I'm glad that this returned, with neat additions to the game such as Pokébeans and the Poké Pelago bolstering its ease of use. In the old games, it was really tedious to raise this for me, and I didn't get much satisfaction from the benefits. In this game, however, I've actually enjoyed it a lot. I was trying to train my Salandit (with max affection), and it almost got KO'd by a Surskit. I was about to get irritated, when I say, "Zalasa toughed it out so you wouldn't be sad!" It actually made me smile a little, which is weird because I didn't have these moments before this game.
I have had that happen too, I love them turning to me at the end of the battle and then smiling at me all proud like. I think it is a great way to get you to like the Pokémon more and feel more connected.
I love it when your Pokémon adores you because it tries extra hard to land critical hits and I also really like the small look back when they first enter battle!
I actually had this happen at the perfect time earlier. I was fighting a Mudbray, training my Steenee, and it got a few defense raises and was about to unleash Bide. Steenee pulled through with a critical hit and saved me big time.
I'm loving it as well, and it appears that it also raises friendship this time which I don't think it did in Gen 6 (though I may be wrong, I just don't remember it affecting friendship/happiness for those friendship evos and my beloved Return move). I've already got my Mudbray to max affection and I have to say this Pokémon wasn't one I planned on using originally but I have grown to really like it and it's going to stay on my main team.