Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield have split the fanbase of the Pokemon franchise with some players enjoying the updates and others disappointed that beloved mechanics and Pokemon had been left out. One of the new features in the commercially successful Sword & Shield allows wild Pokemon to visit a players camp and this was the setting for an emotional moment.
Since the release of the first Pokemon games in 1996 the franchise has had a dedicated following and this has only grown with the number of Pokemon and avenues the series has explored. Many players have connected with their Pokemon and this is partly because of the lore that supports the monsters. The lore of Phantump combined with the features has led to a sad encounter in Pokemon Sword & Shield and many players are commenting on the sad backstory for the Pokemon upon seeing an unlikely encounter.
Reddit user, DidIHappenToSay, shared a video of a stray Phantump that came to visit their camp and eat curry with their existing Pokemon. While this seems to be just a feature of Pokemon Sword & Shield, the lore behind the character makes this interaction incredibly sad. The poster noted that Phantump's are the ghosts of children who had become lost in woodland areas and died. As a result, this is an interaction with a lost child who is looking for some company. This is undoubtedly a sad story and the chance encounter only adds to the established lore. The video of the event can be seen below.
It is clear that Pokemon Sword & Shield has depth and many will be interested in uncovering their own stories as they find new monsters in the world. With DLC and an already expansive range of Pokemon to discover it seems that players will be able to invest plenty of time into this title and this is evidenced by discoveries like this one almost a year after its initial release. With this in mind, it will be interesting to see what discoveries and stories that players continue to find in the game.
Some believe that DLC content can keep Pokemon Sword & Shield growing for years to come and if this is the case, the game may be able to cement its position as a classic entry in the franchise. It is clear that many players are enjoying the title and it will be intriguing to find out if new content can create more emotive lore as the game progresses.
Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield are available now for Nintendo Switch.