Review: Dio Vento's USUM Difficulty Hacks...Radical Red, but Alolan, though lacking in QoL. (9 /10)
As per title.
Review will be straightforward since this is a difficulty hack.
Overall - 9.0 / 10, really loved it. Radical Red levels of effort for EVERY single trainer. Held back only by lack of modern QoL, but you can always use PKHex to IV / EV train. I managed to ignore IV / EV till Elite Four.
Pro - RADICAAAAL Difficulty and Set Variety
Seriously, this is like the 3DS / USUM version of Radical Red in terms of difficulty. No punches are pulled, every NPC has the potential to cause a white-out, while being balanced. Balances are often based on type advantage / disadvantage, choice-locked moves, predictable leads that signal setup, experience telling you what moves to counter etc.
I genuinely appreciate the effort, and its evident because EVERY single trainer has the potential to cause a white-out. Even little Timmy in the opening route has a Ratatta that knows Giga Impact, balanced by the fact that its his one Ratatta against your 6 'mons.
Almost all trainers use different gimmicks, so its not like those "artificial" difficulty hacks where they give Dusclops Eviolite + Confuse Ray and make it a grindfest to artificially inflate the sense of difficulty. However, expect the occasional cheese strat meant to test if you are prepared, such a Focus Sash Shedninja.
Dio Vento himself also shows surprising understanding of battle strategies, as you can encounter NPCs using very specific strategies like (a) FEAR Rattata, or (b) Sandstorm + Endeavor Aaron with Berry Recycle etc, or even (c) Protect + Sub stall Moody pokemon that knows Baton Pass.
Doubles are especially challenging as opponents can have all sorts of synergistic strategies from Weather teams, to Pledge teams, to Dancer Ability teams, to Plus / Minus teams.
Never once was I bored by the difficulty as there were so many interesting gimmicks, deliberately synergistic teams, unexpected strats etc.
Be warned though - you WILL need to have competitive knowledge. A dedicated physical / special tank etc, with proper sweepers to close out games etc, 'mons with tech moves like Brick Break etc.
Pro - Trainer Themes are Preserved
Trial captains and important NPCs all use teams that suit their personality. Guzma the bug specialist for instance, will have a full competitive team while preserving his bug theme. Even teams are "area appropriate", trainers near a cemetery will use Psychic / Ghost etc.
So basically, you can enjoy the story and intended NPC characterization while getting your ass whooped.
Pro - PERFECT Level Pacing and Scaling
I NEVER once found myself overleveled or underleveled. Route 'mons are all perfectly scaled. Basically a catch-and-play true experience.
In essence, the lack of a level cap never bothered me because the level scaling was magically PERFECT.
Lukewarm - Radically Improved AI, but not Radical Red levels
AI is noticeably better than vanilla AI, choosing correct moves, prioritizing Stealth Rock on turn 1, going for KOs, using FEAR correctly etc. But it is not Radical Red levels where it can predict switch-ins etc, and still fairly exploitable as it always go for KOs when it can.
Lukewarm - Vanilla Typing / Vanilla Stats / Older Movesets
You want a Ghost / Fairy Mismagius just like Seaglass? You want a reworked Golisopod that has a decent ability? You want you pet Arbok to be Poison / Dark with new Strong Jaw ability?
Too bad, all Typings are vanilla, with vanilla stats instead of fan buffs, and they retain their older movepools meaning no random Sucker Punch on some 'mons.
Lukewarm - NPCs get to use Megas before you do...but still balanced
In USUM, Mega Evolution in the vanilla is locked in the post-game.
NPCs are ready to bust out Mega Alakazam to whoop you though, though balance is often still maintained. Even till mid-game etc, NPCs with Mega tend to have i.e. 3x 'Mons instead of a fully stacked team so you can take out their Megas with the power of friendship.
Bad - Lack of Modern QoL
There's no portable move relearner, no Blissey punching bag in the Pokecentre, no level caps, no infinite Rare Candies, no 6x Zubat trainers for you to abuse for Max Speed EVs etc, no magically refreshing Focus Sash etc.
No sirree, you gonna do things the old fashioned way here with Protein supplements, EV-erasing berries, buying 99x Focus Sash etc (its cheap though). But you can always just use PkHEX, there's online chrome versions now.
Thoughts on Vanilla Plot
Honestly? My first time playing USUM from start to finish, and I can say that this feels like the last time Game Freak properly put in effort. Some character arcs are tragic, like Guzma, and I won't spoil too much about the bitter-sweet ending Lusamine gets etc....
Lots of fan cameos, name drops, and guest appereances from older characters, including everyone's hot mama Cynthia.
Its best experienced through an adult perspective on: "coming of age" themes - parenting, physical abuse, perfectionism and living up to parental or societal expectations etc.
EDIT - 1.5k views, 1 upvote. Yet again confirming my suspicion that this sub doesnt care about non-GBA games.
