Pokemon Sword and Shield: The Isle of Armor Reviews
Yes, if you just want more Pokémon Sword and Shield. It’s not a groundbreaking package, but it’s a fun excuse to see some old favorite monsters.
The Isle of Armor is a short adventure on a small stretch of land. But, with new features, the expanded Pokedex, and a beautiful wild area, it's hard not to suggest it for anyone with the base game.
A slew of extra items and features making Pokémon breeding and training a bit better are also included, along with enough bonuses to warrant the existence of this DLC... but not much more than that.
While the story is leagues over the original, its short length and lack of content feels sparse. I think the value of the DLC lies with having both expansion packs together, since Crown Tundra will feature the long awaited Legendary Raids. Isle of Armor is a nice addition for Pokémon Sword and Shield, but only the biggest Pokémaniacs will get the most out of the experience.
I would have enjoyed this DLC much more if it was longer than it was.
The Isle of Armor compellingly builds on top of Pokemon Sword and Shield's experience, even if the main story scenario is rather brief. The new areas are diverse and fun to explore, and they will enthrall anybody who thoroughly enjoyed the base game's Wild Area.
Isle of Armor is a small good step for Pokémon, but we can only recommend it to players who want to continue capturing and fighting.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With few summer Switch games this year, The Isle of Armor is a breath of fresh air and its vibe will make you feel like you're on vacation. Plus, exploring the beautiful island while catching new Pokemon has definitely made me re-experience some of Pokemon Sword's magic.
The Isle of Armor pales in comparison to previous post-game campaigns included in older Pokémon titles released throughout the years, and you didn’t have to pay extra in order to access them.
Even though the Isle of Armor reintroduces 210 new Pokémon and provides a new and easier way to get certain items and upgrades, its story is too short and not entertaining to really prove itself worthy. However you are a big Pokémon fan and just want to capture more of them, this DLC will probably do the job for you.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Reasonably good value for money and a better open world environment than the original but with very little story or structure, Pokémon's first expansion feels disappointingly hollow.
There are definitely some much-needed additions that come with the Isle of Armor, but it still feels as though it's the least amount of content possible. I love Pokémon, but this expansion has left me feeling a little bit cold on the whole thing. There's fun to be had, but unless you're committed to catching 'em all or grinding every Pokémon up to a competitive standard, it won't last very long.
Pokémon Sword and Shield's Isle of Armor Expansion gives the game the best environment and world design Pokémon has had in any 3D game, mainline, or spin-off, but very little else. If you're a Pokémaniac who is dead-set on completing another Pokédex, you'll love this, but if you want to do something other than filling out a list, this is not for you. This is not the whimsical world-traveling adventure mainline Pokémon games are, this is just boring.
If you picked up the expansion pass hoping for a lengthy and interesting story, or some new gameplay then you’ll probably find Isle of Armor a little lacking as I did.
Isle of Armor is an enjoyable expansion to Pokemon Sword and Shield and brings the franchise one step closer to embracing a cohesive open-world, but it isn’t enough to detract from an experience that is far too brief for its own good.
The Isle of Armor is an expansion that does things right, but in the end it feels like an underwhelming experience. The main story leaves a lot to be desired and I can't help but think that some of its improvements should be on the base game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
In the end, Isle of Armor builds on the foundation of Pokemon Shield’s Wild Area, but there simply isn’t enough to it.
The unquestionable fact here is that the first DLC in Pokémon history could have been something much more grand, or at least memorable. It is possible to have fun, enjoy a few quick moments and you can certainly kill some time. Pokémon fans will feel compelled to buy the expansion, and if they want to extend the Sword / Shield experience, there really is no other option. It is a pity, however, that we fans always have to be content with so little on the part of Game Freak.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If you loved Pokemon Sword or Pokemon Shield, then this is a worthy addition. If you had any doubt, and aren’t fussed about catching Pokes and beating blokes, then this island should be deserted.
The first Pokémon DLC expands the area and Pokédex, and will put us to the test with the equipment we have.
Review in Spanish | Read full review