We've known for a while now that Pokémon Sword & Shield, the first mainline Pokémon games for Nintendo Switch, will introduce a new large open-world space called the Wild Area in which monsters roam freely and players can explore at their pleasure, even running into much more powerful Pokémon that they might not be ready for.
While ostensibly not an open world game in the modern sense of the term, Pokémon Sword & Shield's Wild Area certainly brings us one step closer to the proper open world Pokémon game we so desperately crave - but just how big is the Wild Area? According to Metro, it's pretty damn big.
Speaking to a Nintendo rep, Metro was able to learn that Pokémon Sword & Shield's Wild Area is about the size of two regions from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild put together. If you've played Link's open world adventure, you'll know that means the Wild Area is set to be pretty damn expansive.
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For comparison, we know that Nintendo previously confirmed that the Great Plateau - the smallest region in Breath of the Wild - is roughly the same size as the entire map in Ocarina of Time.
If we're being conservative then, we can assume that Pokémon Sword & Shield's Wild Area is twice the size of the N64 classic's world, and that doesn't even factor in all the caves, towns, villages, and other areas that we'll no doubt visit over the course of our upcoming Pokémon adventure.
If this Nintendo rep has made an accurate comparison, then we can expect a great deal of freedom to explore in Pokémon Sword & Shield. I only hope I don't run into too many Level 50 monsters when all I have to hand is a Level 6 Pidgey to defend myself.
It might not be then true open world game we crave, but with such a vast Wild Area, 18 gyms to defeat, new monsters to catch, and untold secrets yet to discover, I have to say I'm more excited for Pokémon Sword & Shield than I have been for a game in this franchise for a long, long time.
If nothing else, we can get excited about the fact that Pokémon Sword & Shield is returning the original, chubby Pikachu to the spltlight - which is exactly where my chonky boi has always belonged.
Featured Image Credit: NintendoTopics: Pokemon, Nintendo Switch, Pokemon Sword & Shield