[DISCUSSION] Everything Awesome About the Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon Map!

Let's get the most obvious detail out of the way first. In case you hadn't noticed, there is a massive purple void hovering dangerously close to Poni Island. Trainers have been speculating what this means since we saw the map for the first time, and frankly I have a few theories of my own. The biggest one is probably that it has something to do with how we access Ultra Megalopolis. That and all of the new Ultra Beasts that have been revealed will probably come through there and populate Alola as they did in the first two games. Not only that, but notice how the wormhole casts a giant shadow over Poni Island, blocking all the light. I have a sneaking suspicion that this has something to do with how Necrozma reportedly stole all the light from Ultra Space, and that he may be trying to do the same in Alola using the mascot legendaries as a crutch. As the player, I speculate that Necrozma nearly succeeds, and it is your job as the player to end his nefarious scheme by catching him after he absorbs Solgaleo/Lunala. While we're on Poni Island, Exeggutor Island looks oddly untouched. Something to do with the mystic flute found there? We'll just have to see.

2) The Change in Color

This is a detail that some people probably wouldn't think twice about, but I've dabled in color theory. I know a change in tone when I see one based on a shift in spectrum. Notice how in the original map of Sun and Moon the water was a very deep blue, and here it's a sharp blood orange, or even straight up red in some places. Blue is a color that is used commonly in advertisement to evoke feelings of serenity, or easement. That's why most signs that say things like "Think Lot Term," or "Buy in Bulk" are in shades of blue. Red, on the other hand, is often associated with urgency, and even danger. Have you ever wondered why 'Stop' signs are red? Or why red lights are used to control traffic as opposed to blue, or purple? It's because various studies have suggested that the mind has a subconcious reaction to the color red, sparking fear or haste in the human brain. Therefore, I believe that the color change of the water from blue to red for the map of Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon is not just because of the setting sun in the background, but rather because our second trip to Alola won't be nearly as welcoming as the first. Serious things are going to happen around the islands this time, and judging by the clouds rolling in, they aren't pleasant.

3) Shapes in the Clouds

Speaking of the clouds, this is another obvious one that I don't want to go too into because it's already been covered by many sources. I love that you can vaguely make out the shapes of all three primary Gen 4 legendaries in the clouds. Palkia is to the left, Dialga towards the bottom, and Giratina in the upper right. Hints that Sinnoh remakes are already in development? I sure hope so! Also, is that a Gyarados to the right, above Ula'ula Island? How'd he get up there?

4) The Pod of Wailord

Lastly, I want to say that this detail is probably my favorite! We knew beforehand that they were probably going to introduce more pokémon into the Alola Dex after the VERY conducive 302 that we had to choose from before. Even fewer if you consider that the mascots and mythics were banned in competitive. However, seeing that pod of Wailord swimming between the islands is a great, frankly subtle way of letting all of us know that this isn't the same Alola that we travelled through the first time. There's going to be more pokémon, and we're sure to make friends with all the new additions to the islands along the way. Which, in and of itself, is a great reference to the fact that on the real Islands of Hawaii, many of the native species are actually invasive, having come from other islands, the mainland, or introduced by humans. No doubt that this means a broad new horizon of pokémon to choose from, and I can't wait to see the full selection! I don't know what took them so long to add Tropius to the Alola Dex, but better late than never, I suppose!

Well, that's all for Monday's post! It's really fun looking over the map and scrutinizing over every detail. Hopefully I've pointed out something that y'all hadn't noticed before. Make no mistake, I'm just as hyped for these games as I was when this map was first released, and looking further into it only made me more excited. I'd love to share more of my personal theories about the events in Alola come Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, but that'll be a post for a different day! Don't forget to tell me what you love about the new Alolan map below, and I'll see you all on Wednesday with my next post.

Thanks so much for reading, everyone! Battle onwards, friends!

- 0kamii