Current Events > Should i get Pokemon sword / shield for my 7 year old?

(+) Yeah! (+)

She wanted to play a Pokemon game but all I own is a PC and a Switch.

I also only played Pokemon Blue back in 1998. So I don't know what's been happening with Pokemon for the past 20 years.

If you don't think she would like sword and shield, which Pokemon would you recommend for switch or PC/emu?

Thanks in advance!

Some people on the Pokemon board are saying to buy an old console and buy an old cartridge. For one game. Weird.

Absolutely not.
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What would you recommend instead?

Yeah, it seems like it'll be a good introduction to the series.
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Yeah, buy it. She'll love it. You'll love it too.
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If it's her first game, then yeah. It should be good for her.

It's just us longtime fans who have problems with the game. Complete newcomers shouldn't worry.
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Do it.
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For cost and content, you'll get a lot farther with the Let's Go games. On the other hand, the kids in that age group are probably gonna have Sword and Shield, if Pokemon is still big with little kids.
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For a first time pokemon game, I personally think pokemon Sword or Shield version is too expensive for what it is.

If you only have a PC and she wants the true pokemon experience and not an spiritual pokemon-type game. I'd suggest you look into an DS emulator and a fan-port of Pokemon Pearl or Pokemon HeartGold that should work.

I reccomend those games because those were my personal favorites. I never played the Roms however just the official ones on the DS.

If your daughter is willing to play a 'pokemon-like' game made for the PC and is legit.

I heard good things about, Ooblets and TEMTEM
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no
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Dreamer18982 posted...

If you only have a PC and she wants the true pokemon experience and not an spiritual pokemon-type game.

She is 7 years old

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Guide posted...

For cost and content, you'll get a lot farther with the Let's Go games. On the other hand, the kids in that age group are probably gonna have Sword and Shield, if Pokemon is still big with little kids.

From what I've seen by running Pokemon Trading Card events and volunteering at schools Pokemon is huge with first graders. I wager all of them are probably asking for sword and shield

Wewillrocku posted...

no

What would you recommend instead?

Yes. It should be a great first Pokmon game for a kid that age. The modern Pokmon games are pretty easy to beat, and they were never really hard to begin with.
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Don't. Buy her pokemon Let's Go Pikachu or Let's Go Eevee instead.

-it looks better
-there is far, far more interaction you can have with your pokemon. You really feel like you're traveling with your companions, and they have more personality.
-you can join in as a second player and help her get through any difficult parts
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Sword and Shield are out yet so idk how people are giving definitive no answers without having played the game. The big factors against it, from what I know, at least, a 7 year old wont care about at all. Like the shrunken Pokedex.

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Probably she does fall in target audience age range
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I was playing Pokemon at 5 so she should like it
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I'm now agreeing with another poster, buy Pokemon Let's Go and take her to the store with you or show her an image of Pikachu or Eevee and ask which one she wants to join her on her journey.

You can pick up a used copy for pretty cheap, and it's ideal for her first pokemon game. I haven't personally played it however I've done excessive research and it should be ideal for your child.
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Alpha218 posted...

Sword and Shield are out yet so idk how people are giving definitive no answers without having played the game.

Yet people can give definitive yes answers without having played it?
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DarkChozoGhost posted...

Yet people can give definitive yes answers without having played it?

There are 7 other pokemon generations to lean on for that opinion. If Shield/Sword follow that general formula, then leveraging 20 years of Pokemon gaming would allow you to make a confident guess on the expected experience. If it's something drastically different which we don't know yet other than a halfassed Dex and exp share then all of the strong "no"s would make sense and not sound like blind hating

Also I dont consider crappy final evolutions for the starters as a valid complaint since its been the same tired complaint since Gen 4 when people starting whining about the fire starter being no different than the previous generation

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Lets Go is the better option from a child development standpoint. I don't mean "7 year olds are dumb", I've just always had the opinion kids should learn to respect the classics like NES/SNES games before they get jaded from playing modern games.

Not only is it a modern remake of a classic; it has 2 player support, even if it isn't hard enough to help, it can still be a bonding experience, especially since it has the pokemon you recognize from Blue. On top of that she can pet the starter pokemon and dress it up and stuff, kids and girls love that jazz.

You'd also be voting with your dollar for what its worth, S&S are just bad. Even ignoring how many pokemon were cut, Im soooo excited about 100 different kinds of curry and gymleaders with designs just as bad as the new pokemon.

Or put FireRed/LeafGreen (GBA) on her cellphone or S/NES Classic.
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DarkChozoGhost posted...

Yet people can give definitive yes answers without having played it?

Im merely responding to the negatives people have pointed out

Myself, Im unsure if Im even getting the game. 400 Pokmon is not a lot for someone who tries to milk the post game

Given it is the major complaint tho I cant say a 7 year old will care much

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DoomSwell posted...

Lets Go is the better option from a child development standpoint. I don't mean "7 year olds are dumb", I've just always had the opinion kids should learn to respect the classics like NES/SNES games before they get jaded from playing modern games.

Not only is it a modern remake of a classic; it has 2 player support, even if it isn't hard enough to help, it can still be a bonding experience, especially since it has the pokemon you recognize from Blue. On top of that she can pet the starter pokemon and dress it up and stuff, kids and girls love that jazz.

You'd also be voting with your dollar for what its worth, S&S are just bad. Even ignoring how many pokemon were cut, Im soooo excited about 100 different kinds of curry and gymleaders with designs just as bad as the new pokemon.

Or put FireRed/LeafGreen (GBA) on her cellphone or S/NES Classic.

Interesting how a year or two ago I recall seeing comments to skip over Let's Go games. :) I heard FireRed/LeafGreen have great fan mods and are easy to use with a controller.

If she has friends with a switch, then yeah, get her SwSh, if not, then an emulator and HGSS or BW2 (though if your PC is really bad, DS games won't run well)
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Kerred posted...

Interesting how a year or two ago I recall seeing comments to skip over Let's Go games

The important thing to note is your question. Yeah, long term fans have little to gain by playing Lets Go, but a kid who never played the originals? Has everything to gain, it was designed as a starting point not only 20 years ago for the series but as a starting point for all the fans from Go on phones.

Kerred posted...

FireRed/LeafGreen have great fan mods and are easy to use with a controller.

Eh, the mods are okay, randomizers are good at least... but that shouldn't matter to a 7 year old.
Also, yeah, any game is better with a controller but RPGs like pokemon can work fine even on a phone without a controller.

mehmeh1 posted...

emulator and HGSS or BW2 (though if your PC is really bad, DS games won't run well)

The antipiracy on the DS games can be tricky to deal with if you don't know where to find the patches.
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Just get Let's Go Eevee or Pikachu

Dont support bad habits by buying Sw/Sh. That game needs to flop
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MarqueeSeries posted...

Just get Let's Go Eevee or Pikachu

Dont support bad habits by buying Sw/Sh. That game needs to flop

To be fair, supporting Let's go would also be supporting bad habits
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It comes down to this: Does she have friends that will be playing Sw/Sh? If so, get her the new hotness, not last year's garbage.
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