved on of these given aspects of the games or you didn’t care for one of them in particular, you can tell us about it in the area provided below. No matter exactly you liked to share, we’d love to hear from you regardless!

So without further delay, here are the ten things we loved about Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon above all else. We truly hope you enjoy what you’re about to read!

Captain Mina Trial

Back in Pokemon Sun & Moon, Mina was the newest of Trial Captains and thus had not just yet set up her trail. Instead, there were only seven trials for a player to complete, the last being found on Poni Island without a Trial Captain. Since said trial was without a captain, it was common belief that this trial recently lost its captain (much like the Kahuna on Poni Island) and that it would soon become that of Captain Mina’s Trial. In Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, however, players got the best of both worlds.

Instead of losing the previous seventh trial in favor of Captain Mina receiving her very own, the Pokemon Company decide to keep the seventh trial without a captain and make Captain Mina’s Trial the eighth and final trial apart of your Island Challenge. What made things all the more incredible is how Captain Mina’s Trial not only included a whole lot of battling, but also how it connected all the previous trials and Trial Captains. Mina’s Trial begins with her battling you, and after winning said battle, it will be up to your trainer to head back to the previous islands in search of the other Trial Captains in order to then defeat them in battle. It was not only a refreshing twist compared to the other Trials, but also another component that made Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon so great.

New Ultra Beasts

Never in the first two decades of Pokemon were new Pokemon released apart of a generation in the second set of games for that same generation. Since it was never seen or instrumented during the first twenty years or so in the Pokemon Franchise, it was not only unheard of but also unfathomable to say the very least. However, what once was no longer reigns, as all of that changed with the release of Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. In said games came not one, not two, not three, but four brand new Pokemon! What makes things all the more sweeter is that all four of these new Pokemon were Ultra Beasts, some of the most powerful Pokemon not only in the Alola Region, but in the entire World of Pokemon.

If the fact that this is unknown territory for the Pokemon Company isn’t enough, then the fact that Blacephalon, Stakataka and Naganadel (three of the four new Ultra Beasts) are incredibly strong should do the trick for you. Blacephalon is a fast Pokemon that has an incredible special attack and move pool. The exact same thing can be said for Naganadel, except all the more so since it does was Blacephalon better. Stakataka is one of the slowest Pokemon known to the world of Pokemon, but with a movepool that includes Trick Room and Gyro Ball, it’s among the most scary Pokemon out there.

New Forms

Whenever new games are released for the same generation of Pokemon, it’s usually safe to assume that new forms are to come for a number of different Pokemon. Back in the Fourth Generation, Giratina received its Origin Form. In the Fifth Generation, Kyurem receive not one but two new forms as Black Kyurem and White Kyurem. In the Sixth Generation, a number of older Pokemon received Mega Evolutions, and Groudon and Kyogre both received a Primal Form. And now, in the Seventh Generation, more new forms have come. However, most of said new forms come to the Cover Legendary Pokemon this time around, Necrozma.

Instead of receiving just one new form, Necrozma actually receives three different forms. The first two of said forms are achieved by fusing with either Solgaleo or Lunala, the original Cover Legendary Pokemon of Pokemon Sun & Moon. When fused with Solgaleo, Necrozma turns into its Dusk Mane Form; when fused with Lunala, it becomes its Dawn Wings Form. When it achieves its Ultra Burst, done so with its very own Z-Crystal, while in these given forms, Necrozma turns into its third and final form. When in this form, Necrozma is called Ultra Necrozma.

Apart for Necrozma, Pikachu and Lycanroc are the only other Pokemon to receive a new form. Pikachu’s new form revolves around it adorning yet another cap of Ash Ketchum, this time the same hat from the recent movie I Choose You. Lycanroc’s new form on the other hand is called its Dusk Form, being a combination between its Midday and Midnight Forms. It too has a connection to Ash Ketchum as this is the same form his Lycanroc has in the Anime Series.

Lillie Not Departing

If you played Pokemon Sun & Moon, odds are you felt Lillie was one of the best Supporting Characters ever seen in the Mainstream Pokemon Games OR one of the worst there has ever been. Depending on how you felt about her character, you were either heartbroken from her departure at the end of the main story OR unaffected by it whatsoever. If you were like the majority of players and felt the former about Lillie, loving every single thing about her character and personality, her not leaving the Alola Region this time around in Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon has to have you floored.

