Missed Connections Gaming: Where Is My Wooloo?

Hello, gamers, book nerds, and humans of the internet, and welcome back to Missed Connections Gaming. Last time, we talked a little bit about my lost years in gaming and what I did when I finally got my hands on a Nintendo Switch in 2020. After playing a ton of Kingdom Hearts and learning that you can, in fact, play Skyrim on a Switch, I turned my attention to Pokémon. You might think, given the timing, that I started with Pokémon Sword & Shield. However, I’ve got a confession to make. I did not do that, at least, not at first.

You see, I hadn’t played a Pokémon game since Diamond & Pearl, and I didn’t much like the looks of these newfangled critters. So, I opted for a remake instead. Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee was my first return to Pokémon (not counting Pokémon GO, of course). But as the wait for Pokémon Legends Z-A continues, I finally decided to return to Galar. After all, our own Bonus Action editor-in-chief is forever extolling the virtues of this generation, so I had to see what I was missing. And so, I grabbed a copy of Pokémon Sword and dove on in.

They Grow Up So Fast

My ultimate goal in any Pokémon game is to gather a crew of cute-yet-powerful Pokémon. It’s always tough to choose a starter because I know they’re going to grow up and, in most cases, become much less cute. I couldn’t resist Grookey, being partial to Grass-type starters, but I have already lived to regret this decision. Yes, I knew it would become a Rillaboom, but my goodness, was I not ready for how much I would hate that. For the first time in my Pokémon history, I’ve decided to lean into training up other Pokémon as my primary team leads, though, of course, I can’t let my original partner go to the box.

So far, I’m enjoying Pokémon Sword well enough, though I don’t think it’s going to be a favorite. For all its flaws, I enjoyed the flexibility of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Being able to follow multiple storylines mixed up the repetitive nature of the games a bit, in my opinion. Being back on a more straightforward, railroady path is a bit of an adjustment, though I will say, I love the way Sword handles gym challenges.

And speaking of gym challenges, I would like to lodge my primary complaint about playing Pokémon Sword. WHERE IS MY WOOLOO? At the beginning of the game, we meet some rogue Wooloo, and Hop even has one of his own. And the first gym? Literally full of Wooloo. But have I gotten a single, solitary chance to catch a fluffy boi of my own? No, I have not.

Finding a wild Wooloo has become my primary quest, though I would also like to gather a crew of Eevee to surround myself with, as is tradition. I’m now several towns on from the beginning, and while I did get a Gigantamax Eevee, there’s still no catchable Wooloo in sight. What gives, Galar?

I Like a Slow-Burn Romance, But Not So Much a Slow-Burn Pokémon Plot

But anyway, Wooloo aside, let’s talk about the overall experience of going to the not-so-distant Pokémon past with this one. When it comes to going back to the backlog, Pokémon Sword is an interesting experience. It’s not so old as to feel retro, unlike Pokémon Black, which I’m playing alongside it thanks to an emulator. But it’s not current gen, either. I can see some of what lingers from previous games and some steps that led to Pokémon Violet, and it’s an interesting in-between point.

The story, thus far, has been pretty lackluster for me. I’m curious to see where it goes, but so far, it doesn’t seem to really be going much of anywhere. In that respect, it falls into an interesting place. Scarlet & Violet has several storylines, and even if they aren’t handled neatly, they are compelling. The older games had a bit more story to them, as well. By contrast, Sword is pretty slow to start. There’s some plot building, but it’s taking a while to get there. I think that adds to my overall sense that older Pokémon games can be a bit too repetitive.

I’ve got a few more gyms to go before my Pokémon Sword journey is complete, and a DLC decision to make afterwards. It feels good to be back on the route to Victory Road, and now feels like the perfect time to fill in my gaps while we wait for a new game to arrive. Galar may not fully claim my heart, but hopefully, I’ll at least get a Wooloo before my journey is complete.

About the Author

Amanda Kay Oaks

Editor

Amanda Kay Oaks is a writer, book witch, and video game enthusiast based in Latrobe, PA. She writes about books, games, and more from an office packed with crystals and Pokemon plushies. When not engrossed in work or fictional worlds, Amanda can be found in the kitchen, on her yoga mat, or walking her dog, Azula.

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