Why Pokemon Sword & Shield are Set in Britain
Channel: Video Game Story Time
Date: 2020-06-19

Pokemon Sword and Shield's first expansion, the Isle of Armor, has arrived. Of course, since the game is set in a pseudo Britain, it should be spelt "Armour", but that's beside the point.

What matter is WHY it should be British. Pokemon Sword and Shield are set in Galar, a land which is inescapably, unashamedly based on the United Kingdom, recreating the rural British countryside and many local landmarks.

While previous Pokemon games have been inspired by other countries - for example, X and Y are vaguely French, while Sun and Moon are loosely based on the Pacific Islands - Sword and Shield take things a step further with a greater level of visual fidelity.

Why? Because the game's art director, James Turner, is English, and wanted to recreate his home in the world of Pokemon. Just as Pokemon Red and Blue are based on Satoshi Tajiri's childhood, Sword and Shield are based on James' experience in rural England.

It just goes to show that nature is inspirational the world over.

Anyway, hope you're staying safe.

Lots of love,
BretonStripes (http://twitter.com/bretonstriped) and Kotor (http://twitter.com/kotorcomics)

Sources:
https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-HarmoKnight/HarmoKnight/1-Just-Give-It-A-Go-/1-Just-Give-It-A-Go--722734.html
Game Informer October 2019 issue (paywall)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJk3wrvL6To
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVMTFYTKwiQ