Pokemon is a series that has captivated millions of players for over two decades. The world of these powerful, elemental creatures is one that constantly has fans coming back for more, but as much as Game Freak's hit franchise constantly breaks sales records, there seems to be a point where titles like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet run out of fun experiences to offer.
Across the many generations of Pokemon, there has been a limit to the content that is rarely seen in similar JRPGs. When fans pick up a game like Pokemon or other monster-catching games like Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, they expect to be surrounded by incredible critters and invested in a living, breathing world that is filled with adventure. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are just the latest games in the series in which the possibilities come to a slow, almost tragic stop once the main story is complete. While plenty of Pokemon games offer post-game content, there isn't much to hold fans off between releases. Scarlet and Violet's upcoming DLC should fix that.
What Pokemon's Post-Game Needs to Succeed
In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, once fans defeat the AI Professor Turo or Sada, they'll be told they can re-challenge the Gym Leaders at their full strength. Once fans complete that extra walk around the Paldea region, they'll be told about the Academy Ace Tournament, which serves as a strong gauntlet against numerous different trainers and teachers that fans have met during their journey. After the Academy Ace Tournament is over, however, all the narrative-driven post-game content in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet stops. This is a common problem for the franchise.
In many Pokemon games, there are special quests and events fans can unlock at the end. In Sword and Shield, for instance, fans can experience an epilogue featuring Sordward and Shielbert. While the adventure can't continue indefinitely, recently the franchise has failed to provide any sort of post-game loop to the game's main features, making what's left over feel a chore to some players. As players can only face many trainers once, most titles slowly become a mindless trek; battling wild Pokemon while trying to complete the Pokedex, or sometimes trying to grind items at a Battle Facility.
How Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Can Breathe Life Into Paldea
While DLC is a new fixture for mainline Pokemon games, fans can still look to what was done with the Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass to build expectations for The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero. With Generation 8's Expansion Pass, fans were given two sets of DLC with their own areas, stories, and features. Some features weren't entirely locked behind the DLC, and exclusive Pokemon caught within the Isle of Armor or Crown Tundra expansions could be traded to those who hadn't bought the pass yet.
It isn't too much of a stretch to think that The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero updates could include features that make Pokemon Scarlet and Violet more of a worthwhile experience, even after the main story is finished. It's likely that the second part of the DLC, The Indigo Disk, will require finishing the main story in order to start one's adventure at Blueberry Academy.
All Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are lacking to keep players interested is a gameplay loop with a bit more life than just battling wild Pokemon. As Blueberry Academy is said to be where "Pokemon battles thrive," it seems that the second The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC update may be the best place for new mechanics. It would work well as players could see the battle academy as a place where they could face a wide variety of trainers, perfect for making the grind to a completed Pokedex more fun than encountering wild Pokemon only. Variety in endgame content is exactly what Pokemon Scarlet and Violet need to help pad out the wait for future releases.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.