Unfortunately, this came at the cost of Gladion leaving the Alola Region. However, since Gladion never did capture that same sense in a rival as the former likes of Blue, May and Barry, it wasn’t as crushing of a blow as Lillie leaving to aid her mother. Gladion is leaving in hopes of getting stronger, not only to one day challenge your player, but also to protect the ones he loves most. The sentiment is nice, almost as nice as what Lillie chose to do for Lusamine back in Pokemon Sun & Moon, but Gladion isn’t and will never be what Lillie means to most Pokemon players.

Team Rainbow Rocket

Another aspect that most players are bound to love about Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon has to be that of the return of Team Rocket under the new name of Team Rainbow Rocket, the same apart of the RR Episode found in the Post Game of said games. Not only is Giovanni looking to strike back once more in an attempt to rule the world, but he’s using the same Ultra Wormhole technology that the Aether Foundation developed in order to capture and acquire the likes of former antagonist group leaders to aid in his efforts. Along with Giovanni and his waves of grunts, Team Rainbow Rocket is also comprised of Maxie (Team Magma Leader), Archie (Team Aqua Leader), Cyrus (Team Galactic Leader), Ghetsis (Team Plasma Leader), Lysandre (Team Flare Leader), and Faba (Aether Foundation Chief). And yes, your trainer will be battling every last one of them.

What makes Team Rainbow Rocket all the more fascinating is the background storylines that are brought with each leader. Directly before battling your player, each of them will explain how they come from a region they will literally about to take over with the help of the Legendary Pokemon on their team. Both Maxie and Archie will tell how they have awoken their third of the Hoenn Weather Trio, matching up to the story found in Pokemon Emerald; Cyrus will explain how he has used the powers of both time and space to enter the distortion world; Lysandre will tell how he has built the ultimate weapon once again, not yet having use in on the Kalos Region; and Ghetsis will explain how he is looking for the next person to puppet in order to rule the world, saying Giovanni would be the perfect person to do so with, referring that the events in Pokemon Black & White had already occurred.

From the sound of things, it appears that Giovanni (with the help of Faba) used the Ultra Wormholes to take these Leaders away from their given storylines directly before the climax in each of those games where your player would foil their plans. After completing the RR Episode, you will be told by Colress that each of them were sent back to their worlds, ultimately hinting that your characters in those given games would go on to defeating them. When you consider the planning of said storyline for Team Rainbow Rocket, it makes the entire Episode all the more better. Battling old foes is great, but the story the goes along with them is perfect cherry on top.

Mantine Surf

When it was first told of, it sounded like Mantine Surf would merely be a new Poke Ride available to all players during Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. At first reveal, it appeared that Mantine would replace Lapras or Sharpedo; however, that actually wouldn’t be the case. Instead, Mantine Surf would be an additional mini game within Pokemon Ultra Sun & Moon that players could play. What makes Mantine Surf all the more great is that it can be used to travel from one island of the Alola Region to the next. Much like how Mega Latias and Mega Latios was your on-call ride across the skies of the Hoenn Region back in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, so Mantine is another way of transport for your player (this time by the sea and in the Alola Region).

If that isn’t enough, you can actually ride waves with Mantine and do sweet surfer moves off them. The more tricks you pull off, the higher your Mantine Surf Score will be for that given session. The higher score you obtain, the more credit you will earn. And what makes things even sweeter is the fact that these credits work just like Battle Points, the same that can be used to teach your Pokemon a variety of different moves from the newly placed Move Tutors. Mantine Surf isn’t just a mini game to play in order to have a little more fun, but it’s also a way to get a competitive edge in battle with your Pokemon!

Move Tutors & Egg Moves

If you’re more into the competitive side of Pokemon rather than one more focused on having fun and being invested in the storyline, odds are, like so many others, were ecstatic about the addition of Move Tutors. With these new Move Tutors, players can finally teach some of the best moves known in the World of Pokemon to their favorite Pokemon, including many of the 7th Generation Pokemon themselves. Finally, Kartana and Guzzlord can know Knock Off, Buzzwole can learn Drain Punch, and Pheromosa can know Outrage (among so many others)! Players felt slighted back in Pokemon Sun & Moon when they couldn’t teach their Alola Region Pokemon some of the strongest moves known of, but now, in Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, they can!

But things don’t stop just there, as a number of Pokemon, both new and old, have also received new Egg Moves within these two games. One of the better new Egg Moves given has got to be Lucario receiving Meteor Mash. Before now, Lucario really only had Bullet Punch to cause damage to foes as a STAB Steel Type Physical Attack, both in its normal form and as Mega Lucario. But now, Lucario has a reliable Physical Attack that can wreak havoc upon opposing teams, especially since Meteor Mash has a chance to raise Lucario’s already incredible Attack Stat to newer heights. Many other outside Pokemon also received some nice move additions because of this, including Zangoose with Belly Drum and Incineroar with Power Trip.

