Cultivate or Gather Berries?

In the Pokémon main series games, there have been two primary ways of obtaining Berries: gathering them as they drop, or cultivating them and harvesting the results. The first method was present as early as the old second-generation games and more recently in the seventh-generation games, while the second method was present in the games between those generations. While it is not possible to assert which of either method is better, it is still possible to outline the pros and cons of each and to assert personal preferences.

In cultivating Berries, a lot of effort goes into getting them. After initially obtaining Berries by gathering, Berries can be planted in soft soil or in Berry Pots so that more of them are produced. This is made to progress by watering them with a certain water pail and additionally enhanced with fertilizers to grow them quicker or more plentifully. The good thing about this process is that it's highly personalized, as the player makes the effort to get even more Berries, but that's the bad thing as well, because it is in effect virtual gardening, however simplified it may be. I like this hands-on process but dislike it for the same reason.

The alternative of gathering Berries is much simpler. Berries exist on the trees and are simply taken from them, or from the ground as they drop. Practically no effort is needed as Berries simply grow back where they are and the only thing to do is to collect them. Admittedly, though, the hands-on quality is lost, and there is only a fixed schedule for the Berries, much like growing them without the use of fertilizers. That I do not have to do the work to get Berries is nice and effortless, but I do miss the ability to enhance this.

These two approaches can be considered opposites of each other. One is more involved with the possibility of greater results, while the other is less involved with just consistent results. Again, the preference of either approach is totally dependent on individual players and how they see the pros and cons of each; the same applies for me. Regardless of the approach, it is a certainty that players can and will collect Berries if and when they're needed in order to enhance their Pokémon with the powers of the respective Berries.

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