With the release of the latest DLC, the IX generation ofPokemonis coming to an end.Pokemon Scarlet and Violettried to take the franchise in a completely new direction, but the effort was plagued by numerous problems, among which technical issues were the most glaring ones. Because of this, the games received a very divisive response from critics and fans alike, with many considering these two games the very worst of the mainline series.
Despite all the glaring flaws, many players truly enjoyed the game, and for good reasons. There are some things thatPokemon Scarlet and Violetdo well, and it’s much easier to appreciate them now that it’s time to leave the Paldea region for good.
5Exploration
Exploring New Regions Has Never Been As Satisfying
The decision to makePokemon Scarlet and Violetthe first true open-world games in the series is what led to many of the game’s technical flaws. The team was hardly prepared for such a demanding task, and the games really suffered from the lack of previous experience with these kinds of games,despite an attempt at a similar format in theSword and ShieldDLCs. However, despite the glaring issues, there are good things to be said about how the exploration is handled in the games.
For the first time, players are free to explore the map without limits, something that no game in the series has done before. Even if the map can feel a bit empty at times, riding Koraidon and Miraidon while exploring the different biomes of Paldea is a uniquely satisfying experience, and many players hope that future games will be able to achieve the same sense of freedom and adventure.Paldea might not be one of the best regions in the series, but venturing through these lands is an incredible adventure.
4Music
The Games Have Plenty Of Catchy Tunes
Music is a great part of every Pokemon journey.Almost every single mainline game has tons of memorable tracks, and there’s a reason why gamers still fondly remember tunes from older games.Pokemon Scarlet and Violetare no different: the games provide a great selection of tracks, underlining the sense of freedom and adventure that trainers can feel all throughout the game.
While the games could’ve used a little more variety (thankfully the DLCs added some new, wonderful tracks), there’s no denying that music is easily one of the best parts of the Paldea adventures, and surely gamers will still remember these tunes in the years to come. Hopefully, players will see some trackspop up in the anime series as well.
3Plot
Arguably One Of The Best Pokemon Stories Since Black & White
The plot is hardly one of the main focuses of thePokemongames,but that doesn’t mean thatPokemongames have a bad plot in general. However, it’s hard to deny that, afterPokemonBlack and White, subsequent games put less effort into the narrative department, lacking memorable characters and events. Luckily,Pokemon Scarlet and Violetonce again try to bring a more compelling narrative, that comprises not one, but multiple story arcs that all come together by the end of the games.
Sure, there are still some very obvious problems. The narrative has an uneven pace, mostly because it had to adapt to a non-linear structure, and not all characters get enough screen time and development. Maybe it would’ve worked better in a linear game, but what’s left is still very good byPokemonstandards, and hopefully, future games will keep the same level of quality.
2Quality Of Life Improvements
Incredibly Useful Let’s Go Feature That Should Become A Mainstay For The Series
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetbringa lot of quality-of-life improvements to thePokemonformula. One example is a separate section in the trainer’s bag for sellable items: this way, players can know immediately which items are meant just to be sold, avoiding mistakenly selling precious items that should be used for some evolution processes or things like that. However, the best new feature is surely the Let’s Go mode that players can use when exploring the map.
This feature allows players to send their Pokemon out in the wild, doing automatic battles with nearby Pokemon. While it’s true that Pokemon get less experience from this than what they would get from a regular battle, this is still an incredibly pleasant way to cut some grinding for those players who just want to level up their team quickly. Hopefully, this feature will be kept in newer games.
1Multiple Quests
For The First Time, Players Have More Than One Goal
MainlinePokemongames always have just one single storyline. While there were often sub-plots to be found within the main adventure, they were still treated like sub-plots rather than full-fledged side quests.Pokemon Scarlet and Violetintroduced multiple quests for the first time in the series,allowing players to tackle different adventures and objectives throughout the games.
This is a welcome change of pace for the series, and hopefully, it will be kept for future entries in the franchise. While there’s indeed much room for improvement, there’s no denying that having multiple missions in aPokemongame is very exciting. There’s much more potential in the idea of having multiple quests in the game, giving players something else to do besides becoming “the very best like no one ever was.”
