Sun/Moon review

I have to say...Sun and Moon are my favorite Pokemon games.  For many years has Platinum held up to be my favorites with HGSS close behind, but Sun and Moon have created in my mind the ULTIMATE Pokemon experience.

First off, I would like to give humongous props to the story of this game.  Lusamine is an insane woman, and is truly the most evil antagonist in the series and barely beating out Ghetsis for the "Worst Parent" award.  Team Skull was amazing for both comic relief and serious points.  Po Town is the scariest atmosphere in any Pokemon game to date, and it truly felt like you were under tremendous pressure being in there.  Hell, the friggin' Pokemon Center was RANSACKED AND VANDALIZED.  WHAT THE FUCK.

also did i mention that guzma is the best character of all time

Lillie was a bit cliched, but she was still likeable.  She had a very anime-Serena-like role, which is appealing.

The trial system also worked to the game's advantage, in both gameplay and story.  The Totem Pokemon being the main bosses of the game were super difficult compared to most Gym leaders and used awesome Double battle strats that you would normally only see in VGC.  In terms of gameplay, while Sun/Moon were very linear, the game was so story driven that it made sense to be so.  Gameplay of Sun/Moon is super fluid, albeit slow in health depletion and animations.  Though to be fair, Gen 4-6 were all guilty of this.  The Z Crystals, unlike Megas, are not broken when used in the main game or multiplayer and create a more strategic experience.  Choosing the optimal time to use a Z Move is great in both competitive and storyline gameplay.

The new Pokemon.  Mother of God, the new Pokemon.  THEY ARE ALL FANTASTIC.
There is not one Pokemon in Gen 7 besides Alolan Raticate that I dislike.  They all have their own unique niche in battle, whatever Smogon tier they are placed in, and they all have fantastic designs imo.
Not to mention the fact that they are all great for VGC, the format I personally like the most.
Have whatever opinion you want on the Ultra Beasts, but I don't think they are broken beyond the Landorus, Thundurus, and Tornadus trio (the Genies).  They are more offensive, sure, but I think this meta needed some good offensive mons.  The only one I find super busted is Celesteela.  It's super good, and doesn't have too many counters.  If you don't have Electric or Fire on your team, good luck combatting it.  You'll need it.

Something that Sun and Moon surprised me in was the amazing graphical and audio presentation.  The graphics improved even on top of what X/Y and ORAS did, and a lot of the new move animations look stellar!  (At the cost of slower processing by older 3DSes)
But Sun/Moon brought in the big guns in the music department.  Lusamine's theme, Guzma's theme, the Aether Foundation and Team Skull themes, the Elite Four theme, even THE FRIGGIN WILD BATTLE THEME.  They are all songs that I could reasonably listen to for hours and not get old.  I even listen to them when I play on Showdown now.

In short, Sun/Moon are definitely the best games you could get on the 3DS in its entire lifespan.  For a while that title was reserved for Persona Q, but I think that Pokemon S/M have definitely earned the title.  Go and buy the game RIGHT NOW, quickly.  Before all the copies are sold out from your nearest retailer.
(Sun/Moon don't beat out my favorite game of all time, which remains a tie between Persona 3 and 4.  But it comes damn close.)