Because of these new Move Tutors and Egg Moves, the competitive side of Pokemon has just gotten a whole lot more interesting in the 7th Generation!

Ultra Wormholes

There is no doubt about it: Ultra Wormholes are the most fun, interesting and exciting new component included in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Back in Pokemon Sun & Moon, the only area of Ultra Space players could explore was literally a small corridor. There was nothing even to it, only serving as a small path that lead straight to Lusamine and Nihilego. But now, with the addition of Ultra Wormholes and the traveling of Ultra Space, a whole new chapter has opened within the Alola Region.

Not only can players travel through Ultra Wormholes to discover new areas of Ultra Space, but they can also find and capture various Pokemon as they do. And this don’t pertain to just regular ol’ Pokemon, but also Legendary Pokemon and Ultra Beasts too! That’s right! By going through just the right Wormhole, a player can find practically every Legendary Pokemon (excluding Mythical Pokemon and Version Exclusives) from every single previous generation. Players can also find virtually all the Ultra Beasts as well by travel through certain Ultra Wormholes (again, minus Version Exclusives), and in their natural habitats no less. What’s even more sweeter is that because players are finding all of these Pokemon in the wild and not in locked stationary locations, all of these Pokemon can be found in their Shiny Forms! Finally!

Ultra Recon Squad

Since so much of Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon is almost identical to that found in Pokemon Sun & Moon, another layer of story had to be added to them to give them some sort of separation and significance from their predecessors. Apart from Necrozma being the Cover Legendary and a number of new Pokemon and Forms being included in the games, the main difference this time around has to do with the addition of the Ultra Recon Squad. Unlike Team Skull and the Aether Foundation. The Ultra Recon Squad is actually a group of good guys that are trying to prevent Necrozma from stealing the light from other regions.

Sure, the original citizens of Ultra Megalopolis (and the Ultra Recon Squad) are the reason why Necrozma had to steal their light, being too selfish with the light it was providing to them, but this generation of Ultra Recon Squad is doing all they can to not only prevent the light from being stolen from the Alola Region, but also to help Necrozma in the process as well. Along your journey, the Ultra Recon Squad will provide you with the backstory of Necrozma, challenging your player in the process to see if you may be deemed worthy of helping them. And by the end of the story, they express their hope in your player to ultimately befriend Necrozma so you can share some of your light with it, allowing it not to be so starved for such.

It is with the help of the Ultra Recon Squad that you could restore the light to the Alola Region, that you can travel through Ultra Space and all the Ultra Wormholes, that you could have an adventure unlike any other.

Shiny Ultra Beasts

One final reason why we love Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon so much, and probably most of all, is how we can now find all of the Ultra Beasts in their Shiny Forms. Back in Pokemon Sun & Moon, it wasn’t possible to find any of the Ultra Beasts, as well as any of the Alola Legendary Pokemon, in their Shiny Forms. The Pokemon Company deliberately chose to do this, making it impossible to find them in these forms strictly due to how they were coded in those games. As you can imagine, this upset basically every player playing Pokemon Sun & Moon, and they made sure voice this displeasure. And now, low and behold, we have the opportunity to find Ultra Beasts in their Shiny Forms.

Not only can players now find the original Ultra Beasts - including Nihilego, Buzzwole, Pheromosa, Xurkitree, Celesteela, Kartana and Guzzlord - but they can also find all of the newer Ultra Beasts in these forms too! That includes Poipole, Nagandel, Blacephalon, and Stakataka! Not only did the Pokemon Company make up for not giving players the chance to find the original Ultra Beasts in their Shiny Forms, but they did one better by letting players have the opportunity to find all Ultra Beasts, both new and old, in their Shiny Forms.

Alola Was Greater The Second Time Around

Well there you have it! The ten things we, as well as so many others, loved about Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. These succeeding games were a lot like the originals of Pokemon Sun & Moon in more ways than one, but these additions made them better than the first! From Ultra Beasts no longer being shiny-locked to brand new Ultra Beasts themselves, Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon were two video games unlike any other!

We thank you for taking the time to read our thoughts, even more so if you went a step further to leave your thoughts in the comment section below. If you haven’t done so already, there is still time to express your thoughts in the area provided below. And while you’re here on our great site, how about you stick around from a little while longer? We have some of the greatest forums you’ll find on the web, as well as hundreds of guides and cheats for just about every game known to man!

Until next time, Pokemon Fans!