Go Fest 2021 Set Expectations Way Too High

thegamer.com:

Because I’m an inconsistent Pokemon Go player, I have a handful of old Special Research Assignments on my list that can’t be completed. My oldest one is Season of Legends from last March, which requires taking a snapshot of Thundurus. I managed to catch both Landorus and Tornadus during Go Fest 2021, but I missed out on Thundurus the first (and second, and third) time around. As Go Fest 2022 neared, I assumed I’d finally have a chance to catch Thundurus, along with the rest of the Legendaries I’ve been missing. Boy, was I wrong about that one.

This year’s Go Fest was nothing like last year’s, and the community is understandably upset. Posts all over social media have been comparing the two events to point out everything this year’s Go Fest was missing. There were fewer Legendary raids, worse shiny rates, fewer freebies, worse bonuses, and plenty more bugs this time around. Whether you enjoyed the weekend or not, it’s hard to ignore just how much better last year’s event was - at one-third of the price, no less.

Pokemon Go Fest 2021 introduced the Melody Pokemon Meloetta with a music festival-themed story line. Players started by choosing between rock and pop music, which determined both the music they would hear and the type of costumed-Pikachu they would find. They’d then work through the Special Research Assignment by collecting music-themed Pokemon to join their band and lure out Meloetta. The event had a cohesive and memorable theme that surrounded a day of bonuses and freebies, including boosted Shiny rates, one-half egg hatch distance, eight free Remote Raid Passes, and six special trades. On Sunday, 37 Legendary Pokemon were featured in xp-boosted raids, with the chance to find Shiny versions of 31. I caught six