Game Freak's seminal Pokemon series is one of the longest-running pillars of video game culture, with its iterations spanning a dizzying array of console generations and gameplay formats. It's been a ubiquitous element of pop culture since the first Pokemon titles launched in the '90s, and it's still generating entries to this day. With the upcoming release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, players are excited to see what else the series might have in store for them, and what new features and faces they might encounter. Luckily, players won't have that long to wait, as even though Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were only announced earlier this year, gamers will be able to get their hands on them in November.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will be the first installments in the ninth generation of the Pokemon series, so players are expecting more than a few changes and fresh additions, alongside the classic aspects of the franchise. There are so many core elements that have remained the same throughout all the Pokemon games; collecting Pokemon, training and evolving them, battling other characters, and trying to build the strongest team out there. It's hard to see some things changing with the Pokemon format, but other elements were due for a shake-up, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's new open world is definitely one of them.
Biggest Changes Throughout The Franchise
Pokemon is a franchise that's in constant flux. Each generation brings with it new characters, Pokemon, settings, and storylines to offer players a fresh take on the beloved series and continue to build on the world that Game Freak and Nintendo have created. Across the years, the series has undergone some truly momentous changes, as well as some more cosmetic adaptations as graphics improved and consoles became more advanced. While each generation brings a fresh batch of pocket monsters, the addition of brand-new types over time like Fairy-type Pokemon really helped to add new dimensions to combat and collection, improving the more simplified system of earlier games.
The Pokemon franchise is a series that knows the benefits of near-constant change. In addition to new types and new Pokemon, with each generation bringing its own kooky and creative designs, features like Mega Evolution were added to keep the formula fresh. It may have been controversial at first, but it's now become a foundational part of the Pokemon setup. Pokemon Sword and Shield also laid the groundwork for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's open world with its semi-open Wild Area. This expansive region allowed players to have full control of the camera for the first time and made the games feel more modern and engaging. Gamers could explore the vast and diverse area and encounter an array of wild Pokemon in between the more formulaic urban locations.
The Logical Evolution Of The Series
For video game franchises that have multiple entries and span more than a decade, it can be hard to find ways to keep improving. One avenue that a lot of series go down is the 'bigger and better' route, making sure that each successive installment has a wider scope and improves almost every aspect of its predecessor. While this makes sense, there is sometimes a limit to how much bigger or better core features can become, and some sequels can actually suffer by comparison to their earlier entries. The Pokemon franchise does seem to be following these principles, but its expansion into an open-world format just makes so much sense for the sequel as well as the games in general.
Pokemon games have always had a focus on exploration, with young adventurers looking to strike out on their own and discover an exciting world teeming with Pokemon to collect. With such a strong theme running through the series, it just seems logical for a Pokemon game to take place in an open-world setting. This feature will also help the Pokemon franchise compete with more current games that have employed this setup for years, and shows how the series isn't scared to adapt some of its most foundational features to make sure it's still offering players something new. It will also mean that gamers can experience the story however they want, without being channeled into certain locations and encountering the story in a very set pattern, which will be an interesting change to the established format.
What Scarlet And Violet Will Bring To The Table
Pokemon Legends: Arceus adapted Pokemon Sword and Shield's limited open-world section and pushed the envelope further with its environments. The game was a success, with its change-up of the normal Pokemon elements including time travel and an earlier setting, alongside its collection of more open areas, and it seems as if Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will be the natural continuation of the previous games' experimentation with semi-open worlds. While the previously limited and more focused regions – including the corridor-like Routes that funneled players into the urban spaces – became characteristic of the franchise, shifting to an open world seems like an appropriate next step to keep expanding what Pokemon games have to offer.
Besides the addition of the open world, not that much is known about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet despite the looming launch date. Obviously, with the games signaling the start of a new generation, players can expect a veritable feast of new Pokemon to encounter, some of which have already been revealed, like the adorable Smoliv. Gamers will also have the choice between three new starter Pokemon, with the options including the Grass-type cat Pokemon Sprigatito or the Fire-type croc Pokemon Fuecoco. Each game will also have its own legendary called Koraidon and Miraidon respectively, which players will no doubt be excited to learn more about.
Unlike Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the two upcoming games will offer slightly different versions of the base game, with differing outfits as well as their own legendary Pokemon and unique characters. The evolutionary step that the games will be taking – letting players explore the rich worlds far more freely than they have in previous Pokemon titles – will hopefully be a welcome one and will help expand both in-game areas and the franchise's horizons.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will release on November 18, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.
